Clipless pedals = worse injuries in an accident (Discuss)

rustncogs

Hi,

I’m curious to know what other people’s opinion are on the above. I’ve used SPD’s for a couple of years and will concede the benefits, but after my last couple of ‘incidents’ I’ve started to wonder if they’re such a good idea.
The couple of minor ‘offs’ I had before using them resulted in me rolling clear of the bike, and picking up a few minor grazes and bruises and a bit of a hurty wrist. The couple of ‘offs’ I’ve had since using them have resulted in a badly sprained wrist and fractured elbow, and then a shattered wrist bone which needed a titanium plate in it (plus concussion etc. etc.).

This is hardly a scientific survey, but my theory is that being able to quickly separate from the bike means your natural instincts kick in and you react by rolling to safety, whereas if you’re still attached, your body comes down in an arc with a hammer-blow on whichever part of you body you put out to save yourself.

I’m not convinced either way yet, just trying to get back to cycling after that last injury, and a bit uneasy about riding clipped in (though I still can’t remember what happened to me in that last incident!).

I’d love to know what other people think.

Cheers,

A

bobtbuilder

My major crash 18 months ago resulted in a dislocated shoulder and ruptured testicle, amongst lesser injuries.

The testicle injury would not have occurred without clipless pedals. As I came off, only one cleat disengaged as I went over the handlebars and into the road / hedge. As the bike was still connected via one cleat the top tube hit me square in the right testicle.

Despite being 50/50 at one point on whether I would get to keep the offending gonad, I still ride clipless! :roll:

bennett_346

1) I want my knees to work when im 50
2) I don't see how attaching my feet to the pedals gives me any advantage, if you have the proper technique then flats allow you to ride technical slow terrain without risk of serious injury, because you can land how you like (to a degree).

shockedsoshocked

Safer than cages.

fast as fupp

bennett_346 wrote:

1) I want my knees to work when im 50
2) I don't see how attaching my feet to the pedals gives me any advantage, if you have the proper technique then flats allow you to ride technical slow terrain without risk of serious injury, because you can land how you like (to a degree).

'tecnical slow terrain'? on a road bike?

alfablue

I use SPD's, no massive cleat tension, pedals and shoes part company reliably in crashes. I gather road-specific pedals hang on to the cleats much more tightly. As I don't race I don't see any point for using them.

redddraggon

bennett_346 wrote:

1) I want my knees to work when im 50
2) I don't see how attaching my feet to the pedals gives me any advantage, if you have the proper technique then flats allow you to ride technical slow terrain without risk of serious injury, because you can land how you like (to a degree).

I want some of what you are smoking

softlad

redddraggon wrote:

bennett_346 wrote:

1) I want my knees to work when im 50
2) I don't see how attaching my feet to the pedals gives me any advantage, if you have the proper technique then flats allow you to ride technical slow terrain without risk of serious injury, because you can land how you like (to a degree).

I want some of what you are smoking

I don't - he's talking bollox..

eh

I have to ask why the heck are you all falling off, road bikes, can't you ride properly

No they generally don't make things worse. As pointed out above try riding clips and straps with cleats, no chance of ever getting out of those in a hurry.

TommyEss

bennett_346 wrote:

1) I want my knees to work when im 50
2) I don't see how attaching my feet to the pedals gives me any advantage, if you have the proper technique then flats allow you to ride technical slow terrain without risk of serious injury, because you can land how you like (to a degree).

Yes - but this is in the road section - we're not talking about being able to safely unclip to dab down - how many time do you crash on the road!? Not nearly as often as when offroading, I'll wager.

On a road bike, the benefits of clipless, with their wider platform for better power transfer, and stiffer soles etc, far far outweigh any risks of not getting away from the bike in a crash.

FWIW - the times I have crashed on the road (diesel and a pedestrian - respectively) - I found I came away from the bike as I landed - and due to the nature of both crashes - both wheels washing out together - I'm not convinced being able to get my feet out would have helped me much at all.

So, back to the OP - are you talking about road or MTB - as there's really not so much in the way of argument FOR flat pedals in the roadie world.

BigG67

I'd humbly suggest looking at the tension you have on the cleats if they don't dissengage in a slow or light fall.

"Touch wood" I've always separated from my bike whenever I've stacked it.

As for good technique, I've always been told to "wipe my feet" along the bottom of the stroke which I couldn't do with flats.....also I'd reckon the Pro Tour boys have decent techniques and they like SPD-SLs etc....

guilliano

I separated from my bike pretty well when I crashed on Monday. Was clipped in til I got hit. Will continue to ride clipped in as I can't pull up or push forward, only down, when I ride flats

snailracer

On a MTB, you definitely want to be attached to the pedals or you'll be thrown off, UNTIL you crash, in which case you want release. Just like with skis.

sampurnell

mate of mine rode a bike and fell sideways, wasnt a big fall but stuck his leg out to stop his foot slid and his leg snapped.
i reckon if he had been clipped in and taken the fall he would of been a bit muddy at worst.

Valy

Ouch!

STEFANOS4784

softlad wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

bennett_346 wrote:

1) I want my knees to work when im 50
2) I don't see how attaching my feet to the pedals gives me any advantage, if you have the proper technique then flats allow you to ride technical slow terrain without risk of serious injury, because you can land how you like (to a degree).

I want some of what you are smoking

I don't - he's talking bollox..

I'll have your dose then 8)

Smokin Joe

bennett_346 wrote:

1) I want my knees to work when im 50
2) I don't see how attaching my feet to the pedals gives me any advantage, if you have the proper technique then flats allow you to ride technical slow terrain without risk of serious injury, because you can land how you like (to a degree).

57 here.

