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I'm so scared

Posted by Leslie on March 29, 2012 at 5:00pm

I've just switch to clipless pedals a couple of weeks ago, but I'm still hitting the asphalt like crazy. Now my legs have patches of blue, purple, and red all over. Maybe I'm not ready for them yet. I need to bike to school though. The bus usually takes forever.

It's not really that bad, I know. 10 to 20 miles (16 to 32 km) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 13 miles (22km) on MW. It was easy with my old pedals...but now it's just so scary. I clip out long before the stoplight. Even when I'm just coasting I'd disengage my left foot. Today I just took the bus to school because I was too much of a wimp to bike to school.

I don't want to stop cycling, but I don't want to look like a failure going back to traditional pedals. How can I get rid of this fear?

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Replies

  • DURIANRIDER March 31, 2012 at 10:02am

    Get your cycling confidence up first THEN get clipless. :)

    Practise clipping in and out. Do it 500 times each leg before you go riding. Hold onto the fence or something safe and solid.

    Make sure you check your cleat bolts in the first week cos they can come a bit lose as they bed in.

    Use a white out pen to mark around your cleats so you have a reference point.

    • Sweetfruitlover > DURIANRIDER March 31, 2012 at 10:11am

      What DR said.

      Hold on to something and just clip out over and over and over again until it becomes natural.  It helped me to keep them really loose so I could get out very easily.  I was scared of feeling trapped in there.   And having them loose didn't affect my ability to ride and go full out at all, just how easily I was able to get out of the clips.  Once it becomes natural you'll love it!

      • Leslie > Sweetfruitlover April 2, 2012 at 6:38am

        Thank you both for the advise! I think the reason I fell a lot last week was partly due to me running out on bananas as well and having a paper due on top of that.

        I think I'll make a trip to the LBS again to see if they can help me with adjusting my cleats, but in the meantime I'll definitely carb up and practice. 

  • DURIANRIDER March 31, 2012 at 10:00am

  • amber pepin-turbide March 31, 2012 at 5:30am

    just keep doing it youll get better

  • Windlord March 29, 2012 at 5:05pm

    Maybe practice in the park on grass.

    Also, while the ego might take a temporary hit, how bout have a friend run along with you holding the seat, just a parent might do, as you practice?

    • Leslie > Windlord March 31, 2012 at 5:28am

      Thank you. I'll do just that. My ego has already crumbled. First time I crashed, I had just gotten my pedals changed at the LBS. I crashed right into a rack of keychains lol It was so loud... I thought I had crashed into a glass panel or something.

  • Sanazberries March 29, 2012 at 5:01pm

    You should do whatever makes you most comfortable!

    • Leslie > Sanazberries March 31, 2012 at 5:24am

      Thanks! I saw on another discussion that you go to a community college in CA as well. Where do you go?

      • Sanazberries > Leslie March 31, 2012 at 6:43am

        American River College in Sac, CA
        How about yourself?? 

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