Bonjour from Montreal!

[Helene2013]

Hi everyone,

I've just joined in. I lurked a little bit for the past 2-3 days and thought it was a nice place for women to chat, without the boost of testosterone I saw on another board I was (which I dropped just as quickly - too many machos there!). You girls (and guys) seem like a good group without all that bashing of who goes the fastest, who is better, blabla. I like that!

I'm from the Montreal (Quebec) area and just about to turn the big 50. Yeah!!!! Closer to retirement and more times for my hobbies.

I am new to road bikes and trying to enjoy it. For me it was much easier with my old hybrid.

I have a 2013 Kuota Karma Glamour road bike. It is pink (with some black and white). Wheels have a lot of pink too. Love my Pink Lady. Of course my kit had to have some pink to it. Not easy to find though! It is a very reactive/nervous bike. Takes some getting used to.

I had a hard time riding with those road handle bars and I ended up in July converting them to flat bar (with some incline to it). I'll spare you the tears and frustrations through it all. Feels much better to me but it lost the "hot" look it had. Maybe one day when confidence is back in, I will have my bike shop put back the real handlebars and those flat ones. For now, it will have to do. Safety first!

I also was injured (knees and left elbow) and in physiotherapy from January to last week. Now I have the real go to cycle...but make sure I really warm up those knees (at least 10km (approx 6 miles) before hitting hills. I listen to PT as I don't want to have to remain on sofa for 2 more seasons! hihi And no more running. Used to love jogging but this is no longer a possibility. Oh well...you can't have it all they say!

Anyway, I'm here to learn/share about cycling experiences. My husband belongs to a bike club (he has a Cervelo R3) and loves to ride fast...I'm not into clubs...and ride slow. hihi But that will change with time and physical endurance is back to normal at some point. He has a ton of patience with me and my cycling "loser" attitude sometimes. We know how PMS can hit us big time! haha But overall, it is fun cycling!

Fall is just around the corner (with winter not that far away) and I will be looking into buying a roller and a trainer. I'll be up and ready for the spring of 2014 for sure!

Will be back later on when I'm not on a work computer (slap on fingers!)

Talk to you soon.

Helene

[tulip]

Bienvenue, Hélène! Montréal is a great place to cycle. I recently rode from Québec City to Ottawa and was impressed with the cycling infrastructure in Montréal.

[Helene2013]

Thank you. Yes our "route verte" or greenbelt for some, etc is very nice. Our "normal" roads, not so much (now we know why with all the corruptions we've been watching on the news for the past year or so). You really have to watch the road ahead of you for holes, etc. In province of Quebec you also have to watch for motorists/motorcyclists. Too many are not friendly to cyclists. I'll spare you for now all those horrors we go through on a daily basis. But we do have good drivers too. Let's applause them!

My husband does not mind the roads but I do. Again last night he did a 45kms ride with his club and a rider in his team had a flat tire. It is almost like this with every outing. When it is not 2 flats on same hole, same rider! Just to say for road conditions. You must have been lucky. hihi

Congrats for that ride from QC to Ottawa. Must have been quite a ride. How long did it take you (cycling time) to hit it?

But our bike paths are really nice overall. We still prefer to ride in Ontario (mostly Ottawa area). Roads are nice, driver super courteous, etc.).

[Crankin]

I had a Kuota Karma, which was too big and I exchanged it for a Kebel after 2 years (that's another story). I am not familiar with the model you have, but overall, it's an aggressive frame, so I can understand how it would be a tough transition from a hybrid. I had 2 other road bikes before I had the Kuota.
You might think about drop bars that have a short and shallow drop (there are a couple of different companies that make them), as well as short reach brifters. When I put the short and shallow bars on my Kuota, it made a world of difference. Something in your story tells me that you are around around a lot of male "racer types," who might not understand the importance of this. I did the research myself and insisted the shop put the bars on; I bought them elsewhere. I also just recently switched from 23 to 25 tires on my Kuota, which also improved what I call the twitchiness of the bike immensely. I had the 25s on my other road bike, which has a more relaxed geometry and I knew some of the difference in my confidence came from wider tires.

[Helene2013]

I had a Kuota Karma, which was too big and I exchanged it for a Kebel after 2 years (that's another story). I am not familiar with the model you have, but overall, it's an aggressive frame, so I can understand how it would be a tough transition from a hybrid. I had 2 other road bikes before I had the Kuota.
You might think about drop bars that have a short and shallow drop (there are a couple of different companies that make them), as well as short reach brifters. When I put the short and shallow bars on my Kuota, it made a world of difference. Something in your story tells me that you are around around a lot of male "racer types," who might not understand the importance of this. I did the research myself and insisted the shop put the bars on; I bought them elsewhere. I also just recently switched from 23 to 25 tires on my Kuota, which also improved what I call the twitchiness of the bike immensely. I had the 25s on my other road bike, which has a more relaxed geometry and I knew some of the difference in my confidence came from wider tires.

