Quote Originally Posted by nsandz View Post
Ugh! I was just convinced by my boyfriend and the local bike shop owner that going clipless was the best thing for me. So I did, and now I have fancy new pedals and shoes...I hate it! I am reluctant to ride my bike now. EVERYTIME I ride I fall off at some point. Not only is that embarrassing but it hurts too, I always get bruises and cuts. I have a ton of advice from multiple sources on how to avoid falling but I don't think technique is the problem. I panic real easily while riding clipless I am afraid a car will cut me off, or a child will run out in front of me, or I will just fall over in the middle of an intersection. I know these are unlikely, but I panic nonetheless. I don't like being scared of riding my bike. Whenever I panic I cannot get my foot un-clipped. I hope one day soon this will stop otherwise I am going back to my sucky regular pedals

Under what circumstances are you falling? Is it because you're coming to a stop but aren't clipping out in time? Unclipping with one foot but then leaning the other way? Trying to unclip but just can't get your foot out? Something else?

I think it can help your overall confidence a lot if you can get over the fears, so it's worth trying. But having a ton of advice from multiple sources can be overwhelming, so if you can specify when/why you're falling, we can figure out specifically how you can address it and overcome it.

Also, practicing in a safe environment can help a lot. Did the people at the shop help you practice clipping and unclipping? At my LBS they put my bike on an indoor trainer and let me practice for as long as I wanted. You can also practice indoors by being near something to hold onto, like a doorway or sturdy piece of furniture (desk or table, not a chair), or a balcony or porch railing. Or if you can find a big grassy field, you can practice there since it's a much softer place to fall if you don't get clipped out in time.