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Original poster

Help with cycling fear

27 replies

Icouldstillbejoseph · 22/09/2014 17:41

I am being pathetic

After running for years I have decided to do a triathlon. I have a nice shiny new road bike all the gear no idea and have been out for 5 crap rides.

I have not used clip pedals before and have managed to fall off twice. Once, and this still baffles me, where I was completely still with one foot un-clipped - and I STILL managed to fall over. Took a large piece of skin off my knee (which flapped nicely in the bloody breeze on the ride home).

Anyway, I've not ridden a bike since I was about 8. I'm crap at it. I'm nervous of cars, gravel, junctions, bumps, going downhill, corners - anything really.

I can barely manage to signal without wobbling - let alone reach for a drink.

I really want someone (other than DH who is a good cyclist and trying to be encouraging) to tell me this is all normal, that I can still do a tri and tips for generally manning-up.

Sigh.

OP posts:
Borderterrierpuppy · 22/09/2014 17:57

Watching with interest as I have recently started cycling again, not training for anything, and I struggle with the fear factor too.

Original poster
Icouldstillbejoseph · 22/09/2014 19:43

Oh you make me feel better! Just by being out there Wink

OP posts:
Laphem · 22/09/2014 19:49

I was scared when I started cycling for the first time since being a kid. I started by getting my confidence up on quiet roads and cycle lanes in parks etc. and gradually moved to busier roads. The good thing about a bike is that you can always get off if you are on a bit if road you don't like!
Now cycling is my main mode of transport, I cycle everywhere and cycled till I was 8 months pregnant. Not fearty of it at all anymore!

CMOTDibbler · 22/09/2014 19:54

Have a look for Sky Breeze rides near you - its all women and v friendly.

Apart from that, lower your saddle for now, loosen your cleats so they unclip more easily, wear a hi vis top, and then get on with it - find quieter routes with no huge hills to begin and just keep going.

You can do it! If I can do a tri, anyone can Smile

ShutUpLegs · 22/09/2014 19:59

You are most likely to do a cleat-induced prat-fall when stationary. You forget that you are attached to the bike with one foot and you can lose your balance really easily. We have all done it - and the comforting thing is to know that if you do fall due to cleats, its likely not to be at speed.

Time on the bike is essentially all you need but look for some cycle groups near you that will be kind to beginners. Breeze rides are good for women only groups, and its often cycle campaign groups rather than clubs that can be more social and welcoming of the nervous. Also think about finding a local bike coach for a one-to-one session for anything that really worries you - there are lots of schemes that do adult coaching.

I often take a group of mates out for an easy spin and then go off and do a bit more on my own so ask around your friends if you know any keen cyclists. I am always happy to bike coach and encourage a new starter.

Kudos to you for going for it whole-heartedly, cleats and all. Stick with it and good luck!

inabeautifulplace · 22/09/2014 20:03

Get some flat pedals on while you get used to handling the bike. If you haven't learnt to balance properly then clipless pedals will be horrid.

A slightly more extreme bit of advice would be to leave the road bike alone for a bit and get a cheap second hand mountain bike. These are easier to control and a bit more stable.

There's nothing inherently wrong - I'd ridden off-road for thousands of miles yet the first ride on a proper road bike was a bit scary.

beaker25 · 22/09/2014 20:06

I started cycling 4years ago and was terrified at first, but now I love it and its my main mode of transport. Do you have a river path or a park with a track/ road near you where you can get used to handling the bike and practice signalling etc? I have a very large park near me with 6 mile road circuit which is where I learnt to ride a bike pretty much!

Falling off first time you clip in is completely normal, everyone does it. It does get easier/ more natural. It took me about a year before I felt confident enough to use them though, so perhaps you're a bit early trying?

Let yourself get used to it gradually, so you don't scare yourself so much that you hate it, and don't put too much pressure on yourself to be great straight away, it does take time. keep doing it and keep visible and you'll be fine. Good luck!!

Original poster
Icouldstillbejoseph · 22/09/2014 20:33

Oh thank you all. You have made me feel better about falling off....
It's not the traffic I'm necessarily scared of, there's plenty of quiet roads etc around here (but not a lot of flat) it's just falling off. I can't get it out of my head that I'm attached to the bike and it would be awful if I fell off. But I still feel like I should persevere with the cleats as I don't like to be beaten that's the best way to learn?!

OP posts:
BearPear · 22/09/2014 20:37

I cycle a road bike and tried cleats but fell off quite spectacularly in front of a herd of cows (and DH). I have gone back to a steel half-toe loop which just keeps my foot in place but not fastened to the pedal. I think you have gone straight in with the cleats without gaining some more experience on the bike - ride more, maybe with Breeze or your local club and see how it goes.

Good luck

catsofa · 22/09/2014 20:38

Replace the SPD pedals with normal ones. You do not need them, they can make you fall off and they are just one more thing to worry about. Try them again, if you really feel the need, much later when you have got lots of confidence.

If you cannot signal yet without wobbling then you should not be using SPD pedals!

