Riding a road bike feels like trying to balance on a ball

[Owlie]

After not riding a bike for 11 or so years, I regained my balance on a cheap, heavy mountain bike. Then I bought the road bike. My first ride was terrifying. I had a hard time balancing, I felt shaky and the bike was twitchy. I promise, it gets easier.

[emily_in_nc]

After not riding a bike for 11 or so years, I regained my balance on a cheap, heavy mountain bike. Then I bought the road bike. My first ride was terrifying. I had a hard time balancing, I felt shaky and the bike was twitchy. I promise, it gets easier.

It truly does. After I fractured my pelvis in 2005, I couldn't ride for quite awhile. When I started back, it was first on a mountain bike, riding very slow and easy. The first ride on my road bike was terrifying. I couldn't believe I had ever ridden that tiny little twitchy thing! After about 2 rides, I quickly got used to it again. It may take you a little longer since you don't have the history of riding road bikes that I did, but believe you me, you will get used to it, adapt, and most likely love it in time!

[Librarygirl]

Yeah, I totally second (or 3rd, 4th, 5th?) the thing about road bikes being scary to ride at first.

It's quite surprising how different they really feel. I found it almost as scary as riding clipless for the first time! I guess there must be a different centre of gravity with the drop bars, not to mention the thinner tyres, shorter wheelbase, different geometry, different brake/gear levers etc.

My first few rides were so wobbly, I almost felt like a beginner again! But a few months later, I've ridden a century on the road bike, cycled in wet and dry, just starting to feel comfortable riding in the drops, loving cornering at speed (NEVER thought I'd say that!) and getting used to the downhills. Oh and the best thing - it makes hills almost fun after riding a heavy hybrid that would leave me gasping for breath after a small hill, and struggling to keep going on the flats in a headwind

AND I don't think I'm particularly coordinated when it comes to most things.

Stick with it, and I'm sure you will come to enjoy the road bike soon also!

[klesko]

I'm so glad to hear that. I have been riding a heavy hybrid and am about to switch to a road bike. I think I am a little better prepared now, and hope the hills are easier!

[Librarygirl]

Klesko, you'll love it once you get used to it - but I warn you, your poor hybrid might suddenly be banished to the back of the shed, gathering dust, once you find how much easier and fun it is on the road bike!

Mmmm...a Trek Madone - very nice, I'm jealous!

[Koronin]

My husband is also having issues attempting to adjust to a road bike. He's always had mountain bikes and loves them. He just can't fully get comfortable on the road bike. He's had his for about 3 months. I got my first road bike at the beginning of July. I must be odd, because within minutes of getting on the road bike for the first time I loved it. To me it just felt right and very comfortable. On the other hand I do not like mountain bikes. We've been working on adjusting my mountain bike to have a more aggressive "road bike" type position to get me more comfortable on it.

[deskrider]

IMO I would get a comfortable bike like a hybrid first and ride that until you outgrow it. I still spent a decent amount of money on mine--a Speecialized Sirrus Comp, but it felt much more stable to me than a properly fit road bike. You won't ride enough if you are uncomfortable or timid, so get what you will use (don't get a cheap bike). After you're comfortable, stable and more fit you'll know when (or if) you want a road bike. For some reason all of our LBS advised me to go straight to the road bike, but I knew I needed the comfort and stability first and that was the best decision for me. A hybrid does not have to be heavy either--mine has a carbon fork and carbon seatstays and is very light. I like the slightly wider tires but I definitely got them slick because it takes too much effort to push the knobby ones around and you just tire faster. I am 5'4" with very short legs but a lot less weight and I don't think the weight is the issue because you just need a learning bike that you feel more comfortable and stable on before you move up. Good luck.

[klesko]

I am going out on my first ride tomorrow (not counting my test ride after fitting). Our regular no-drop group ride was canceled this morning due to rain, so I am going to try a 40 mile ride with the hard core riders tomorrow. It is invitation only and they invited me when they saw how sad I was not to be able to ride today. I will ride with them until I get dropped, and a couple of guys said they will stay with me. Then again, if I pick up a couple of miles an hour like I am hoping - I might be able to stick with them. Wish me luck!

