New Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike!

[indysteel]

Congrats. I, too, love white bikes! It sounds like you found a good LBS in that they took the time to fit you on the bike. That's great; not all shops are that attentive.

I, too, think that cages are scarier than clipless pedals. You might try a pedal that has a clip on one side and a regular platform on the other. Otherwise, I'd just bite the bullet and start climbing the clipless pedal learning curve. They're really not that bad and don't take that long to get used to.

Regarding the road vibrations, are you using padded gloves and a good pair of cycling shorts? One word of advice regarding bumps and what not on a road bike. Keep your grip light and some bend in your arms, especially when going over rough pavement. Also, don't overinflate your tires. I typically run mine between 10 and 20 psi less than the specified maximum pressure. You might play around with it a bit to see what feels best for you.

I, too, am not sure what you mean by "drop and brake." You should be able to reach your brakes while in "the hoods." If you can't, you might take it back to your LBS and see about getting shorter reach brakes.

Just keep practicing. Before you know it, everything will feel very natural to you. I hope you have lots of fun and safe miles ahead of you.

Oh, and you have to give your bike a name!!!!

[Tri Girl]

Wow- she's a beeeeeeauuuuty!!! I love the look of the white and black- very classy!! Soooo glad you found a bike that you love (and that loves you in return by being super comfortable).

Congrats on the latest addition to your family! May you have lots of fun together!

[teawoman]

Regarding the road vibrations, are you using padded gloves and a good pair of cycling shorts? One word of advice regarding bumps and what not on a road bike. Keep your grip light and some bend in your arms, especially when going over rough pavement. Also, don't overinflate your tires. I typically run mine between 10 and 20 psi less than the specified maximum pressure. You might play around with it a bit to see what feels best for you.

Oh, and you have to give your bike a name!!!!

Yeah...I was wearing my tri shorts, so it will prolly help to get real bike shorts. I have gloves. And I should add our city roads are in pretty crappy condition as roads go...we have been mass whining about it lately so there's construction all over to resurface. Several bad Canuck winters and no repair in the Spring have made them horrible. The 4 blocks that run by my house have just been redone and feel great...I could just do that loop about 70 gabillion times .

Hmm...dunno what to name her. She is very classy looking, so something kind of over-the-top classy.

[nomummytummy]

Also, don't overinflate your tires. I typically run mine between 10 and 20 psi less than the specified maximum pressure. You might play around with it a bit to see what feels best for you. [/QUOTE]


I found that when I did this I kept getting punctures. When I inflated them to the recommended pressure, no more flat since. (Bet that comment jinxes me for the weekend!)

[short cut sally]

congrats on the new bike, you must be in cloud nine from the sounds of it..i remember getting my new bike and it was like cloud nine. i rode for a little bit with the toe cages, and found that i actually had more incidents of non-safety issues than i did riding clipless. i fell over more because i couldn;t ever get my feet out in time. so i took the straps off for awhile but didn't like how my feet would slop all over the pedal. i bit the bullet and went with mtb. bike shoes and spd peddals. so worth it, but it took several months for me to go to that..i got used to my bike, the road, shifting, etc, then i made the plunge. good luck and enjoy your new beauty!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Also, don't overinflate your tires. I typically run mine between 10 and 20 psi less than the specified maximum pressure.

I also keep my tires at about 10-15 lbs less than the stated maximum. When I had them at max I noticed my spokes and wheels making funny noises, for one thing.
People sometimes assume that "maximum psi"=suggested psi. Max pressure simply means Don't go over that pressure or your tire might explode! It doens't mean that's the ideal pressure to ride on.

[cosc]

Your new road bike sounds glorious. I know what you mean about whizzing down a hill and trying to keep speed and bike under control. Sometimes my start position on a descent will be on the flats so I can bodily catch more air to slow, as I gain more speed I get into drops to use brakes more effectively. Feather your braking on a descent to have more control. I'm just a pokey cyclist, still learning and am sure many great cyclist on this board can help you.

[VeloVT]

I also keep my tires at about 10-15 lbs less than the stated maximum. When I had them at max I noticed my spokes and wheels making funny noises, for one thing.
People sometimes assume that "maximum psi"=suggested psi. Max pressure simply means Don't go over that pressure or your tire might explode! It doens't mean that's the ideal pressure to ride on.

I'm no expert on this, so someone may be able to add to this. (And by the way Lisa, I'm not quoting you because I'm about to disagree with you -- I don't disagree at all -- it was just a convenient way to continue the topic since your post was the most recent on this issue ).

But tire pressure is basically a trade-off. Higher PSI = harsher, but faster ride. Lower PSI = plusher, but slower ride (lower PSI will be slower b/c more of the tire contacts the road, thus there is greater resistance).

