Trying to adjust to a road bike

[Thorn]

On a road bike, the weight over the wheels should be about equal (+/- 5%). That means you want to also be balanced over the bike (+/- 5% -- experts, please refine my "mostly").

While your legs are part of the issue, think of your upper body as a triangle. Your shoulders are at the peak and hands are one corner and your tush the other. Think about balancing that triangle. If that triangle is acute (arms really close to the tush), then you're not stable; if the triangle is really obtuse (as you mention really spread out), that triangle, again, is not stable. However, in between there is that perfect spot.

[Geonz]

When I wanted to go faster and further, I got me a 7500FX and put skinny tires on it. There are 'hybrid' options that are reasonably fast.

However, basically everybody I know who's gotten a good fit on a road bike has been happy with it.

[Andrea]

If your saddle is level, you can also try barely tilting the nose up. I find that if I ride exactly level that I feel like I have much more weight on my hands. Also, like everyone else said- work on core, upper body, and leg strength- Pilates is great, as is just plain weight training. The "superman" back exercise should be one that you do a couple of times a week to build lower back strength & endurance.

Another one that I love for cycling is the thruster:
Using dumbbells (start light- 5 to 10 pounds- & work your way up as you get stronger), stand up straight, hold them at your shoulders, and squat down into a low squat. Then, quickly stand back up straight, extending your arms into a shoulder press at the top. You can put something under your butt to "aim" for when you squat. It's important to keep an arch in your back and make sure your hips go back like you are trying to sit on something low (think hovering over the toilet in a preschool bathroom!) Here's a video:Thrusters Demo @ crossfit.com

This one works the upper body muscles that you use to support yourself on the bike as well as your lower back and abs (for stability & power transfer from the legs), and, of course, your legs!

[Harley]

Being another 50+ and just getting back into road riding, after 18 years... I have found riding my road bike on a trainer very helpful. It has gotten my muscles back to "remembering" the position, spin and comfort. It also allows you to concentrate on position, without the worries of the road. Once you're comfortable on the bike the road will be easier.
This is assuming you have been fit correctly to the bike.

[KathiCville]

Yen, I've got much the same problem with feeling like my posture isn't what it should be. I've done three long rides (for me, meaning more than 25mi) in the past three weeks and each time have barely made it to the end because my forearms and wrists were screaming at me. Even when I'm trying to be conscious of not locking my elbows, etc....Yesterday's 33mi was the worst yet.......Had the bike fitted a month or so ago, which helped in general terms, especially with an ongoing lower back ache. But sounds another 'go' at fitting might be a good idea...Plus, I know my core strength is lousy--something I'm starting to work on.....All of the ideas being floated here are really useful, thanks!

[aicabsolut]

Sounds like you had a brake pad rubbing the wheel.

You should also get fitted to the bike and then ride it. You may have to readjust your fit as you get more miles on the road bike. This bike setup may have the bars too close to you. I know that when I needed to flip my stem down that I would get really sore in the shoulders because I was hunching them to make enough room for my arms, essentially. You should also have a saddle position as far forward as you can where you can just hold yourself up without falling on your face when you remove your hands from the bars (best to test this out on a trainer..haha). So find the part where you feel like you're going to tip and then move it back a smidge. A good place to start is by doing the knee over pedal spindle test, but based on your femur length and the geometry of the bike versus your build, this is only a general guideline. You shouldn't be using gobs of core strength while your hands are on the bars.

All of that said, I LOVE my 54 Roubaix comp. Get fitted. Ride. If it's for you, then ride some more. Then get refitted as your road bike fitness and comfort level improves.

[Yen]

Sounds like you had a brake pad rubbing the wheel.

You should also get fitted to the bike and then ride it. You may have to readjust your fit as you get more miles on the road bike. This bike setup may have the bars too close to you. I know that when I needed to flip my stem down that I would get really sore in the shoulders because I was hunching them to make enough room for my arms, essentially. You should also have a saddle position as far forward as you can where you can just hold yourself up without falling on your face when you remove your hands from the bars (best to test this out on a trainer..haha). So find the part where you feel like you're going to tip and then move it back a smidge. A good place to start is by doing the knee over pedal spindle test, but based on your femur length and the geometry of the bike versus your build, this is only a general guideline. You shouldn't be using gobs of core strength while your hands are on the bars.

All of that said, I LOVE my 54 Roubaix comp. Get fitted. Ride. If it's for you, then ride some more. Then get refitted as your road bike fitness and comfort level improves.

I'm glad you like it. What year is yours?

Thanks everyone, again, for your reassurance and advice. We returned the Roubaix rentals and now have a pair of Cannondale Synapses to try out (top-of-the line with all DA !!! ). I wasn't at the shop when my husband picked them up so mine does not have a different stem, but it is my size and the owner made other adjustments based on how he set up the Roubaix.

Basically, I want to feel sure that, although the reach feels far and uncomfortable now and assuming I'm on the *correct* size bike, reasonable adjustments will make it feel better and shorten my reach, while I learn to adjust to the position. I'm a little scared that I'll buy this new bike for a lot of money and even after 200-300 miles I'll still be uncomfortable and wondering what have I done?!

The fitter wants me to ride for 200-300 miles before I get the full fitting, since I'll be jumping from a hybrid to a road bike (so to speak -- I'm imagining a man jumping from horse to horse like in those old westerns right now...). Then, I believe he'll be available for questions and adjustments after that as well. This LBS offers free lifetime maintenance as well (and we are borrowing these bikes at no cost), so I think this is a great shop to stick with, which narrows my choices to the Synapse and the Roubaix.

[kat_h]

It sounds like you're dealing with a really great shop.