Another way to look at it is there is not really a "right" way and a "wrong" way for you to pedal your bike. Do what works best for you. Remember that lots of the ladies on TE are racers or long-distance fitness cyclists, and the way they pedal is to enhance their abilities to achieve their goals.

When I bike with Suzie and Ellen, the three of us don't bike in the same way at all. Suzie goes at a fast cadence in a lower gear. I go at a medium cadence in a higher gear. Ellen pedals in the highest gear she can. Suzie stands going up the hills. Ellen power strokes up the hills. I hold back on the hills so I don't burn out my blood sugar and everybody and their grandma passes me, then I catch them on the downhill (hopefully.)

When we come towards a stop, Suzie unclips one foot and completely stops. Ellen peers quickly to the left and right and darts across the road. I slow down, shift down, then mostly teeter on the bike without unclipping, waiting for the traffic to clear to procede ahead without really stopping. If I have to stop, I unclip both feet and force myself to take the seconds to drink and whatnot with both feet planted on the pavement, then I clip my right foot back in and get ready to go again.

You got good advice. Let yourself fall sometime, and you fill find out it isn't a big deal.

Darcy