No amount of fake tan is going to cover that.........

[MrsJigwar]

Hi,


After getting back into cycling last year and purchasing a hybrid, I have recently upgraded to a road bike complete with clipless pedals. They are interesting to say the least!

I had my second clipless moment today, however I seem to be a bit of a special case as both my clipless moments have been when I have been at a stand still, with one foot unclipped and on the ground! Gaa!

The first was at a junction on Sunday when I had my left foot on the ground and the right one clipped in, I tried to move the bike forward slightly and put too much weight on the right side, causing me to topple over into a giant puddle...... just as a police meat wagon went past gawping and one of our friends drove round the corner..... I hope they didn't recognize me in the lycra (the friends that is!)......

Today's was even better, I decided to cycle to work (after 7 months of missing the commute due to illness) I packed my bag, stepped outside, clipped the right foot in, forgot the weighs-a-ton rucksack on my back and the weight of it took me crashing to the ground in a heap, pinned to the floor by the weight of the bag and my bike! Oh the shame! I am pretty sure the racket I made drew the attention of the neighbours! I picked myself up as quickly as possible and off I went with blood running down the knee and a battered ego.

It wasn't until I finished my shift at work and got changed that I saw the damage that has come out over the day. The scraped knee is a touch swollen, and the left leg is pretty much covered is some delightful purple bruises completely on the lower leg, and the shin as a be-a-u-tiful lump the size of a peach on it.

I'm meant to be wearing a dress out to a leaving party tomorrow night, thought I would show off the new toned legs from the cycling............. I don't think all the fake tan or make up in the world is going to cover these beauties!

Still, I am totally in love with the road bike, my speed and stamina have increased loads, and all I want to do is get out there and cycle! Beats sitting in the car!

 

[gaz]

I find it's much easier if you only leave one foot clipped in all the time and stop / start with the same foot on the ground. I always put my right foot on the ground and always lean to the right when stopping. That way i don't have a clip less moment

 

[John90]

Still don't get the whole clipless thing. Never feel it is more comfortable and I'm not bothered about the supposed efficiency gain - I ride partly for a workout, I don't WANT it to be easier.

Personal choice I guess like the FAQ says.

 

[chris-s]

Wear your scars with pride!

Chris

 

[zacklaws]

Just wear a pair of Nora Batty stockings, wrinkles optional, you'll be the "Belle of the Ball"

 

[the_mikey]

I find it's much easier if you only leave one foot clipped in all the time and stop / start with the same foot on the ground. I always put my right foot on the ground and always lean to the right when stopping. That way i don't have a clip less moment

I do exactly the same, but also, I find I can pedal with my left foot, which gives me time to get clipped in, sometimes it takes a while...

 

[Spinney]

Hello Mrs Jigwar
That first post is quite an entrance! Welcome!

 

[wiggydiggy]

Show em off with pride, and when asked invent some heroic act of heroism to explain them away

 

[martint235]

Welcome

We've all done it (Gaz's time will come!!! )

As for the poster who doesn't see the point in them, well it is a personal choice. I wouldn't discount the effeciency as making it "easier" though, it just ensures more muscles get a workout.

 

[Sara_H]

I dont even use clipless or straps, but still occasionally fall off when stationary!

Bad luck about the war wounds, wear the dress anyway, I've had eczema on my shins for a couple of years - don't let it stop me wearing dresses though!

 

[byegad]

If you keep the steering pointing left it's quite hard to fall to the right.

 

[TwoWheelsOnMyWagon]

I find it's much easier if you only leave one foot clipped in all the time and stop / start with the same foot on the ground. I always put my right foot on the ground and always lean to the right when stopping. That way i don't have a clip less moment

This is exactly what I do except the other way round, i.e. unclip the left leg and leave the right clipped in. That way I’m always leaning away from any traffic that might come alongside me. Probably doesn’t make much difference but it makes me feel safer. And I always lean to the left when I come to a stop but that doesn’t stop me from falling over to the right after being unbalance from say the road surface or on one occasion a BIG gust of wind. Luckily when it’s happened I’ve managed to do a desperate little bunny hop to get my weight back over onto the left side. More luck than skill.

 

[Arsen Gere]

Scrapes and bruises are a great talking point at parties. They are good for a bit wind up too. You can make up all kinds of stuff.

I was at one company do where drink had been taken and opposite me was a woman who had been talking about some hard skin on her elbows so I started to tell a joke about a woman who goes to the doctors with sore elbows and knees.
She said, "Yes I have bad knees too", and how the doctor gave this woman some cream and told her to come back in a week.
She said "I've been trying cream too but its not working".

So the woman in the joke goes back and the doctor says "Its getting worse, what have you been doing", now the woman opposite is listening for a bit of advice not knowing I was telling a joke.

So the woman in the joke says "Well I have to confess, I like to make love in the doggy position", the woman opposite did not respond and the rest of the table started to listen in.

So the doctor says "For god sake woman use a different position", and the woman says "I can't", he says "Why not?" and the woman says...
"I can't stand the smell of the dogs breath".

There were chuckles round the table at this point and the woman opposite who is half cut looks at me with a straight face and says.
"Our dogs got bad breath too".

I've never cried so much in my life.
I don't work for that company any more...

Welcome to CC.

 

[MrsJigwar]

Thanks for the replies!!

I wore the dress and wounds with pride! Now I have the internal wounds of far to much vodka........ ugh! I would like to say I will never drink again, but I have said that a few times before! The bike will have to stay in bed as if I give it a whirl today, I can guarantee I will end in a heap!

Going on a 57 mile ride tomorrow around the local coast so I will be able to practice not falling off when I get on!

I do find it is easier to cycle with the clipless pedals, well, by easier, it feels like all the power from my legs is moving the bike, so more efficient at cycling than with normal pedals. I even managed to get up a particular hill a fair bit quicker with them, although I noticed my thigh muscles hurt yesterday from it (the day after doing the hill)

 

[Norm]

My best time for a measured route dropped by about 5% when I first tried it clipless but you may also find that the reason you got up that hill quicker was that you were trying harder rather than anything to do with the new pedals.

Good luck tomorrow, anyway, and add 6 miles to the ride to get yourself a metric century.