[Kerry1976]

I'm the reverse of you. I just got my first road bike and am realizing I have never ridden in this type of posture. I've always ridden upright. It is so strange.

[Kerry1976]

Today was a rare day this far into winter where the pavement had some dry spots. So, I took my new bike out to see if I could even mount, clip in and move forward without killing myself. I rode around our fairly empty apartment complex parking complex (the students that live here are all away for holiday break) and did one easy mile. I didn't crash and burn but was close. I have a lot to work on in terms of mounting and dismounting the bike (basically - having a bike in which my feet can't touch the ground while my butt is in the saddle), and clipping in. Also have to work on posture and steering. Found myself over- or under-correcting. But all in all, it was fun. I look at this as a challenge. And I had to laugh - I was going so "slow" at 10.5 mph - but that was fast on my Trek Pure!

[featuretile]

I have been riding about 2 years now (with about a 25 year break). I've gone thru 3 bikes since starting. My first bike was a Specialized Globe hybrid. It definitely was comfortable and easy to ride, but heavy and slow. I felt like W would never fall off of it. The transition to my next bike - Specialized Vita - was easy and I wished I had bought that one first. Then I got my road bike - Specialized Ruby. I had no problem transitioning to that bike. It was perfect and not at all twitchy.

I think that some road bikes have more aggressive geometry than the Ruby. Those bikes might feel more intimidating.

[MyRubyE]

My specialized ruby never felt twitchy either. It always felt pretty stable. It was the different bike geometry and handling of the bike that I had to get used to. I now find it great to have the different options to place my hands when I ride. Though, I still have a little fear of the drops, and haven't yet been completely able to go down very steep downhills on the drops quite yet. In do time - with more practice.

[zoom-zoom]

Know what I am finding...going from a "comfort" road bike to a performance road bike sorta makes me feel like I've never before been on a road bike. Having spent nearly 4 months locked onto an indoor trainer is likely a factor, too. I haven't had to balance and I have a lot of sore muscles, especially in my neck and shoulders. These haven't gotten much of a bike workout in months.

I let my core go for about 3 months, too. I remember realizing last Summer that a strong midsection made a WORLD of difference in my strength and balance on the bike.

And my first few rides outdoors in the past 10 days have been a bit of a hit to the ego. The fitness I had last Fall is GONE. Running and 1/2 - 1/3 the bike miles I was logging before Winter is no substitute.

But something else I am finding...with every additional ride outdoors my bike feels more stable. I'll bet very few people just hop on a road bike and don't feel unstable and a little scared. Any road bike will take a bit of work to maneuver until one becomes accustomed to the handling, but the payoff is worth it.

[Kerry1976]

Reading this post really gave me good perspective and a better way to approach a second ride on Rosey the Road Bike.

I'm on vacation and our local university and schools are closed for spring break, so this was a good week to get out. However, it was incredibly windy much of the week.

I finally got out today around 1:30 (waiting for lunch hour traffic to die off).

To leave my apt complex, have to either cross or ride on a highway. I rode on it. I also had to cross a set of reasonably smooth railroad tracks and was able to do so. Feeling reasonable, I took went through some residential areas and again was on a busy street before hitting country roads. I returned on the same really busy road and decided I wanted to challenge myself, so I took a different route back wherein I had to cross another set of much rougher train tracks (was going to have to cross eventually anyway) and was pleased to have done so while getting buzzed by a jerk in a Jeep. I finished my ride by again riding down the 4 lane highway.

My Garmin showed 11.9 miles, but that is false cuz I forgot to turn it on. (oops!) It showed I went about 13 mph, which is better than I expected given the wind and given I was working on a variety of skills (like just riding the bike, clipping in, not crashing, etc).

Am I comfortable on Rosey? Not yet. But am I in a better place than after the first ride? Hell yes! I actually smiled for a little during the ride. I still need to get used to the body position (my arms/wrists/hands are stiff) and the responsiveness, but I feel like I can actually do it.

Thank you again for this thread....it made a world of difference for me.