I got all of these awesome bike accessories for Christmas/Hanukkah, so it was really nice to get to try some of them out. In particular, my SPD pedals. Don’t ask me what that stands for, but they’re pedals that clip into a shoe on one side, and they’re a regular pedal on the other side.

with props to the Reno Bike Project (sticker says "build bikes, not bombs")

So I knew that using the pedals with my new bike shoes would be a challenge, but I was up for it. I knew it would make riding my bike even better. So, for about 10 minutes, a few nights in a row, I tried to learn how to clip and unclip from the pedals.

so, um. it’s really, really hard.

Have you ever tried to do something on the bottom of your shoe without being able to see or even really feel what you’re doing? I got way too frustrated and one night, I actually threw a legitimate temper tantrum. Like, I yelled and screamed and threw my bike. Okay, so I didn’t actually throw my bike, because lets face it, that thing weighs a ton.  I more or less just dropped it aggressively. And then I directed my pouting at the boyfriend for about an hour.

okay, so i am a child.

It’s a good thing he knows how to treat me like a child when I’m acting like one, and not indulge in my pout-sessions. Seriously. It may not have been the best way of dealing with my frustration, but I think it helped me get to the place I needed to be to learn the whole clipping-unclipping thing. Because the next day, I could do it without any problems. I realized that I can clip my shoes into the pedals with ease. As long as I don’t try.

I rode up and down our street alley clipping and unclipping a few times As bad as it felt to fail at something that seems so simple, it felt just as good to succeed! I know for some people, it makes sense that taking the focus and pressure off, would make it easier. But that is not typically the way my brain works through things. I’ve always been someone that has to focus on what I’m doing. Particularly if the goal is to accomplish something. But I guess I’m not too set in my ways to adapt to a new way of learning.

So, this weekend, we rode our bikes to Peg’s Glorified Ham & Eggs (the best breakfast in the country), and it felt great! (cold, but great) The ride back, after eating the best huevos rancheros? A little less great, but worth it.