I bit the dust!

[AuntieK]

Awww, Bonnie, sorry about your fall!

It's true about people not knowing about clipless pedals. Once I tipped over as I was turning around to stop next to a friend. I couldn't get my foot out of the pedal in time, and over I went. We we out near a boat harbor at the time, and there was this guy camped there. I didn't realize he was there until I hear this roaring laughter and him commenting to someone in the trailer that he was laughing at some girl who just fell over on her bike. I just looked at him and said, "Hey, no making fun! I don't see you out here trying to ride your bike!" He continued to laugh and asked what I was doing. So I explained to him about the clipless thing and he said that he had no idea and now understood why I had tipped over. I think the guy was totally drunk--and it was only about 8 am!

Hope you're feeling better soon!

[Bad JuJu]

Well, the fall sucks, but it sounds like it made you stronger (remembering that old saying, "Whatever doesn't kill you....). Good for you for finishing your ride on your own, since you felt well enough to do it.

Keep your wounds slathered in neosporin--my doc's nurse says this will help it heal faster and reduce scarring, in addition to reducing the risk of infection. Hope you're back on your bike soon!

[Bikingmomof3]

Bonnie,
I am sorry to hear of your fall. I am pleased it was not worse and the driver stopped to be certain you were okay. I am glad you felt well enough to get home by yourself. Heal quickly!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

As a new rider of only about a month now, I make a habit of always stopping and WALKING my bike accross any road/intersection that I feel at ALL nervous about. When my biking skills have improved and I don't do the wrong thing in unexpected situations, that's when I'll start riding the more iffy crossings. Walking across a few of these tricky roads makes me feel smarter and safer at this point in time.

[Bikingmomof3]

As a new rider of only about a month now, I make a habit of always stopping and WALKING my bike accross any road/intersection that I feel at ALL nervous about. When my biking skills have improved and I don't do the wrong thing in unexpected situations, that's when I'll start riding the more iffy crossings. Walking across a few of these tricky roads makes me feel smarter and safer at this point in time.

Lisa,
Being new to clipless and the roads/drivers around here, I think I will take a page from your book and walk my bike across the intersections.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Good for YOU, Jennifer! It's often a better idea to stay on the safe side and give yourself time to become more skillful. There are so many drivers out there who are talking on their cell phones or not paying attention. Probably falling into their path is not the best way to practice clipping out.
I want to stay alive long enough to get really skilled on my bike.

I like to think of it this way as well: I can use lots more practice stopping, hopping off and back on my saddle, and getting pedalling again- it's way good practice for me. Besides, I feel so proud of my beautiful new bike, when I walk it across a big intersection at the red light it almost feels like I'm leading a prancing thoroughbred horse across the road for everyone to wistfully admire!

[bonnie526]

Thank you all for the kind words and advice.

[bigredbike]

I hope you're healing nicely Bonnie. I'm just about healed from my first big tumble on my new clips. Happened about a week ago.

I def. don't think men are any more or less inclined to fall while getting used to be clipped. Actually, it took me a while to get up the courage to clip in because my DH went over like a ton of bricks the first time he was clipped in. It was a sight to behold. He's a big guy on a big bike (6ft 2, 200 lbs riding a 63). At a stop light no less with about 10 cars watching the 'show'. His poor elbow was 3 x the size of normal for a week!

The downshifting thing is really helpful. I've been working on that as well pyxichick. I've not fell again and am getting more comfortable but it's just so much to remember -- clips, brakes, balance, shifting, watching for cars, watching the road for debris, signaling. Gah!

I gave a big 'ole dumptruck drive the scare of his life last night as I nearly pulled out in front of him. What can I say, I was thinking of my clips, and of all the other 'minor details'. I will be thankful when it all becomes more automatic, that's for sure.

[Cassandra_Cain]

Hey Bonnie - I'm really sorry to hear about what happened. That is really unfortunate and a major downer.

Practice certainly helps a ton when it comes to clipless pedals, but all it takes is one time for you to slip up and you could have serious consequences - particularly when dealing with traffic. I take extra, extra time and space in busy street crossing while clipped in - it isn't a guarantee, but at least I feel as if I can't clip in on the 2nd or 3rd try, I can still get across.

Hope you get better real soon - I was hit by a car a week ago today - it is no fun at all!

Best wishes

[Dr. Liz]

Sorry to hear about the crash. But don't feel too bad. It's happened to a lot of us. Fr'instance, about a month ago, I came to an intersection, thought I could slow down and balance until the car passed, and well, I didn't. I fell over, right at the intersection. Similarly, the people in the car stopped, asked if I was okay ("I'm good, but my ego is a little bruised"). Luckily DH was far enough ahead of me that he didn't actually see it, and so he couldn't harass me about it. The big lesson I've learned? Don't panic. You've always got more time than you think, and as soon as you panic bad things happen. Of course, I learned this lesson the hard way (well, okay, it took me a few times, as I'm a bit of a slow study.... ).

Don't worry about it. You'll get it. (If you're feeling nervous, practice a little in an empty parking lot before you go out on your ride.) And good for you for finishing the ride, and even better for wanting to get back out there!!