Quote Originally Posted by Hammer
Also, for a total rookie question, how do you shift on a roadbike? I've noticed the little switches near the brake levers on some bikes... how does that work? I'll feel like a total putz trying to shop for a roadbike having never been on one in the first place, but I don't know anyone in my local club well enough to ask to try theirs.
If they are STI shifters (of which most bikes are equipped nowadays) you shift with the same device with which you brake. Instead of pulling them towards you (for braking), you push them towards the in-side of the bike. There is a black plastic lever that is smaller (if you have Shimano it's black plastic, if you have Campagnolo shifters they're metal but still shorter) and the brake lever itself which can also be pushed sideways. On the right hand side, the black lever upshifts and the silver one downshifts. It's the other way around on the left hand side.

I'm not sure my explanation is very clear, but just try playing with them, nothing can explode, really... When my road bike kind of landed on me (I didn't buy it in a store so I had nobody to ask questions to), I turned it on the saddle and handlebars in the living room and played around with the shifters for a while until I figured out how they worked. You can always do that too...

(Actually STI is the name of the shifters for Shimano. Campy uses another name, but it's the same basic principles.)

Enjoy!