I guess I deserved that...

[Kimmyt]

So I took the new bike out for a spin this weekend. All ready with my new bike, my new clipless pedals, and my new shoes with cleats perfectly aligned.

I'm cruising around the neighborhood, stopping at each stopsign and unclipping, clipping back in. I've got a huge grin on my face, and I'm having fun!

"Hey!" I say to my SO, who is dutifully accompanying me in case I need help at some point. "This isn't so hard! In fact, this is way easier than I thought!"

He laughs, at which point I think about my luck.

"Well, having said that, I'll probably fall..."

I continue cruising, then decide that the wind is a bit too cold to do any real miles so I head back to the house, which is fronted by a steep driveway. As I start up the hill I shift gears. Woops, wrong way.

All of a sudden gravity is joining forces with my stupid gears, which by accident I've put in a harder gear as opposed to an easier gear.

Ok, I think to myself, I'll just dismount at the bottom of the drive. I unclip my right foot, at which point all momentum I had attempted to gain rapidly deserted me and my bike tipped to the left (opposite direction of the foot I had thoughtfully unclipped) and down I went. It felt like slow motion.

I was left, hopelessly entangled in my bike (the left cleat had become unclipped just before I bottomed out...fat lot of good that did!) and laughing hysterically on the cold asphalt.

"I told you! I told you I'd fall!"

I felt relieved. Well, at least that was over.

Now we just have to work on shifting gears...

K.

[slinkedog]

The initial fall is now over. Let the cycling begin.

You have a great attitude and, as someone who has fallen multiple times because of the leaning-the-wrong-way-from-the-side-I'm-clipped-out-on syndrome, trust me when I say it might happen again, but you're probably over it now!!

Have fun!

[Nanci]

Another thing to never say:

"I've never had a flat on this bike!"

Nanci

[CorsairMac]

If it makes ya feel any better Kimmy - I fell this morning. Parked on a sidewalk! I had unclipped my right foot and had it on the ground. I had unclipped my left foot and was putting it down when whammo! The sidewalk was sloped there and it was farther away than my brain thought. Over I went: me, my bike, and I - right over the curb and into the bike lane! (thank God for the bike lane coz it was rush hour traffic) Oh yeah..........ain't nothing like an audience!

[kaybee]

It it makes you feel any better, for a while I had a 50% rating -- I fell on 50% of my rides! Fortunately, I'm getting better, and you will too.

KB

[Nanci]

I almost think it's better to learn on a MTB- you're going to fall anyway, are probably quite used to falling, so it isn't as shocking as on a road bike where you don't expect to fall, and also a usually softer landing- grass, sand...

Nanci