It was one of those bike commuting weeks that started not with a bang but more of a thud. I was so excited I was finally going to get to ride my road bike into work. It had been sidelined due to a wheel malfunction and I've been riding in my MTB, knobbies and all, to work.

In the ensuing weeks I'd made plans to switch from MTB pedals to real roadie pedals and upgrade my shoes to SPD-SL. So with a new wheel set and pedals 'n shoes I started off on one epic morning commute. The problem was this was my first experience with road shoes. (I'd tried a few test clip-ins and outs the day before and I thought I was ready).

Well I had to get the bike just outside the gate where I park before riding, a distance of about 50 feet, so I decided to put one foot on the pedal and coast along till I got past the gate (I usually do this in the MTB shoes with MTB clips). I coasted about 5 feet when my foot slipped off the road pedal and the next thing I notice the bike is taking me down to the pavement and I thought I'd just go with it and not fight it.

I landed on the wallet in my left rear pants pocket and oh how it hurt my butt. So much for the epic ride in. Luckily, this was about 6:45 in the morning and still pretty dark so no one witnessed my moment of clumsiness.

I decided I'd better take it real slow today; I'm not setting any land speed records today. After riding in on the MTB for 3 weeks, switching to the road bike was an eye-opener. Add in the over-stuffed single pannier on one side and we're talking one unstable set of wheels.

I'm going to switch back to a backpack now it's a little cooler in the mornings and look at adding another pannier to even things out. At least I've "broken in" the shoes and pedals!

The ride home was better; for now I just got to take it slow and easy.