Fell 3 times today!!!

[Hell-uv-a-job]

It was very dry and dusty and although I make sure I grease my shoes and pedals (Speedplay) it was almost imposible to keep them sand-dust-free today. I fell 3 times at different stop lights and my wrist hurt more than my pride. My wrist really, really hurt, I hope it is ok since I bang-it pretty badly. Lets see tomorrow. Thinking I wanted to do another 30 miles tomorrow...

[slinkedog]

I learned the hard way not to put my hand out to break my fall. Best way I know of to mess up your wrist real nice. Hope you're feeling better SOON!

[Nanci]

Ooh that sucks!

I thought I was going to do some falling yesterday, too. Went out for a nice two-hour ride to scout part of the 400k route from my house, and got onto a road I hadn't ridden before. It was _so_ absoloutely perfect- 80 degrees, gorgeous blue sky, fields still dormant and brown, tons of curious cows and calves, NO traffic. Got to my turn-around, and thought I'd short cut back a different way, but after 100 yards on the new road the traffic was so horrible, and no bike lane, that I stopped to turn back, and saw two riders behind me. So talked to them for 20 minutes, and then was _really_ late, went back the way I came, thought I'd short cut through a limerock road, because there's one by my house I do that with, and it works out ok even with skinny road tires because the limerock is so smooth, like concrete. Well, this one wasn't, and I should have turned back, but, oh no, can never do that. I ended up in deep sand, and was trying to ride through it, but road tires don't have _any_ traction, and my bike was sliding all over the place. Luckily, I had MTB shoes, so could keep one unclipped just in case, but I really thought I was going down a number of times.

Maybe that pedal system just doesn't agree with you. It shouldn't be so hard! Is it because you can't get unclipped, because you're stuck, or do you just wait too long and lose momentum and then just tip over? When I come up to a stop light, I unclip _way_ before, and rest my foot on the pedal, not clipped in, or if it's apparent I am going to have to stop, kind of dangle my leg down to be ready. I just think MTB shoes are so much easier for riding in traffic, because you don't have to be clipped in to stick to the pedal.

Well, don't give up, because once you get the hang of clipless, there's just no comparison in comfort.

Nanci

[Hell-uv-a-job]

You are right, it was a beautiful day yesterday with nice soft breeze and blue sky. 83 deg and I was enjoying the view. I did 30 miles but I felt I slacked . I stopped a lot and I think that's the reason I fell that mant times and of course, It was hard to keep the pedals sand free since we parked at a sandy area.

So far this has been the warmest weather I have used my bike so I fell a little uncomfortable. Of course I was wearing long sleeves since you cannot predict Florida weather and was too hot for me. The forecast was 80 deg but when I finished the ride it was 86, go figure. At least there's a long way before the summer and I will get used to the hot weather. Of course that means hurricanes .

My hand is fine, since I iced it last night. Still sore but don't think I need it checked out. I'll be riding on my trainer later on so lets see.

[Nanci]

Hell-uv, we are _so_ lucky to live in Florida. It's not every time I ride, but once or twice even in the winter months it's warm enough (70's, 80) to wear my Shebeast tank tops that I _just_ this fall lost enough weight to be comfortable being seen in. I only own one LS jersey, and when I need it, it's nice to have, but I have so far resisted getting others, because it just isn't usually cold enough. Arm warmers are _great_, you can ride in a short-sleeved or even sleeveless jersey, then peel them down halfway when you get warm, then take them off when you get hot.

Now in the summer, at first it seems bad to be riding when it's 90, with 90% humidity, but if you are persistant, you get acclimated. Just carry a ton of water and sufficient electrolyte caps. Then when it rains, it's the best! The rain is _warm_! It feels great! Then there is the nice steam bath when the sun comes back out. I love Florida.

Sand: I never have to even think about sand. I don't know anything about Speedplays, but yesterday, if they are so sensitive to sand, I would have _died_ in the sand pit I was trying to ride in...I have plain old Shimano SPD's, the MTB kind. They never clog up with anything.

You know what helps with weather prediction:

http://www.wunderground.com

You can look at the hour-by-hour forecast, and know what the temps will be over the course of your ride.