Using clipless since the mid-eighties, prior to that toeclips and shoe plates which locked your feet to the pedals much more firmly than clipless.

knees still fine, as are those of the 100s of thousands of others who have done the same.

kettrinboy

in the winter i always take my clipless pedals off my winter bike and put my flat pedals on so that if the front or back lets go on icy patches i can get a foot down fast which you cant if your clipped in,on the two falls ive had while using clipless pedals both my feet came out of the pedals by themselves from the force of impact when i hit the deck, i always keep the cleat tension on its minimum setting which helps in the event of an off.

Smokin Joe

There is no advantage in releasing your feet in most types of fall where the bike slides away from you. I try to go down holding onto the bars and with my feet in the pedals so I hit the ground flat. Sticking a limb out does not break the fall and leads to broken bones.

Valy

Smokin Joe wrote:

There is no advantage in releasing your feet in most types of fall where the bike slides away from you. I try to go down holding onto the bars and with my feet in the pedals so I hit the ground flat. Sticking a limb out does not break the fall and leads to broken bones.

Counter-intuitive to say the least, but i guess can work at times! :P

thel33ter

I use clips on the road and flats off road, On road my 1 crash that I was clipped in for both my feet came out and I ended up standing up, still holding the bars with the forks snapped off somewhere a meter or two back, so I have to disagree that you get worse injury's, without clips I could have flown onto the bonnet of the car that hit me or under it.

freehub

bennett_346 wrote:

1) I want my knees to work when im 50
2) I don't see how attaching my feet to the pedals gives me any advantage, if you have the proper technique then flats allow you to ride technical slow terrain without risk of serious injury, because you can land how you like (to a degree).

What a load of shite.

If you want your knees to work when you're 50 you get cleats set up properly, and use yellow ones (SPD-SL)

Use your head, unless your shoes have some sort of artificial gravity plate, then the advantages of clipless pedals is obvious.

Monty Dog

Like alfablue, been riding clipless since the mid-80s and clips and straps before that. I've been doing a bit more riding on clips, straps and cleats recently as I'm riding L'eroica in October - old shoes and cleats are far worse for your knees that modern stuff, believe me. I'm not yet 50, but there's no sign of my knees wearing about before my 80s! Regardless of what pedals you use - learn to stay upright

snailracer

My usual post when the clipless discussion comes up:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... s-10-35398
No straps - stops your foot sliding around when you pedal, foolproof release when you crash. And cheap
I have these on my MTB and commuter bikes. I would say that crashing is so uncommon when cycling on the road that, statistically, it won't make any difference what you use.

Alumin-Liam

I put flats on my bike yesterday to head down to the pub, first time back on flats in ages, and they are bloody horrible after using clipless.

Don't know how I managed to use them before - my foot kept moving around, very confusing!!

bennett_346

freehub wrote:

bennett_346 wrote:

1) I want my knees to work when im 50
2) I don't see how attaching my feet to the pedals gives me any advantage, if you have the proper technique then flats allow you to ride technical slow terrain without risk of serious injury, because you can land how you like (to a degree).

What a load of shite.

If you want your knees to work when you're 50 you get cleats set up properly, and use yellow ones (SPD-SL)

Use your head, unless your shoes have some sort of artificial gravity plate, then the advantages of clipless pedals is obvious.

1) Thanks for rushing to conclusions. I was advised by mmy doctor not to use SPD pedals because my knee ligaments hyperextend, and whether they have upsides or not, i'd rather not take the risk of having bad knees when im older.

2) I have something called technique which allows me to use flats on the road with probably about 75% the efficiency of clipless ones, which im happy with if it means not sustaining bad injurys in a fall when i do my technical terrain areas.

northernneil

snailracer wrote:

My usual post when the clipless discussion comes up:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... s-10-35398
No straps - stops your foot sliding around when you pedal, foolproof release when you crash. And cheap
I have these on my MTB and commuter bikes. I would say that crashing is so uncommon when cycling on the road that, statistically, it won't make any difference what you use.

+1

9500 miles+ since I last came off my road bike

freehub

bennett_346 wrote:

freehub wrote:

bennett_346 wrote:

1) I want my knees to work when im 50
2) I don't see how attaching my feet to the pedals gives me any advantage, if you have the proper technique then flats allow you to ride technical slow terrain without risk of serious injury, because you can land how you like (to a degree).

What a load of shite.

If you want your knees to work when you're 50 you get cleats set up properly, and use yellow ones (SPD-SL)

Use your head, unless your shoes have some sort of artificial gravity plate, then the advantages of clipless pedals is obvious.

1) Thanks for rushing to conclusions. I was advised by mmy doctor not to use SPD pedals because my knee ligaments hyperextend, and whether they have upsides or not, i'd rather not take the risk of having bad knees when im older.

2) I have something called technique which allows me to use flats on the road with probably about 75% the efficiency of clipless ones, which im happy with if it means not sustaining bad injurys in a fall when i do my technical terrain areas.

I don't care how much technique you have, unless you have artificial gravity plates on the bottom of your shoes then you are no way near the efficiency of clipless pedals.

If you are thinking about falling off then you need to learn not to fall off, if you are going to fall off, unclip. People who fall off very frequently are just bad cyclists.

northernneil

bennett_346 wrote:

1) People who fall off very frequently are just bad cyclists.

that lance guy cant stay upright at the moment

a.palmer

Bit different cycling as part of a peloton in the tour than road riding alone or with a few mates I reckon

redddraggon

bennett_346 wrote:

2) I have something called technique which allows me to use flats on the road with probably about 75% the efficiency of clipless ones, which im happy with if it means not sustaining bad injurys in a fall when i do my technical terrain areas.

75% the efficiency of clipless pedals? Lol. You think that;s good?