First proper ride!

fallendown

I thought i might share with you my first proper ride on a road bike.

I used to mountain bike very regular in the 90s, and then due to other commitments i stopped riding in the 00s...plus the bike was slowly needing a lot replacing due to wear and tear.

So, having bought a road bike in mid February, and then shopped for a bit of kit - pedals, shoes, shorts, helmet, etc, I was out today for my first ride after trying out the pedals/shoes combo to get used to being locked to the bike. Previously I was a die hard toe clips and straps dude.

So I ventured out towards roads which are familiar, and close to woodland/farmland, spent most of the time in the small ring of my compact chainset, but managed the big ring on a few downhills. Many drivers were very courteous giving way to be when I wanted to turn right at junctions. I thought it was great. On the way back, I had to ride through one of the local high streets....very slow in traffic, waiting at zebra crossing like a good guy. But then it happened....a near standstill and I'm still clipped in. Bike and I both go down, I scramble back up, didn't even turn to see the driver behind and carried on....back to the days of bloody knees! :twisted:
I'm still going to have to get used to clipping in when riding off from standstill....but I'm sure that will just come with more hours in the saddle.

Looking forward to the next time. I'm hoping sunglasses will cut out the wind in my eyes....small spectacles just don't work. I'm thinking of Oakley half jacket xlj.

Ciao for now, and happy riding.

Berk Bonebonce

Under helmet cap is a lot cheaper than Oakley half jacket.

mattshrops

sunglasses are good so you dont have to look into the eyes of the people behind laughing at you :oops:

fallendown

I didn't even look back....anyway, next time I know to clip out both feet while in traffic.

cornerblock

Quite an appropriate name you have there! Do you make a habit of it?

christurbo

I've done the same, however I was a die hard MTBer using flats then first time out on clipless pedals on a road bike and I forgot to clip out - smash!

optimisticbiker

fallendown wrote:

I thought i might share with you my first proper ride on a road bike.

Me too - today was only my 3rd ride on the new bike....

fallendown wrote:

I'm still going to have to get used to clipping in when riding off from standstill....but I'm sure that will just come with more hours in the saddle.

As I commute with double-sided SPDs this has become second nature, also clipping out when getting below a certain speed, or filtering...just to be ready... but with the roadbike and one-sided SLs I'm struggling to get clipped in and have several grazes on the inside of my left calf where foot has slipped on pedal :oops:

fallendown wrote:

I'm hoping sunglasses will cut out the wind in my eyes....small spectacles just don't work. I'm thinking of Oakley half jacket xlj.
.

No I have found the same, with the higher downhill speeds on the roadie (hit 45mph! scary) wrap-round sunglasses are high on my list... But are these available in prescription lenses?

jimmy_custard

I just read this and the fear of that whole situation washed over me.

Im about to buy my first road bike and having never used clipless pedals before im fearing the worst. The whole situation mirrors the thoughts ive been having since opting for clipless, thankfully though you have put it all into perspective, a few grazes, and a slightly dented ego :oops: is easily forgotten.

Thanks for posting this as it has really helped set my mind at ease. (for now)

Mental note: Ride on and dont look back........

MaxwellBygraves

jimmy_custard wrote:

I just read this and the fear of that whole situation washed over me.

Im about to buy my first road bike and having never used clipless pedals before im fearing the worst. The whole situation mirrors the thoughts ive been having since opting for clipless, thankfully though you have put it all into perspective, a few grazes, and a slightly dented ego :oops: is easily forgotten.

Thanks for posting this as it has really helped set my mind at ease. (for now)

Mental note: Ride on and dont look back........

First thing to say is good for you starting road cycling and welcome!

Clipless moments do happen but they aren't that bad.

Maybe practice somewhere, in your garden and then if possible on an empy straight road...it will soon become second nature.

fallendown

Hi folks,

My LBS told me when I bought my pedals, it happens to everyone at least once when they first start out. It seems some have the advantage of starting out with double sided MTB pedals. I only had toe clips and straps prior to this.
I too had the same fear as you, but apart from a few struggles to clip in, it really has been fine. You'd think falling at the traffic lights, or on the high street, in front of all the girls would be very embarrassing but you honestly just can't give a Sh*t. Just get back on and carry on riding. I got home and inspected my knee and smiled.
When I use to MTB I used to come off the bike a lot...but I stopped cycling for a few years and then the thought of falling was quite scary. But, fear is definitely worse than bad bike handling to cause you to fall.

Brushiemma10w

Just picked up my Specialized Allez Comp this afternoon, complete with my first ever set of clipless pedals. I spent 10 minutes in my LBS leaning on their counter clipping/unclipping. I'm sure disaster will befall me just when I think I've cracked it but by Christ, I enjoyed the 4 mile ride home. Tomorrow I hope to get a couple of hours in and maybe more Sunday if the weather holds.
For me, Christmas has come on the 8th April this year

jimmy_custard

Thanks Maxwell,

i really cant wait to get going now, need to get down to my LBS and finally purchase the bike, grazed knees and dented ego here we come!!

thanks again,

tobermory

Its so easy to forget your clipped in i practised on an industrial estate after people had gone home just to get used to clipping and unclipping but its part of the fun it does become second nature to unclip but there will be a time when it's not

pauleves

just about to go clipless for the first time on a bike,was given a bit of advice by my lbc and when i thought about it made sense :roll: -only use 1 clipless pedal until you are comfortable that it becomes natural habit to clip in and out then put the other one on

Brushiemma10w

Since my posting of 8th April (above) I've been on two 32-mile rides using clip-ons and had no disasters (probably tempting fate). I find it harder to clip back in than getting out, but I would never go back to clipless....its been almost a revelation for me.