Happy Friday! Random Info/News for the Week

After my debate the other day regarding whether or not to sign up for the Venus de Miles ride, I decided to just go with the flow and sign myself up (By the way, if anyone wants to sponsor me for the ride -big or small donations are fabulous- please contact me and I can send you a link. I'm shamelessly soliciting donations right now because it's a great cause to support - I apologize for that brief digression). My thinking was, if I procrastinated too long, it would only get easier to talk myself out of the ride. Besides that, it really was a fun little adventure last year, and I look forward to doing it again.

**Image from effective-time-management-strategies.com

The focus now turns to Tony Stark (the Hillborne) and making him as good as can be for the ride. We're in the process of some modifications now, and I'll share those as soon as the finishing touches are complete, but suffice to say something needs to be done, or I will be using the Public Bike for the ride (which, isn't necessarily a bad thing, but would likely make it a tougher-on-the-rear ride).

Tony, in his pre-mod form

In other news, Los Angeles has passed a new ordinance that will hopefully make riding in LA a bit easier. While I want to remain positive about this, I have to kind of question how plausible it is that drivers will be cited for harassing cyclists, and more accurately, how a cyclist will be able to get info on drivers to have them cited when they're being harassed. I know that I've had difficulty getting a plate number when an incident happens, but I suppose many incidents happen while stopped which would allow more time. It's certainly a step in the right direction, and I hope it's a sign of things to come across the U.S.

**Images from ubergizmo.com

This looks like a cushy seat to me, though perhaps a little too cushy. Not sure I'm ready to drop 3k to sport this ride, but for the right person, it could be doable.

For those who are locals, tonight there is much going on. The "Bike Tunes" ride starts at 4th and Main at 6p, and goes until the start of the concert at 7p (Music starts at 7p, but food/beverages are available from 5:30-8:30p), Bicycle Longmont is looking for volunteers to help out with valet bike parking for the musical event this evening, and Rabid Rabits is hosting an art show/fundraiser as part of the EBCA for local artists from 5-9p. They're located near the corner of Kimbark and 6th.

Happy Friday! Hope it's not too hot where you are and that you enjoy your weekend on two wheels.

To Ride or Not to Ride? That is the Question

'Tis almost time again to participate in the annual Venus de Miles ride which starts out locally in Prospect and continues on either a 33, 51, 67 or 100 mile ride through the hills or mountain area (depending on the ride one chooses). For anyone unfamiliar, it is an all-women ride that raises money for Greenhouse Scholars, and while I do think it's a worthy cause, I keep putting off registration for one reason or another.  Lack of money, faltering in regard to whether or not I actually want to do the ride again, knowing that classes will have just started up when the ride takes place and wondering whether or not I want to have another reason to be stressed out are just a few of the excuses I keep using to put registration off.

**Image from GreenhouseScholars.org

In addition to the more self-induced (or manufactured), not really legitimate reasons indicated above, I'm struggling with my ability to ride the Hillborne. After more than a year of having and utilizing him, I seem to still struggle with any length of ride on him. I used to just think it was just longer distance, but I've had several instances of aching hand/wrist/lower arm muscles even on short rides. When Sam and I returned from a round trip, 3-mile ride to the market the other day, my hands were completely numb, and later in the day started aching even more. On such a very short ride, there shouldn't be this sort of pain. As an added "bonus", after I ride I seem to struggle with walking due to hip pain (This is a new one for me - and I'm certainly not old enough to be falling apart yet, am I? Wait. Don't answer that.).

I get myself quite worked up about the whole deal because while I know I can physically complete the distance, I don't want to struggle with deep muscle pain the entire length of the ride, and then for hours afterward either. I know that my hand and wrist issues are something unrelated to the bicycle and that I'll have to deal with those regardless, but I never have pain when I ride my upright/city bicycles, so we're looking for a solution to make this ride just as comfortable. While I did ride the Hillborne during last years' Venus de Miles, I don't want to experience the same issues that took place during that ride and that continue today as well.

