Bike + Me + Pavement = My First Fall! :)

I have officially had my first fall! I know this sounds weird, but I am really excited about it. I feel like a real athlete now...or something like that. Everyone thought it was strange I hadn't fallen off my bike yet...especially now that I am using pedals that you have to clip in and out of.

I was trying to take a hill at too high of a gear. I began slowing down and eventually couldn't go anymore. I knew I was going to have to get off the bike before it started going backwards. I was able to unclip my left pedal...but unfortunately gravity pulled me to the right.

I must say though...they were right! Everyone will fall at some point when you use these kind of pedals. They were also mostly right about the only thing that will hurt is your ego. I definitely have a scraped up leg, and bruised thigh and shoulder...but I guess the biggest thing hurt was certainly my ego. We all need to be humbled from time to time. :)

The only other downside is that the fall messed up my timing. On my old bike I was very good at fixing the chain when it would come off. However, on the new bike I had never had to do that. So it took me quite a while to get it back on. So my 20 mile planned bike ride became 12. Oh well...still a great morning, and some great lessons were learned.

Lessons learned this morning on my bike:

• Keep your mouth closed when going at high speeds...keeps the bugs out.
• Wear sunglasses...even if it isn't sunny...again, keeps the bugs out.
• Downshift before you hit a hill...even if you think you can make it.
• If you begin to slow way down on a hill...get off your bike and walk it. If you try to keep going, make sure you can clip out before you start to roll backwards.
• Learn how to unclip from the right side first...just in case you fall on that side.