I stayed with cages for a long while... and at first had a few tumbles with them due to my inability to get the timing right when it came to getting out.

I just switched to clipless in May and did very well on the trainer... and very well in the cul-de-sac near our home... and very well in a flat section of off-street bike path. I had good confidence after all that Then I took the bike out on a real street during the early morning weekend hours and did very well there... UNTIL... until on the return journey I had to navigate a particularly hairy (to me) section of road where there was oncoming traffic (though in honesty the traffic was quite a bit away). Mentally it was too much to handle the traffic, the road, the clipping out... and that was the end of it. Tremendous tumble that resulted in my left knee being terribly torn up and road rash across my left butt-cheek. I finally got myself together and resumed heading back to where my car was parked. Then at a complete standstill with the left side clipped out beautiful and just standing there, I just lost my concentration and leaned to the right and that was all she wrote. I experienced the longest tumble ever... it amazed me how long it took between my "oh crap, I'm falling over" thought and the actual hitting of the ground. Felt. Like. Forever. LOL! So from that one day I was torn up on both sides.

Mentally that messed me up and since then I've only been able to use clipless in the cul-de-sac. DH said it would be damaging to the cranks to keep putting on and taking off the clipless pedals so I have returned back to cages... and I'm very mad at myself. I don't know how I'll ever get back to riding clipless again since it's a mind-thing at this point and sometimes that's the hardest (for me) to overcome

Cycling should be enjoyable in my opinion. When it's not and it's too stressful because of the clipless pedals, I won't ride. I love to ride so for now I'm back in the cages and very disappointed in myself.

Bruises will heal, be patient with yourself and continue to enjoy cycling