So, after my trip to the PT, I immediately went to meet up with my triathlon training group for a 15 mile ride along the Burke-Gilman Trail. One catch: I had just installed my clipless pedals (Yes, they are called “clipless” even though they make a “click” when you actually attach your shoe to the pedal. For an explanation see the REI website: http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/bike-pedals.html)Â the day before.
Yeah.
I got up Thursday morning and tried the clipless pedals out while leaning against the house. After about 2 minutes of practicing clipping in and out of the pedals, I felt that I should ride around the driveway. NOPE! I almost fell off the stupid bike in the driveway – OMG!!!! How on earth am I going to make it through an entire 15 mile bike ride?
Back to present time, I arrived at the group meet up spot and put on my new clipless bike shoes, which are shiny and white. Why anyone would ever make a bike shoe white is completely beyond me. And why would I buy said idiotically white shoes? If you must know, I tried on every pair in my size at REI, men’s and women’s, and the crazy, shiny white shoes felt the best.
Ok. I put on my shoes and with every tightening of the velcro, my anxiety grew. I got my bike off the bike rack on top of my car (another invention that is not as good of an idea as it may seem), and I began to search for Linda, who is the resident bike expert for the team.
Then, I realized I did not have my bike helmet.
For someone who had been dreading this bike ride all day, I was crestfallen. I realized that I had wanted so badly to make this initial ride with the triathlon training team because it is such a safe and nurturing environment. I knew that I could ride and fall without being judged and with lots of encouragement to keep going. So, the thought of having to go home (It is against the law to ride without a helmet in the state of Washington. Thus, no helmet, no ride.) was devastating.
One of my teammates pulls a size small or medium helmet from her car, but, alas, my huge head was too big for it. With tears in my eyes I began to haul my bike back up on top of my car when I realized I had not taken my haul to Goodwill. In my trunk, in all of it’s 15 year old glory, was my old helmet. YIPPEE!!!! HOORAY! I had never been so freakin’ happy to have not actually done all of my errands as I was in that moment.
With my helmet on my head, I excitedly crossed the parking lot to Linda. She told me to stay away from people and cars and to practice clipping and unclipping before we actually started the ride. I have not been that nervous in a very long time. I rode several laps around the lot, and I found that I could actually get my foot off the pedals if I thought, “I want to slow down. UNCLIP, then press the brakes.”
Sweet! I decided to make “UNCLIP, then brake” my mantra for the night.
And away we went.
The ride was excellent, even after it got dark. I realized that a black jacket in the dark was a bad idea, and that a light on the front of my bike would be a very good idea (I do have reflectors!!! They don’t emit any useful light for me, though.).
I did NOT fall down once. I kept my mantra going, and I was able to maintain the average pace of 16 MPH. It was rad.
Needless to say, I felt really badass when we returned to the parking lot. What a great ride! I couldn’t wait to ride my bike everywhere!
Tags: bike riding, clipless pedals, Triathlon Training and Races