My lovely new bike.

[boy in a kilt]

I got my new 1st road bike yesterday!! She is a beautiful 2006 Specialized Dolce Elite. I have one question. I seem to have problems shifting up on the front derailer. The bike shop told me I just don't hold the shifter long enough. I think it should shift up faster. I especially have this problem going into the top third gear but today the chain almost fell off going from the 1st gear to the second. Am I doing something wrong or is it the bike?

Shimano shifters require a long, steady pull to get the derailleur to move from smaller to larger gears. I'm not sure how you are numbering your chain rings (front gears) so I can't say too much more about it.