First clipless moment (after 3 years!)

tomfoolery

I've been riding clipless for the best part of 3 years and never had a proper clipless moment. Had a couple of near misses at first but always got my foot out in time.

Today I was filtering past cars on the left and stopped approaching a junction. Tried to twist my foot out as I've done thousands of times, but it wouldn't budge! Started tipping and thought 'That's it - I'm going over!' And indeed I did.

Luckily to the left, onto the pavement. Not very graceful. A 4x4 was next to me and the driver looked at me to check I was ok, which was nice. No doubt I've just convinced him that cycling is lethal and a 4x4 is the only way, in case he had any doubts.

But now I'm wondering why it wouldn't come out. In another place or to go the other way could have been very bad. I clipped in and out fine on the way in after that. Any suggestions?

lost_in_thought

Loose cleat bolts? Brain fade?

Glad to hear you were OK.

Tino4444

tomfoolery wrote:

I've been riding clipless for the best part of 3 years and never had a proper clipless moment. Had a couple of near misses at first but always got my foot out in time.

Today I was filtering past cars on the left and stopped approaching a junction. Tried to twist my foot out as I've done thousands of times, but it wouldn't budge! Started tipping and thought 'That's it - I'm going over!' And indeed I did.

Luckily to the left, onto the pavement. Not very graceful. A 4x4 was next to me and the driver looked at me to check I was ok, which was nice. No doubt I've just convinced him that cycling is lethal and a 4x4 is the only way, in case he had any doubts.

But now I'm wondering why it wouldn't come out. In another place or to go the other way could have been very bad. I clipped in and out fine on the way in after that. Any suggestions?

Nah its just one of those things, put it down to experience.

Tino.

Fireblade96

lost_in_thought wrote:

Loose cleat bolts? Brain fade?

.

Alternatively dirt in the pedals/cleats ?

But most likely brain fade. I had a classic last year; I'd just moved off again after stopping to take a phone call offering me a job (!). I slowed down to let an oncoming car pass (narrow country road), realised I'd left my sunglasses hanging on the handlebars, got distracted....and just as the car was passing I toppled gracelessly sideways into a particularly verdant clump of nettles.

Car driver stopped to ask if I was OK - which I was, just very embarrassed. and rather stung :oops:

bracketed

Had my first clipless moment last week, also after 3 years or so. Pulled up at a red light, left foot just would not come out no matter how I twisted it, and the inevitable happened in what felt like bullet time. The bike was cushioned nicely by... er... me, so no damage there.

Taxi driver behind me was pissing himself. People on the pavement just walked around me like it was something they see every day. Shrugged, got up (foot had come out of the pedal!), and was ready to go by the time the lights changed

In my case, it was a worn cleat, I think. I replaced them over the weekend, and now everything feels much smoother. Should have replaced them when I did the pedals a few days earlier... :oops:

b0y1nterupted

welcome to the club....

glad you only hurt your pride

ride_whenever

this is why mtb pedals are good, dirt doesn't effect them as much.

As for worn cleats, I've found they only lock me in when they're brand new (first 25-30 miles or so) when they get worn I have hilarious spontaneous unclipless moments. Go to jump up the curb to get into work and my foot comes out, I do a one-footer and smack my shin into the pedal cage. Or pulling off at the lights or just about any time.

tardington

Is that why a lot of bike shoes are velcro? So you can undo them dead quick and not all over?

Get your sock dirty though I guess.

Kieran_Burns

Almost came a cropper yesterday - I completely forgot I was clipped in and came to a stop and tried to lift my left foot out. Nope.

cue:

What???
ARGH!!!!
....tilt....
fumblefumblefumble
......tilt............
£$^£$&^£&%"%" FOOT!
.....tttiiiiilllllttttt.....
SPONG!
Foot on ground!
<phew>

in my defence it was the very first time I had used the cleated side of my semi cleated pedals since owning them - my foot is on and off the pedals too many times on the normal commute (or so I thought)

tomfoolery

Cheers for the solidarity everyone! Pride always takes a while to heal I find...

So worn cleat, loose bolts, dirt or brain fade. Could easily have been any of those. Heading off now so hopefully everything will be fine.

redvee

Had an indoor moment tonight when I was setting up the cleats on my new Aldi/Lidl shoes, didn't tighten the bolts enough and the shoes were turning and not the cleats :oops: