I survived! Well, almost.
Right. Only a few minor incidents. Don’t worry about the fact that I kept toppling over, that Phillip had to push me off like I was a four year old or that I literally FLEW off my bike, busted my knee and ripped my new leg warmers. Apparently biking is harder than I thought??!
Alas, we rode for an hour and a half and I discovered really fast that I like to cycle…but once I start, I can’t stop. That rules out stop signs, lights and drinking water while riding. I still need to master that, apparently. Needless to say, power yoga was out of the question.
When I got home I nursed my wounds in the bathtub for about 45 minutes and then went and got a manicure. Hahaha 
Lunch was a quorn cutlet, cucumber, grapefruit and a SCM cookie:
Okay. Must go write for the rest of the afternoon. Ready, set, GO!
{ 85 comments… read them below or add one }
Awww sorry about the bruises, I’m sure you’ll have that bike figured out in no time!
You will get the hang of it girl!
Glad that you like it so far, the important skills such as stopping and staying on the bike will come with practice, I can definitely relate to these tales hehe
Oh my!! Good thing you were wearing a helmet!
That’s the thing that has always scared me about “serious” biking – being clipped into the bike… Hopefully things will get easier, pronto!
Ouch! Sorry you got hurt but I’m glad it wasn’t worse!!
You will get real good real fast! Sorry you had trouble though! I felt like I needed someone to hold me steady and give me a push too! Remember, practice makes perfect! Did Phillip offer to go with you again? I’m sure you will have it down in no time! Take care of yourself!
PS – I ordered some Kodiak mix today!
Uh oh!!! Well, that doesn’t look too bad…just think about the blisters you can get while running…much worse, right?!?
Good for you for getting out there– you’ll master it before you know it!
Ouch! Glad you are ok!
You have to practice a little more
Hmmm….maybe you should avoid the clips until things feel a bit more natural???
Do you have a Camelbak backpack? I use those when I ride, it makes drinking a lot easier! I got clips a few months ago but have yet to test them out because of the weather. I’ll probably fall over a good bit too. Don’t worry, you’ll get better!
do your feet really clip into your pedals so you can’t get them out?? scary….
ouch! i hope your wounds heal fast!
Ouch!! I’m impressed you were able to ride for so long- I was exhausted after my first try!!
You have to fall once…then it is out of your system! The first time I fell was a stop sign leaving my neigborhood. I couldn’t get my clip out and BAM! I ate the dirt! haha!
Seriously though…glad you weren’t seriously hurt!
Totally normal for the first time out. You will probably have a few more stumbles as well. I still remember being at stop lights and trying my hardest to get my feet unclipped and then I would fall over in slow motion. You will get it-just be careful! Drivers do not watch out for you…….
Oh no! I’ve been dying to try biking, but you’re making me scared! I’m klutzy enough as it is
I was worried that you may have an accident with the shoes
but didn’t want to scare you before you first got out. I’ve read where even very experienced riders have an accident occasionally so don’t get discouraged. You just have your first battle scar
Injuries are what separate sports from activities
Agggh that sucks. It was funny because my doctor was doing an annual physical on me and said I definately have a legs of an athlete due to all the scraps, cuts, and bruises
The important thing was that you kept going!! (but couldn’t brake
) Congrats on your first ride — even if it had a few bumps.
Sorry about your injuries! Hope you heal quickly!!! But how exciting to do something new and enjoyable!
You’re a true bicyclist now with those injuries!
Ouch…getting “clipped in” is super hard to get used to. I relate it to stopping while rollerblading on hills. I can’t even tell you how many times I crashed doing that back in the day when it was popular. Still loved it, but man did I go through pants and skin until I got knee padding. Good luck with your training…you’ll get it in no time!
You should get a trainer to set your bike up on inside. I used it when I first got the pedals and I also learned how to drink water on it while still riding. It’s great for training inside during bad weather. Kinda expensive but definitely worth it!
Oh no! You’re a trooper! I feel off my bike and crashed (hard) a few years ago and haven’t been on one since. You’ll get better in no time!
It is so exciting doing something new! I swear I did more flying over the handle bars when I was biking. I decided that I just was not coordinated enough to continue to do the that myself. Mine was mountain biking though and I swear the branches would jump out and grab me! Sounds like you are off on a fun new adventure!
Aww Jenna I am sorry about the accident but I am glad you like biking
Jenna
I’m the same way with cycling. I’m afraid to stop!
Ouch, that doesn’t look so good… but despite that, I still want to get into cycling. I was in Vermont last summer, and busted out my bike every day. They have such wonderful path. But here, back in Cleveland, I feel like my life is endangered every single time… and I have a flat tire, and it’s snowing
I really like your blog by the way!
- Kloé
You will quickly adjust Jenna….especially after experiencing a fall and cutting up your knees. I don’t bike but when my sister started biking it took her a few tries before she got used to the clips!
Aww I’m sorry about the boo boos! That sucks, I hope they feel better soon.
Good luck on your next few pages!
Beware of those stop signs and lights! Or, more accurately, the police that wait hidden for the unsuspecting bicyclist to run them. My boyfriend and I are both bike commuters in the SF/East Bay area, and my boyfriend was slammed with a $450 ticket for running a light on his bike. (Alameda county is notorious for high traffict fines, though. Might be a little different where you are.)
I fell 3 times my first days after switching to clipless. Hurt like hell too. Even though I have been riding for awhile now, I still unclip one foot almost 30-40 feet ahead of an approaching stop sign just to be safe and that has seemed to work for me. You will get the hang of it!!! I promise.
ouchies, you are a trooper! maybe wear kneepads under your pants? i don’t know, maybe it will help just in case and to protect your knee at least until you get the hang out it ! lol that sounds so funny now that i look at it typed out. oh well better than another busted knee!
Keep up the hard work! I remember getting my first “rookie marks” as a biker. You’ll get the hang of it soon and find zen in the world of biking:)
Ouch. Glad you have a positive attitude about it! But can I suggest that you get regular (platform) pedals until you get used to your bike? Right now you’re getting used to road bike geometry and balancing on it… and riding outside… and clipless pedals. Bike guys are always very macho and act like platform pedals are stupid, but they would give you a chance to get used to riding without falling over. then after a few weeks you can add the pedals in to the mix.
Or- at the very least- you can adjust the tension on the pedals so it’s very easy to clip in and out. Ask them to do it for you at the bike shop.
I say all this from experience, by the way!
Jenna, if you’re coming up to a stop sign then it helps to unclip one foot while you’re still moving, before you stop. That way you can just dismount using that foot. Most people unclip with their left foot. I’m weird – I unclip with my right! You’ll find out which one is natural for you. Another thing to try, if you have time, is to change down to an easier gear before you stop so that it’s easier to get going again. Again, it will come with time.
Does your cycle store offer any courses in practical cycling skills? I can highly recommend them. They can be really useful for learning how to choose gears, how to climb, brake and corner properly.
I guess at this time of year cycling on a football field isn’t really an option over there (I’m in New Zealand, so it’s mid-summer)? Otherwise that’s another good way to get used to clipping, unclipping and braking.
Good luck!
Hang in there! You’ll get it!
I’m glad you enjoyed your bike, but surprised that anyone at the bike shop would sell you so much right at the get go, shame on them for not having you get used to the bike first.
Yikes biking with clip in shoes sounds hard. I think I’ll stick to my regular bike for now. Be careful.
I wanna hear more about this Phillip!
Ouch! Scrapes on the knees are the worst! Good thinking on treating yourself to a manicure!
oh no!
At least you got it over with- it happens to everyone, I swear- those clips are way trickier than they look!
Take care of that thing! And so that you know- it looks pretty bad ass!
glad you enjoyed your first cycling experience! my bf bought me a road bike this fall for my birthday…and my 2nd time out I fell and had to get stitches on my elbow
now i love cycling!
Pretty much sums up why biking terrifies me…
Ouch! Glad you had fun, though. That’s the most important thing!
Love the random dinner! ;> At least you can only improve on the cycling! Sometimes the hardest part is starting.
