I bought my first road bike today. It’s shiny, light, and a little bit intimidating. I’m entering my second year of riding in a cycling club, and now I have the kind of bike that many road cyclists have.
I am working through the difference between doing cycling and being a cyclist, and what it means to step toward something before I feel entirely ready.
For example, clip-in pedals. Everyone has an opinion on them. I am already preparing to face today the well-intended male employee fitting me on my new bike who has already twice insisted—insisted—on clip-ins.
But I’m nervous about them. Two cyclists were hit by cars in my area of recently. Every time I roll to the edge of the road, there’s a flicker of fear. It’s not just about falling in traffic but feeling unseen, or worse…seen but then dismissed by drivers.
Riding a bike means having to take up road space in my city. However, I was encouraged by an awesome documentary, Breakaway Femmes (2025), which retrospectively reveals the space women had to take up to be part of the male-dominated Tour de France race during the late 80s. That film showed how cycling is about taking risks for the sport one loves. It’s about choosing to move forward, even when standing still would feel safer.
So today I am moving forward on a version of myself I’ve been imagining for a while now. And first space I must claim for myself as a cyclist is the one in my own head. So here I go.
Happy First Day of Your New Bike!!
I wouldn’t worry about becoming a cyclist. I’ve been riding for 67 years and I’m still just a guy who rides a bike.
Love your new bike and looking forward to riding together. I get the clip in pedals fear but it’s completely seperable from the car collision fear. You can start without them and get used to the new bike first and swap pedals later. If ever you want lessons, I’m happy to walk you through it.
You can also get pedals that work with cleats on one side and normal shoes (or bare feet!) on the other side. You can get Brand X (mine are a house brand) and they aren’t expensive. Great for an all-purpose bike if you don’t always want to wear bike shoes.
Congratulations! I remember very well the nervousness that came along with my first road bike (I was 51). And the nervousness that came with the clipless pedals. I have, after a few years of working towards it, come to love clipless pedals, but that is partly because I have SPD pedals, and they are relatively easy to use without clipping in. Even now, more than 20 years into my roadie persona, when I am in a place where I think a fraction of a second might be crucial, I leave my favored put-down-first foot unclipped. But when I am in a place with no big traffic issues that isn’t too steep (for me, now, that means about 10% grade or more), they are really great. You can also get pedals that are SPD on one side and flat on the other. Don’t let the shop guy push you too hard. I’m glad to have them, but a couple of my riding friends have gone back to flat pedals recently, and they are fairly serious riders.
After you’ve ridden it a few times, you will love how much easier it is to move, to maneuver. My road bike led me, after several years, to choose to ride across north America. Two different times. It is a truly amazing means of transportation!