Klutziness is a genetic trait

As part of the preparation for my upcoming triathlon (as well as an effort to knock another thing of my 101 list), Prince E attempted to teach me how to use the fancy clipless pedals on my bicycle last weekend.  Being that I am chicken, I opted to wear one regular shoe and one bike shoe, so that my right foot remained unconnected to the bike for safety.

We got out into the driveway in front of our apartment building and Prince E explained how to get my left foot in the fancy pedal.  He said he wouldn't go too fast and then started up the sidewalk.  I got my left foot hooked into the pedal, tried to move forward and promptly fell over onto the driveway.

I wanted to go upstairs and get my other regular shoe and give up on the whole thing, but he convinced me to keep trying.  I eventually was able to get going and managed to ride around pretty easily.  He also explained to me how to stop, which I practiced a few times in the neighboring church lot.

We then decided to bike to his work because he needed to pick something up.  I made it there fine and without incident.  Then it came time to stop.  And I fell over again.  The second fall was a bit worse as it scraped a bigger part of my leg and bruised part of my hand.  Luckily though, nothing was broken and I managed to miss hitting my head on the nearby garbage can.

Undeterred I rode laps around the parking lot of his work, periodically stopping just to make sure I could.  We had brought the other bike shoe with us and I tried, briefly, to use both shoes.  We soon discovered though that there was some kind of defect, because even with all of my might, I could not easily get my right foot unhooked, even though the pedal was at the loosest setting. 

I certainly did not feel safe enough to ride around with both shoes attached to the bike where there was a very good chance I wouldn't be able to easily get out of it when I needed to stop.  So, we stopped the lesson and went to Dairy Queen.

Yesterday I rode my bike to the library, using two regular shoes and that was fun.  I like the idea of being able to have an option to driving, especially to places like the library that talk to long to walk to.  When I got home, I got out the step ladder and put my bike away all by myself way up onto the second rung of the bike rack.  I was so proud of myself, I jumped down from the ladder with glee...and promptly caught the side of my thing on the hard back part of the couch, resulting in a nasty looking and even nastier feeling bruise.

Did I mention I also burned myself with a cookie sheet on Sunday?  It has just been a klutzy kind of week.  I realized today talking to my mom that I probably inherited it from her when she revealed that she badly bruised herself while changing the filter of her vacuum.  Sounds like something I would do.