The start of the Venus de Miles ride 2010

In the mean time, I have a decision to make about the Venus ride. Do I sign up and just not ride if a solution isn't reached in the next 5 weeks or so? I have a friend who is supposed to also ride, but I don't want to disappoint her and not show up at the last minute. Do I attempt to ride the Public Bike on the longer ride (Boy, I got looks riding a steel frame, touring bike last year, can you imagine the commentary I'd receive going on a loop frame, upright, steel bike - Though I must admit, part of me would enjoy proving that I could do the ride even on that bike)?  Do I just decide that the ride isn't going to be a possibility this year, and wait until the Hillborne issues are resolved to try again in 2012?

While I could wait to register for the ride until the last minute, the fees go up incrementally the longer one waits. In addition, I'd like to have time to participate in the fundraiser if I'm going to ride (since the whole point is to get money for Greenhouse Scholars). I don't have a definite answer yet, but I'm certainly open to input from anyone with reasonable suggestions.  Basically, what would you do?

Summer Rides Sometimes Have Pitfalls

This morning after taking the dogs to swim at the reservoir, they were exhausted and ready to sleep in the house, so I decided it was a perfect opportunity to take Tony Stark out for a little ride. It's been a few weeks since I've been on him due to vacation and other happenings. Since we're very close to triple degree temps here today, I tried to plan out a route that would allow me some shade from trees. The best route I could think of was to take the St. Vrain Greenway, which winds through the city and has the river running along side it. Plus, once you get riding, it never feels quite as warm as it actually is in reality.

My plan was to ride at least 20 miles just to get some time in that wasn't a quick jaunt within a few miles of home. To get to the greenway is just about a mile or so from the house, so being in direct sun was just a short portion of the ride.  When I got to the trail's edge, I jumped on and started riding. It felt great to just be out, despite the hot sun beating on me.  Who wouldn't appreciate it when you have views like this?

Tony and I were pedaling right along, when we came upon this:

A road block (or rather, a trail block, I suppose). I was totally bummed. Here I was, ready to set out on my adventure and just a few miles in, we were at a dead end. For those without super vision, here's what the sign says:

Since our temperatures have reached some serious highs, all the snow in the mountains has begun mass melting and is filling up the rivers. While this is certainly a good thing to have water flowing, it makes early summer trail rides a bit of a challenge when it over takes the sidewalk. I considered just going around the side of the gate (since one can quite easily get around it on foot), but I thought better of it. Plus, Tony looked so sad when I left him sitting on the other side.

In reality, the water is a bit deeper than it appears. While we could have waded through it, the line is probably about 8-12 inches at its deepest point.

Tony and I turned around and headed back in the direction we'd come from, and used the east bound portion of the trail instead. Unfortunately, this portion of the trail doesn't have much shade and we didn't last too long, which caused the intended 20 mile ride to turn into an approximate 12 mile ride.

Regardless, it was nice to be outside, as always, and a shorter-than-intended ride is always better than no ride at all!

Pondering a Third... and Fourth Bicycle

Just when I thought two was enough, I cannot help but think about more bicycles. I often wonder what is wrong with me. The two bicycles I have are great. Tony Stark (the Sam Hillborne) is a perfect long-distance ride. He's excellent, and in fact, built for touring. When we built him up last summer about this time, I wanted to be able to use him for shorter distances and longer rides, so he was outfitted with front and rear racks, and a larger-sized saddle bag. The Poppy has been ideal for in-town rides and has shown that she is reliable and easy to ride (sans the recent braking incident, which truly isn't her fault). She's not the best choice for longer distance rides, but that isn't what she was made to do either.

Recent talks have me pondering the idea of mountain biking. Unfortunately, neither of these bicycles are particularly built for this task. The problem has been deciding whether or not I can overcome my fear of falling on giant rocks whilst mountain biking, and thus the decision of whether or not to purchase a third bicycle seems to be difficult. Call me a wimp, but while I'm not afraid of the hard work to get up the hills, the idea of tumbling down the mountain side doesn't particularly appeal to me. I already have a sometimes overwhelming fear of falling, so the idea that this could/would likely happen repeatedly on a mountain bike doesn't terribly excite me.

