Last week I bought a pair of cycle shoes. I've been cycling indoors in my running shoes for seven years, but last week a group of the Regulars talked up their superior rides thanks to their cycle shoes. And then I was all, not-uh, no way…I want to be the fastest in this class of stationary bikes! So I bought cycle shoes. I woke up yesterday morning singing the I-have-new-cycle-shoes-yea-yea-yea song and left to the gym.

Then a funny thing happened: I couldn't get the shoes to clip into the bike pedal. I tried to make it look like I wasn't trying, but I sat in the front row just sliding my feet up and down the pedal, like I was trying to Moon Walk on a bike.

Must be the pedals, the girl behind me said and offered to switch bikes with me. AND NOW I'M BEING MORE NOTICED. After a few more failed attempts, the girl next to me offers to help. No, no, I say, I'm just gonna wear my running shoes instead. She gets off her bike and grabs my foot to help get it clipped in. Then the instructor puts on her wireless mic and asks if everything's alright with my new shoes. Just.what.I.wanted. I whisper to my Cycle Shoe Helper, …it's okay…please, stop…lemme just switch my shoes… but she ignores me. Apparently she's the valedictorian of shoe helpers and will not give up unless she gets an A+.

I'm mortified because CSH is thumping my foot into the pedal (and all I could think was how I wish I shaved my legs) and the instructor isn't starting class until all is well with my adventures in cycle shoes…when…click! They're in. I thanked CSH profusely and started on my purportly superior ride.

Sitting at home, I can't help but think CSH did me right. And not just because she helped me, but, rather, because she didn't give up helping me. I literally asked her to stop because I was embarrassed of admitting: 1. I didn't know what I was doing; and 2. I needed help. I wanted to go back to what I knew, what was comfortable because it didn't require change or assistance.

I'm glad she didn't give up. She taught me a lesson and if my family, friends, or fellow photographers tell me they're going to go back to what they know, back to what's comfortable instead of changing for the better, I won't let them. Because once they're clicked in, they'll be riding toward their goals.