Well, I got the newbie clipless fall out of the way...

[channlluv]

but it wasn't at all what I was expecting. I had just set up my bike on the trainer (but apparently not very securely) and I climbed on, pedaled a bit while my Garmin booted up, when I noticed that the front wheel wasn't aligned properly, so I tried to twist my handlebar to straighten the wheel, and the action knocked me over completely. Kicked the back wheel right out of the bike stand.

I nearly brained myself on an empty metal guitar stand nearby - thankfully I missed it by inches - but my first thought was "Oh, god, did I hurt my bike?" And then I thought immediately of you all. Ha!

I did a quick systems check on myself. My left foot had come unclipped in the fall, but my right foot was still attached, so I unclipped and tried to right myself. My left ankle is twisted a bit, I bruised the inside of my right knee and three fingers on my right hand, but nothing's broken. My daughter had heard me yell on the way down and came into the living room and helped me up, then started to put my bike back up on the trainer stand.

I was much more careful in putting it on the stand the second time.

It's sort of like the Universe said, "See, you can fall and not get hurt seriously. Bruises heal. No biggie. Don't be afraid of going clipless."

I've been on my bike only once since DH bought me these clipless pedals (and that was a trainer ride to make sure the Sidi shoes fit and to teach me the swivel motion of clipping in and out). I'm that scared of falling. This is a good reminder that I'm tougher than I think I am. On the other hand, I'm really, really scared of getting hurt again if I fall on pavement. (I just got released from therapy for my shoulder for the last fall a year and a half ago, and my left foot still hurts from that one.)

Where's that thread on how to unclip safely? I've looked, but I can't find it.

Thanks all.

Roxy

[kmehrzad]

Roxy,

Glad to hear that you're not injured, bruised a little but nothing serious.

I remember well my clipless fall on a brand new Bike Friday during its maiden voyage. I was lost in thought, came upon a Stop sign then realized I needed to unclip. It was too late, I knew the bike was going over but didn't want to scratch it on the pavement. I took the fall on my knee, which hurt for a good two months and raised quite a knot, but the bike was saved. I totally understand how your initial thought was about the bike.

[Bike Chick]

Oh my goodness, Roxy! I'm glad you weren't hurt seriously.

[channlluv]

Oh, trust me, I'd much rather have a much more exciting story for you, something about outmaneuvering a runaway F-150 or swerving to avoid hitting a baby stroller or something, but no, alas...I was on the trainer in my own living room. Ha!

The bruises on my knee and fingers are already fading compared to the bruise on my ego. <g>

Thanks for the commiseration. I am proud of myself that I got back on the bike and rode for thirty minutes. I'm really going to have to work to get back up to the level of fitness I had back in October. Baby steps.

Roxy

[spindizzy]

...but you saved the bike...the true cyclist....

[Tri Girl]

ouch!! I think falling off the trainer would be harder than the road. You're up higher on that trainer. It's a longer way to fall.
Sorry it happened, but I guess it's just a matter of time. My DH did something similar last week. Didn't get that back wheel in tight enough and hopped on the bike and went down. That smarts!!
Get back out there and jump on that bike again, girl!! You're already broken in for the road now that you've had your first fall with the clipless. No fear!

[jesvetmed]

Great story Roxie! Glad you are only slightly bruised and your bike is fine! My friend did the same thing, set up next to a third floor apt window -- thank goodness he wasn't facing the window when he came flying off forward! Explain that one to your friends... "so there I was on the trainer... next thing I know, I'm on the sidewalk, I can't breathe, people are staring at me!"

Now that you have it out of the way, no worries!

[OakLeaf]

Yikes! Glad you and your bike are okay. And hopefully that'll be the only time you fall.

[channlluv]

Thanks. I hope it's the last time I fall, too, although it's all part of the learning process, right?

Here's the funny thing. I was on the trainer because I wanted to learn how to clip in and out safely. Go ahead. Take a moment. Enjoy the irony.



