Thank you for all of your encouragement! The hand is doing better today. Someday there will be no more falling, right. Thank you for the advice on shifting. I'm sure it will help. I will post pictures of my bike a little later today. She is powder blue with a black seat. I must say, there is a world of difference between riding a road bike and riding a mountain bike. I went up hills in the last two days at speeds I never could have on my mountain bike. I can cut through the air like butter. I love it!!!! And along the same vein, this is a great community of bikers.