What does excite me is the accomplishment I would feel by overcoming a fear, and that it would be a type of riding Sam and I could do more often together (since this is his preferred cycling type). Plus, we live in the Rocky Mountains for goodness sake - shouldn't I be taking advantage of this?

Our best thoughts have centered around a Craigslist find. They aren't always easy in the summer time, but we thought that perhaps a several year old mountain bike could be the way to figure out whether or not I would actually do this type of cycling while not spending a small fortune on a new bicycle. We've seen several on CL for under $100 (some under $70), which seems the most likely choice. The irony in it all is that when I was actually riding a mountain bike several years ago, I never once considered taking it into the mountains. Go figure?

The fourth bicycle is one that I am simply obsessing over (and have for the last couple of years) and really have no reason to purchase other than "I want it," which is really no reason at all when one gets down to it. When we bought the Hillborne frame, I intended to use it for long distance rides but I'd like to slim him down for these rides (remove fenders, racks, excess bags, etc). Because of all the "stuff" I have added a good extra 10 lbs to him (sometimes more, depending on what I carry), which is unnecessary for the type of riding for which he's typically being used. Plus, it's added weight that definitely slows down the ride.  On one hand I think "get stronger," or "pedal harder," but on the other, I think a lighter ride would certainly assist in making longer rides more attainable. Somehow in my warped brain, I have convinced myself that the solution is to obtain a Betty Foy.

*Image from Rivendell

Any "extra" parts that could be removed from the Hillborne could be used on the B.F. (the fenders, racks, bag), which would eliminate some of the cost involved. I also have an extra set of Schwalbe tires in the right size, so that's yet another piece of the puzzle, and goodness knows there are always spare parts lying about this house for bicycles. Plus, we have an upcoming trip to California to visit family... I'm sure we could just make a (very out of the way) stop off to visit the good folks at Riv, right? I see the Betty as a bike that would be used for longer distance rides, but not necessarily for the super-long distance rides I'd make on the Hillborne.

While both of these bicycles are merely thoughts at the moment, it's fun to dream. Who knows? One (or even both) bicycles could find there way into the bicycle fold. Justifying the costs (or even coming up with the dough) can/will be the biggest challenge of all! The mental struggle to actually purchase the Hillborne was a huge deal. Other sacrifices get made to allow for such an expense, and I have to wonder if doing that again is worth it.

Mustache Ride

As reported earlier, the mustache bars made their way onto the Hillborne, and I promptly took him out for an approximate 5 mile ride. Before the five mile ride, I took the time to ride down the street, around the block and through the neighborhood to test things out, and to make sure that brake levers were in a good spot and so on. Sam joined me on the little jaunt to Walgreens to pick up a greeting card on Sunday. I have to say, as much as I really don't want to admit it, I think the bars were a mistake. While I was doing great riding around the neighborhood, the slightly longer ride to the store was not so pleasant. I was having a difficult time breathing because of the strange posture (neither completely bent over, nor upright, and stretched entirely too far out), and my hands really didn't do well, and are still actually aching a couple of days after the short ride. I can only imagine what a typical much longer ride would do to me. The worst part about it is that I just can't seem to put my finger on the precise "why's" of this set up not working out as I had planned.

I had read that there was potential for these handlebars to take some getting used to, so I was prepared for an adjustment, but this went beyond an uncomfortable stage. Beyond what is typically my largest issue (hand weakness/pain), and on this ride what seemed to be the inability to breathe properly, my entire right side went numb about a mile into the ride. I'm not sure I'm entirely ready to blame the handlebars for the numbness, as I was having back issues before I even left the house, and it's possible the breathing issues were in part due to allergies and the seemingly never ending wind that has taken over here most days for the last several weeks, but the hand pain was definitely the bars. As advertised, the bars do provide multiple hand positions; however, the pressure on my hands in each of these positions is on the same part of my hand, which for me, defeats the purpose of different positions.

