Need a new bike, but I'm scared!

[farrellcollie]

Road bikes are fun - and I will be back on mine as soon as the broken finger and wrist heal and the skin grows back etc. Seriously though, I have been biking for years on a hybrid and for two yrs on road bikes and I have had only one real serious incident - and I believe it was kind of a freaky thing with the small stick getting stuck in my front spokes. But along with helmet I really suggest gloves - I lost some skin through the gloves I was wearing on Sunday - but it would have been a lot worse without them.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Welcome!

You don't have to ride fast to enjoy riding a road bike! It's simply more efficient for riding on roads than a mtn bike!

You can stick with plain pedals for a while too (or forever), until you are comfortable with your bike. You can start at slower speeds and work up gradually as you feel comfortable.
Your body will go through a few changes adapting to the new position, so be prepared for a few muscles to object at first.

Try riding a few road bikes around the block or whatever at the bike shop to get a feeling of how they fit you differently. The more of them you test ride the better you will be at sensing which ones fit you well. Don't buy the first bike you see, and don't let salesmen talk you into anything if you are not ready yet.

Have fun window shopping for a little while and building your knowledge base.

[Zen]

A lot of women here do tri and biathelons without high $$ fancy bikes.
The best piece of advice I have is to take your time buying a bike. Ride LOTS of different bikes and buy the bike that fits you, don't buy a bike and then try and make it fit you because it cost less/was red/had nice wheels/or whatever.

Gotta have gloves.
They make you look cool

[twiggjlm]

Thank you all for your advice! I can’t believe how helpful this site has been already. I start shopping for my new bike this weekend and will take all of these tips with me. I’ve been reading up on a few different brands, and have some idea what I am looking for, but honestly will not know until I find the one that fits me best. Like I said, as for the gloves I am getting them tomorrow! I didn’t realize how important they really were. (and looking cool never hurt either)

I can’t wait to wake up and ride tomorrow!!

[indiyon]

Hey twiggjlm. I am also very new at cycling... I just gave away (an old) Mongoose hybrid and bought a Trek (see my avatar). It's either a hybrid or city bike, not sure. It's just to ride on a bicycle path but I would someday like to advance to a road bike and do this more seriously. You're way ahead of me in knowledge so please keep me informed of your progress and what you wind up buying. I think I'm on the right track... I have the bike, a helmet and gloves but as for the rest, I have a long way to go! Good luck on your journey.

[twiggjlm]

Indiyon, thanks for the post! I still have a lot to learn, and hopefully we can share some of our tips! And good luck on your journey as well!

I am actually ordering a book today called, Training Plans for Multisport Athletes, by Gale Bernhardt. Has anyone read that? It looked like a good one to me and it was rated one of the top 10 on www.trifind.com.

BTW-Biofreeze with Ilex works wonders on soar, stiff muscles!! I have the roll on. I had to use some this morning...ouch! It doesn't have that strong medicine smell either, it dissipates after a minute or two...luv it!

[Python]

I've got two road bikes - one vintage Raleigh and a new Specialized Dolce Elite I only got on Saturday. I've been used to flat pedals with my Raleigh. The Dolce has clips and straps - and I don't like them. Putting clipless on when I get paid at the weekend.

I wear cycling shorts, helmet and gloves. Bought a new pair of Specialized gloves when I picked up my new bike on Saturday. They have really thick gel inserts in the palms and are very comfortable.

I'm getting used to my new bike now and love the ease I can climb hills with. The only snag is instead of going to work in the morning I'm so tempted to just ride on by and keep going...and going...and going...

[sundial]

Hi Twig, welcome aboard! You sound like a very ambitious rider and I think you'll meet other folks here who have similar training goals. Good to hear that you are enjoying both running and cycling.

Now, about that bike.......

My first "road" bike was a mountain bike with slicks on it. Talk about a workout! By the time I got my first road bike, I felt like I was flying down the road. Just think how quick you'll be on your road bike if you decide to get one.

There are many types of road bikes out there so take your time researching and riding different types of bikes. Some people like steel frames (Bianchi), others like aluminum, (Specialized Sequoia) and some like the really cool carbon fiber (Trek Madone). In choosing a road bike, consider first what your budget will be (you can actually get a decent road bike for around $500 bucks or so), then how many miles you'll ride on average a week, and where. Also, do you want to ride a more aggressive road bike or an upright bike?

Next, locate a bike shop and talk to the mechanics. Developing a really good rapport with the LBS should help you tremendously when choosing a bike. Your bike guys should not only make sure of the fit, but offer support and services to help you enjoy your new ride. Also, with the '08's coming out, you might find a great discount on the '07 models. Some bike shops will also let you trade in your bike for a discounted new one as well.

Let us know what you decide and once you get your new set of wheels, be sure and post pics of your new ride. Good luck and I hope this helps.