Well, I finally fell!! Ouch

[DDH]

I went on a 16 mile ride today. It was windy and I didn't try to get in any kind of a hurry. Hadn't been able to ride in over a week, so didn't want to really push real hard. I had a great ride. I need it. I have been so stressed out and bike riding is such a de-stressor (if thats a word).
Anyway, I get through my whole ride, get almost to the driveway on my dirt road, and decide to pull up to the mail box and grab the mail.
How stupid was that!!!!

I pull up there, and think I will grab the mail box as I stop and I dont' unclip, miss the mail box completely, and OH NO, I cannot get unclipped fast enough and CRAP, down I go.
At least it wasn't real bad, but I am heavy so any fall I take is HARD. My elbow is burning, but other than that just my ego is hurt.
Oh and I really scrapped up my new peddals. I'm not happy about that at all. I don't think I hurt my bike but I pulled it down with me, so I will have DH look at it tonight to make sure everything is okay.
I will heal, ya know, I don't want my bike messed up.

Anyway, at least I have that under my belt. I guess I got to cocky. I really thought that I was going to make this transition with no wrecks.

NOT LOL

[mimitabby]

I went on a 16 mile ride today. It was windy and I didn't try to get in any kind of a hurry. Hadn't been able to ride in over a week, so didn't want to really push real hard. I had a great ride. I need it. I have been so stressed out and bike riding is such a de-stressor (if thats a word).
Anyway, I get through my whole ride, get almost to the driveway on my dirt road, and decide to pull up to the mail box and grab the mail.
How stupid was that!!!!


Anyway, at least I have that under my belt. I guess I got to cocky. I really thought that I was going to make this transition with no wrecks.

NOT LOL

when did you make "this transition?" I am assuming you have gone clipless?

i'm glad you were not badly hurt

[IFjane]

Donna - I feel your pain! Whenever I have had a fall from a bonehead move it has been in front of an audience. Talk about mortified!

The first time I ever had clipless pedals on my bike (then a mountain bike) I fell - and I hadn't even gotten ON the bike. My son and a friend of his were standing there, I clipped in on the right pedal and with my left foot on the ground, weighted the RIGHT pedal and fell! I had a wonderful chainring bite on my right calf for weeks (I claimed a bear bit me!).

Good luck & keep pedaling!

[DDH]

when did you make "this transition?" I am assuming you have gone clipless?

i'm glad you were not badly hurt

Yes, I went clipless. LOL
I think we bought the clipless back in Sept. I can't remember now when I went to them. I was so scared of them and have been so careful because I was afraid of falling. See what happens when you get comfortable to the point of letting your guard down.

[ace]

Hiya,

I feel your pain! I went clipless in September, and have fallen three times, all sort of bonehead accidents- unclipping, but then leaning to my clipped in side to push a button at a traffic light, etc. But the good thing is, once you fall, you realize it's not that big a deal, and I think it makes you less afraid.

I'm a big girl, too, and I think the extra padding definitely helped cushion my falls!

Wear your scrapes as a badge of honor....

-Amy

[Bikingmomof3]

Donna,
Congratulations on going cliplessa nd now you have this fall over with, it should be smmoth sailing. I am very glad to har you were not badly injured. I do so hope your bike is okay. Heal quickly.

[five one]

Glad to hear you weren't hurt too badly. Sometimes it's our pride that gets hurt worse than our bodies when we have a clipless accident.

I'd be willing to bet everyone who rides clipless has a story to tell about falling. I began riding at in 2002 at age 50 after having not ridden at all since college. I didn't take the time to figure out which foot to unclip first prior to attempting my first clipless ride. Big mistake! DH unclips on the right, so that's what I did as we were coming to a stop on a bike trail on my first ride. Problem was, my brain told me to unclip my left foot. I struggled, panicked, and toppled over at a complete standstill. Unfortunately, I landed on my left elbow and ended up at the emergency room with a radial head fracture . I was in a removable cast and sling for two weeks. Both the doctor and the PT told me I could get back on the bike after six weeks, but it was a full 12 weeks before I could ride comfortably again. I thought about going back to platform pedals, but decided to bite the bullet and stick with the clipless. I was mighty careful for months afterward and did fall a few more times, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. Now, of course, clipping out is second nature and I can't remember the last time I had a problem getting unclipped. But I'm also a much more confident rider 4 1/2 years later, so even if I were to get my foot stuck now, I could probably avoid falling.

Donna, if this is your first fall after several months of riding clipless, you're doing GREAT! My helmet is off to you.

Virginia

[mimitabby]

geez, Virginia, i did NOT need to hear YOUR story.
I am now clipless on my bike on the trainer and am really afraid to take it outside to try in the real world. THis has been a BIG step for me.

i just turned 55.

argh.

[five one]

Mimi, you can do it! You are practicing and getting comfortable on a trainer first, which is what I should have done. Or at least I should have practiced on grass. Once you get past the initial clumsiness and fear, you'll will be so glad to made the switch. My cycling improved so much after going clipless.

I know plenty of people who have fallen a few times in the beginning, but I'm the only one I know of who was actually injured. I hesitated posting about that, but I wanted those of you on the fence about clipless to know that it can be done. I just went about it the wrong way. If I'd had known about the TE forum back then, I would gotten better information before taking the plunge. Oooh, that's probably a bad choice of words .

[salsabike]

It'll be OK, everybody. I've told you my clipless fall stories somewhere else, I think. Got them over with, haven't done it in a long time, would never switch back. It'll be OK.

[aicabsolut]

Mimi, you can do it! You are practicing and getting comfortable on a trainer first, which is what I should have done. Or at least I should have practiced on grass. Once you get past the initial clumsiness and fear, you'll will be so glad to made the switch. My cycling improved so much after going clipless.

I know plenty of people who have fallen a few times in the beginning, but I'm the only one I know of who was actually injured. .

Even if you're practicing on the trainer (assuming not rollers where you have to balance), still start out practicing on grass. My first attempt was a big scrape, just trying to get on the bike, then I moved it to the grass. Much softer. Still the most injured part was my ego. That and I broke a brand new cleat. Better it than my ankle.

I haven't had problems unclipping, except for the 2nd foot when I've accidentally leaned the wrong way when standing there. Still scared enough not to be cocky.

[mimitabby]

sorry, the grass is covered with icy snow. And tomorrow, when it melts off, the grass will be a sea of nasty mud.

I will just continue in the basement.

[aicabsolut]

sorry, the grass is covered with icy snow. And tomorrow, when it melts off, the grass will be a sea of nasty mud.

I will just continue in the basement.

I didn't say you had to do it tomorrow .. but when you do take the plunge outside, grass can be your friend.

[mimitabby]

oh, thanks. I feel better now.

[Bad JuJu]

I recently went clipless--what an adventure! I haven't had the big fall......yet--partially because my cycling buddy occasionally reminds me to remember to unclip as we're slowing or about to stop. I've been riding with old-fashioned toeclips during most of my adult cycling life, and they were easy to remember because I could always feel the pressure of the strap around my feet. With clipless, there's no pressure to remind me that my feet are attached to the bike, so I have to be extra careful.

DDH, your tone is humble but not daunted--good for you--pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back in the saddle. Yeah, easy for Miss-I-Haven't-Fallen-Yet to say, right? I'm sure my time is gonna come......