Road Bike-Specialized Vita tri

:confused: Brought home my first ever road bike yesterday, after happily riding ol' Betsy (35# univega hybrid) for 17 years on several ragbrais, etc! Lacking confidence about sizing a road bike, I trusted 2 youngsters to size me.....stood by the bike and visual assessment was it. It's a specialized vita, 2005 closed-out model, 51", with aeros (thinking a sprint tri might be fun).

Did a little 22 mile midnight ride last night. Egads. It's like going from a 60# western saddle that locks you in, to a 8# english. (yes, I'm an equestrienne).
My heavy old bike, and my endurance riding (horses) obsession has given me quads and upper strength for an ol lady, so I managed.

My worry.....Is it normal to feel rather "exposed" on a road bike when transitioning from a flat-bar mountain-type frame? Felt like I was too forward, and the aeros felt about 6" too short. Gearing felt overly sensitive (wouldn't take shifting with a load, at all.) My first thought is that it's just too small.....I'm 5'5", longish arms, 31" inseam. And of course, I became suspicious that they were just eager to move a closed-out model that has some inherent problems.

Help me understand if I'm jumping to a conclusion here, or if I likely may really have a bike that's too small, and your general impression of this brand of bike.

I think Specialized makes great bikes. As for sizing, I'm 5'4.5", short torsoed, and have long monkey like arms and legs :D . My Bianchi is 51cm. I did end up having to get narrower handlebars and a new stem. Now, I definitely do not think standing by the bike is a proper way to fit someone to a bike. They measured everything under the sun when sizing me to my bike. They also had me get on it and watched me ride it on a trainer, measuring things then and had me take it outside so they could see me on it.

When I first started riding my Bianchi (first road bike), I definitely felt way pitched forward. It totally freaked me out. :p I think that's just natural when adjusting to a road bike.

I don't know anything about aeros -- I've never tried them.

Hey e1

I don't know much about the Specialized Vita, but I'm under the impression that specialized bikes are of good quality, so I don't think that's it.

I do think going from a hybrid to dropping into aerobars is quite a leap. Perhaps you should do a gradual shift to the road bike position to feel more comfortable. With that being said, did they adjust your bike for you when you bought it? Most shops will have you sit in the trainer and pedal so they can set your seat properly, make sure your handlebar stem isn't too short/long, etc. If they didn't, not a very good LBS in my opinion. You can usually go to most shops and have them do the adjustment for you, and some do it for free.

Most people ride road bikes with their hands on the hoods above the brakes or in the drops. When they sized me, they had me have my hands on the hoods. Also, is your stem pointing up at an angle so your handlebars are higher or is it "flipped" so it's pointing out straight (this makes your handlebars lower). If it's flipped, you could have the LBS turn it over so you're a bit more upright.

I hope it's just a matter of some adjustments so you feel more comfortable :) But I'd hold off on those aerobars until you're used to riding in a different position from your hybrid.

Good luck.

Gotta agree that jumping from a hybrid to a Tri bike is quite a leap. Even for people who ride road bikes, a tri bike is tough. Noticeabley twitchy, and not intended to be comfortable! Seriously! A road bike is meant to be comfortable on the road, while a tri bike is built to be fast, with little regard for comfort.

hybrid to road bike is an adjustment. yes, it feels weird. As for sizing, I am just about exactly your size - 5'5.5" with a 31" inseem and I am on a specialized ruby, size 51cm, so your bike does seem to be the right size.

I've just returned from the shop, where adjustments were made to the aeros, seat, stem and I'm SO pleased. And happy to have found this board.

Good luck, all you ragbrai-ers. Thinking about you!!

The "new" bike now has 110 miles on after third ride. Quite nice. Yes, I was jumping to conclusions about the size! Not quite mastered the aeros......tough to get in gracefully, but nice once there.

Terrible headwind last night....9 mph all I could muster coming home, after some hills and sprints, and also terribly out of shape.

But, omg, the hands and wrist went first. Neck/shoulder came in a close second. Then, "down there" went.....no butt'r with me.

Some great tips here.....thanks!