My lovely new bike.

[KatyLady]

I can't help with your shifting question - but I can say welcome to TE.

As for your cleats, I'm impressed that you are using cleats immediately after buying a road bike. It took me a year to break down and give them a try. (But then I'm sort of old and clutsy.) When I first switched to cleats I used Speedplay Zeros but I always felt like it was just a matter of time before I fell. I recently switched to Speedplay Frogs and can't believe how easy it is to get in and out of them.

Hope your hand heals quickly. And I bet someone will be able to give you the shifting information you are looking for.

[DDH]

Welcome to TE!!! The shifting, I have found is a delicate art at times. I drop my chain at times to, and sometimes I can work the shifter to get the chain back on, and sometimes I have to stop and put it back on. I don't do it nearly as often anymore. I have found on mine, it's particular about have a quick smooth motion. I seem to only have trouble with the 3 front rings and my problem is usually going from the the small ring on the front to the second ring. I don't know all the trerminolgy so I may be confusing everyone but myself. LOL Anyway, I say all that just to say that you aren't alone, and if it's not something wrong with the bike, then you will learn with practice.

Same thing with the clipless peddles. I would practice cliping in and out of them several times before I went out on the road again. I think everyone or just about everyone has fallen at least once when going to clipless peddles.

I hope your hand gets better quickly, and I would love to see pictures of your new beauty!!