Need Technical Help!

[Zen]

I also had difficulty reaching the brake levers with my stubby little fingers. The LBS dude installed shims to shorten the reach.

[equus123]

To answer some of your questions from my perspective:

Your discomfort, back/neck/shoulder pain, lack of handling skills (i.e. wobbling when looking around), and any other thing that makes you feel like an idiot because you can't seem to understand why riding a bike is so difficult or weird or different.......all of these things are just first time experiences. All of that goes away in time. You'll build up the right musculature so you don't have problems (all of this given that your bike fit is okay). You won't be wobbling all over the road. You'll be able to ride on the hoods and in the drops with no problem. All of this just simply takes time to develop. Don't expect to get on a road bike for the first time in your life and ride it like a pro. It doesn't happen that way. You'll develop all of these skills, strengths, and balance but also remember that these are the things that need practice and training to develop. You can't get them any other way then with time.

I believe the same situation applies to the riding and climbing DVDs you asked about. Personally, it doesn't seem necessary for you at this point. All you need to do is spend time on the bike right now. You need to learn how it feels, how you feel, how to handle the bike, how to shift. You need to get all of the basics down first. After a few months then you can look into different types of riding techniques or how to do this or that. The problem with doing that stuff now is that you don't seem to have the basics down to even let you jump to "Step B". Make sure you do "A" first.

Maybe a change in mentality will help. You seem to either have high expectations or too fast a timeline in which things are supposed to occur. Don't rush it. If anything, rushing takes away from the time to develop good behaviors, habits, and techniques. You don't want to build bad habits that will need to be corrected later on down the road. It's harder to do that than just learn it slowly and right from the beginning.

Give it some time!!

[SadieKate]

Is two years enough? Look at the post dates.

[equus123]

so how's the bike handling coming along?

[Zen]

I am having a similar problem with my new (07) Pilot 1.2...I have enough reach for the brakes but in order to shift up to the largest chain ring my wrist is twisted at an impossible angle. I like the option of having the drops if for no other reason but to change positions on long rides. someone posted earlier that they hardly ever ride in the drops and since I feel more in control with a flat bar I'm thinking of trading the drops for flats.

I have ridden the new bike quite a few times but the situation hasn't changed and I see no other option. I'm simply frustrated and dissapointed, I looked forward to getting this bike for a year and this was not a problem that had even occurred to me.

Today is Saturday, the operation will take place Monday or Tuesday so if anyone has any input that could help speak up now!