CMOTDibbler · 22/09/2014 20:44

What sort of pedals do you have? Ds and I (and dh on his off road bike) have spd cleats and dual sided pedals so they are clippy one side and flat the other. This means you can not clip in at all (so I can pop to the shops in normal shoes), and theres no pressure to clip in straightaway. Ds spent his first 3 outings of clippy shoes with just one foot in which gave him a chance to learn to always put the same foot down.

catsofa · 22/09/2014 20:46

But what is the point? Apart from lifting your right pedal up ready to start off again at lights without having to kick it up, they are not useful in the slightest for a wobbly beginner and have huge downsides i.e. making you fall off. Which in traffic can be really dangerous.

unadulterateddad · 22/09/2014 21:09

double sided pedals are great for beginning with clipping in, well worth a try if you use spd cleats.

It took me about 5-10 rides to get used to cleats including falling off three times whilst stationary. It doesn't hurt much (apart from embarrassment) and I quickly got used to them. undo the cleat so it is as loose and as easy as possible for getting your foot out.

Good luck and with a bit more practice you will be fine

Original poster
Icouldstillbejoseph · 22/09/2014 21:17

DH has just put 'normal' pedals back on for me...
He is taking the piss just a little bit Grin

OP posts:
Fatmanbuttsam · 22/09/2014 21:24

Watching with interest....I recently got a road bike....no problem with being out on the road (except I'm slow Sad but have stuck with toe clips so far as I'm sure I'd fall off with cleats....

Is there any advantage to cleats?

mulberrybag · 22/09/2014 21:25

I feel your pain. I could have written your post last week and still have the skinned knees to prove it. I don't want to remove the spd pedals either mostly due to stubborn tendencies but two falls last week and I'm low on the confidence stakes. flat cycle tracks seem to be the way forward or at least that's my plan and hope for no audience this time Gringood luck

Original poster
Icouldstillbejoseph · 22/09/2014 21:38

I think cleats help you ride more efficiently as you pull as well as push with the turn of the pedals - but I've already demonstrated how much I know about cycling so that could be wrong!

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 22/09/2014 21:47

Cleats do make a big difference as you are active throughout the pedalling cycle - so you don't just push down, you pull round and up. Most noticable on hills - ds was significantly more capable when we changed him over

catsofa · 22/09/2014 21:48

They do, but the difference is tiny compared with the aggravation and loss of confidence you're causing yourself trying to use them compared with normal pedals. Get safe and confident on the road first, then see if you need to shave seconds off your time with aerodynamic spokes and special shoes later.

ShutUpLegs · 23/09/2014 08:39

Cleats do make a difference - but they are a leap of faith. I avoided them for years but having made the leap, I wouldn't go back. Your foot is secure on the pedal so there is no slipping about and the power transmission on hills is noticeable. I also find cleats easier than toe-clips. When you do go back to cleats, you can always try cycling on a field so there is a softer landing - although its more difficult to get the starting momentum you need to get going and clipped in!

However, I agree that getting confident with flat pedals first is a good approach - I wasn't sure from your OP whether you were determined at all costs to persevere with cleats. If you can get to the stage where you can indicate without wobbling and drink without getting off the bike, then you should make the transition fairly seamlessly.

PansOtherPeople · 23/09/2014 13:52

Don't give up on cleats! The aggravation element will subside, and it takes practice and not much more. One thing I learned, which non-one told be about, was that it's much easier to disengage with some pressure on the pedal - so slide out when on the down stroke or at the bottom of it. Trying to slide out with no pressure is difficult or impossible. When you start up again, just do a few strokes with your foot resting on the pedal and clip-in again when you are comfortable. Same goes for approaching 'stops' - clip out on approach and rest your foot on the pedal so there is no 'panic' when you actually slow down a lot. Bike So wipe that piss-taking grin off dh's face.Smile
btw, the universal no. of times you fall off before getting it is indeed 3. So you're in large company.
hth

CQ · 23/09/2014 13:58

Cleats make a minimal difference to your overall time in a tri, so if they're affecting your confidence then stick to the normal pedals that your smug DH has put on for you.

And in fact it will save you time in transition as you won't have to change shoes between the cycle & run, so you'll gain more time overall. Win-win.

I have, in fact, recently changed my pedals back to normal ones as I appear to be losing my nerve in traffic, and seem to want to just be able to pop my foot down for a split second when moving slowly.

PansOtherPeople · 23/09/2014 14:06

well, to be fair, using clip-ins on a hill will/can(?) make quite a difference in times and effort expended and is much smother than non-cleats in cranking. I commute on a hybrid without, and pootle on a race bike with, and the difference is v noticeable. The only reason I have 'without' on the commute is there are 22 traffic lights and 5 roundabouts I negotiate and so it would an awful lot of messing about. On a tri- I'd think there's a lot less mithering than that!

Original poster
Icouldstillbejoseph · 23/09/2014 15:28

I think I should stick with the normal pedals for a bit as when I'm 'clipped in' I just keep thinking "agh I'm attached to the bike agh agh" and other such panicky wuss thoughts
But I'm all for getting one up on DH so any ideas welcome Wink

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 23/09/2014 15:38

I have pedals which are cleats one side and normal the other. So when approaching junctions, etc i clip out early and use the normal pedals.