New Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike!

[teawoman]

Woohoo! I am so happy! My first road bike! (and an accompanying novel)

I just got a new road bike--found a good price on a 2007 Giant OCR1w (S). The fit is *really* good...better than the smaller reg bikes I tried (Trek 1600, Felt Z80, a few others). I'm 5-4. The big diff for me was in the handlebars--narrower to the width of my shoulders and MUCH more comfortable. I felt very splayed on the others. The proportions as far as KOP and the other measurements went were closer than the other bikes too. The t-mobile one didn't fit as well, and was more money than I was willing to spend when it came down to it (fantasizing aside ), especially after I tried the ocr. Some people say that there is actually no diff between the women's sizes and the regular for giant bikes except for the xs and lower, but something about it feels much better than the others I tried. I didn't get as many pressure points in the crotch and hands as compared to almost all the other reg sized bikes. Compact geometry, whatever it is, it's good!

http://www.giant-bicycle.com/en-CA/b...oad/425/26745/

It's white with black and silver accents. I discovered I really like the look of white bikes. Tho really, I wouldn't have cared about the colour if it fit well.

I was lucky to find a good lbs guy who spent 2 x 45 min sessions with me fitting it--before I said I'd buy the thing-- and tweaking it and asking questions and not being condescending about my triathlon goals--it's a small shop and he and his wife own it. I get 10% off everything for a year and free service for a year. I went to 4 different shops...one other one had a woman who spent a lot of time answering my questions and tweaking a couple of bikes for fit--woulda gone with them if I had found the ocr there. The other 2...not treated badly, but not really taken seriously either.

Anyway, last night I took it out for 5 miles around my neighbourhood and boy is it *fast*! On one of the fast flat routes with couple of lil hills I've ridden on my hybrid, I am much less tired and it takes me 22 as opposed to 34 mins! Wow! I stopped and stared at the computer in disbelief for a minute. It feels like riding a stick on two wheels (in a good way) compared to my hybrid.

Today I went for another ride that I think was a bit too challenging for me, so I am a bit more nervous. There was a long, busy, two-lane road with a valley and I got super nervous with the speed going down and my hands cramped so I couldn't brake very well. I found it a bit wobbly to drop and brake, so that was scary, and my hand/forearm strength sucks anyway. After that I was a bit paranoid, so I moved to a bike path and just went very slowly and practiced dropping to reach the brakes and steering. There were a couple of scary moments (my hand being still cramped) when people stepped out in front of me or I had to brake for a light when I couldn't stop fast enough for fear of wobbling, but I didn't fall over. I kind of jumped out of the pedals and shuffled on the ground . I was too skeered to be really concerned with speed (even though I'm dying to know how much faster I'll be in my tri!).

The default pedals are clipless, but I had them switched out for cages for now. In the winter, I am going to get them put back on so I can practice on my trainer.

Some other diffferences:

-road vibration...saddle is comfortable as far as shape goes, but I can feel every little bump through it...probably will get a new one. Obviously this is different from having what people call a "comfort" bike.
-pedals: I every time I jump on after a stop sign I have real trouble getting the other leg in the cage...it's getting better, tho.
-Aches and pains. Not as many as I thought I'd have. I did raise my saddle more because my knees do sometimes bug me and they were twinging a bit after last night. Better this time. I had moments where I thought, "I'd be quite comfortable if I wasn't so durn tense!" There is one spot just above my lower back on the right that gets kinda a kink in it every so often. I think I was just tense from the braking issues. They are a bit disconcerting.
-gearing...I actually did pretty well on this...only one time I accidentally shifted to the big chain ring up a hill.

Anyway, this has given me the courage to at least think about trying 2 more triathlons this summer...one has an open water swim, a 17 mile bike and a mass start, so there's more risk of being last, but I already know what that's like , so am more excited than scared!!!!!!!

I've just lost about 40 pounds of weight on my rides...20 for me (as opposed to my first tri) and 20 for the bike!

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Anyway, thank you for all the advice and encouragement--this forum is amazing!

[jeannierides]

WooHooooooo~~ !! Congratulations!!

[Pedal Wench]

Good luck with it! It's a beauty!!!

I gotta say, the thought of riding in cages would terrify me! Clipless is much less restrictive, in my opinion!

Good luck and safe riding!

[teawoman]

Good luck with it! It's a beauty!!!

I gotta say, the thought of riding in cages would terrify me! Clipless is much less restrictive, in my opinion!

Thanks! The whole durn world says go clipless , but I am as yet too uncoordinated with the steering. I don't think I can think too much about both my hands and feet at the same time. I really will do it...I sorta see how it could be better.

[Velobambina]

Many happy miles on your new bike!

I agree Pedal Wench--cages terrify me. You might try the Shimano MP 324s (I think that's the pedal number---dual spd/platform---that way you can use the platforms while you adapt to clipless).

As for road vibration---you might get used to it. Unless the saddle is killing you, I'd see if you adjust to the feel of your new bike. What kind of seatpost do you have? Is it carbon? That might dampen some of that vibration, if it's really bothering you.

Don't worry. With time in the saddle comes confidence. Just keep getting out there. I guarantee that with miles, you will be less tense and worry less about wiping out. You'll be hammering down hills before you know it.

What do you mean by "dropping and braking?" Are your hands on the hoods or flats of your handlebar? Are the brake levers too big for your hands?

[teawoman]

Many happy miles on your new bike!
What do you mean by "dropping and braking?" Are your hands on the hoods or flats of your handlebar? Are the brake levers too big for your hands?

