first "real" road ride

[bounceswoosh]

Since getting my first road bike about a month ago, I've commuted to work twice (about 11 miles each way) on it, and that's been it. Yesterday, I finally did what I think of as a "real" road ride -- a thirty mile loop from my house back to my house.

As it turns out, there's some great road riding accessible right from our driveway -- either back country farm roads or highways with exceptionally wide shoulders. What surprised me was what I liked. The more scenic parts along the farm roads were okay -- but the fun came when we did an eight mile stretch of 36, from Neva to 66. It was this great, rolling terrain, the kind where you can pick up some speed on the descent, and you're already half way up the climb before you really have to start working, and so you just keep pushing through, and then you're flying downhill again, wheee!

Ahem.

The bike computer shows 29 miles in 1:50 hours, although I had to stop a few times, so it was actually a little more "clock time" than that. Max speed of 36 mph. Overall 1400+ feet of climbing, according to mapmyrun.com

Positive stuff: my thighs felt great the whole time. I never felt like I would get too tired to continue. My hands and wrists felt fine the whole time, although my elbows / triceps started getting just a little cranky toward the end -- something I expected, because I need to work on form. My saddle felt great (ie, I didn't notice it at all) the whole time, and I wasn't sliding forward onto my soft bits as much as I tend to on the commute, for some reason.

Not so great stuff: my knees were making their displeasure known. I believe this is just my arthritis speaking up, since we've had a lot of weather changes here recently. Some days, my knees are fine. Other days, less so.

But the big thing, and the reason I had to stop several times, was my ankles. The front tendons (?) of my ankles got really sore -- not from rubbing. DH wonders if I am doing something weird in my pedal stroke. It started by mile seven, which is weird because I've never noticed it on my commute, which is longer than that. That front part of my ankle is still sore today; I can definitely feel it if I flex my foot upward.

One thing I'm definitely going to have to learn to do is drink from the water bottle while moving. I have been very happy using a camelbak for mountain biking, but I gather that's just not done in road riding. I can do it, but it takes a lot of concentration, and it seems like I have to tip my head up enough that I can't see the road as well as I'd like. I guess it'll just take time.

DH said that he was surprised about two things -- how fast I rode the gradual climbs, and how slow I road the short steep climbs. I mean, "steep", nothing was *that* steep. He suspects that I'm downshifting too aggressively -- see, in mountain biking I've learned to downshift early and fast, because downshifting while you're on the climb and maybe riding technical stuff is a mess. But DH thinks maybe when road riding, where climbs are typically not so abrupt, I should take a more gradual approach to shifting, and I won't lose so much momentum.

I did feel like I "ran out of" gears faster than I expected on the downhills. I mean, how am I supposed to go superfast when I can't pedal fast enough to engage the wheel? But I don't know if this means that I should ultimately shop for a bigger big ring, or maybe just wait it out and see what happens. DH points out that bigger big rings usually come with bigger small rings, and you never know when you might need those baby gears around here. (We both unabashedly run triples -- eventually I'd like to do rides like Jamestown, Ward, etc, and those mountains are tall!)

Anyway -- yay, first road ride complete! Here's to many more! Any thoughts on the ankle pain very welcome!

[malkin]

Whether it's "just not done" or not, I'd be dead if I didn't use a hydration pack on the road.

I don't have a support car to hand me new full bottles as I ride by, and no adoring fans to clean up after me as I casually toss aside the empties.

[KnottedYet]

Lots of folks on road bikes use Camelbaks. I'm trying to think of a reason why one wouldn't, and all I can figure is that maybe it slides around to much if you go really aero?

but the folks I know who use hydration packs have never complained.

I have no idea.

[mimitabby]

sometimes i get tired of always carrying something on my back. However, on a long ride, I just do it. There are so many times i take a drink that i would NOT do if i just had a water bottle.

[redrhodie]

Ahhh, the camelback--looks like you hit a spot . Do what works, don't worry what anyone thinks...but, learning to drink from a bottle is a good skill to have. Don't give up, yet. There's a thread all about it. It gets easier.

I don't know enough about positoning on the bike to give advice, but it sounds like something's off. Is your saddle too high? Are you riding clipless? Could be your cleat position. Could be a lot of things, I guess. I'd start with the saddle. It's always the saddle. Oh, and you'll soon discover the quest for the perfect one is not unlike Ponce de León's search for the fountain of youth. You will look far and wide, and measuring devices will be implemented .

Glad you had such a great ride! Your time sounds fast. Looks like you're in this for the long haul. Welcome to the club!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If you are on a downhill and run out of gears and want to pick up more speed, then crouch down low over your handlebars and tuck in your knees and elbows and get more aerodynamic. As long as you are going downhill, you'll continue to pick up more speed this way.

[RedNBlondies]

I am continually dehydrated because I hardly ever drink. Never have. The only was I remember to sip at my water is having the mouthpiece flopping on my shoulder. If I knew I was on a supported ride, however, I might consider just doing a water bottle. I need to practice that, actually.

I tend to use my drops more than most people, it seems. Especially when I'm in an area where I am afraid I might have to break suddenly, or like was mentioned earlier, if I'm descending quickly. I do have aero bars, but I only use them for positional changes, not speed.

I wish I had some recommendations for the ankle pain. Hope it goes away!