When to do first race

[bluebug32]

I was practicing the barriers in my front yard, didn't clip out my left foot in time and my chainring slashed through the back of my right leg! Yow!

[seastar]

Thanks, I think I will do it

Now any suggestions for mounting/dismounting? Since switching to clipless, i find I am either coming off the bike too quickly (left unclipping and coming down before or at same time as right) or else too slow (bike almost stopped and hopping along on right foot while unclipping left or crashing)

[bluebug32]

I found it was easiest to just break down the process step by step. Start by rolling in and swinging your right leg over and in front of the left. When that feels good, do it again, but this time, bring your right hand down on the top tube. Then add the next step and unclip your left foot. Just remember that you're not forcing the foot out. Ideally, you should be twisting to the side and unclipping (this is where I tend to run into problems and banged up my calf as the result of a stuck foot). Then just keep breaking it down. I set up some PVC pipe barriers that my husband made. That helped. I added the jumping component last, after I got the mounts/dismounts down. For me, I found that it just takes LOTS of practice.