I am tempted to try again when I'm not having other physical ailments to see if it was just a one time instance, but regardless of the outcome, I have a back up plan for these bars should they not work out on the Hillborne. Without giving too much away (okay, it really almost gives it entirely away), I leave you with a photo and a reminder that I have a serious, serious problem... but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Is Patience a Virtue?

As reported earlier this week (and last week), I have been awaiting the arrival of the new handlebars for the Hillborne. After a bit of a weather delay in shipment, they finally arrived yesterday. I was extremely excited to get them because that meant I could enjoy the nicer weather we're supposed to have here in Colorado this weekend.

The box arrives with the mustache handlebars for Tony

I normally prefer to buy parts locally for our bikes; however, when I can save 40%+ by purchasing online, I can't afford to make the choice to buy locally. In this case, Tree Fort Bikes was selling the bars I wanted for quite a savings, so I went ahead and bought online. It's not the first time I've bought from them either. While shipping seems to be a bit on the slow side, the cost savings is completely worth the wait, in my opinion. Of course there are many other online options, and searching for the best deal is usually the route I take, unless it's a company that I've had bad experiences with in the past... then, I often opt to pay a few more dollars elsewhere.

Anyway, the handlebars arrived safe and sound and I felt like a little kid waiting to open her gifts on Christmas morning. I cracked open the box and removed the handlebars which were neatly and properly packaged. I looked at them with glee, and have to admit I was a bit giddy about wanting to get them on the bike ASAP.

The mustache bars removed from the cardboard box

Last night, we had plans to visit some local art galleries, so I knew it wouldn't be completed at that time, but today, Sam is off with a friend snowboarding in Breckenridge, and I'm not sure I have the patience to wait for his return this evening for the mounting to begin. I woke up this morning thinking, "How hard can it be to mount handlebars?" I'm just not sure that I can contain myself to wait for his arrival back home late afternoon to early evening... and then, the bars will only get mounted if he isn't exhausted from the days festivities (which is unlikely).

Mustache bars lounge around, waiting to be installed

So, despite my better judgement, and knowing how uncoordinated I am with such things, I think I'm going to give this a try myself. I figure the worst thing that can happen is that I will get frustrated and give up, at which point I can simply wait for Sam's return home. Best case scenario, they'll get mounted and I can practice riding on them and get the brakes set up in the right location all by myself. That is the plan...we shall see what the actual outcome of this little venture turns into, but I'm hoping for the best. Wish me luck!

Saturday, Fun Day

Today, Sam and I decided to take the bikes into town to do errands and to have breakfast. It was a beautiful day full of mid-70s sunshine and a light breeze. Our first stop was the post office to drop off a package for mom and the mortgage payment (that for some reason we can't seem to pay online) and a few other bills. We'd gotten off to a late start for the morning, but we decided to ride over to the Egg and I for some brunch.

As the sign on the door states, it's a locally owned/operated breakfast and lunch establishment, which is quite tasty. Even though it was closing in on 11 am, I was still in the mood for breakfast, so while Sam played with his phone and looked quickly over the menu,

I went ahead and ordered one of my favorites here: the Texas skillet (minus eggs/meat). It came out looking a little overly cheesy (if there is such a thing), but it was tasty, and we were both so hungry, they probably could've put anything in front of us at that point in the morning.

It's basically mushroom, green pepper, onion, and of course cheese and potatoes with an english muffin. Probably enough fat for the entire week on this plate, but I definitely enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the festive little decorations on the table... much fun for Halloween and autumn time.

After pretty well cleaning our plates, we went to get the bicycles, which were waiting patiently at the bike rack outside the restaurant.

We rode over to Hobby Lobby because I was considering getting a second large easel for my paintings, as I always seem to be working on multiple projects at the same time, and it's nice when they're wet to have a place to put them. We also wanted to look for some fabric for the kitchen table chairs, as they are in need of a makeover. After leaving and deciding to think things over, we opted for the St. Vrain Greenway route home, instead of riding the highway... much more pleasant. While it wasn't quite as pretty as the trees in town, it was much nicer than having to hear the roar of engines racing down the highway.

