Brought my baby home today!!

[NewLove]

What a great forum. I bought my first road bike today- trek 1500- and am super excited. I have been riding a borrowed road bike for two years (which was too big for me) so I am super psyched to take it for a ride- and maybe a fall (Yikes) with my new clips. Good think I live in the country, only the cows will see. Anyway, are there some helpful techniques for "clipping in" to avoid "wiping out", or is it just a right of passage? Where on my bike will I put my first aid kit? Also, planning to ride more than drive and need suggestions for good, but not huge, packs to carry a few groceries, etc. in while biking around town. Thanks for sharing knowledge with the new kid!

[jehocu03]

Good rule of thumb (after crashing many, many times with clipless pedals) is to PRACTICE clipping in and out on a flat,grassy surface or even with the bike on a trainer until you can do it quickly and feel more comfortable. Once you do that, go for a ride and make sure to clip out one foot in advance before coming to a stop. That way, you will already have your foot released is, in fact, you need to stop, or you can easily clip back in if the coast is clear. If you don't clip out in advance and don't have the quickest reaction time (like myself haha), you may end up in a panic when you must stop quickly and then crash and/or fall over on your side. It will likely happen a few times, which is a right of passage, but if you can prevent additional tumbles, I would suggest practiceing as much as you can prior to hitting the open road.

P.S. even in the country, I would practice clipping out at a each stop sign, coming to a complete stop with that foot down, and clipping in again. The more you are able and comfortable doing this, the less likely you you fall over/crash/panic at unexpected stops, it will become more of a reflex (instead of having to think about it everytime, like when you begin).

Enjoy!

[sundial]

Hi NewLove, it's nice to meet you and glad you joined TE! Now that you have a new bike you *have* to post pictures. :)

As for the pedals, what I did was ride around on the grass and practiced clipping in and out. Then when I ventured out on the road, I started with one foot clipped in and the other unclipped (Shimano makes a clipless pedal on one side, platform on the other). As for taking spills, I've had my share of them and really the only thing that got bruised was my ego. I have a knack for the slo mo falls. :rolleyes:

As for the first aid kit, you might want to consider a seat bag that can hold a few band-aids and baby wipes or if you prefer something roomier, consider a trunk or handlebar bag. If you check the Commuter section of TE, there are tips on gear used for such purposes.

Good luck and hope you enjoy many, many miles on your new ride.

[Possegal]

i can offer a word of advice based on experience. sounds like it should go without saying, but clearly i needed to learn the hard way.

when at a stop, with one foot unclipped, be careful is you just have that foot down maybe with the toe touching the ground and not off your saddle and your body weight shifted. if you just have the foot lightly down, and then turn to look over your shoulder, it will throw off your body weight and down you go. did it twice in quick succession. began to think i wasn't very bright. :)

congrats on the new bike and have fun. and as my friends told me - just be sure to yell timber as you fall, it entertains the spectators. :D

[malkin]

Congratulations on the new baby!
Doesn't it make you want to send out announcements?