Bike and other questions

[islandgirl2]

Hello everyone, this is my first post but I have been reading through posts for the past several weeks! I just got my first road bike 2 months ago. I haven't had a bike since I was a kid but have always been an athlete- with running marathons, martial arts etc. I started spinning classes at my gym about 2 years ago because of some running knee injuries and loved the classes, I would go 3-5 times a week and had some intense workouts! One day this year I decided enough was enough and I needed to get myself a bike again. My husband had a mtn bike but I convinced him to get a road bike too! So I got my first road bike (Scattante W-330 from Performace Bike) and started riding outside about 2 months ago! I usually do 20- 25 miles per ride, I have done a few shorter ones around 12 miles for more fun rides to the Farmer's Market etc, but I tend to go on 20 mile average rides more often. I usually average around 15 mph, a little lower on hill workouts (not so strong on hills yet!) and a little higher on flatter areas or if I am having a good day. (I have a Cateye computer for my bike.)

I decided to start training for a Century Ride for later this fall if possible. I usually ride about 3-5x a week if weather and my work schedule cooperates, we have consistently been doing long rides on the weekends, the past 3 weekends I did 33, 35, and last weekend 42 miles. I haven't started with the clipless pedals, still using the toe clips right now. I have the shoes (from spinning) but am a bit nervous to start using them for my road bike. I tried clipping in/out of my husband's bike (not while riding) and was having a hard time clipping out with the SPD so I just purchased the Speedplay Frogs (they just came in today) and I am hoping to give them a try at some point this weekend.(But I am really nervous!) I have read through many suggestions on previous posts.

So that is the bit of background on me... I guess my question is should I upgrade my Scattante. I have read some varied information on the brand and quality. I know I am still new to things, but I am really not comfortable with the way my bike shifts. (Shimano Sora) and I have read so many bad things about Sora. When I got the bike I was nervous about getting a bike in the first place and didn't do a lot of research. I just went with Performance's suggestion for a beginner rider. I do like the inline brakes since I ride upright sometimes, but I figure I should get used to the other way since most bikes don't have the inline brakes. I feel like I have progressed quickly and wish I would have spent more time initially testing out bikes and different stores. I test rode a Fuji ACR Roubaix with Shimano 105 yesterday and thought it was much better. Unfortunately they didn't have a WSD and my torso and arms are short and my legs are longer. I do like the fit of my Scattante 51 cm W330, but I really don't like the way it shifts and it feels a little uneasy when I am riding 30mph down some hills. I also like the "granny gear" for some of the crazy hills we ride. I did have two falls so far. One was just a dumb mistake from riding too late at night and not being aware of a curb. I banged up my knee a little but nothing too bad. Last weekend there was some tricky construction area with cones all over the place and I took a tumble. (My husband said if I were to fall that is a place that at least I shouldn't feel bad about because it was really tricky.) I banged up my arm kinda bad (bleeding and bruised and haven't been able to ride the past 3 days.)
So I went to Performance and they said I could upgrade the bike. I can't decide what to do, I could always just keep this bike for now while I am still getting used to things, but at the same time if I am training for a century ride now (and many more hopefully) I want a bike that performs well. What is the general opinion on this bike for anyone that has heard of it. I also feel limited with the selection at Performance. They really only have Scattante and Fuji bikes available and not many WSD models. They keep telling me I don't have to have one for women but my frame seems to fit them better. The Fuji handlebars seem too wide for me... So my options are to upgrade to something a little nicer now (1K range) or just continue to ride the bike I have now, upgrade the shifters and practice the clipless pedals and go for something more in the 2K range next season. Just thought I would get some opinions on if this bike is decent and is a good choice for doing a century ride.

Thanks for listening to my story and thanks in advance to any replies!

[KnottedYet]

It sounds like overall you quite like the bike you have now.

Why not just change the rear derailleur and the handlebars? That is probably the cheapest and easiest way to go. Then you continue riding a bike you like, just changing the things about it that bug you.

We all do that with our bikes. It's practically a hobby! My utility bike is on its 3rd set of handlebars, third set of pedals, one added chainring, second front derailleur, and second saddle. Oh, and second set of tires and brake pads, but that's no biggie, that's pretty normal. My zoom-zoom bike is on her 2nd set of pedals, second saddle, second set of bars, second set of cranks.

Then you can "ride lots" and learn more about your preferences, and save your money for your next bike! (more bikes, more better!)

ETA: whoops, just realized you said it was the Fuji bars that felt too wide. Can you tell us what felt "uneasy" about your current bike at high speeds?

[Owlie]

I can understand what you mean, and I went through the "Do I upgrade?" for a while. (I was nervous about buying my bike, so I didn't want to sink a lot of money into it. Now I wish I'd gotten the 105-equipped version.)
My story aside...
The fit is the most important part, and anything else you can tweak to your heart's content. I settled on saving for buying a really nice bike later on, and upgrading parts on the Giant as they wear out. Bikes are kind of a work in progress. So, I'm with Knot on this. Upgrade what bugs you, unless it works out to more than the cost of the bike. If it's only a couple things, then go ahead and do it and save up for a much nicer bike next year.
The uneasy at speeds...it may be a matter of getting used to travelling at those speeds. I remember my bike felt wobbly at 16 when I first got her. Now I wonder what the heck I was thinking.
You could probably do a century on that bike. Really.

