scared to death!

[IGGY]

Hi there-this is a conundrum. I am new to biking. I love spinning. My spinning teacher was telling me, YOU should race, YOU should do the mini-tri, YOU should train for a century...blah blah blah. I would come home all ramped up..YES I SHOULD do all those things...but I don't have a bike. Well, now I do. A fuji roubaix. I came home, rode it for 5 minutes, and fell off. Bad fall. elbow to the curb. my elbow has motion now, but it still aches.
So after a few weeks of slings and such, when I so much as sit on my bike, I start shaking. I'm a huge wuss.
I want to OWN THAT BIKE also, I don't want to fail again in front of my husband and nosy neighbors who are all trying to help.
...yes before you ask...first time with clipless pedals.
Thanks for reading!
I plan on joining potomac pedalers here in D.C. area but am afraid to start!

[NbyNW]

It might be a good idea to follow up with your doc about that elbow, if it doesn't seem to be healing properly . . .

I'm not a spinning class person, but it seems to me that two things that you don't get in the gym are balance and steering . . . so maybe try flat pedals while learning those skills in traffic, then transition to clipless when you're more confident? You might also try Power Grips, which might be similar to the straps that they have for stationary bikes.

Maybe if you can borrow a trainer to put your bike on you can get used to the clipless without having to worry about balance . . .

[Blueberry]

Iggy -

Most of us have taken falls on clipless pedals at one point or another. I know some really fast riders who refuse to use them. You *should* do what you want to do. If you want to ride outside, great. jocelynlf has a good point about pedals - why not put flat pedals on the bike, and use those until you're more comfortable. There's a lot more going on outside than there is in the gym, and it takes some getting used to. Maybe even take the bike somewhere else (flat) and try away from neighbors/DH (I don't do well with an audience generally). Good luck - you will get there

CA

[Natural Beauty]

Hey Iggy, You are NOT a wuss! never put yourself down like that...just handle your business. You will own your bike, just make whatever modifications you need to and make it yours! The other posters are totally right, spinning is so different, don't stress about it. Or I really like that word fash....I think it is slang for stress....but you may need to say it with an accent.
These guys on this board really know their stuff and they'll have really good input for you. Just have fun and do what you need to do - for you.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Various people have differing advice I know, but some folks like to get comfortable riding their bikes with regular pedals before they put clipless pedals on. If that would get you riding without being so afraid, then why not?
Heck, go clipless later if you want to!

[CATWOMAN]

Iggy,
I ride at the gym about 5 days a week, not spin just stationary; lately I have had to force myself to try other cardio such as an ArcTrainer just due to loss of interest. However, it is true that there is much more going on outside that you have to pay attention to, but that's what makes it so much more interesting and enjoyable.

After all of the conversation on this board about clipless, I have made the decision to pack my clipless up for now. I have the pedals with the buckle cages (Whatever they're called). They work great for uphill but they don't make me feel attached. I figure as long as I'm happy, riding well, and improving every time, LIFE IS GOOD. Why put something on my bike that makes me feel uncomfortable?

There are days that I still suffer form visions of my fall, which was not due to clipless but my husband running into my back wheel. It is never good to mix flying with cycling.

Try some other less-confining pedal (Ask you LBS) until you develop a love for the sport. The rest will come naturally with YOU are ready.

[tink22]

When I fell with my new pedals I had no choice but to get back on my bike and ride, I was 12 miles away from my starting point. I was nervous and shaking, but I didn't get too banged up and was able to get back on my bike and ride home. Now, if I see a stop sign, or a sticky situation, I unclip before I really need to so that I don't have to do it at the last second.