Overall, it was a beautiful autumn day, full of fun bicycle riding, being together, and accomplishing some research for items that need to be taken care of at home.

Saddle Test

Does something seem wrong with this picture?

How about if I put a picture up from a different angle and crop in a bit more to see a certain section of my beloved Pepper Potts (Pashley Princess Sovereign) bicycle?

After posting the other day about my saddle issues on the Hillborne bicycle, I decided to put the Pashley saddle on the Hillborne to see how much difference it made.  It's a little strange to see Pepper in such a naked state, but rest assured, she won't be without saddle for long. While in class last night, Sam was kind enough to make the switch so that I could test it out today.

I have to admit, it's a little strange to see Pepper's saddle on Tony, but I think it works visually, so I was down for a test ride. Not surprisingly, the wider saddle made a world of difference in saddle comfort. I didn't go for a horribly long ride, as the wind has decided to try to kill us all with these 20-35 mph (or higher) winds for the last couple of days, but the ride quality was extremely improved over the narrower saddle.

I cannot believe what a difference it made. I know that the wider saddle is something that will be more comfortable because my handlebars are significantly higher than they 'should' be for a typical touring bicycle. I had zero pain in my sit bones, and I didn't feel any unnecessary rubbing on the sides of my legs/crotch area, which was one of my fears about a wider saddle.

Though the wind was beyond brutal, the sun was shining brightly, and I am happy to report that a wider saddle seems to be in my future for the Hillborne, and hey, if anyone happens to be in the market for a Champion Flyer S, I'm selling one for a decent deal!

Saddle Discomfort

I went for a little ride today on Tony Stark, the Sam Hillborne. There was nothing special about it, and it wasn't even that far (only about 5 miles), but it was nice to just be on a bike. For your nauseating pleasure (and it does make me ill watching it because it's so jumpy and I turned the camera too much), a brief snippet of the ride today.

I also made a bit of a discovery... one that I think has been apparent for some time now, but I keep denying it: my saddle isn't supporting my sit bones. I've read quite a bit about saddles over the last year or so, and I've been on enough bicycles to know when a saddle feels good and when it doesn't. I keep denying that this one isn't working for me, but I don't understand why I'm in such denial. Maybe it's because it's a Brooks and I believe it should feel good, or maybe it's because I'm stubborn at times and just keep thinking that I'll break it in eventually, but I did try a little test on my ride today to see if it really is the lack of support.

Brooks saddle on Tony... Can't even find wear spots from my sit bones,
even after many, many miles of riding

Most of the time when I ride this bike, I have my hands either on the hoods or on the top of the bar, and I believe, in combination with the bars being set higher than the saddle, it's creating too much pressure on my backside on a seat that doesn't have the support in places it is needed. So, I tried leaning over on the drops of the bar to see if that helped, and, sure enough, it relieved the pressure on the sit bones. Hmmm.

Now the question becomes, do I keep the handlebars up high (where I am most comfortable) and find another saddle that is wider, do I continue to deal with the discomfort (which becomes far worse when on longer rides), or do I drop the handlebar height and keep the saddle as is (potentially causing more issues with my hands)? My gut tells me to leave everything as is and try out another saddle, but they aren't cheap and I hate to give up on something with out a fight. The other issue with a wider saddle is that I question how comfortable it will be when leaned over on the drop portion of the bars.

Pepper Potts Brooks Saddle, B66s

There is the option of taking my Brooks saddle from Pepper and trying it out on Tony to see if that might be an option. Then, if it does work, I just have to basically exchange one for the other(which of course, means selling the current saddle, and buying a replacement). Though I'm not quite sure which option is the right one, at least I'm ready to admit defeat (at least somewhat) and start looking for a better solution. After all, there is no reason I should be sore after a little 5 mile ride.

