My lovely new bike.

[SouthernBelle]

For what it's worth... I was also surprised by how long I had to hold the lever to shift up a chainring. Now I hold it and don't let go until I've felt the chain move and engage.

I fell a couple of times from a dead stop too. It takes practice to get the hang of it. You'll get there!

OK, now I'm thinking about this. You should not have to hold the lever. You push the lever. The derailleur shifts. The chain moves.

[rij73]

OK, now I'm thinking about this. You should not have to hold the lever. You push the lever. The derailleur shifts. The chain moves.

Yes, but I have found that if I don't hold the lever for a couple of seconds, the chain moves up and immediately falls back. I was surprised at this, but it really is how it works on my bike.

Savra, the bike is lovely! Enjoy!

[Xrayted]

Welcome!
Keep at it. You're doing fine.
A few things: from pic of your bike (nice, btw) it looks as though your brifters are really high, almost on top of the handlebars. (or are the bars tilted back too much?) Does this position feel okay to you? Why I'm asking is... if you are in the drops, I can't imagine that you would be able to touch them at all. Also, when they are that high up even when you are on top, it pulls them away from your fingers and shoots them straight out. The only part close enough for you is at the origin of the brake so you are working too hard to pull them or get into another gear. (think physics... levers, teeter totters... hard to push/pull close to the fulcrum) If you need them over the top like that, you may have to get a shorter stem to bring the reach closer, not move the shifters towards you.
Also, it's true that a bike mech may get it shifting great on the stand but when you get it on the road under "load" conditions, it doesn't go well. I had that problem and got tired of taking it back to them so I looked it up on Sheldon Brown's website and set my own derailleur. It took me a few hours of messing around but it works great now. I don't have to push further or hold it to get it to shift correctly to a bigger ring. I have 105's on mine too and they shift the same up or down now. LBS setting... kept dropping the chain, not getting the whole way into gear without pushing a 2nd time, etc.

You may want to check the width of your handlebars and make sure they are right for you. Your arms should be lined up with your shoulders, not out to the side. You can easily get shims put in. Any LBS should be able to install them. They are easily ordered and I would be surprised if they didn't keep a pair in stock back in the shop area.

Knot is right, you did good getting a frame that fits. The rest gets adjusted along the way but there's no adjusting the frame. (those pesky welds ya know)

Take care and be safe.

[Savra]

[QUOTE]

Welcome!
Keep at it. You're doing fine.
A few things: from pic of your bike (nice, btw) it looks as though your brifters are really high, almost on top of the handlebars. (or are the bars tilted back too much?) Does this position feel okay to you? Why I'm asking is... if you are in the drops, I can't imagine that you would be able to touch them at all.

OMG - You are so right! I didn't notice before being a newbie but I just compared it to pictures I have of other bikes and those are very off. I think the handlebars are just tilted up too far. I did notice that there is little handlebar there when I go down to hold on to the drops. I feel like I have nothing to hold on to down there. I will take it to the bike store and have them adjust it.

[KatyLady]

This thread is certainly well named - that is a lovely new bike!!

[RoadBunner]

Savra, your bike is beautiful! I love the color! I'm a newbie, too, so this is a great thread for me to follow, too.

[Savra]

Savra, your bike is beautiful! I love the color! I'm a newbie, too, so this is a great thread for me to follow, too.

Thank you. She is a great bike and the advice I have gotten here is definitely improving how we ride together.

[Savra]

[QUOTE=Savra;309697]

OMG - You are so right! I didn't notice before being a newbie but I just compared it to pictures I have of other bikes and those are very off. I think the handlebars are just tilted up too far. I did notice that there is little handlebar there when I go down to hold on to the drops. I feel like I have nothing to hold on to down there. I will take it to the bike store and have them adjust it.

Ok, I have no patience for waiting for other people to do things. I came home and took out my allen wrenches and adjusted the handlebars down myself. All better now. Thank you for the suggestion. I haven't ridden with the adjustment but it should help. I still need to see about shims though. The reach is still too far but at least it's a little easier to get a hold of the brake and levers.

[sundial]

The reach is still too far but at least it's a little easier to get a hold of the brake and levers.

I don't ride a women's specific design bike and I had to add shims for my brakes. Sounds like you are just about set and ready to roll. Hope you continue to have great weather to ride that sweet little bike.