Judging by the laughter emanating from my husband, as I picked myself up from the floor – complete with trainer still attached to my bike’s pedal – the sight of me falling over whilst trying cleats for the first time, is the funniest thing-ever!
Having not fallen off my bike since I was a child, that slow-motion feeling as the inevitable happens did bring on my giggles and yes, I did feel a bit of an idiot. However, I am consoled by the saying that everyone falls over at least once whilst getting used to cleats. My advice: practise on a soft landing and where there are no onlookers; particularly unsympathetic husbands!
My most mortifying cleat fail happened was when I was cycling in morning traffic. At a red light, I pulled up behind a bus and tried to impress the gal in the car behind me with an elegant track stand…but the light stayed red far too long and I was too close to the bus’s bumper, and sure enough – down I went. By the time I twisted and wiggled myself free, the light had turned green and the bus was long gone…but the gal in the car behind me was still there, looking none too impressed.
Love it! It’s so funny (not sure that’s the right adjective!) the way you know you’re about to tumble isn’t it and yet there’s nothing you can do!!