I'm trying to decide if I want to do a 200k ride up in Bonifay next Saturday, as a training ride for the 400k two weeks later. The long range forecast is showing 65 for that day. I got spoiled yesterday when it was 80! I don't know anything about that part of the state, and some of the ride is in Alabama, too. But it would require a motel stay of at least one night...I wrote to the director of the brevet series (here) to see if he thought it would be a good training ride, or if it was too close.

Nanci

[slinkedog]

I also have Shimano mtb SPD's... love 'em. You can clip in on either side and my cleats have never been picky... I've even had some mud in them and I can still clip in and out just fine.

[sydney_b]

I also have Shimano mtb SPD's... love 'em. You can clip in on either side and my cleats have never been picky... I've even had some mud in them and I can still clip in and out just fine.

I too advocate the shimano spds. So far neither mud nor snow have kept me from clipping in or out with the greatest of ease.



/s

[bikerchick68]

helluva... I ride the Zero' by Speedplay as well... I use coffee covers when stopping and walking around... the covers "help" in sand but still are no guarantee... if they get really clogged up and you have difficulty clipping in/out you can squirt 'em with water to rinse 'em out... if you do this BE SURE TP LUBE them when you get home!!! It does work tho to remove the dirt that prevents clipping in and out easily. I use White Lightening on mine every couple rides... a dry lube that doesn't attract dirt...

hope your wrist is OK... ouch...

[Runnin Rat]

I am just new to all this riding stuff, but sadly, I find comfort in the fact that you fell. My first ride out (about 6+ weeks ago) I went to stop, unclipped the left foot, then leaned right. I was able to mutter "uh oh" as I went down. I did brace myself with my hand, but hurt my pride severely. My major concern as I was trapped under my bike, still clipped in, "Did I rip my pants?" My dear honey, trying not to laugh, said no, they were fine.

Then, out again, stopping pretyt much the same way, went to START, not enough momentum, over I went. This time, the words were not so nice. I have gone down 3 more times. My friend have told me I must stop this as it is embarrassing and they just can't be seen with me anymore if I can't keep my bike upright. They are teasing of course, but I hate it!

Hope the wrist gets better.

[slinkedog]

Hey Runnin Rat! I'll tell you my husband's trick that helped me stop falling, because the falls that you're describing are exactly like what I experienced. I would stop, clip out and have the bike's weight leaning away from my clipped out foot and over I would go. When you stop, try turning your wheel away from the foot you've clipped out, i.e. clip out right, turn your wheel to the left. Here's the reasoning: if you stand over the top tube of your bike with your feet on the ground and turn your wheel, you'll see that the weight of your bike naturally falls the opposite direction of the way you turn the wheel. Some gals find that doing the opposite of this works (turn wheel toward your clipped out foot), so you could try both and see what works for you.

Where in NV are you? I grew up in Las Vegas.

[btchance]

I too advocate the shimano spds. So far neither mud nor snow have kept me from clipping in or out with the greatest of ease.



/s

I am so glad to hear that. I just bought a pair yesterday and practiced clipping in and out today in a small field. Except for the first attemp where I landed directly on my hip while trying to clip in, it was actually pretty easy (I'm sure it helps that the guys at the LBS adjusted them as loose as possible). I'm planning on going out on some trails tomorrow, don't know about the single track though. We'll see

[im4smiley]

I went out for the 1st time on my new Felt 75 yesterday. It was cold about 30 and windy. But I had to practice because before I had straight handlebars, new bike has ergonomic drop bar, which means shifting and braking in a new place my body is in a new position AND I am using my new shoes which so far I have only used in spinning class. I can clip out ok. But it is damn frustrating to clip in. I know practice practice practice...but

[Melody]

I can clip out ok. But it is damn frustrating to clip in. I know practice practice practice...but

heh. Even now, there are times where I try to clip in and miss... and try again and miss and miss and miss. Finally I get clipped in just as I get to the next light.

It can be frustrating learning to clip in and there will still be days where you're just having an off day. Keep it up and it'll become easier.

BTW, if you haven't done it yet, look for the thread called "Getting to know you" in the Open Topic forum and say hi.

Welcome to the forums

Mel

[gr8lakesgurl]

I too advocate the shimano spds. So far neither mud nor snow have kept me from clipping in or out with the greatest of ease.



/s

Are these the pedals you are talking about?
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

I might make the switch soon!