ETA: I looked up the bike in question. Are you thinking of upgrading the derailleur only? I don't know how much impact the shifters versus the derailleur has on the feel of shifting. For me, I seriously looked into upgrading shifters, cassette, crankset and derailleurs. It came to more than the cost of the bike. Less than the cost of a new bike, but still, more than it was worth.

[islandgirl2]

I ended up upgrading my bike! Hubbie and I went around the past few weekends and I took out several bikes on test rides a few times. (Trek Madone WSD 4.7, Fuji Roubaix, Orbea T105, Specialized Ruby, Kuoto Kharma.) All of them felt better than the bike I was riding, shifting gears was noticeably different with Shimano 105 and SRAM Rival!) So I talked to Performance and explained my concerns, I was just so unhappy with the shifting and the brakes. It was didn't seem worth it to upgrade the components considering the price of the bike. It would have made more sense to buy something else with the cost of the upgrades. They told me if I wasn't happy that I could give the bike back and they would help find me something else, unfortunately nothing they had really worked for me so they let me give it back. Out of the bikes I took out, I really loved everything about the WSD Madone. It just felt right for some reason. I really wanted to get the Orbea- but the T105 didn't seem quite right for me- I WISH I could have the Orbea Diva- but I need to get better to justify spending that much! Maybe in a few years!

So anyway I just thought I would update this post and let you all know I got the 4.7 Madone and am SO happy!!! We went out on a few rides and the bike just feels so great. It's so funny because the Scattante just felt insecure for some reason. Even after riding a bunch of bikes and coming back and riding that one, something just didn't feel right, so I know I made the right decision.

Now if I could only feel more confident with the clipless pedal! Tried them out today and it wasn't good. (I will start a new post on that topic!!!)

Thank you all so much for all your comments!

[tctrek]

Welcome to TE! What you might find is that we are all enablers out here... we find it very hard to turn down a bike when it is speaking to us. So, it's unlikely someone will tell you not to upgrade . Seriously, it's really hard to say if you should upgrade or not. You have to gauge how you feel on your bike, comfort level, fit, etc. As you gain more experience, you can try to ride different bikes at your LBS and see if any of them feel better and then the big question is the $$.

So, I would say keep riding and understand how your body and your bike are working together so that you have a better idea of what you want.

[Biciclista]

glad you got a bike you liked! Take it slow with the pedals. You could even just have one foot clipping in and out for a while.

[islandgirl2]

I should probably start a new post about this, but the clipless are creating such anxiety for me. I purchased the Speedplay Frogs because I wanted the comfort of walking in a mtb shoe and I heard the Frogs were easy to get in/out of because of no tension. My husband loved them (he was using spd- and raved about how easy they were.) I finally put them on my bike today to try them out. I went around the neighborhood and there were several times I just couldn't get out of the pedals so I had to keep doing rounds. My problem is that I am use to pulling my right foot out of my toe clip when it is on the up stroke. It is obviously harder to rotate my foot outward at that angle... but when I put it down I feel pressured. I know it doesn't make sense????

I thought maybe I will just try to use my left foot to unclip instead, which I did, and at a stop, I unclipped, I fell over to the right because I guess my body is so used to leaning that way instead. Ugh I was so annoyed- scratched up my new bike- but oh well i guess everyone falls. I gave up (for an hour) then hubbie loosened the cleat screws and everything and I went out again with the though that I would ONLY unclip the right since that is what I am used to. I felt like I really had to yank it out and still it felt sticky to me most of the time. I don't know if this makes sense but when I am coasting to a stop, I always have my left foot down, but my right is the one I pull out, so it is a new thought process for me now, to not coast that way into a stop and try to bring my right foot down so I can unclip. The second time I went out around the block I didn't fall but I was SO scared. I almost toppled over when I leaned to far again. Luckily I pulled it together. I stopped while I was ahead, but felt like I was about to go into tears from frustration. I really want to get it, I know I will, but the anxiety is killing me and leaving me so scared to even get on my bike now. I kept practicing with my husband holding the bike in the garage for a while and it is fine, but as soon as I start moving on the roads- everything changes.

I have read through many posts and I know about tips, but I still feel frustrated. I should also mention that I shattered my elbow a few years ago in another sports related injury so I am freaked out about falling too. I fell a week ago and landed on my elbow but luckily didn't break anything again- but bruised it up pretty badly and had to take a break for a week. I think the fear of falling and breaking something, plus the fear of the clipless is causing more anxiety.

I put the toe clips back on tonight just so I can have a stress free ride early tomorrow morning before work, I feel like I just want a good ride with no worries....

[tiva]

I unclip when my foot is up, rather than down, because that's what I was used to doing with toe clips. It works fine with my spds, even though it takes a tiny bit more effort. If you're more comfortable doing it that way, I don't see that there's any problem.

Can you borrow a trainer and practice a lot with your bike secure? Are your pedals at their very loosest?

Keep trying--it's so worth it, once it becomes second nature.