Second ride, first fall

[RoadBunner]

I decided to be brave today and rode my bike about 11 miles. I scoped out a "bike-friendly" road on my way to run this morning. I've only ridden on roads once before (and my first ride was entirely within a park).

I fell once at a four way stop. I unclipped my right foot but didn't set it down. Instead I kept moving slowly waiting my turn to go. A cyclist coming from another direction didn't wait his proper turn and I ended up stopping completely to let him through and of course, tilted over the wrong way I've got a bloody knee (and I'm sure a nice bruise under that in the morning) and my poor bike got scuffed up (happily not the frame...bar tape took some damage, chipped the little plug that goes into the handlebar at the end, and my saddle got scuffed) but I'm sure it could have been worse. I'm so glad my left foot unclipped as I was going over because if not I would have been stuck under the bike without a way to gracefully get up

The one thing about biking that I'm not used to are the hills. When you run, you're working the whole time. On the bike (especially since I'm scared of descents and speed) I'm coasting the whole way down hills and feel like I'm sort of cheating as the mileage goes up.

I almost died chugging back up the hills coming home. I sure did wish my bike came with a triple instead of the compact double! But I made it and can only hope it gets easier from here on out.

All in all, I'm proud I got out there. This whole biking thing is still really scary to me, and I hope I can get more comfortable.

[BeeLady]

Sorry about your fall and glad there wasn't more damage. When I first began riding clipless the guy at the bike shop told me to always unclip the same foot, always start off with the same foot and make it a habit. That won't help if I'm confused about whether I'm stopping or going, so maybe add "come to a complete stop at all stop signs" until the stopping and going are perfected, along with the clipping/unclipping. Should only take a few outings and then you can do the "rolling" track stand stops that a lot of cyclists seem to do.

I like going fast down steep hills. Now I can't believe how reckless I have been! Fortunately wreck less, too, so far. I know one thing that helped was when I read a post saying to bring my knees in up against my frame, make sure my arms are loose, elbows in, while coming down, and of course hands on my brakes and use both brakes to control my speed. The knees in helped keep the frame of the bike more steady.

Cycling seems like an easy sport to make fast progress in. Best cycling advice I ever got: Just keep pedaling!

Hope your next outing helps build more self-confidence and doesn't involve skin on pavement!

[spotlightmama]

Sorry about your fall - but good for you for getting out there! I'm a newbie too - I haven't even tried the clipless yet!

[F8th637]

You'll get better in time and you'll feel more confident the more you ride. Definitely don't get discouraged. I fell just a couple of weeks ago myself. I make sure that I unclip one leg (always the same leg) well in advanced if I know I'm going to be stopping or there are a lot of people coming up ahead. I'm still not 100% in the clips but I definitely like the way it feels when I'm clipped in and riding .. just not when I'm coming to stops I don't expect. Also, make sure you check your bike since you fell. I loosened my seat after my fall and didn't realize it until 3 uncomfortable rides later. Check my blog for more info!

[latelatebloomer]

If it makes you feel any better, my first clipless fall was in the parking lot of the Lehigh Velodrome as skads of brilliant riders gathered for various road rides. They all looked off into horizon as I picked myself up. Later, I discovered a bloody knee under still-perfect tights!

Congrats on getting out there. Many happy, safe miles to ya!

[F8th637]

LOL My first clipless fall was in my spare bedroom right after I installed them and I couldn't wait to try them out. It was dark outside and I didn't have my trainer yet so I propped myself up against a wall and naturally leaned too far in the wrong direction and DOWN I went with a thud.

[NbyNW]

I did that couple times, too, when I first started riding clipless. Once in front of the post office, and once in my driveway! Embarrassing, but no one was around to see

I knocked one of my brakehoods out of position on one of my falls, and it was really challenging to get it back in place w/o unwrapping all of my handlebar tape!

[sundial]

LOL My first clipless fall was in my spare bedroom right after I installed them and I couldn't wait to try them out. It was dark outside and I didn't have my trainer yet so I propped myself up against a wall and naturally leaned too far in the wrong direction and DOWN I went with a thud.

LOL! It was a dark and stormy night.......

Well, I did a brilliant fall when I was coming to a stop by the mailbox in front of my house. I didn't unclip fast enough and I had one of those slo mo falls.

My second most memorable fall was when I was clipped in and happily spinning on the trainer. Then I stood on the pedals to jam and my trainer gave way and I had a slo mo fall in the bedroom and remained clipped in. I tell ya, if it can happen, I'll find a way.