Did I make a mistake?

[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!

[newtothis]

I SOO appreciate you all taking the time to help me in this journey. I am so glad that I am not the olny one to experience difficulty in the change to a road bike. FWIW, I totally agree with needing more than one bike, but for now, my budget does not agree with that plan!!!

I will be visiting my LBS for another look at how the bike is doing and how it is fitting. I sure hope there is a solution. I have ridden 6 miles every day but I still can't get over how exhausting it is. Craziness!!!

Thanks again!
Stephanie

[MGM]

Hi!
I can understand your plight. When I started riding two years ago I couldn't handle the road bike position. So I bought a comfort bike, and was thrilled with how "comfortable" it was, how I could ride and see the scenery. It wasn't long, though, before I realized that it was pretty darn slow on pavement and was actually more work. Within a couple of months I was shopping for a hybrid that was more "roadish" and faster. I found that hybrid, and my LBS set me up in a more forward position. It was going to be my "road" bike. It took me a while to get used to, to build up some core strength and not put so much weight on the front handlebars. Six months later I decided that riding a road bike might open up more opportunities for doing group rides and the charity rides that I liked, so I started trying aluminum framed bikes. But I didn't really find them much faster or different than my hybrid. Then I tried a carbon framed bike, and realized that THAT was what I was looking for! It had the nimbleness of my hybrid but was definitely faster. After trying quite a few bikes, the ride I enjoyed the most was that of the Specialized Ruby - which I bought. At first the position took some getting used to, but it is so smooth and fast it wasn't long before I gained more strength in my core and legs, which you need to make riding easier. So I took the opposite route of you, spent more money, and ended up with the same bike!

You do want to be sure that you don't have any mechanical issues. As was mentioned, your brake pads rubbing, or something else. One thing that could be making it more work for you is if the stem is set up in the straighter, or longer, position. It can be flipped the opposite way, which angles it up closer a bit and has you less stretched out. I needed that, as riding bent lower was too uncomfortable on my back.

But another thing comes to mind, and I just want to throw it out there. When I was trying road bikes, a local shop had a 2011 Ruby available in my size with 105 components. It was discounted, but no matter how hard I tried to like it I felt like that bike was work. It was kind of rough riding and I felt a lot of road buzz. It just wasn't comfortable. The Apex model felt more nimble. It could've been rubbing brake pads, needed some adjustments, wheels out of true, or just not put together well. I did ride a Roubaix and another Ruby after that and they were a joy to ride. So for whatever reason, that 2011 was NOT going to be my bike! I ended up with the Ruby Comp with Ultegra and couldn't be more pleased.

So I think you made a GOOD choice, a wise one, and need to give yourself more time getting used to the more athletic position of the bike. If you're like many of us, you may decide that one bike doesn't fill all of your cycling needs anyway, and maybe you would like to add a hybrid for off-pavement or running errands, riding with the kids, etc. But definitely see if there's any fit adjustments or mechanical adjustments that need to be made. If you bought from a Specialized dealer, they usually use the BG Fit computerized fitting system which worked very well for me. Just keep riding!