Kinda dumb new roadie question

[AZchick]

I did not have this problem on my mountain bike, but today I took my new Specialized Dolce out for my first ride... and when I take one hand off the handlebar to signal, the wheel starts to wobble and gets so shakey!!! I'm used to the stability of the wider tires of my MTB, but I didn't expect the loss of control I experienced with the skinny 700's. Is there a way to grasp the handlebar with the other hand, or some other stabilizing trick I could use????

[Biciclista]

a lot of things are coming into play, one is, sounds like you have too much weight on your hands.
My DH rides forever with no hands on his road bike, so i really don't think it's because it's a road bike. Maybe the reach is too far? Maybe your core is too weak?
maybe you're just not used to it yet?

[oz rider]

To be expected, coming from a mtb. You do get used to it so there's an element of practice. Maybe some fit as well, as Bici mentions. Until you have more bike time, you might also find that you veer off course a little when you head check because the body turns so the bars turn. So if headchecking left, take the left hand off the bar and move the right closer to the stem while you turn and you'll find less change of course. Practice somewhere quiet first though!

[Roadtrip]

Hello my name is Shannon and I'm a newbie. Is this a like a twelve step program?? If so every member here is like a sponsor to me!!!

I can't comfortably take my hands from the bars for long to signal. My signaling skills scare me, so if given the chance I will ride the trails over the road, just to avoid signaling.

With that said, I have ridden both the Dolce and the Ruby, both were fairly forgiving-- much less "twitchy" then the Madone I rode. That bike felt like it wanted to kill me if I dared not give it my FULL attention while perched on top of her.

Good luck-- to both of us!
Shannon

[spokewench]

There are some tricks but won't always work for you. If you are new to road riding, try riding in your hoods and braking from your hoods for a while. I hardly ever ride in my drops unless I'm really just going on the flat straight. If your hands are closer to the middle of your bar, i.e. hoods or on the bar on the flat upper part of the bar, your bike will be more stable. Why, you ask? Because you do not have the leverage that you have when you are out on the drops - farthest from the middle.

These are all stop gap methods, but they will give you the idea of what happens when your hands are on the top of the bars, on the hoods and on the drops.

The basics of a road bike are: Keep your elbows bent, if your elbows are bent you will not affect the bike so much with your weight. Keep relaxed and stay centered on your seat or over the bike so that you do not affect the bike side to side. Keep your weight off of your arms (bend your elbows), take the weight in your core, your tummy, balance from your abs. If you are afraid to do this; go out on a quiet, wide, straight piece of road and practice keeping your elbows bent, your weight centered and controlled with your abs; take your hands off the drops, try braking from the hoods, put your hands on the flat part of the bars and then , PRACTICE, taking one hand off and signalling, etc., etc.

Pretty soon, it will be second nature, but it does take some practice.

[AZchick]

I DO feel like I have too much weight on my hands, and I'm sure that's part of the problem. I appreciate all the advice. I'll practice a lot more, and focus on elbows and abs. Coming from a running background there was no real emphasis on balance, so my core is weak. Now I see why bikes and yoga go together.
I'm determined to get better at this!!!!!

[marni]

another trick for looking back at least, is to bend the elbo on the side you are looking back on, even more and move it slightly towards the center of the bar. I would imagine that moving your hand to the center of the bar would be of help in signaling as well, but I think a lot of it is just getting comfortable on the skinny tires,the position and the bike.

[AZchick]

another trick for looking back at least, is to bend the elbo on the side you are looking back on, even more and move it slightly towards the center of the bar. I would imagine that moving your hand to the center of the bar would be of help in signaling as well, but I think a lot of it is just getting comfortable on the skinny tires,the position and the bike.

Ahhhhhh... that makes sense. I can't wait to try. dang these skinny tires!

[OakLeaf]

It's got a lot more to do with the geometry of the bike (rake, trail, wheelbase, possibly handlebar offset/stem length) than the width of the tires. I'm just sayin'...

Other than that, you've been given good advice. If the bike is a good fit for you, you'll get used to it.

[ButIDidntFall]

Hello! I am new too I was completely terrified to remove one hand from the handlebars for some time. My nose would be running and my ex would say just wipe your damn nose, i promise you will not die!! I refused to move my hand, he was the only one going slow enough to see me so it was ok. Eventually I was able to move my hands from the hoods, to the top of the handlebars.. very slowly without taking them OFF. just sliding them over. once i was comfortable doing that first, and yes you may swerve, try hovering one hand over the handlebars then eventually move the hand outward, but like the other women said, use your core the balance yourself. You should feel comfortable riding the bike before you can do fancy things Don't get discouraged! I barely got anything accomplished the first time I was on a road bike.. other than not breaking a bone.

[AZchick]

First of all... I love your user name ButI DidntFall... that pretty much sums me up... I'm goona go slow and easy... cuz I don't want to fall either!

[spokewench]

One more comment, if it was nicer up here in Flagstaff, I'd invite you up for an instructional ride out Lake Mary Road, but we're supposed to be getting snow again this weekend!

If you are still having trouble this summer, (which I'm sure you will not), I have faith that you will figure it out; come on up and I'll lead an instructional ride. You'll be signaling and drinking water on your bike no problem at all when I'm done with you.!

[AZchick]

One more comment, if it was nicer up here in Flagstaff, I'd invite you up for an instructional ride out Lake Mary Road, but we're supposed to be getting snow again this weekend!

If you are still having trouble this summer, (which I'm sure you will not), I have faith that you will figure it out; come on up and I'll lead an instructional ride. You'll be signaling and drinking water on your bike no problem at all when I'm done with you.!

SWEET!!!! I've never had an instructional ride of any kind. This weather sucks for learning right now.