How to Fall!

Joo Mong Lee is a regular writer to us and this time he has a bit of advice for all of us about falling our bikes, this is something none of want to do, but occasionally it happens. Joo also wants to hear what we think about platform pedals and clipless pedals and getting out of them in an emergency

Question: I always believe its better to break a bike fall by standing on the leg, depending whichever side the bike is falling, since most people have leg stronger than their hand.

Platform pedals appear safest to me, allowing the immediate single action application of the leg to support the cyclist when the bike is falling (other designs does not allow for). So injury only when you fail to stand on one leg for whatever reason(s) as the bike falls.

Someone told me he did so with his hand (injured his hand), as he could not unclip in time when his bike skidded in a wet steel plate. The hand is much further from the ground and to use the hand in place of the leg, sounds acrobatic to me. Clipless pedals and other designs, require extra action time application, not available in a fall. Injury most likely whenever the bike falls.

Heard the non-platform pedal designs prevent the cyclist from losing his footing on the pedal. I believe the footwear is of unsuitable selection for such occasions.
Wishing you Happy New Year 2008.
Best regards,
Lee Joo Mong (surname: Lee)

Hi again Joo,

Yes you are correct, the natural thing to do when you fall from your bike is to put your hand out, this of course either breaks your arm or wrist or at least you will lose skin off the palms of your hands. The problem is that sometimes you don't have time to put a foot down, then its time to hope that you have a soft landing.

Clipless pedals are much easier to get out of than platform pedals with toe clips and straps, but nothing is as easy as platform pedals with no form of clip, the problem is that it's better for riding if your feet are held to the pedals and lets face it, its more important to have a good pedaling style with your feet securely fastened to the pedals for power transmission than using platform pedals on the off chance that you fall off.

When you get used to clipless pedals it's a matter of seconds to get your feet out in an emergency. Personally I would prefer to take the risk of falling off, lets hope very occasionally, and having my feet secure on the pedals so I can pull up as well as push down as I pedal.

Good to hear from you again, Joo.

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