Currently, I'm inflating to 120 psi, though my new tires are rated to 145. Not sure us ordinary mortals will feel much speed difference between 100 pounds and 110 pounds, but if you've ever tried riding a bike with seriously underinflated tires, you'll see how much slower it feels (not that you should ever try this!).

[VeloVT]

Oh, and Teawoman, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW BIKE!!!!!!!

[indysteel]

But tire pressure is basically a trade-off. Higher PSI = harsher, but faster ride. Lower PSI = plusher, but slower ride (lower PSI will be slower b/c more of the tire contacts the road, thus there is greater resistance).

Admittedly, there is some debate out there as to whether running tires at higher pressures increases speed on anything but the smoothest of surfaces, e.g., a track. That said, IMO stopping shy of max pressure can actually increase speed on the average road surface. Running at really high pressures will make you bounce more, causing you to lose speed as your tire loses contact with the road. Running a little less than max can also provide better cornering, which will also increase speed.

I maintain that it pays to play around with tire pressure both front and rear to see what pressure feels good to you. The ideal pressure at which you both maximize both speed and safety, achieve a comfortable ride and avoid pinch flats will depend on your weight, the tire tire size, rode surface and weather. Finally, you can always run a wider tire, like a 700 X 25 cc, without compromising much in speed if you'd like a plusher ride.

For more on tire pressure, take a look at http://sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#pressure

[HappyAnika]

Congrats on the new bike, I'm happy to hear you say how much you like it. I just wanted to add that I agree about taking your bike back to the shop to ask about the brake levers. A lot of times they can be shimmed to make it easier for you to reach from the hoods. This is a common problem for a lot of women who tend to have smaller hands.

Also, take your time with the pedals. I started with cages because I wanted to get used to the bike and the STI shifters before I had to worry about my feet. I'm very glad I did this. However I quickly got to the point where I was comfortable shifting and handling, and the cages were starting to frustrate me. That's when I knew it was time to go clipless. Clipless has a lot of advantages, but I think it's important to get the hang of everything else first so you enjoy riding. I think some people get pushed into going clipless too soon, then they end up hating to ride (when its not really riding they don't like, its the pedals). So it may take you a couple of days, or a couple of years, just do what feels right for you. (At the same time, don't be too afraid to try it, yes it's a little scary at first, but you'll quickly realize how wonderful clipless are and you'll never look back). Enjoy your new ride!

[teawoman]

Thanks so much for all the feedback! Lots to play with and figure out!
Went for another 11 miles today! Braking was much easier, but I am still pretty scared on the steep hills...I am almost slower going down than up them right now. Still very comfortable otherwise!

I can't wait for my tri now!

[Starfish]

I definitely cannot grasp the brakes nearly as fully from the hoods as from the drops. I will brake in the hoods for gentle hills and slopes, but for real security down hills, I like the drops.

I also think the drops are safer for downhills and braking downhill because you can shift your weight back and push into the drops, stabilizing your center of gravity, etc.

Just my .02 ...I really enjoyed reading your post...you are really on the right track and doing great. Now, it is just a matter of time and riding, and you will relax, enjoy, and learn what kinds of things you will want to tweak on your bike as you go.

Beauty of a bike, too!

[teawoman]

I definitely cannot grasp the brakes nearly as fully from the hoods as from the drops. I will brake in the hoods for gentle hills and slopes, but for real security down hills, I like the drops.

Whew. That's exactly what I mean.

Just my .02 ...I really enjoyed reading your post...you are really on the right track and doing great. Now, it is just a matter of time and riding, and you will relax, enjoy, and learn what kinds of things you will want to tweak on your bike as you go.

Aww, thanks. I was pretty active as a kid, but other priorities took over as I got older and getting out there took a back seat...and I gained weight, yada yada. I am so excited to be doing stuff like this!

[Starfish]

I am so excited to be doing stuff like this!

Just wait, you will be amazed at what you will end up doing. One of the things that keeps me hooked on riding is that it has exploded the limitations I used to believe about what I can do. I am doing a ride this weekend that I am not at all sure I can actually do. But, I will attempt it, because every year for the past few since I started riding (on a 40 pound bike on flat paved paths), I keep pushing through to doing things that I couldn't have believed just the previous year.

Although I am a little scared of my ride this weekend, I will give it everything I have, and I know that in another year, I will look back and see it as another moment for breaking through my own ceiling. It has brought real fun, joy and positive expectation for the future to me. Now, I daydream about what I might possibly accomplish next year (at 42 years old), and five years from now, and ten years from now! I believe I'll be stronger and doing more in ten years than I am now. I bet you will be, too. You are embarking on an amazing adventure, one step at a time, and we're right there with you!