new bike ,and very unhappy

[Bluetree]

Don't worry Suzie, you will get used to it ... fast!

Soon you will learn to love going clipless and can't believe you ever did without them.

Don't worry too much about gearing for right now. It'll be much easier to adjust to your new bike by taking it one step at a time. If it helps, get some cheap $10 platform pedals and use them for a week or so to get used to the light weight. Then deal with pedals. Then deal with gearing. One step at a time... and most of all, have fun!

[Aint Doody]

Suzie, the other ladies are so right. We want you to come back and revive this post in the middle of the summer. I bet you'll be raving about how much you love your bike and how much better you're riding. Anything new feels a little scary and foreign at first. Don't give up.

[mimitabby]

Suzie
i am still not into clipless on a single road bike yet, (Doing it on the stationary bike AND on the back of the tandem), so i can't address THAT.
But i must tell you that after riding my Bianchi since June, I am finally getting comfortable with the gears!!!!
For now, figure out a few gears and just stay in them, and when you get more light, take that bike out and put it through its paces. I have thrown my chain twice on hills, and I spend a lot of time looking at the chain. (where am I?)
I won't go into a lot of detail, but learning how to shift in the right direction
and where it gets you has taken a bit of time for me.
It's a long process, it is going to feel foreign for a while but don't give up.

[suzieqtwa]

Mimi,
Ya ,my biggest fear is dropping the chain on a hill ,and falling over. I have lots of hills around here.

[mimitabby]

Mimi,
Ya ,my biggest fear is dropping the chain on a hill ,and falling over. I have lots of hills around here.

I can really identify with that. Seems to me you shouldn't have to learn the bike gear ing AND going clipless at the same time.

When I threw the chain, I sure might have fallen if i was clipped in and wasn't used to it.

Do you want some chain advice? when dropping gears on a hill ONLY drop
from the triple because gravity will help you.
The back derailleur with all the 9 gears, only use that when there isn't so much pressure.
Someone here told me that and i haven't dropped the chain since.

[Bluetree]

Suzie, I never change gears as I'm descending. I was taught to anticipate gear shifts before they are needed (before stopping, before getting to the apex of a hill) to prevent the chain drop. Hasn't happened since!

[mimitabby]

Blue tree, I am talking about going UP hill.
that's where you throw the chain if you're not careful.

[Bluetree]

I do the same thing. If I have to change my ring, I do if before I start a climb. However, I have familiarized myself with my local hills and know which gear I will need to do each one, and which ones have false flats and so on.

But I digress... Suzie, don't worry about gears right now. It will come in time!

[Geonz]

Welp, I don't know from clipless but I do know first thing I did wouldn't be charging up a hill

This is a new relationship. Get to know each other. She's got to get used to you, too

[SouthernBelle]

I second some clip on platforms until you get used to everything else. I only used them for a week, but it made getting accustomed to the new bike much easier.