My lovely new bike.

[K8sgotgame]

The derailer is a Shimano 105 for both front and rear. I did notice on my ride today that if I change what gear I am in in the back then I have less problems shifting up in the front (I hope that makes sense). And your right, I do need to release the tension on the left peddle (the side I fell on). I can unclip from the right much easier than the left.

I ride with my clipless with reeeeally low tension when I know I'll be making a lot of stops (busy streets) and sometimes increase it if I'm doing a long rural ride.

One thing I tend to do is get my foot out earlier than I need to while I'm getting used to a new bike or pedals.. that way I'm safely out before I have to stop and can avoid the dreaded full stop tip-over move

[Savra]

I will say I definitely have issues with how much I have to reach to brake or shift. My hands are very small. I had the mistaken impression that buying a women's specific bike would include taking into account my small hands. Oh well. I will try the shim thing. There is a bike store here that insisted I pay them $75 to fit me before even letting me test ride a bike (the $75 would have then gone towards the purchase of the bike). Their suggestion irritated me but they would have made sure the brake reach fit. I would gladly have paid them the $75 to fit me had I been able to test ride first and had an idea if I liked a bike from their store. Oh well - what is that saying - hind sight is 20/20?

[Ana]

It sounds like a passive-aggressive scheme to have you buy your bicycle from their shop exclusively which limits your potential to find the best bike for you, not the best bike they can offer you

When I was bike shopping (although I had the idea that I would get it that day and then take it up North with me...bad idea but oh well), I got to ride anything I wanted for free and that's the way it should be! They may ask you for your license or something while you're out on the bike to prevent you from stealing it but you shouldn't be financially tied to their shop if you haven't even been on a bike

[Savra]

Thats why I went with the bike I did. The bike shop I got it from was very cool about letting me take it for a spin around the neighborhood. They were very encouraging and didn't make me feel stupid with all my questions. So I picked my bike half for the bike and half for the shop that sold it. I had been to six shops and started feeling like Goldilocks and the three bears. One shop was great but didn't have the kind of bike I was looking for. Others had great bikes but crappy sales people who told me it would dirty their bikes if I road them in the neighborhood. I was so happy to finally find one that had a bike that fit me and had great sales people who knew how to sell bikes.

[rij73]

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!

[Savra]

Thank you for the encouragement. I must say, TE rocks!!!

[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.

[Savra]

Well, assuming this works - here is a picture of my new bike!!!!

[KnottedYet]

Whooo-hoooooo! Pretty!
Congratulations!

[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.