clipless pedal woes

[DMB]

Well, okay - I'll be 57 in December. That's like ALMOST 60!!! Maybe I'm reading too many bike magazines? All those 20ish people. I just have to be smart about this. I have to admit that most of the people I see riding around are really not that young. I'm just afraid of an injury. I ride by myself and just act pretty foolish sometimes (go fast, jump over things, go faster than fast, wiggle from side to side on the painted lines (as if going through an obstacle course) on the bike path.....while going really fast) and I always say....stop that, you shouldn't be doing that, you're going to hurt yourself. I think I found my lost childhood or something. Anyway, All these stories of people falling down with clipless just has me worried. However, I WON'T GIVE UP....I'm sure if I felt confident and at ease with the motion I'll take on the challenge. Everyone has been so nice and helpful here - I wish I had found this site when my seriousness about biking began this spring. I probably would have saved myself a lot of grief. I have to tell you - I did fall down once. I mean right in the middle of a busy intersection after I crossed the street. There were people and cars everywhere. Somehow my tire got caught in a rut and there was nothing I could do but go down. Hit my head on the cement, just laid there - dazed. Do you know that no one, not one single person asked me if I was okay - and I laid there a good 5 minutes or so. That really scared me. So, all this talk about falling down while you learn to go clipless - well, kinda scary. Now that I know there are easier ones I'll give it a try for sure. I like those egg beater ones, they do look easy. I'll let you all know for sure.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

50's are the new 40's.

Women who are in their 50's and live a healthy lifestyle and exercise are like "regular/typical" women in their 40's.....I just made that up, but it sure seems that way to me!

I'm 54 and never felt better in my life- not by a longshot. I'm still waiting to peak.

[SouthernBelle]

Go ahead and do all of those goofy things. Where else ya gonna do em?!

[DMB]

Wasn't sure if because I started this thread here I was supposed to continue here? or start a new one? How does that work?
ANYWAY - I did go to REI yesterday and the people there are really GREAT about explaining things to you. I returned the Izumi road bike shoes with the 3 holes and got these Pearl Izumi Quest Mountain Bike Shoes ($90. AND they had my size again...37). I also got the Crank Bros Quattros pedals - only $20.!! and the brass clips. So - today I practice, practice, practice - and well, I guess we'll see. Thanks again for all the advice and help. OH, BTW - thought you all might like to know this about REI. I've been shopping for a new bike for a while now - they will let you buy a bike, take it home and ride it for a while and return it for a full refund if you don't like it. They then sell returned bikes in one of their 4x a year "garage sales" as a used bike. I talked to 3 or 4 people and they all said that REI's 100% Customer Satisfaction is no lie. They have WSD Cannondale Road bikes on sale right now, I'm thinking of doing this OR just waiting until January for their "after the holidays" garage sale.

[CyclChyk]

I, like Lisa, choose not to ride clipped in. Just too uncoordinated. BUT advise given me at the time I was "learning" which I found to be very good, is to start out with just one foot clipped in. That way you have one free for 'stability." (wear a regular shoe on the other foot.) Then, switch off feet. Then, both together. Kinda like "clipless training wheels" - It helped me feel more in control but ultimately, clipping in is not my thing. I value my life too much (the whole uncoordinated thing.)

[DMB]

Thanks for the tip Lisa - I agree though, if this at all feels too uncomfortable, or unsafe, I'm not going to do it. I know I sound like an REI rep here (I'm not) but they even told me that if I try the shoes and clips for a while and don't like them I can return everything. Certainly can't beat that.

[DMB]

sorry about that.