When I returned to my LBS and the mechanic saw my handles and told him I was coming to have them changed to flat ones, he said...yep...they may be a bit too narrow for you. I was boiling inside. Why telling me this now?? How come the store owner, their bike certified fitter did not notice this? Sure the fit may be prefect. But it does not mean that riding is perfect. There is a whole difference between sitting on my bike on a machine vs riding on the streets right?

I have an XS bike (which is ok for my height) and handlebar was already in the box (so they did not change it I suppose from what I understood afterwards) for that but my shoulders are a wider (I'm a big-framed - bone!) girl. So maybe if I had had the "right" - if they were not - handles, may be I would have liked my bike control a bit more. I don't know and at the time, I no longer cared. I was too afraid of riding. I never had pain or numbness while riding it. Just no control over steering. I figured it was me who was too stressed over a new thing (there is always a learning curb - but how dumb can someone be!!!! Millions of people ride road bikes - arggg). Now with the flat bar it has some curb in the middle (not sure the term but it looks very much like a hi-rise with minimal curb). I should take a picture of my "modified" bike. So I feel more secure and in control riding it. It's more me controlling the bike than the bike taking me somewhere.

The LBS is very nice, accomodating (they never charged me for many visits as I did not like this or that), and oh so patient with me, etc. BUT! Now I keep wondering, what if they had put the right one instead of what came out of the box???? I'll never know until I changed my handle again. And right now, nah! Maybe in winter when I train on rollers and trainer I may give it a shot...again. But it is hard to find the right person, who will do it the right way as everyone (shops/experts) their own mind/experience and who to believe! argggh

I also asked if I could put wider tires on mine (I have a set of American Classic - don't know width) and they said nope. I did not question more as they are the pros and I'm all new to this. I can argue easily when I know I'm right. But in this case, I'm too green. I'm learning.

I could go to my hubby's bike shop (where he purchased his) to see what more could be done but let's say they are not too happy about me getting a bike elsewhere (another story) but they did not have what I wanted to start off with. I wanted a Bianchi and they do not sell it. And the Bianchi I wanted was not even sold in Canada (would have to go through USA), which meant customs fees and lost of warranty unless I returned to USA to get it fixed if needed. So one afternoon, we walked into this reknown shop and I saw Pink Lady. That was it. I wanted it! hihi Fell in love head over heels. And I think the husband even more!

For me $3000 is a lot of money to spend on a bike. And honestly, if I had known all those issues I am experiencing, before purchasing my Kuota (which I love - but not to pieces) I would not have spent the money on it. It is a nice carbon bike, beautiful, rides very well....but hard for me to control. I'm sure with time (I only have about 350kms on it) I will get to learn and enjoy that baby of mine. Need to tame it first. hihi I did test drive a few bikes before (Giant Avail, etc). But not that one. Big mistake. I figured a bike is a bike (at least in the same category of bike!) WRONG! HAHA

But I will seriously look in the winter (when things are slows at shop) to see what type of road bike handles would really suit me and the bike....and if I can have wider tires. But that would probably mean changing my wheels right? If that is the case, I'm not sure it is worth it all. Those wheels are already $1000. Not sure I want to "re-invest" at this point. Time will tell.

[ny biker]

Welcome aboard.

Some cycling clubs have rides for slower cyclists who just want to have fun in addition to fast aggressive rides. So you might find a group you'll enjoy cycling with. Of course there's nothing wrong with just cruising along on your own, if that's what you enjoy.

[Helene2013]

So far, the groups we have in the area are all too fast paced for me. Maybe one day when I get stronger (I'm just back into training from injuries) it may be something to look into. Time will tell.

[ny biker]

My current tires are 700x23. I know I can switch to 700x25, because last year I spoke to someone at the LBS who had measured the frame for another customer who had the same bike, to see if she could put 700x25 tires on it. However I could not go wider than 25. I think the issue (and what he measured) is the amount of space inside the forks. I would not need new wheels to make the switch.

It may be possible for you to use a wider tire than what you have now, just not as wide as the ones you asked about. And you would not necessarily need different wheels.

[Helene2013]

Thank you. I will check again. All I know (and I'm very limited in road cycling stuff...but it is improving slowly but surely) is that my wheels are American Classic 420 Aero 3 aluminium. It is written ERD700C 572. It says Rim depth 34mm. Tires are Vittoria ZaffiroPro 700x23c. I may also write to the rim maker if I can't find a safe answer. Husband thinks it may be possible, but when I asked LBS (it was more like hybrid tires then, for gravel trails - just out of curiousity) and he had said no.

