Going clipless tomorrow - need your positive energy!

[iFKA]

Wow girls, first SPD experience without falling
I fell about 10 times in the first week of SPD riding

[RolliePollie]

Third clipless ride = fell over

Thoughts going through head at the time = "Uh oh!" and "Oh crud!" except the actual word that came out of my mouth was not "crud."

I am ok...a little minor road rash and I'm expecting a good bruise on my hip. Thank goodness for helmets...hit my head on the pavement but I hardly even felt it.

Bike has injuries. Poor thing. Left brake hood & handlebar are bent inwards pretty bad and the metal part above the shifters is all scratched up. And my new Terry Butterfly saddle is scuffed. Very sad.

But I'm kind of glad I've had my first good fall. I feel like a fully initiated cyclist.

Here's what I did...I stopped, rested, and got back on the bike. But something was rubbing on my front wheel. So I rode about 50' and decided to stop again. Little did I know my left foot had clipped back in (this is so amazing because it's a bit of a challenge to get clipped in...then, when I have no intention of clipping in, the darn thing clips in by itself!). Anyway, slow tip-over to the left. And of course my right foot was free...but I always step down with my left! Heavy sigh.

The funniest part is when I got home and took my shorts off, a bunch of little pavement rocks fell out of my shorts. I looked down at the floor and thought "what the heck?" I didn't even know they were in there!

[salsabike]

Welcome to the club...it's not so bad, and now you know you got through that, too! You have lots of company out here. And we're all still riding clipless and liking it. I fell several times early on and now haven't fallen for quite a long time.

[suzieqtwa]

Hey Sara,
If I can do it anyone can do it. I got so beat up the first 3 weeks of going clip less. I fell 7 times(on the main road) ,and had a concussion. Both knees are scared,and so are my elbows. I hated my bike ,and actually started to fear it. Finally I went back out on it ,and have been doing great ever since. I can stop quick ,and have no fear. I'm just getting the nerve to stop wearing long sleeves ,and covering my knees. I have SPDs. Good luck

[RolliePollie]

It's so funny that so many people are saying "if I can do it, anyone can!"...that's what I'm thinking about ME! I am basically a huge klutz, uncoordinated, etc. I'm well known for injuring myself in very stupid ways. So I know for certain that if I can do this, ANYONE can!

Things are going well with the new pedals...still have only had the one big tip-over. But yesterday I crashed into a tall juniper bush next to my driveway. It doesn't count as a fall though because the bush was nice enough to catch me and hold me up. Too bad junipers are such scratchy bushes...lol.

Next on my list is figuring out how to stop and start gracefully (and safely!). I've raised my seat up to where it probably should've been all along, which is great while riding, but makes starting and stopping a whole lot harder. As far as dismounting goes, I've read in some threads about standing up on one pedal and putting your other foot on the ground. I've yet to master this (that's how I crashed into the bush yesterday). Actually, I'm scared to death to get off the seat and pedal, let alone get off the seat to get off the bike. Not sure why this freaks me out since I know I could stand up and pedal when I was a kid. And getting started...what a mess! I wobble all over the place. Good entertainment for anyone watching! Heaven help me if I ever have to start on an uphill. Oh well, I'm sure it will all come with time.

[SouthernBelle]

I had to figure out that thing about standing on the pedal by myself. I'm very slow cause it took me a while.

[suzieqtwa]

Sara, really I had the worst time. I felt I just wasted a whole lot of money on a bike I would never ride...read my post sometime (in cycle related) . I do stand on one pedal ,and put my right foot down...at least that came natural. I'm still amazed when I stop ,and my foot actually hits the ground. I was also petrified to stop on a hill. If on a hill,and the light is red ,I just turn right (if the hill is steep). I'm pretty good now. You seem like you are doing fine. It does come naturally. I never thought I would say that. Soon you'll be giving someone advise on how to ride clip less.
Suzie