Did I make a mistake?

[goldfinch]

There are many here with far more experience than I but I do have a few thoughts. I got my first road bike last fall, after riding only a hybrid. It was awkward at first and not near as comfortable as it was riding my hybrid bike about. So, at least I can relate.

I suggest, and others, feel free to correct me:

--Forget about your elbows for now.

--Shift to the easiest gear in the front using the shifter on your left hand, and just practice on the flats riding around, shifting only the rear derailleur (the right hand shifter) and leaving the front in the easy gear. Get comfortable riding around this way. If you don't have high enough gears, like on a downhill, just coast. I often ride many miles in my easiest front gear. FYI, the easiest gear on the front is the smallest chain ring.

--After you are really comfortable with riding around in the easy gears, find a slight downhill and practice shifting up to your big chain ring on the front. When you lose speed on the flats or an uphill, shift back down to the easier, smaller gear on the front.

Here is a good article on gearing for beginners: http://sheldonbrown.com/gears.html

The more you ride the more comfortable you will be on the bike. It really took me a couple hundred miles to get comfy on my road bike. I find that I still like my hybrid bike for certain types of riding because it has such a nice upright position. I like it for riding around town. I find that I ride both bikes about equally.

I can't say if you made a mistake. If you really hate it maybe the bike shop would do an exchange for a flat bar bike. I will say though that the drop bar road bike is nicer for long rides as you can adjust your position. If you want to ride upright you can put your hands on top of the handlebars, rather than a more stretched out position, on the "hoods" near the brakes, or on the "drops." I wouldn't even mess with riding on the low, dropped portion of your handlebars until you are more comfortable on your bike. This blog has nice pictures illustrating where the hand position is on the "tops," "drops" and "hoods": http://claremontcyclist.blogspot.com...and-hoods.html

[SadieKate]

I suggest, and others, feel free to correct me:

--Forget about your elbows for now.

Newtothis, I don't know the bikes you're comparing so I really can't comment.

Goldfinch, you're spot on with everything but the elbow comment. Bent elbows serve a couple of extremely useful purposes. They help absorb and dissipate blows from bumps on the road which otherwise must be absorbed by your hands and shoulders, neither of which are very good at this! Bent elbows also means you can't react quickly to involuntary changes in direction caused by those bumps and when you simply need to make fast swerves to avoid the bumps (or small children), etc. More than once, I've seen someone take a fall because they couldn't react fast enough due to their locked elbows. Would you drive a car with locked elbows? Otherwise, good advice.

[goldfinch]

Newtothis, I don't know the bikes you're comparing so I really can't comment.

Goldfinch, you're spot on with everything but the elbow comment. Bent elbows serve a couple of extremely useful purposes. They help absorb and dissipate blows from bumps on the road which otherwise must be absorbed by your hands and shoulders, neither of which are very good at this! Bent elbows also means you can't react quickly to involuntary changes in direction caused by those bumps and when you simply need to make fast swerves to avoid the bumps (or small children), etc. More than once, I've seen someone take a fall because they couldn't react fast enough due to their locked elbows. Would you drive a car with locked elbows? Otherwise, good advice.

Thanks Sadie. My thought was that she was trying too much at once. Maybe I should have said to not lock elbows or grip the handlebars too tightly, but to relax into the ride.

[SadieKate]

Thanks Sadie. My thought was that she was trying too much at once. Maybe I should have said to not lock elbows or grip the handlebars too tightly, but to relax into the ride.

And smile!

[Penny4]

Hi New,

I did things in reverse of you. Last year I rode a 7.5 FX and swore I would never ride a road bike. I just wanted to do some charity rides, group rides, etc.

I found that while the FX was perfectly fine for riding those long distances, I had trouble keeping up with folks on road bikes, and I became a bit uncomfortable on the bike after about 20 or so miles.

This year, I bought a new road bike and was so excited about it. When I took it on my first ride, only about 10 miles, I ....well, i HATED it. My back hurt, my arms hurt, I couldn't remember how to shift. I was a mess on the bike. I really thought I had made a mistake.

After going back to the LBS to have my fit checked, and frankly, just to whine a bit, they told me the bike fit fine, and to keep at it.

They were right. It took me a few rides to really get teh hang of shifting and the different position, but I love my road bike now. I'm a very casual rider, but feel like I can keep up on group rides, and it will let me go much farther more easily than the FX ever would.

I'd recommend asking your LBS to review shifting with you. Maybe they could put you up on the trainer and let you play around so you get the hang of it. Also, others are right, there was another thread on here not too long ago about someone who was struggling with her new bike, and it turned out to be a mechanical issue.

Give your new bike a chance and ask your LBS for help! Hope it all works out for you!

[newtothis]

Thanks so much everyone! My husband and I checked the brakes, wheel alignment, ect. and everything seems in order. We then went over all of the gearing and I feel like I have a visual understanding of how it all works. After that, I went for a "leisure" ride with my son and spent most of the time just playing around with my gears. I am going to ride for a couple more days and than go back into the LBS and get some feedback from them.

I think that part of my problem is that my new bike was hyped up so much that I wasn't prepared to have such a physical learning curve. I also think that becasue of the different geometry, I have to do more thinking than I did on my neighbors bike so I am just getting frustrated. Probably the biggest problem is my lack of patience and my personal sense of competition.

For now, I am going to stick with building base miles and increase my speed and mileage very gradually. This will be my summer of learning!! I can also see the possible need for a "fun" bike to ride around with the kids, but I will have to wait awhile for that!

Thanks so much....when I have a little more time, I will attept to figure out how to post a picture of my beautiful bike!

Stephanie

[leah]

I was the new person with the brakes rubbing and I could have written your post. In my limited experience I really do think that sounds like what you're experiencing!

[pangaea99]

Hey newtothis! I'm "newtothis" too! I've been riding around on my hybrid for the last year and just got a roadbike for the first time last week. I really think it is just the different geometry that's causing the problem because I felt VERY discouraged after my first ride on Friday too (first time riding clipless pedals too... and fell 5 times so far). My friend who has been riding road bikes for a while said it really is a different feel though and it just takes some getting used to.

Additionally, I think we both need to adjust our bikes to fit us a little better (i'm going to go to my lbs and have them try a shorter stem and I already lowered the seat a little. I'm considering changing the angle of my cleats and getting a new saddle as well) so I think going to your LBS is a good idea. I rode again today with just lowering my seat a little and that did make it better. Hang in there! I'm sure we'll be whizzing around like pros in a short time. Sort of :P

[malkin]

Now you know why it is important to have more than one bike!