[Crankin]

You can put the 25c tires on your wheels. They are not the same as tires for gravel roads.
I would go to another shop that has good experience fitting. There's no reason to be tied to the one you bought the bike at, especially since they are not treating you well. Read, read, and learn. It may well be that the Kuota is just not the frame for you.

[Helene2013]

Crankin,

I would not be ready to say they are not treating me well. On the contrary. I'm sure it's me who did not ask the "correct" questions before goint out of the store with that bike. I loved the look of the bike so much, I never thought of asking more. And they did tell me when I told them I was not sure about road bike handlebars, they could change it for me to flat ones if it made me feel better/safer, etc. Which they did, free of charge, like many other things they did for me. I think most of my "frustation" is why would the mechanic think that the bars may have been too narrow for me (which made it harder for a newbie to control the bike) and no one else noticed that!! This is what got to me. Note that I did not know much, but enough to question. My husband's LBS was ready to send me to Marinoni to have one customed to me. It would have come up to same price but wanted me to get a steel bike. I wanted carbon. Seriously....I did not need carbon bike that much. Just that hubby is drooling over his and he pushed me to carbon: lighter, smoother, blablabla. And the worst is to admit that hubby's LBS may have been right all along.

Last night I was having a discussion with him and told him I don't know anymore if I like riding it. I'm afraid. Afraid of what? Don't know. It's just I'm not sure I feel safe on it. Hard to explain I know...I'm confused myself. lol I don't get that "losing control" type of thing on my old 1992 hybrid. But then again you have to compare apples with apples. That hybrid probably weighs over 30 pounds. Totally different handling, etc.

My husband is asking what I fear on this bike. And the more I think about it...the more it is crazy as unfounded. They are too easy to get flat tires. I'm afraid of that. Last night, he went with his bike club and a girl had a flat tire. Every ride someone gets a flat (our roads are bad! - Seriously). So I tend to remain on bike paths. What's the point of having a "racer" bike if you're not speeding (and I mean cycling at a decent road bike speed), not wanting to be on roads heuh!

He said we should try to change my tires. But not to dream as 2mm wider won't make a huge difference. But it may be just enough to make me feel more secure on my bike as I would "feel" like having more grip on the ground, less air in the tires (now I have 110 psi), a smoother ride, etc.

Like hubby tells me: until you remove that mental blockage of yours out of your mind, no matter what type of bars or tires, you will be afraid. He's asked me: how many people have I seen lose control or fall while I was riding? NONE. So why worry. He's 100% right. He said I have to get out of my mind the way I have to "drive" my road bike vs old hybrid. 2 different things. And when I tell him I'll sell my Pink Lady and use my old hybrid he reminded me how sore I was from shoulder blades, knees, etc. Something I have not experienced with my Kuota. And again he's right.

So I may try the 25mm tires and if it does not do, then what? Change bike. Try to trade it with another bike at the shop? That would mean I'd probably lose 1/2 of what I paid. It's a lot of money. But I may have to bite the bullet and just swallow it all if it makes me enjoy riding. OR, I could just buy a trainer and use the bike on it, where I would feel 100% safe. Same end results for me.

Ahhhhh when your mind plays game with you.

[Crankin]

Helene, it seems like there is some anxiety surrounding riding for you; I can actually relate, and I've been riding a long time. Getting a flat is part of riding. Learn how to change a flat, and carry the appropriate tools, so even if it's hard, you have the tools and someone could help. Try visualizing yourself riding, carefree, down the road. Do some deep breathing before and as you start riding, and find a mantra to say to yourself while you are riding. In fact, I think we had a thread about mantras for riding somewhere.
I did find that the 25c tires made a difference in my feeling of stability; it doesn't seem like 2 cm would make a difference, but it did. In the end, you may have to find a different bike to feel comfortable. And stay away from shop guys and racer types that might push you in a direction that you don't want to go.

[OakLeaf]

It does take some time to get used to a bike that's less stable. That's completely normal. I still remember when I first got my race bike - which is more of a roadrace geometry, not as tight as a criterium bike. Even though I'd ridden tens of thousands of miles on diamond frame bikes, commuting, day riding, and touring loaded and solo all over the region - they'd all been relaxed frames. My race bike felt super twitchy to me, and it wasn't a good feeling at first. But I got used to it. And I grew to love the responsiveness. Give yourself a chance and you will, too.

Now, obviously I don't know how well this particular bike fits you, but if you're talking about all the discomfort you had on your old bike that you're not having on this one, that's a good sign that it fits you well. But, if your steering is extra twitchy because your stem is super short, then that could mean the frame is too big for you. Do you know how long the stem is? (Sometimes the stem dimensions are stamped on it, but that depends on the brand.)

