Timber! Clipless Pedal Toppling

It Had To Happen

I’d heard stories of it from my friends who ride & kind of laughed at them in the back of my head.

I wouldn’t say that I never thought it’d happen to me but I wasn’t ready for it tonight.

I just now had my first clipless pedal timber experience…

Of Course There Are Reasons!

That’s what I’m saying to myself anyway…

It’d been a good while since I’d ridden.

My brain was pretty occupied with a good audiobook (The Impact Equation (aff link) by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith which though I figured it would be good has in the first few chapters already blown away my expectations).

So I rolled up to a stop at the stoplight without any concern. And then….. Oh crap!

My feet are locked in & not coming out!

The Culprits

I love my pedals btw (Speedplay Light Action) and my shoes (Specialized Comp Road) and I cannot blame them in any way. This was all me, baby.

Me Go Boom

So I realize that my feet aren’t coming out. My brain isn’t working fast enough to prevent this.

So I resign myself that it’s going to happen.

I see there are 2 cars pulling up at the light to my left. Nobody close to me. Nobody coming fast. So no imminent danger.

I very slowly topple over on to my left side breaking the fall with my knee, elbow & hand/wrist. It hurt a bit but not as much as my pride.

I didn’t look over at the cars (though in hindsight, I probably should have as it wouldn’t have hurt to let them have a bit more amusement at my expense).

I snapped my left foot out (lying on the ground).

I stood my bike up – still ignoring the 2 cars to my left who had to have seen the whole thing.

Waited for the light to turn green, then snapped my shoe back in & cooly rode off.

Very suave…

Image credit: 201207 28 Eternal resting (can you spot her?) by Marian Rainer-Harbach on flickr

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