Well, I got the newbie clipless fall out of the way...

[spindizzy]

...but you saved the bike...the true cyclist....

[Tri Girl]

ouch!! I think falling off the trainer would be harder than the road. You're up higher on that trainer. It's a longer way to fall.
Sorry it happened, but I guess it's just a matter of time. My DH did something similar last week. Didn't get that back wheel in tight enough and hopped on the bike and went down. That smarts!!
Get back out there and jump on that bike again, girl!! You're already broken in for the road now that you've had your first fall with the clipless. No fear!

[jesvetmed]

Great story Roxie! Glad you are only slightly bruised and your bike is fine! My friend did the same thing, set up next to a third floor apt window -- thank goodness he wasn't facing the window when he came flying off forward! Explain that one to your friends... "so there I was on the trainer... next thing I know, I'm on the sidewalk, I can't breathe, people are staring at me!"

Now that you have it out of the way, no worries!

[OakLeaf]

Yikes! Glad you and your bike are okay. And hopefully that'll be the only time you fall.

[channlluv]

Thanks. I hope it's the last time I fall, too, although it's all part of the learning process, right?

Here's the funny thing. I was on the trainer because I wanted to learn how to clip in and out safely. Go ahead. Take a moment. Enjoy the irony.



Roxy

[annielynn]

Ouchie. I am glad to hear that you are ok. I have often thought what would happen if I didn't get my bike secured in the trainer foot enough. I guess I know from your experience what would happen.

My first fall was at a stop sign the first day out with my brand new bike. New Bike, New Clipless pedals/shoes, No scar on my right calf.

I fell so hard that it is still healing. That was August of last year. I have a pretty nifty scar on my left to remind me. Unclip before you stop and put your foot down on the ground. It sucks to fall over especially because it all happens in SLOW MOTION.

[Biciclista]

ouch!! I think falling off the trainer would be harder than the road. You're up higher on that trainer. It's a longer way to fall.
Sorry it happened, but I guess it's just a matter of time. My DH did something similar last week. Didn't get that back wheel in tight enough and hopped on the bike and went down. That smarts!!
Get back out there and jump on that bike again, girl!! You're already broken in for the road now that you've had your first fall with the clipless. No fear!

and the bike is being held in by the trainer!!
get well soon!

[channlluv]

Saw my chiropractor today. I actually sprained my left ankle. Figures. He taped me up and told me to give my body a chance to heal already. It's becoming a running joke between us as to what injury I'll have this week.

He just renovated his office. I told his new intern today I'm the one who paid for it. Dr. Matt laughed and waved at the wall behind him. "Yeah, this wall, it's all hers. Thanks for that, by the way."

I'm supposed to participate in a jog-a-thon on Wednesday. Probably not going to happen now.

But how soon can I get back on my bike?

Roxy

[bmccasland]

Let your ankle heal!!! Trust me on this. Please.

Twisted my ankle hiking - doing squirrel surveys in some very steep mountains. Was out the next day as it didn't seem that bad. So years later, when I was having ITB problems, my massage therapist asks - when did you screw up your ankle? You didn't let it heal properly did you? Yup, one bad ankle, tendons not quite ever back in place right (hiking boots don't fit right) have manifested into some lovely constant leg pain.

So see a physical therapist, after you rest your ankle. It'll not come back to haunt you later.

[moderncyclista]

I ride in stiff soled shoes no clips or straps. I do city riding and I don't run lights and I put a foot down often enough that I don't see a need for them. I often express curmudgeoney ideas on here though - for the most part everyone has been great. Again, I'm just chipping in my two bits.

On the flip side - I had a "major" wreck when my aluminum rack broke in traffic. it contacted my rear wheel, effectively jamming it and threw me from the bike. I had the forethought to "fall to the left" away from the drive side. It tore me up fierce. It was a factory defect I'm told, however I am still jittery about getting grocieries on the bike or loading the replacement aluminum rack. (thinking of getting a tubular steel one like the Surly nice rack, etc) The irony? When I fell in the street, a lady in a hummerH2 almost ran me over.

Point being. Keep practicing every aspect of bicycle riding. Don't be afraid to jump back on.

[featuretile]

I ride with sport shoes and half toe clips. Your foot just comes out when you stop and you don't have to do anything special. I do like this better than just flat pedals with nothing because it keeps my foot in the right place and I do have some pull up power.

Although club members tell me I will eventually want to go clipless, I don't really want to fall. I had an ACL tear some years ago and it took 2 years to recover. Also, I fell a few months ago when getting on my bike on a downhill with left banking in the road. (I don't do that anymore and put my bike in a better starting place....) It was one of those slow motion things. I cut my elbow and continued the ride, but did not even notice that I had really bruised my ribs until I got home. It took 3-4 weeks to be able to sleep on that side and not feel pain.

I would wait until the ankle got better to ride again, because if you aggravate it, it may take even longer to heal. Perhaps, you would want to at least start with the half toe clips and get comfortable before going to the clipless system.

I just don't want ant physical problems to stop me from riding now that I am so addicted to it. Just the rain these past few weeks has been limiting my riding (CA). My sympathy to all of you that live in cold places and can't ride all winter. I tried a spin class and thought it awful compared to riding outside.