Chain Thong (the chainguard for multiple chainring bicycles)

A few weeks ago, discussion arose at home once again regarding finding a chainguard solution for Tony Stark (aka the Sam Hillborne bicycle). Because there are multiple chain rings on the bike, it makes it difficult to find a product that will actually work. While I always prefer something aesthetically pleasing, it doesn't seem that such things are made for 2 or 3 chainring bikes. In this seemingly impossible quest, a solution was discovered: the Chain Thong.

The Chain Thong is a small, eco-friendly (the materials are recycled from other products), locally made item that protects the leg from 'chainring tattoos.' While it's not the most exciting or shiny object available, the sucker really does its job.

Tony Stark with the newly installed Chain Thong

As you can see from the photo, it's difficult to even detect the Chain Thong, but it's there, doing its work to keep legs free from chain lube/grease. I went for a ride and was purposefully leaning my right leg up against the chain just to see what would happen, and I returned home grease-free. Pretty amazing for something that weighs less than 14 grams! That's less than half an ounce, for the metrically challenged, like me.

Close up of the Chain Thong on Tony Stark

The installation process is quite simple as well, and despite the fact that I had Sam put it on the bicycle, I think even I, the mechanically challenged gal of the house, could've made this work properly without too much hair loss. Very few parts are involved: the Chain Thong itself (the black portion that covers the chain), a couple of zip ties, a screw, and a nut.

View from above of the Chain Thong

What's nice about the product is that it's not overly obtrusive, but it still does its job well. It did take a little fiddling with to get it in just the right spot, but it was an easily fixed part of installation.

Zip ties come in black or clear-ish white color

Overall, it's actually a pretty impressive product for its low cost, and I would highly recommend checking it out if anyone's in the market for such a device. It definitely makes it a bit easier to wear nicer clothes, but I will say that it doesn't provide the complete coverage and protection of a full chainguard. Then again, this bicycle wasn't set up for me to use it as a city bike, but rather for longer rides. Regardless, now I can ride it with ease of mind, knowing that I won't get off the bike with loads of grease on my leg. Very nice indeed!

Pepper Potts and Tony Stark

They're not just characters in a comic book/movie - nope, not any more. After several months of debate on a name for the Pashley Princess Sovereign, and doing my best to come up with a fitting name for the Sam Hillborne, several weeks ago I decided on Pepper Potts (for the Pashley) and Tony Stark (for the Hillborne). It seems a little strange to give bicycles names that are tied together when they have very little in common, but I think it's fitting.

Pepper Potts in all her glory

Pepper Potts is a proper lady, doing her job, deferring the rougher stuff to Tony Stark. She is definitely no wimp, can hold her own, and is always dependable even in the tightest situations. She's fun, not too horribly crazy in her endeavors, but is stable and doesn't shy away from responsibility. Plus, a Pashley Princess had to have a 'P.P.' name, I think.

Tony Stark is ready to take it all on

Tony Stark is a workhorse, who is totally into himself (but we love him anyway). He's gorgeous, tough, can take some hard falls/knocks, and is always thinking of new areas to explore. The possibilities seem limitless with Tony, and I would dare say that he's up for anything you put in front of him.

Though I am aware I have thrown several human attributes/emotions on these bicycles, I think they are fitting and appropriate for the feelings I have about each of them. Now, after months of referring to these bicycles by their 'given' names, I have to retrain my brain to call them Pepper and Tony. I've been practicing for the last few weeks, but I think I may be in for a bit of a challenge! To Pepper and Tony! May they live long, happy, rolling lives helping me get where I need to go.

Quick Turn-Around

Farewell, clipless pedals. I have said au revoir to the clip in pedals, as the experience just wasn't what I had hoped it would be. It was quite short lived, I am aware, but it was enough to know when something isn't right. I should also add that I don't look at this as a failure by any stretch. Rather, I used the time and riding with the clipless pedals as an opportunity to overcome a fear, and additionally to see if the pedals would alleviate some of the issues I've had while riding. The final ride was yesterday, when I rode over to the post office and bank, and realized that they just aren't for me.

