My first SPD related fall

Simon Brooke

in message <33o7ilF40dsmdU1@individual.net>, Epetruk
('nobody@blackhole.com') wrote:

> saveacup wrote:
>> I've been using SPDs for a few months now and thought I had them
>> worked out but today I had my first falling over incident, just in
>> time for Christmas.
>>
>> It happened right outside my back gate after a 20 mile ride along the
>> old Scarborough-Whitby railway line, unclipped left foot on the
>> approach but then just couldnt get the right foot unclipped, wobbled
>> for a few seconds and then went from vertical to horizontal in one
>> smooth motion. No harm done BTW.
>>
>> There were no witnesses though, so does this count?
>
> Quick question - when you all started using SPDs, did none of you ever
> worry that you might 'fall' at a set of lights just when the lights
> were turning from red to green?

In the days before 'clipless' pedals, when we used clips and straps and
getting your foot out of the pedal was really hard, pratfalls at
traffic lights were not uncommon. Always embarrassing, but I can't
remember anyone being injured in consequence.

--
simon@jasmine.org.uk (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

'there are no solutions, only precipitates'

Sue White

Epetruk <nobody@blackhole.com> whizzed past me shouting
>saveacup wrote:
>>
>> It happened right outside my back gate after a 20 mile ride along the
>> old Scarborough-Whitby railway line, unclipped left foot on the
>> approach but then just couldnt get the right foot unclipped, wobbled
>> for a few seconds and then went from vertical to horizontal in one
>> smooth motion. No harm done BTW.
>>
>> There were no witnesses though, so does this count?
>
>Quick question - when you all started using SPDs, did none of you ever worry
>that you might 'fall' at a set of lights just when the lights were turning
>from red to green?
>
No, I worried I'd land on my back in a ditch with the bike still
attached to my feet. I've seen this happen; you can't get up without
help and your "friends" will take a photo first.

So I adjusted the springs on the pedals to only-just grip the cleats on
my boots. Do this while you're new to SPDs. Tighten them once
unclipping becomes automatic, and your pedalling action adapts to them.

Anyone using their new SPDs off road should make sure they've got cleats
with an M stamped on them (multiple release mode - means you
automatically unclip if you fall off sideways.)

--
Sue ];(

What goes down must come up again - Confucius' Law of Mountain Biking

Dave Kahn

Sue White wrote:

> So I adjusted the springs on the pedals to only-just grip the cleats on
> my boots. Do this while you're new to SPDs. Tighten them once
> unclipping becomes automatic, and your pedalling action adapts to them.

Be aware though that SPDs on the lowest settings can pull straight out
without twisting the shoe. If you've got them on only-just mode you
should avoid sprinting and aggressive honking when climbing or starting off.

--
Dave...

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the
future of the human race. - H. G. Wells

Sue White

Dave Kahn <dkahn400@yahoo.co.uk> whizzed past me shouting
>Sue White wrote:
>
>> So I adjusted the springs on the pedals to only-just grip the cleats
>>on my boots. Do this while you're new to SPDs. Tighten them once
>>unclipping becomes automatic, and your pedalling action adapts to them.
>
>Be aware though that SPDs on the lowest settings can pull straight out
>without twisting the shoe. If you've got them on only-just mode you
>should avoid sprinting and aggressive honking when climbing or starting
>off.
>

Also, when you're riding along a road, be cautious about bouncing your
bike up and down to shake some of the mud off. Both my feet came out of
the cleats at once, and I was quite surprised that I didn't land on the
tarmac.

--
Sue ];(

What goes down must come up again - Confucius' Law of Mountain Biking