Deer in the Headlights!

[Laguna]

Goodness gracious. Do not let this deter you! However, ask your husband to put on some flat pedals. No toe clips, no straps, just flat pedals you can ride with some sort of flat shoe. Then get used to the bike in a large parking lot until shifting feels real comfortable. Then maybe take it on a trail of some sort but DO NOT put clipless pedals or toe clips back on for at least a couple of weeks. Your husband sounds like a good guy but if there is any chance he is intimidating you (subconsciously) as you learn to ride, try to ride without him or ask him to go get coffee while you tool around the parking lot a bit.

Good luck!
Steve

[zoom-zoom]

Katz, it sounds like maybe your tension on your pedals is set too high. I have mtn. SPDs and still have them set at the lowest tension setting...and I have yet to have issues with my cleat staying in or being hard to clip out. I promise, once you get the hang of clipless pedals they are SO worth it!

[KatzPajamas]

I don't feel intimidated...just frustrated. I have thought about little else since I ordered the bike. I am truly looking forward to getting out and riding, and had hoped that we would ride tonight. I grew up on a bike, cannot remember ever falling off of one. Even when I learned to ride as a 6year old kid, I just took my bike to the top of the hill and away I went. Lived on that thing all year round. Rode my one speed Schwinn as a senior in high school 20,30,40 miles trips with friends...who needs more than one speed when you are young and invincible! I will be going to the plain old pedals with my tennis shoes for quite awhile for sure. Thanks for the words of advice and encouragement! Good thing I have a massage scheduled for this coming Saturday...I have a feeling I am going to need it!

[Velocivixen]

I'm so happy that you love your new bike! Isn't it a great feeling to get one that just seems to "fit"? Years ago I bought a mountain bike as my "ride around" bike and it was very "advanced" for me. It had clipless pedals and I bought the shoes and everything. I was practicing in a quiet neighborhood and was actually fairly proficient at clipping in/out, but one day I was practicing and was going at a slow walking speed and simply tipped over and forgot to put my foot out and fell down! It happens, so don't be hard on yourself. Pretty soon you'll be posting all sorts of accomplishments on here.
I think people who are somewhat new on bikes should keep a journal of their accomplishments, mistakes, errors, feelings, etc. because I think if we did there would be a lot of change in about a months worth of riding.
I rode a Schwinn Le Tour 10 speed from ages 13-early 20's and never thought once about the drop bars. Now I'm 47, thinking of getting a bike with drop bars and am terrified to even go on a test ride.
You're brave in that you went to all those stores and did all those test rides. You go girl!