Dismounting with cleats

Leo Lichtman wrote:

"Colin Campbell" wrote: (clip)if you practice enough,


you'll get used to qucikly releasing from the pedals. One thing that I
observe is that riders seem pretty evenly split between right- and
left-footed releasers. (clip)


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If you are not used to riding "clipped in," in an emergency you will try to
put your foot down the old fashioned way. In the net fraction of a second
you will feel trapped, and your brain will become paralized, and you will
not get your foot out of the pedal--you will land on your shoulder. You
need to unclip enough times that the sequence of twisting your foot BEFORE
pulling occurs automatically.

There will be times (DAMHIKT) when you think ahead, and unclip in advance,
and then fall to the opposite side. Right-footed or left-footed releasers
are not immune to falling.




You pretty well described my first fall using Look pedals.

A buddy and I were riding to work. We came to a stop light, and a car
had pulled so far to the right that we had to pass it on the left. Then
we headed back toward the curb. As I made the right turn, I realized I
wasn't ready to make the left turn to straighten out. I froze, and down
I went!

On 2005-11-13, C Wright wrote:
On 11/13/05 2:10 PM, in article
, "Ricardo"
wrote:

I have just started riding with cleats. When it comes time to stop and I
need to put a foot down I feel like an accident waiting to happen. Any
suggestions regarding technique will be appreciated. Thanks


A few suggestions:
If your peddles are adjustable make sure that you have them set for the
lightest release tension.

[snip]

A few weeks ago I found that at times I couldn't unclip my right foot
(Time pedals). At first I put it down to suddenly developing clumsiness;
then I had a look at my cleat and found it had acquired a hook on one
side. Filing this down restored sanity and safety.

Anthony


--
Anthony Campbell -
Microsoft-free zone - Using Linux Gnu-Debian
http://www.acampbell.org.uk (blog, book reviews,
on-line books and sceptical articles)