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

[mizzbananie]

my worst ever bike accident involved my (then) 7 yo daughter's bike that i was riding home after she'd ridden it to school. i don't even remember touching the brakes, but i did a spectacular endo in front of all sorts of moms... omg.. i did a number on my elbow that i still regret... anyway.. the reason i'm on this thread is that i had decided to go clipless, and my bike is at the lbs at this very moment waiting for me to pick her back up. i'm skerrrrrrd. even tho i've had a fall and know it isn't the end of the world, i'm still worried. i thought that if i spend the weekend on the trainer that i'd be in good shape, but.. not so much?

[Catrin]

Today was the first time that I went out with my shiny new SPD pedals... 4 falls later they may not be so shiny any longer

Starting wasn't the problem, I knew that timing my stopping would be the most interesting. It took 3 falls to figure out that I have to unclip BOTH feet to stop - because I am so accustomed to stopping with both feet, not one.

So, bruised elbow and wrenched shoulder aside, I had a great time! I would have gone further than 9.5 miles, but my elbow was getting stiff. I DID manage to ride 4-5 miles after the last fall without falling over again Assuming that I can move my arm tomorrow, I fully intend on heading back out to the same place and doing it all over again minus the falling.

Oh yes, for the first time it was quiet and still enough that I could hear my tires singing on the pavement. That was a very, very good sound!

[channlluv]

You guys are so brave. I have yet to get out on actual pavement with my new pedals. I want to practice with touch-and-go stops with someone who will catch me before I bite the asphalt.

I've been so riddled with injuries of late. I'm surprised I haven't gained back all the weight I lost last year.

Roxy...trying to remember to always fall to the left, fall to the left, fall to the left

[Librarygirl]

He he...Roxy your last sentence reminded me of how when I started with the pedals I would ride along singing to myself the line from that Beyonce song that goes - "to the left, to the left" to try and ingrain leaning to that side in my brain!