Quite the random lunch you have there ; ) I bet you’ll have the cycling down in no time!
Hang in there! It took a long while to figure out the stop signs and all that stuff as well, but it is sooooo worth it! When I still lived in CA (San Luis Obispo) bike riding became my yoga….I would center myself during the rides. Your meal looks great, but what is a quorn cutlet?
Oh no! Bikes are tough… but I guess you know that already
now that you’ve survived a few bumps in the road though I’m sure you only have smooth sailing (or should I say riding) ahead of you!
Hi, I’ve been a reader for awhile, but I don’t think I’ve ever commented before. About biking…(I just started on a bike with clipless pedals last summer)…my tips:
(1) If you are having trouble clipping in and out, try adjusting the tension on the pedals. There should be a screw on the pedal that can be tightened, loosened. It’s really easy to do, and it can help if you are having trouble clipping in and out. When I first got my bike, I went outside my apartment and rode up and down the driveway, adjusting and readjusting. A bike shop can do this, but it’s easy to do at home as long as you have an allen wrench. (2) Find an empty parking lot/deserted road somewhere and practice clipping in and out, in and out. (3) Depending on the type of pedals and shoes you have you can try just clipping in one shoe at a time, leaving the other free. So, if you have to put your foot down you can. (4) Please be careful! (5) Pump up your tires/check pressure each time you ride. Very important to avoid flats. Get a big, good pump. It’s really really hard (impossible for me) to pump tires up to 110 psi with a little pump, or even a cheap large pump. (6) Learn to change a flat tire by the side of a road. (Invest in CO2 cartridges.) Practice before you need to. (7) Get a bike multi-tool, if you don’t buy any other tools. (8) the book…”Zinn and the ARt of Road Bike Maintenance” is a good reference.
Sorry if I’m repeating advice you’ve heard, or if you already know this stuff. Good luck and be safe!
that’s quite the road burn you got there! glad you’re enjoying it, but hope it gets a little safer for ya
It’s okay Jenna,
First time I used clip-ins, I braked at a stop sign, but couldn’t get my foot out so I toppled over & elbowed myself hard enough to dislocate a rib! It gets easier! Helps if you practice in grass
Hey Jenna,
Hope the knees are ok! One piece of advice (in case you haven’t gotten enough yet), get some capri length padded pants until you get used to the pedals. They will save your knees from scarring! They are thicker than the leg warmers so they won’t tear. And I echo what others said, maybe you can ask to reduce the tension on your pedals, might help clipping in and out easier.
Good luck!
Congrats on your first ride! I bought a road bike this summer and FELL IN LOVE with the scenery the rides bring. I’m new to your blog, and thought it was funny that your name is Jenna (as mine is too). Anyways, that was random, but thanks for the great site and lots of great info! I recently started my own blog and it’s been a fun hobby
I fell like a million times trying to get used to clipless pedals. I had to have two friends stand like 50meters apart on a side street and one would hold me while I started, and the other would catch me when I couldn’t unclip. So much blood and tears were involved – and I still have scars on my knees! But as soon as I got the hang of it, it became totally natural. You’ll get it! Keep trying, and remember that everyone crashes a million times learning how to use them. Good luck!
ps we have the same cycling shoes!
LOL aawwww sorry to hear about your fall, don’t worry though i’m pretty sure that happens to everyone learning to clip in and out. It happened to my friend at a stop light.. she stopped, couldn’t clip out in time, and just fell right over!
I will have to splurge and buy those quorn cutlets with the cheese!! It reminds me of what my mom used to make for me when I was younger, except these will be much more healthy for me
Ouch! That looks like it hurts! Nothing a mani can’t cure though…
Congratulations on hopping back on the bike, I would have been too scared!
ouch! Glad it was just a minor scrape. I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it soon.
you are such a tropper! your next ride will be so much better!
