Maiden Voyage with Clipless Pedals

[spokewench]

way to go Ju ju. See, it isn't that hard! I don't count falling on my mountain bike with clipless. It took me a year to fall once I got clipless on my roadbike and over I went at an intersection on a group ride (where I didn't know anyone!) Boy did I feel like a putz!

[eclectic]

Hip Hip Hooray! ! ! ! Isn't it fun? ? ? ?

And the new bike sounds like a dream

[aicabsolut]

Why is it that I'm the only person who fell all over the place on their first clipless ride?

Yeah, you're not the only one . I fell over in the first 5 seconds because I was in too high a gear and somehow forgot that with the cleat you can pedal with one leg for a while. It went something like: pushoff, coast, wobble, crash. I have a nice white and purple scar on my elbow reminding me of it (about a month ago or so). But that's because I was dumb enough to wait until after I skinned myself to take it to the grass. Luckily I didn't run into a tree! My experiences keep me scared enough of them in stop/start situations that I really think about what I'm doing..keeps me from getting cocky or sloppy about it even though I'm much improved.

[Meaux]

Why is it that I'm the only person who fell all over the place on their first clipless ride?

Good job!

I didn't fall on my first clipless ride, but I fell for three rides after that. But I'm normally a HUGE klutz without the bike. When I showed my co-workers the multiple bruises and road rash from my last ride, they said that DH should get me some training wheels for Christmas. HA HA!

[wannaduacentury]

Why is it that I'm the only person who fell all over the place on their first clipless ride?

Good job!

Great job JuJu.

SB, I fell over on my first day too after an hour and then had a scraped knee and elbow to go w/it. Fortunately I was on dirt. Jennifer

[LAB]

Is it manditory to fall using a clipless system? Heck, I haven't even put the straps on my road bike and I'm thinking about going clipless! I must be nuts!

Bad JuJu --- congrats are obviously in order (I think!)

Seriously, do people generally fall when using the clipless system? If so, is there a more correct way to fall to prevent injury??????

[SouthernBelle]

Is it manditory to fall using a clipless system? Heck, I haven't even put the straps on my road bike and I'm thinking about going clipless! I must be nuts!

Bad JuJu --- congrats are obviously in order (I think!)

Seriously, do people generally fall when using the clipless system? If so, is there a more correct way to fall to prevent injury??????

I went straight to clipless. Bought a new first road bike with clipless pedals. They have platforms that clip on allowing me to ride in tennies. Decided to ride the 25 miles to LBS to have some adjustments done. While there, I bought the shoes, got a clipless lesson in the parking lot, took off on the 25 miles home. Fell twice in a church parking lot. I thought I should unclip on the right when I'm a left unclipper. I ended up riding off in the grass when I wanted to stop so I could fall over if need be. I was a slow learner.