Saturday Ride & My First Fall

Every Saturday that the weather is decent I plan to take a long(er) ride. The DC metropolitan area is very bike friendly, and there are so many trails and routes to explore. I had to stop by the bike shop today to get fitted with clipless pedals and some cycling shoes (am I a real rider now?), as well as get the 1 month adjustment on my bike.

Since I knew I'd be in Georgetown, I decided to try and find the W&OD Trail. I know its something like 40 miles long in total, and by no means am I ready for that long of a ride, but at least I'd know where it was when I wanted to give it a shot. I caught the Custis Trail right over the Key Bridge. The Custis Trail is 4 miles in total, and has some decent hills. So I figured this would be a good trail to use to get me to the W&OD trail.

Remember why I went to the bike shop? To get clipless pedals... Note to self, clipless pedals + steeper-than-I'm-used-to-hills = My First Fall.

Yes, today was My First Fall. I knew it had to come sooner or later. I was hoping later, but I knew it was inevitable. While at the bike shop, my Dad warned me about the clipless petals. In fact, he described to me a fall he had this morning while using his clipless pedals. He described the fall in detail, I laughed, and I went and bought them anyway... So I am heading up a steep hill on the Custis Trail. I had been clipping in and out for a couple miles at this point, trying to get used to the pedals. I decided to keep my left foot clipped in, and my right loose -- just in case. I thought to myself, my right leg is stronger, thus, I'll be more in control of the bike if I keep my right foot unclipped. Yeah, that was the reasoning....

As I am switching the gears lower to get up the hill, I look down to figure out the proper gear. Slowly I lose a little balance, start wabbling, and before I know it, I START FALLING DOWN. It happened slow. It was as though I was watching myself fall from outside myself. Luckily since I was headed UP the hill, I wasn't going fast enough to truly get injured. But because my "strong" foot was loose, my "weak" left foot didn't know how to get out of the d**m clip!! I fell onto my left side.

Fortunately, I didn't hit pavement. I some how managed to fall onto my bike. It still hurt. It still sucked. When I landed, though, I couldn't help but laugh. It was EXACTLY what my Dad had described had happened to him, a few hours earlier. After I got my bike detangled from my limbs, I immediately looked behind me to see if anyone had seen My First Fall. There was a woman running up the hill, but no bikers. Embarrassment factor = 0-1/10. Bruise factor = 5/10. Ironic factor = 10/10.

After brushing myself off, I realized I was in the middle of the hill. Being that it is so hard to start going up a hill in the middle of it (with no momentum whatsoever), I turn my bike around and go back about .4 of a mile. The next pass at this incline, I decide not to "clip-in."

Once I got to the WO&D Trail, I went 5 or so miles on it before it was time to turn home. I was exhausted. I didn't eat breakfast. And had about 2 ounces of water left. Can't wait to hit the WO&D Trail again, though.

Total bike ride: 20.2 miles
Falls: 1
Hydration: Poor
Fatigue: High

Things I learned for next time: Bring more than an apple for a snack or eat breakfast first. Use the new 20oz water bottle I bought today, and bring the 12oz bottle as a back up.