Bike and other questions

[Owlie]

I can understand what you mean, and I went through the "Do I upgrade?" for a while. (I was nervous about buying my bike, so I didn't want to sink a lot of money into it. Now I wish I'd gotten the 105-equipped version.)
My story aside...
The fit is the most important part, and anything else you can tweak to your heart's content. I settled on saving for buying a really nice bike later on, and upgrading parts on the Giant as they wear out. Bikes are kind of a work in progress. So, I'm with Knot on this. Upgrade what bugs you, unless it works out to more than the cost of the bike. If it's only a couple things, then go ahead and do it and save up for a much nicer bike next year.
The uneasy at speeds...it may be a matter of getting used to travelling at those speeds. I remember my bike felt wobbly at 16 when I first got her. Now I wonder what the heck I was thinking.
You could probably do a century on that bike. Really.

ETA: I looked up the bike in question. Are you thinking of upgrading the derailleur only? I don't know how much impact the shifters versus the derailleur has on the feel of shifting. For me, I seriously looked into upgrading shifters, cassette, crankset and derailleurs. It came to more than the cost of the bike. Less than the cost of a new bike, but still, more than it was worth.

[islandgirl2]

I ended up upgrading my bike! Hubbie and I went around the past few weekends and I took out several bikes on test rides a few times. (Trek Madone WSD 4.7, Fuji Roubaix, Orbea T105, Specialized Ruby, Kuoto Kharma.) All of them felt better than the bike I was riding, shifting gears was noticeably different with Shimano 105 and SRAM Rival!) So I talked to Performance and explained my concerns, I was just so unhappy with the shifting and the brakes. It was didn't seem worth it to upgrade the components considering the price of the bike. It would have made more sense to buy something else with the cost of the upgrades. They told me if I wasn't happy that I could give the bike back and they would help find me something else, unfortunately nothing they had really worked for me so they let me give it back. Out of the bikes I took out, I really loved everything about the WSD Madone. It just felt right for some reason. I really wanted to get the Orbea- but the T105 didn't seem quite right for me- I WISH I could have the Orbea Diva- but I need to get better to justify spending that much! Maybe in a few years!

So anyway I just thought I would update this post and let you all know I got the 4.7 Madone and am SO happy!!! We went out on a few rides and the bike just feels so great. It's so funny because the Scattante just felt insecure for some reason. Even after riding a bunch of bikes and coming back and riding that one, something just didn't feel right, so I know I made the right decision.

Now if I could only feel more confident with the clipless pedal! Tried them out today and it wasn't good. (I will start a new post on that topic!!!)

Thank you all so much for all your comments!

[tctrek]

Welcome to TE! What you might find is that we are all enablers out here... we find it very hard to turn down a bike when it is speaking to us. So, it's unlikely someone will tell you not to upgrade . Seriously, it's really hard to say if you should upgrade or not. You have to gauge how you feel on your bike, comfort level, fit, etc. As you gain more experience, you can try to ride different bikes at your LBS and see if any of them feel better and then the big question is the $$.

So, I would say keep riding and understand how your body and your bike are working together so that you have a better idea of what you want.

[Biciclista]

glad you got a bike you liked! Take it slow with the pedals. You could even just have one foot clipping in and out for a while.

[islandgirl2]

I should probably start a new post about this, but the clipless are creating such anxiety for me. I purchased the Speedplay Frogs because I wanted the comfort of walking in a mtb shoe and I heard the Frogs were easy to get in/out of because of no tension. My husband loved them (he was using spd- and raved about how easy they were.) I finally put them on my bike today to try them out. I went around the neighborhood and there were several times I just couldn't get out of the pedals so I had to keep doing rounds. My problem is that I am use to pulling my right foot out of my toe clip when it is on the up stroke. It is obviously harder to rotate my foot outward at that angle... but when I put it down I feel pressured. I know it doesn't make sense????

I thought maybe I will just try to use my left foot to unclip instead, which I did, and at a stop, I unclipped, I fell over to the right because I guess my body is so used to leaning that way instead. Ugh I was so annoyed- scratched up my new bike- but oh well i guess everyone falls. I gave up (for an hour) then hubbie loosened the cleat screws and everything and I went out again with the though that I would ONLY unclip the right since that is what I am used to. I felt like I really had to yank it out and still it felt sticky to me most of the time. I don't know if this makes sense but when I am coasting to a stop, I always have my left foot down, but my right is the one I pull out, so it is a new thought process for me now, to not coast that way into a stop and try to bring my right foot down so I can unclip. The second time I went out around the block I didn't fall but I was SO scared. I almost toppled over when I leaned to far again. Luckily I pulled it together. I stopped while I was ahead, but felt like I was about to go into tears from frustration. I really want to get it, I know I will, but the anxiety is killing me and leaving me so scared to even get on my bike now. I kept practicing with my husband holding the bike in the garage for a while and it is fine, but as soon as I start moving on the roads- everything changes.

I have read through many posts and I know about tips, but I still feel frustrated. I should also mention that I shattered my elbow a few years ago in another sports related injury so I am freaked out about falling too. I fell a week ago and landed on my elbow but luckily didn't break anything again- but bruised it up pretty badly and had to take a break for a week. I think the fear of falling and breaking something, plus the fear of the clipless is causing more anxiety.

I put the toe clips back on tonight just so I can have a stress free ride early tomorrow morning before work, I feel like I just want a good ride with no worries....

[tiva]

I unclip when my foot is up, rather than down, because that's what I was used to doing with toe clips. It works fine with my spds, even though it takes a tiny bit more effort. If you're more comfortable doing it that way, I don't see that there's any problem.

Can you borrow a trainer and practice a lot with your bike secure? Are your pedals at their very loosest?

Keep trying--it's so worth it, once it becomes second nature.

[Owlie]

I unclip (SPDs) when my right foot is at 12 o'clock--more stable and keeps chain grease off your socks. I stood in my garage for a few hours and practiced getting each foot into and out of the pedals.

The other thing you might consider doing is, depending on your pedals, try a ride in one regular shoe and one bike shoe. The foot your bike shoe should be on is the one that you plan to put down. That way, you get used to clipping in and out, but you have the other foot if you need it, with no danger of clipping in.

Yes, it takes some practice. I was really nervous about my first few clipless rides. It will eventually become second nature.