I mean I was braking from the hoods and I found that very hard on the hill. I was too scared to move my hands down the bars. When I drop my hands (into the curve of the handlebar) down so I can grasp the levers at the bottom, I get a faster stop, but I wobble while I move my hands down there. I expect I should have done that at the top of the hill . ....ok I looked it up...it's "braking from the drops".

I don't know if they are too big or maybe stiff...I was fine last night...it was a pretty steep hill and I was going fast. I am not used to those speeds.

[mimitabby]

I used cages for years. Get used to the bike, take your time. You might also consider powergrips before you start clipping your feet into the pedals

and congrats on the new bike!

[wiseowl]

Congrats on the bike! I just found a really good year end deal on an OCR as well. I completely agree on the powergrips idea. The idea of being attached to my bike was too scary for me at first- the powergrips were a much easier mental leap, and totally trained me to twist my foot in and out as I started and stopped. I switched to spd clipless a month ago, and the transition was a piece of cake. I still have them on the loosest setting, and I got double sided ones, and it has been completely painless. In fact, the powergrips are more of a challenge in reality, but I needed that mental handholding.

[indysteel]

Congrats. I, too, love white bikes! It sounds like you found a good LBS in that they took the time to fit you on the bike. That's great; not all shops are that attentive.

I, too, think that cages are scarier than clipless pedals. You might try a pedal that has a clip on one side and a regular platform on the other. Otherwise, I'd just bite the bullet and start climbing the clipless pedal learning curve. They're really not that bad and don't take that long to get used to.

Regarding the road vibrations, are you using padded gloves and a good pair of cycling shorts? One word of advice regarding bumps and what not on a road bike. Keep your grip light and some bend in your arms, especially when going over rough pavement. Also, don't overinflate your tires. I typically run mine between 10 and 20 psi less than the specified maximum pressure. You might play around with it a bit to see what feels best for you.

I, too, am not sure what you mean by "drop and brake." You should be able to reach your brakes while in "the hoods." If you can't, you might take it back to your LBS and see about getting shorter reach brakes.

Just keep practicing. Before you know it, everything will feel very natural to you. I hope you have lots of fun and safe miles ahead of you.

Oh, and you have to give your bike a name!!!!

[Tri Girl]

Wow- she's a beeeeeeauuuuty!!! I love the look of the white and black- very classy!! Soooo glad you found a bike that you love (and that loves you in return by being super comfortable).

Congrats on the latest addition to your family! May you have lots of fun together!

[RoadRaven]

Doesn't it help when bike shop people are interested and pleased for you just because you want to ride... and feel your goals are real because you are passionate and it doesn't matter if you will never make it to the Olymppics, because those goals are yours...

I have a Giant TCR2 for time-trialling on and its a fabulous bike. We have several Giants in our fold and I think you will find it will stand you in good stead and support you well in your tris.

Congrats on the adition to your household

[Starfish]

I definitely cannot grasp the brakes nearly as fully from the hoods as from the drops. I will brake in the hoods for gentle hills and slopes, but for real security down hills, I like the drops.

I also think the drops are safer for downhills and braking downhill because you can shift your weight back and push into the drops, stabilizing your center of gravity, etc.

Just my .02 ...I really enjoyed reading your post...you are really on the right track and doing great. Now, it is just a matter of time and riding, and you will relax, enjoy, and learn what kinds of things you will want to tweak on your bike as you go.

Beauty of a bike, too!

[teawoman]

I definitely cannot grasp the brakes nearly as fully from the hoods as from the drops. I will brake in the hoods for gentle hills and slopes, but for real security down hills, I like the drops.

Whew. That's exactly what I mean.

Just my .02 ...I really enjoyed reading your post...you are really on the right track and doing great. Now, it is just a matter of time and riding, and you will relax, enjoy, and learn what kinds of things you will want to tweak on your bike as you go.

Aww, thanks. I was pretty active as a kid, but other priorities took over as I got older and getting out there took a back seat...and I gained weight, yada yada. I am so excited to be doing stuff like this!

[teawoman]

Regarding the road vibrations, are you using padded gloves and a good pair of cycling shorts? One word of advice regarding bumps and what not on a road bike. Keep your grip light and some bend in your arms, especially when going over rough pavement. Also, don't overinflate your tires. I typically run mine between 10 and 20 psi less than the specified maximum pressure. You might play around with it a bit to see what feels best for you.

Oh, and you have to give your bike a name!!!!

Yeah...I was wearing my tri shorts, so it will prolly help to get real bike shorts. I have gloves. And I should add our city roads are in pretty crappy condition as roads go...we have been mass whining about it lately so there's construction all over to resurface. Several bad Canuck winters and no repair in the Spring have made them horrible. The 4 blocks that run by my house have just been redone and feel great...I could just do that loop about 70 gabillion times .

Hmm...dunno what to name her. She is very classy looking, so something kind of over-the-top classy.

[Starfish]

I am so excited to be doing stuff like this!

Just wait, you will be amazed at what you will end up doing. One of the things that keeps me hooked on riding is that it has exploded the limitations I used to believe about what I can do. I am doing a ride this weekend that I am not at all sure I can actually do. But, I will attempt it, because every year for the past few since I started riding (on a 40 pound bike on flat paved paths), I keep pushing through to doing things that I couldn't have believed just the previous year.

Although I am a little scared of my ride this weekend, I will give it everything I have, and I know that in another year, I will look back and see it as another moment for breaking through my own ceiling. It has brought real fun, joy and positive expectation for the future to me. Now, I daydream about what I might possibly accomplish next year (at 42 years old), and five years from now, and ten years from now! I believe I'll be stronger and doing more in ten years than I am now. I bet you will be, too. You are embarking on an amazing adventure, one step at a time, and we're right there with you!