If you get hit by a car is it safer to have clips or noclip?

[newbikeorupgrade]

I've been hit a few times without cleats I think it's much safer...
You can even jump over cars...
No nasty faceplants...
???

[sogood]

With clipless, there's less chance of my foot slipping off a pedal when I want to put down the power to avoid a collision.

[ft_critical]

I've been hit a few times

Cleats might then be the least of your concerns.

[ozdavo]

The more you ride with clipless pedals, the more unclipping becomes second nature.
I've had a car pull out on me, while commuting in London, nowhere to go, slammed n the brakes (mtb with slicks & disc's) and somehow unclipped while going over the handlebars and landed on my feet. I don't remember unclipping, I just know I did it as a reflex.

[Apple]

I've been hit a few times

Cleats might then be the least of your concerns.

You made me laugh,
I needed that today

[trailgumby]

I respectfully suggest it is safer not to get hit by cars.

[Ozkaban]

I T-boned another cyclist once (he turned 90-deg on a cycleway and stopped dead), wearing cleat shoes. I went over the bars and the bike followed. Rather unpleasant, but the bike following made absolutely no difference to any injuries I sustained. I also wasn't clipped in when I landed - the forces involved overcame the cleats at some point

EDIT: I also don't think having my shoes clipped in contributed to the accident at all. I was going over regardless...

[Ozkaban]

I respectfully suggest it is safer not to get hit by cars.

+lots

[Cinder]

Ergh....

IMO spend less time worrying about clip ins vs no clip ins and start looking at ways to not get hit by cars.

FWIW, no clip ins is better for sure.

[damhooligan]

I think the safest and most important thing is to make sure your valves rotate in sync with each other.

[Ozkaban]

I think the safest and most important thing is to make sure your valves rotate in sync with each other.

Only if the tyre logos line up with the valves perfectly... Otherwise it can be disastrous

[damhooligan]

I think the safest and most important thing is to make sure your valves rotate in sync with each other.

Only if the tyre logos line up with the valves perfectly... Otherwise it can be disastrous

Fair point, lets not forget that !!

[Mulger bill]

I think the safest and most important thing is to make sure your valves rotate in sync with each other.

Only if the tyre logos line up with the valves perfectly... Otherwise it can be disastrous

Fair point, lets not forget that !!

It will all end in tears if the wheelbuilder didn't line the hub logo up with the valve holes.

Back on topic...

To date, I have been fortunate enough to only be struck by a motorised vehicle twice. Once by a luggage tow in the service tunnel at work, I stayed on and upright but needed a new crankset and had the mother of all bruises on the right thigh. The other time was a bullybus that refused to believe that yielding to a vehicle already on a roundabout AND approaching from his right was his legal and moral duty, fortunately, I saw it coming in time and had managed to stop in time to receive the merest brush on my front tyre by his off side rear door.

I have no interest in a repeat of either situation in the name of scientific curiosity.

[KenGS]

I know for a fact that if you come off at 30km/h you unclip automatically

[wombatK]

I know for a fact that if you come off at 30km/h you unclip automatically

And don't be surprised about that.

The first clipless pedals were made by Look - who based them on the design of their ski bindings.

You would not worry for one millisecond about coming out of your ski bindings in a crash. Fact is,
that's what they were designed to do - so that you didn't break a leg by being stuck in your skis
as you tumbled down the mountain.

Look saw that cyclists faced a similar situation - a need for robust connection with the pedal, and
a need for automatic quick release in emergency situations. And adapted the ski binding fittings
for cyclists.

So it should be not surprise that you unclip in any collision or over-the-bars scenario.

Clip-stacks occur at very low speed because the twisting forces on the pedal are low - mostly
because a brain-fade prevents the right commands going to the leg. If something hits the bike,
no brain power is needed to get the pedals twisting enough (relative to leg) that your leg will
be released.

Being hit a few times is not a a record to be proud of. You might need to think about ways you can improve
your safety on the road. Clip v's unclipped could be the least of your worries.

[il padrone]

I respectfully suggest it is safer not to get hit by cars.

+1

Avoid such unplanned 'offs' as much as possible.

Only three collisions with cars in the past 35 years. One was the classic - 'chasing parked cars' . Another was a fender glance by an L-plater - no fall or damage. The other was a straight-out T-bone by a right-turner. I skidded, side on into her left passenger door. The clips released on impact and the bike rebounded, amazingly about 3-4 metres into the air.

Clipless pedals are the least of your worries, but I find they give me more control over my bike.

[waramatt]

I know for a fact that if you come off at 30km/h you unclip automatically

I came off on a wet bend at 36 km/h and stayed clipped in.

At the time and even later I didn't give consideration to the various merits of clipped vs not. I did however wish that I had started the rides with the tyre valves, rim and tyre logos synchronised.

[iMad]

I know for a fact that if you come off at 30km/h you unclip automatically

I came off on a wet bend at 36 km/h and stayed clipped in.

At the time and even later I didn't give consideration to the various merits of clipped vs not. I did however wish that I had started the rides with the tyre valves, rim and tyre logos synchronised.

I can assure you that you will never come off if tyre valves, rim and tyre logos are all synchronised. It's against the most fundamental laws of physics.

[waramatt]

Ahh good to know iMad. I thought it may have had something to do with a horribly worn front tyre.

Sliding along a wet road on your back whilst clipped into a bike checking for oncoming vehicles is a surreal experience, but not one I recommend.