What a weekend!
I have been working out on a trainer all winter. Been going out on my old hybrid bikes a few times in the past weeks, until the road conditions are better (holes patched, heavy rain washes the salt and pebbles, etc). Some have been repaired, rain cleaned the roads some. So we took our carbon bikes out Saturday for the 1st time. Of course I go with my clipped feet. Yeah! Results: 3 falls!
1st fall: my fault. I’m waiting for hubby in the driveway. I have left foot clipped in ready to start! I am confident, and know I can nail this. Afterall, I practiced clip/unclipped a thousand times while training on trainer since January. My ipod is on (on the bar) but not loud enough (and I’m not talking blasting – just a little background stimulation). So I try to push the side button one notch. But the button is “glued” to my polar reader. So I bend on my left a little to the left to see more clearly. My right foot lifts, slips, my bike shifts to the left…I’m clipped on the left and I can’t unclip on time so BANG…on the ground. Great! Lesson learned: when you are stopped: both feet on the ground. Hihi My bike is unharmed….I feel burning on left knee. Oh well… learning curb what! But still waiting for hubby to get out so I look at my legger and I see blood through it. Oups… I lift it and knee is badly scraped and now bruising start. Go inside, apply plasters and out we go. I ride a good 15km with my mind buzzing: unclip, unclip, do not forget unclip…. It goes well. I do remember that the cleats are super slippery on the ground. Like ice. So be careful!
Hubby is proud (although scares as he knows I’m the worst goofer in town…if something is to happen, it will be to me). I do very well, although I am a nervous wreck. We have soooo many stops, lights, etc. Worst ride I could have chosen, but I learn. That’s great.
2nd fall: We’re about 4-5km from home. We need to cross a road to get to the bike path leading home. So I go across the wood bridge, downhill. All is good, unclip, break, life is grand! I flag to traffic to go and they insist I go. I’m not ready. haha. I can wait. Hubby is already across the street. So I want to clip my left foot but I have issues with the clip/unclip. I’ve had issues all winter but I thought it was me. Hubby even checked it while on our ride to give the maximum looseness and it was. So we would have to take it back to the LBS as it is not normal. Right foot is perfect. The left one feels way too scratchy. Anyway, what would happen next: because of the struggle to clip the left foot, the right one slips…again and I fall again. This time I bang hard on gravel. I got up very upset, hurt (bruising again!) worried my clothes would be ripped (and they’re new or just about and ones I really love), my bike would be scratched all over. I look. All is fine. So I get up, cross the street…on foot! I go across, hubby check my bike and the fork is misaligned, etc. I’m getting upset about those clips. Well the left one. Anyway, he fixes the fork, look at me and bike and all is good. I go.
3rd and last fall: I clip back both feet (left one still hard and now I’m losing the little of what patience I have left – and I am generally very patient for most things –but hate issues like those – so big words are starting to come out!). Hubby repeats that we’ll take the Look back to the shop and they’ll check them out. He is sure something is not normal for the left one as I do the right thing. And I’m fine with the right foot. I’m starting to lose my confidence also. I mean, I worked out all winter. I am doing well and PAF. I’m hurt, my bike will be damaged. Well I start cycling. 3 turns of the wheels and the bike instantly stops with a very weird sound. Of course both feet I clipped and I have no time to react. What do you think happened????? Of couse! I fell solidly on the ground, on my right side again. That was it!!!! The end of those lifespan clips. Haha
Now I am injured (shoulder, right palm, thumb – luckily I had gel gloves on and clothes to prevent dirt to get on the scrapes, etc). My bike fork again took the shock (hubby fixed it again), my right brake handle is scratched (and was new), my pink tape is damaged, ripped. But that can be changed. My clothes: all fine. I don’t understand. No tear, nor fabric damage.
But my 2 knees (the whole knees even going to legs) are scraped, bruised badly, I have my left butt with 1/8 of it bruised in 2 areas, my right leg has the teeth of the chain ring plus the chain engraved in there, in 2 large areas. Going into PT tonight (she is going to check my warriors wounds hihi) while planning my next month training sessions (she’s PT/Kin).
There is no way on earth I’m giving it a 2nd try. Not worth it for me. I don’t speed enough so platform pedals it will be from now on. On trainers I will have clips but not on the road. I’m to insecure and now it is worst. I am not going to wait for something worst to happen. I do understand that clips are better to improve your cycling (on the roads anyway) and that you don’t risk a slip of the pedal. But no use convincing me. I’ve had enough scares for one outing. Haha Although a pain, a bike or clothes can be changed. But my body, I have only one and at over 50, it is harder to heal and I don’t want to risk anything more than needed.
The next day I still went for 23km ride and yesterday we did a 34km ride on platforms (very basic one that came with bike) and I did good. No issues with hills or overpasses.
So I will be looking to buy the best platform for road bike, and NO! No dual pedals. Haha
But I am very proud of all the hard work and training plan my trainer did for me. My speed on the road is very good, even when facing stronger winds for 10km in a row. I’ve been barely out of breath on a huge hill. Last Fall I would have stopped mid-hill and walk. This time, I kept a cadence over 80rpm and zipped all the way up….on platform!!! Yeah.
So this is it for my clipless pedal experience. Not one I will ever forget. And I was happy to have platform the next day as we went cycling and a kid on skateboard threw himself right into us and I was able to slam the break and get off my bike in a flash. Had been on clipless I would have fell I am sure. It is just not for me. My nerves are too raw for that type of riding.