Roxy

[annielynn]

Ouchie. I am glad to hear that you are ok. I have often thought what would happen if I didn't get my bike secured in the trainer foot enough. I guess I know from your experience what would happen.

My first fall was at a stop sign the first day out with my brand new bike. New Bike, New Clipless pedals/shoes, No scar on my right calf.

I fell so hard that it is still healing. That was August of last year. I have a pretty nifty scar on my left to remind me. Unclip before you stop and put your foot down on the ground. It sucks to fall over especially because it all happens in SLOW MOTION.

[Biciclista]

ouch!! I think falling off the trainer would be harder than the road. You're up higher on that trainer. It's a longer way to fall.
Sorry it happened, but I guess it's just a matter of time. My DH did something similar last week. Didn't get that back wheel in tight enough and hopped on the bike and went down. That smarts!!
Get back out there and jump on that bike again, girl!! You're already broken in for the road now that you've had your first fall with the clipless. No fear!

and the bike is being held in by the trainer!!
get well soon!

[channlluv]

Saw my chiropractor today. I actually sprained my left ankle. Figures. He taped me up and told me to give my body a chance to heal already. It's becoming a running joke between us as to what injury I'll have this week.

He just renovated his office. I told his new intern today I'm the one who paid for it. Dr. Matt laughed and waved at the wall behind him. "Yeah, this wall, it's all hers. Thanks for that, by the way."

I'm supposed to participate in a jog-a-thon on Wednesday. Probably not going to happen now.

But how soon can I get back on my bike?

Roxy

[bmccasland]

Let your ankle heal!!! Trust me on this. Please.

Twisted my ankle hiking - doing squirrel surveys in some very steep mountains. Was out the next day as it didn't seem that bad. So years later, when I was having ITB problems, my massage therapist asks - when did you screw up your ankle? You didn't let it heal properly did you? Yup, one bad ankle, tendons not quite ever back in place right (hiking boots don't fit right) have manifested into some lovely constant leg pain.

So see a physical therapist, after you rest your ankle. It'll not come back to haunt you later.

[moderncyclista]

I ride in stiff soled shoes no clips or straps. I do city riding and I don't run lights and I put a foot down often enough that I don't see a need for them. I often express curmudgeoney ideas on here though - for the most part everyone has been great. Again, I'm just chipping in my two bits.

On the flip side - I had a "major" wreck when my aluminum rack broke in traffic. it contacted my rear wheel, effectively jamming it and threw me from the bike. I had the forethought to "fall to the left" away from the drive side. It tore me up fierce. It was a factory defect I'm told, however I am still jittery about getting grocieries on the bike or loading the replacement aluminum rack. (thinking of getting a tubular steel one like the Surly nice rack, etc) The irony? When I fell in the street, a lady in a hummerH2 almost ran me over.

Point being. Keep practicing every aspect of bicycle riding. Don't be afraid to jump back on.

[featuretile]

I ride with sport shoes and half toe clips. Your foot just comes out when you stop and you don't have to do anything special. I do like this better than just flat pedals with nothing because it keeps my foot in the right place and I do have some pull up power.

Although club members tell me I will eventually want to go clipless, I don't really want to fall. I had an ACL tear some years ago and it took 2 years to recover. Also, I fell a few months ago when getting on my bike on a downhill with left banking in the road. (I don't do that anymore and put my bike in a better starting place....) It was one of those slow motion things. I cut my elbow and continued the ride, but did not even notice that I had really bruised my ribs until I got home. It took 3-4 weeks to be able to sleep on that side and not feel pain.

I would wait until the ankle got better to ride again, because if you aggravate it, it may take even longer to heal. Perhaps, you would want to at least start with the half toe clips and get comfortable before going to the clipless system.

I just don't want ant physical problems to stop me from riding now that I am so addicted to it. Just the rain these past few weeks has been limiting my riding (CA). My sympathy to all of you that live in cold places and can't ride all winter. I tried a spin class and thought it awful compared to riding outside.