The Hillborne waits outside the bank on the last ride with the clipless pedals

I had read that using clipless pedals can rid a cyclist of numb feet and possibly bring more speed to the ride. I found neither of these to be true over the approximate 50 miles total they were used, and if anything my feet were actually experiencing more numbness on longer rides. Perhaps I needed to give them more time, but they were becoming more of a nuisance than a help in cycling, so last night, off they came, and on to E-bay they went.

Clipless pedals: not quite right for me

Certainly, I don't regret my time with these pedals, and I think for someone more concerned with racing, perhaps they would be worth trying, but I realized that I enjoy being able to wear whatever shoes I choose, and having my feet attached to the pedals just isn't worth it for me. I am glad that I got back on and rode after falling, so that I don't hold on to some sort of fear of falling with these pedals, but I think I'm learning more each day that sometimes, we just have to try things to see if they work for us as an individual, and when they don't work, we have to be willing to move on.

Battle with Clipless: Conquered Fear?

Clipless pedals have been a source of anxiety in my bicycle life for some time. When Sam and I first met, I remember watching him clip into his pedals to go mountain biking, and having a twinge of fear ring through my body. I can't help it. I'm just one of those people who can literally feel pain when someone falls. An empath is the term some would use, though I think I'm just very open to my emotions. While Sam doesn't regularly fall off his bicycle, I have built up in my mind that these 'evil pedals' can bring no good. The mere mention of clip/clipless pedals in the past instantly brought a sensation of being trapped and of falling to the ground.

Clipless pedals on the Raleigh... do I dare ride?

Because of this innate fear and caution when even seeing clipless pedals, you can imagine Sam's surprise when I started talking about the possibility of putting them on the Hillborne. I have to admit, I surprised even myself with this matter. So, after a bit of talking, discussion, back and forth on the issue, I finally decided to order a pair, and set about a plan to conquer the mighty clipless pedals.

Shimano clipless pedal on Raleigh Super Course

While it may not be a factor for some individuals, one of the other things that bothered me about the idea of clipping into pedals (though this was a minor issue in comparison to my fears) is that the shoes, much like cycling apparel, are so unattractive in my opinion. I just wanted to find a shoe that looked like a semi-normal shoe, rather than one that looks as though I'm about to enter the Tour de France. It's just a personal opinion, but I was happy to find a few different choices in a more every day kind of shoe. I ended up getting a pair of Keen Presidio shoes that had compatibility with the Shimano pedals I purchased.

Normal looking shoes, which is just what I wanted, rather than a more typical 'road' shoe

The bottoms of the seemingly normal shoes have a small clip on them
to attach to the pedal (please, ignore the dog hair)

While looks are certainly not everything, there is something helpful in being excited to put something on, rather than not loving it, or even liking it remotely. I think I was able to find the happy medium with this shoe. It's not the most attractive, but it doesn't repulse me either.

So, after having both pedals and shoes, it was time to start practicing.

Day One:  We (the royal we, of course, as Sam is the one who did the work) put the pedals on the hooptie bicycle. Just looking at the pedals kind of made my stomach drop, so I had to get used to the idea first.

First try was in the house to see how the clips worked

Day Two:  First, I tried the pedals out indoors to see what they felt like and where the clips were in relationship to the shoe/pedal. Then, I got on the saddle and sat with one leg up on the curb and practiced clipping in and out of the other pedal. Then, I switched sides and tried clipping in and out of the other side. I never once pedaled the bicycle.

Trying out the pedals outdoors on day three

Day Three: I repeated day two's activities, and then was brave enough to try riding with only one side clipped in to the pedals. After practicing this a few times, I decided to take the leap and attach both sides and hope for the best. Miraculously, I didn't fall over; but, since the brakes on the Raleigh aren't great, and probably need to be replaced, it was a little scary stopping at times. On this evening, I asked Sam to go ahead and put the clipless pedals on the Hillborne, so that I could ride it on day four. A scary prospect, but it needed to be done eventually anyway.

Clipless pedals on the Hillborne! Woo hoo!!