As far as the handlebar width ... having bars of the right width is really important for comfort, but it could go either way as far as your feeling of control.

Are you keeping a nervous death-grip on the bars? That can make your movements jerky, and translate into a twitchy feeling.

Is there a rider skills class in your area that you can take? Those can be super helpful for learning your way around a new bike.

Anyway, good luck and welcome to TE!

[Helene2013]

ahhh. I wrote something and when I pressed on the post button, it was all gone. So let's try again and bear with me if 2-3 replies or similar appears all of a sudden.

You are right. It is mostly anxiety. And certainly not major reasons to stress. Yes I am afraid of falling. Maybe because I've been injured and into physiotherapy since this past Jan (and last treatments were 2 weeks ago). So very long time in PT - not counting previous knee surgery, so all remain fragile. Still not allowed to run, but allowed to cycle. Nothing requiring knee shocks, or elbow (had 2 minor tears - but ok for now) for that matter. So that too scares me.

We are more than equipped for tires. So the changing part is not worrying me. It's more my reaction if I get a flat (never encountered that with the hybrid) so that part stresses me a lot. The fact it is carbon and I found out later (after purchase) that Kuota had a bad reputation for carbon bike frame breaking in 2 while riding and injuries occured. From what LBS told me after, it was true. Kuota changed their way of making bikes and it should not happen again. At least under normal riding.

I will look up that Mantra thread tonight (at work now and not supposed to be surfing. hihi)

I will also order new tires (and I suppose tubes to match tires) and see how better I feel on the bike.

If that does not work, and time does not help, I will put that bike on a trainer for the winter and get a new bike next spring. There is so much stress I can handle. It is supposed to be fun...not stressing to be riding. hahahaha

Anyone know where to get the best tires (tubes) on-line? Not necessarily the high-end priced ones. If I can have pink on the tires, that would be the cherry on the sundae. I want tires to be comfortable. I don't care about the floating on air while riding and racing like the coyote.

You are also right in the sense that it does take time to learn on such bike. Which I was not expecting at all. Thus may be my exaggerated stress riding. I mean, we’ve been riding bikes since we’re probably 3YO…and at 50YO I’m having these issues. Hahaha

From what I understand, my fit is perfect. No pain, no discomfort from riding it, very comfy. BUT! Yes I do have a too- tight grip on the handles and I know it. Only feel pressure on my palms and it will create soreness to the point of numbing my little finger on right hand until I relax the grip. I have gel padded gloves and it will still hurt from too much grip. I’ve been told also to add end-bar to my handlebar to get a different hand position, which is lost when I switched from those road bars to flat bar.

So with this bike, I have to remind myself, “let go of the tight grip. You won’t control the bike better and will only get sore hands with white knuckles”. hihi. So yes I do talk to myself. It sounds worse than it is too actually. From what others have told me, my position on the bike looks very good. I ride very straight - no swaying, very stable (from what I've been).

I don’t know what the stem length is. Would have to look it up. I’m sure the day I relax my grip on the bar it will change the “riding” a lot too.

I don’t know of such classes in the area. They are all bike clubs, with mostly guys and it’s whom is going to be faster than the next. Even hubby has issues with it because they (most cyclists) do not ride for fun and leisure but for speed. But hubby loves his club riding most of the time. He has some buddies he likes to ride with side-by-side but other than this, they are really tough. And most classes I’ve read about are either spinning, or those power cadence or whatever classes. So nothing really for starters. 

Thank you for hearing me. Feels much better than the board I was on before where it was macho and testosterone kicking in and not understanding how we, women, can feel sometimes and turn everything into a joke.

[Crankin]

In the States, the League of American Bicyclists sponsors such classes. They are called Road Skills... Perhaps some of our Canadien members can help suggesting something? Here in the Boston area, we also have a couple of Bicycle schools that teach skills to all ages. I think Hirakukibou had an 80 y/o client one time!
Who told you that Kuotas crash, break, and cause bad injuries more than other carbon bikes? My husband and I have had Kuotas since 2006. I have crashed more than once and have never had an issue. Stop listening to these people! Now, my crashes were not at super high speed, but still. DH's carbon Trek 550 *did* get half a broken fork in maybe 2004, when a squirrel ran into him on a 40 mph descent. However, he was not hurt, and he just replaced the fork. If you think about this stuff all of the time, you will never ride. It's called catastrophizing...
One hint is to look into outdoor clubs. The club I lead rides for is part of one. Hiking, paddling, x country skiing are the other activities. Cycling is a bit more relaxed with these groups. Our "slower" rides average 10-12 mph.