Brand new to road cycling

[nic840]

See if you can go back to the shop and hop on their trainer. I spent a good 20 minutes on the trainer cliping in and out. Its good because you can get you can simulate everything when you ride except for the balance part. Take it slow and trust me you will never want to go back from clipless once you have ridden with them!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Do some searches on these forums and you will find a HUGE amount of good advice for beginner cyclists, clipless tips, etc. Run a search for "clipless" threads on the forum. Look through the older threads- they are a gold mine of exactly the information you are looking for.
Welcome to TE! Lots of good info and encouragement here!

[imdeanna]

Hello fellow Newbie!

I too fell over 3 times...and I also got the chain ring tattoo from catching myself from a close call fall!

I had a hard time with the spd clipless.....I got light action speedplays, and haven't had an issue since! Now...I need to learn how to DRINK and RIDE at the same time ...w/out dropping the water bottle (AGAIN)!! lol

oh...and when during my first left turn with traffic at controlled light....I took my spot in the lane...got going pretty good...and was delighted when I clipped right in like a pro!.....BUT didn't raise high enough when I went to put my butt on the saddle...and the front of the seat actually grabed my shorts and yanked them down....thank goodness for stretchy spandex...otherwise I'd been sideways smiling at the cars behind me!!! LOL.... (took a couple of corrective movements to unhitch my shorts...and from behind.....I must have looked like I was riding a bucking bronco!!!!

[Fujichants]

Hahahaha Imdeanna, that has happened to me several times as well, where my shorts get stuck on the saddle. Its rather embarrassing, but yeah, thank god they are not low rise shorts!

By the way...how do the Look Keo Elle pedals compare to the Look Keo classic pedals? Just curious because i'm looking to get some Look Keo pedals.

[RockyRaquel]

Hey guys, I took your advice and I did not fall once today on my bike ride!! We went for about 2 hours and I'm going again on Sunday. I had so much fun and I feel great! I am really liking my shoes and pedals. (Keo Elle Look pedals).

[NbyNW]

Welcome to the board, Raquel!

Glad you're feeling more comfortable in your pedals. I also just started using clipless last summer and just when I think I'm getting comfortable . . . the other day I was tackling a new steep hill on my ride home, lost momentum, and down I went! Very embarrassing, and a nice lady who was driving by in the opposite direction stopped and offered to help me get up, but I managed to untangle myself and thank her for her offer.

It probably goes to show the value of trying out new riding conditions/terrain in a calm, relaxed setting . . . thank goodness this happened on a quiet street!

I will probably look for a longer, gentler route home until I'm strong enough and skillful enough for that hill.

Hope you continue to have a blast on your new bike!