Hitting the road for the first time...

[Owlie]

Sounds like you enjoyed your ride. I've had my bike for a year, and I'm still not thrilled with the idea of riding in traffic. I go out at 6AM on weekends to avoid it. I frequently end up riding with one foot clipped in because of the lunatic traffic patterns around here. Doesn't help that I live right next to a major entertainment area (lots of bars, restaurants and little shops), so there are lots of people wandering or driving around who don't look where they're going. I also hate turning left. I try to find routes with protected left turns.

In answer to your question, I'm on the hoods most of the time. If I'm signaling, I move my right hand back a little bit so it's on the part of the bar where it begins to curve downward.

By the way, who cares if your pedals aren't "real" road pedals? If you're comfortable with them, it doesn't matter.