Day Four:  I decided that in order to feel comfortable enough with these pedals, I needed to take an actual ride somewhere that involved lots of stop signs and signals. Having them on the bike that I'm comfortable riding made more sense to me than trying to make things work on the Raleigh which is in all honesty, too big for me. I had made the decision not to go on too long of a ride this first time out, so I took a path I'm familiar with that is about 20 miles. Seemed like a long enough ride and I'd be able to stop and start plenty of times to test my proficiency with the clipless pedals.

A familiar road that runs along the major interstate. Though not many stops, I had plenty of room
to start and stop the bike as I saw fit.

All was going well. I was riding along, stopping at will, all the while preparing myself by clipping out of the pedals before I started braking, to know that I would be able to put my foot down when the time came. I was able to take in the beautiful sites, and even though things are quite dry/dead right now, the skies were just beautiful!

Beautiful, partially cloudy skies in Colorado today

I considered going on a longer ride because all was going so well, but instead decided that I should return home. Riding home, I was becoming so confident, that I even took out the little camera to take some cool pictures of the shadows of the Hillborne.

Look at me! Riding with one hand, taking pictures AND pedaling in clipless pedals.
Who would have thought?

I was nearing home, and debating another fear I have: curbs. When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I had an incident in which I was riding on my mothers' road bicycle (which was, of course, too large for me) that had super skinny tires. I remember riding up on the curb to the house, and falling on my elbow. Not only did I do this once, but I did it three times in a matter of four days. I ended up with this horrible, scabby elbow that was green and pussy for months. I've never forgotten that, and have been working on this fear slowly, as I know that I won't actually fall over on a curb, but always remember that. As I neared the house, I unclipped the right foot, so I could prepare to ride up the curb of the driveway. I suppose I should point out that these aren't flat curbs like those in many neighborhoods, but rather are sloped curbs that don't recede to the ground at all. As I approached the curb, I decided to go for it. I rode up and had no problem at all!

Until..........  As you will recall, I had unclipped my right foot, but I forgot that when I come home, my habit has been to put my left foot on the ground.  As I was nearly stopped, I attempted to put my left foot on the ground, but it was, of course, still clipped into the pedal. In an instant, I was on the ground. Ugh! So close to a perfect ride. As I lay there laughing at myself, two neighbors came rushing to my aid. One of these neighbors doesn't even speak English, but was still trying to help, the other just kept asking if I was okay. I couldn't stop laughing, but tried to choke out, "I'm okay. I'm okay." I really was okay, sans a bit of a bruised ego, a small scrape on my hand/elbow, and a bit of a sore left ankle (from trying to twist out at the last second, I presume).

Small scrape on the outside of my hand/palm

A tiny bit of blood, and a little scrape, though very hard to see with all my freckles!

While my biggest fear was realized in one quick moment, I understand now that it isn't that bad to fall. I had read prior to doing this that everyone falls at least once in their clip/clipless pedals, and I guess I was no exception to this rule. I'm just hoping it was the first and only time it happens, mostly because I felt like a complete idiot for falling in my own driveway.

I rock! Riding in the clipless pedals and taking a picture. :o)

In all of it though, I have to say that there's something to be said for conquering a fear. I felt free, and as though I could do anything in these moments of riding. I didn't feel trapped by the pedals at all, and in reality, didn't notice them much, other than knowing that I needed to be aware of stopping and prepare for it before the last second.

Though the unknown is scary, it can be freeing to conquer a fear

I've discovered in all of this that it is important to overcome fears, especially when they are irrational. While I am a klutz (as was proven by my tumble this morning), I think this is helping me be more aware of my surroundings, and to take chances with things that I might not otherwise try at all. I am very proud of myself for working through this fear, and I truly believe that if I can use these pedals, anyone who can ride a bicycle can do so as well. While clipless pedals may not be something everyone needs or wants, I would encourage those who have a fear to try to work through it. You may surprise even yourself! Now, I must go and ice my ankle, as I believe it is swelling before my eyes. Probably should check the Hillborne for scratches as well. :o)