So sorry to see that you got banged up the first time out, but, secretly, I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one!! I fell big time on my first 3 rides because I couldn’t get the hang of unclipping. At least you were with one friend… I was in big groups each time, and it was totally embarrassing. I switched my pedals to some that had already been broken in and it helped me get in/out much easier. But, I still have a habit of unclipping super-early any time there’s a stop sign, stop light, unleashed dog, you name it. With your positive outlook, I have no doubt that you’ll get the hang of it in no time!! Good luck
Aw man, you look pretty hardcore with your “battle wounds”…I’m sure you’ll get the hang of road cycling in no time!
Jenna,
This is unrelated to your post, but I ran across this article on nytimes.com and thought you’d enjoy it: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/dining/27yoga.html?pagewanted=1&em
I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve heard of the yoga/foodie combo before, as it looks right up your alley! Enjoy!
Hilary
Ouch, you poor thing! I hope it just looks worse than it feels. I would definitely get some of that scar-preventing cream. It may really come in handy for your training
I really think that happens to most people when they first try to ride with the clip-ins. I have fallen more times than I can count. In fact, one of my friends who is an awesome power cyclist fell over trying to turn around too slow, and didn’t unclip in time. She still has the scar on her left knee. I really think that she was more embarrassed about it b/c the fall happened to be in front of a German festival. haha
Wishing you a less dangerous second ride…..safe journeys!
PS By the way “M” is not me,”M.”! (no questions from me about any fellas!)
Glad to hear you made it through your first cycling adventure (mostly) in tact! Consider the boo-boo a fitness tattoo…and a temporary one at that.
So glad you’re OK. Mani-pedi solves everything.
Ouch. Your clips are adjustable, it can be as hard or easy to unclip as you need at your current skill level. The bike shop can help you make it easy to unclip until you get the hang of it. When I started, I had them adjusted loosely so I could get unclipped very quickly and easily. As you progress, you make it tighter which makes for a better grip so you don’t come unclipped accidentally when you are really pushing it.
OMG. hahaha. sorry I can’t help but laugh cause I bike rode in SF this past summer I was EVERYWHERE..I couldn’t stop…even if a car was coming towards me…it was a sight to see. Hope you heal well!
Ouch! I love being clipped in, but I definitely got used to them in spinning class before being on the road…
Also, I pretty much always do a running start kind of mount to get started – it’s kind of like someone pushing you.
Ouch! And boo about the new legwarmers
You’ll get the hang of it soon, I know it! Glad you were able to pamper yourself with a manicure afterwards, hehe
Oh no! At least it shows you’ve been working hard!
Yikes.. must be harder than it looks! You will get the hang of it!
Aw man, your knee looks like it hurts!! I hope it feels better today =) You’ll get the hang over it…its just like riding a bike! (Its funny that people say that, when it obviously isn’t that easy!)
Ouch Jenna, so sorry! I guess you have to start somewhere right? Praying it gets easier!
Ouch! Feel better!!! You are such a tough biker!
Oh no! I’ve been wondering what would happen if you fell. Do your feet stay in the clips and your helpless? I think I’ll stick to running, something that requires zero skill and coordination.
I am training for a century, too! How fun! And yeah, the shorts feel like a diaper but you will REALLY REALLY REALLY
I am training for a century, too! How fun! And yeah, the shorts feel like a diaper but you will REALLY REALLY REALLY be glad you have then. Don’t try to skip them. Ever. Over 5 miles. You will regret it.
Tip: When I want to wear my shorts for a ride, but not for something I’m doing afterwards, I wear a running skort with its own thin shorts built in and slip the bike shorts on underneath. Then I can slip them on and off when I want.
Most people fall many many times. Apparently the mountainbike clipless shoes are actually easier to deal with than “road bike” shoes. I didn’t know that, and wish that I had gotten them, but it’s fine. I don’t comment much, but I think I mentioned “Velo Girls” in San Francisco. Although you are working with someone, it’s a great program and you meet all sorts of cool women who are biking.
Great effort, and next time it will be so much easier for you! Each time you try, you will get more efficient and better at it!! Just keep it up…Hope you feel better, and you definitely deserved the manicure! =)
Ouch! Your story totally reminds me of a book I just read called Iron Heart by Brian Boyle. He was training to a tri and had a similar experience falling off the street bike with the tricky pedals. Hope you are recovering and keep it up. So exciting…
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