Two Things I've realized this week

[Custardcup1]

The road bike has the compac which I cannot get used to. Also, I definitely don't like the tiny tires and I just don't feel secure. The Felt is a very light weight bike and I feel like I am all over the place on it.

[roguedog]

You might be able to put 25s or maybe 28 tires on it. Also if I'm looking at the right specs you have 50/34 mated to a 12/34 cassette. That's a good gear range. If that's not enough you might be able to change out the 50/34 to some cyclocross gearing like 48 or 46 with a 32...

However I'm assuming your discomfort is with the compact gearing but maybe it's something else? Drop bars? Paddle shifters versus thumb shifters? Or..??

It might take some time to get used to skinny tires and the new position. I remember first test riding road bikes and being wobbly. Instead of getting rid of bike perhaps you just need some interim steps??

[goldfinch]

It might take some time to get used to skinny tires and the new position. I remember first test riding road bikes and being wobbly. Instead of getting rid of bike perhaps you just need some interim steps??

Looking back to a year ago when I got my road bike I think that it took me at least 400 miles to get comfortable and natural on the bike.

[goldfinch]

The road bike has the compac which I cannot get used to. Also, I definitely don't like the tiny tires and I just don't feel secure. The Felt is a very light weight bike and I feel like I am all over the place on it.

You also might want to try some other types of bikes. You have my problem, finding them small enough. But if you can track one down you could try something like Surly's 42cm long haul trucker. It is a drop bar road bike but made of steel. It is very stable.

[Crankin]

What is it you don't like about the compact? You have a 1:1 gear ratio there, with gears as low, or lower than a triple. I have that on one of my road bikes. It did take getting used to having larger spaces between gears and finding the "sweet spot", for flat riding, but other than that it was fine. So, I have to assume you have enough low gears and maybe you are having a hard time getting used to using brifters rather than trigger shifters? I have 23 tires on my carbon bike and 25s on my titanium bike. I can feel the difference, so definitely going just one size up helps with stability. Finally, maybe you need a different bar. Even though it's a small bike for women, you may need a shorter and shallower drop. That's also an easy fix.
Road bikes don't feel like hybrids. They are not supposed to. I wouldn't be so quick to sell it. Make some changes, practice riding on short, flat trails/roads. Go in a parking lot and practice. Like driving.

[Custardcup1]

I definitely like the trigger shifters better, I think that is one of the main problems. Also, and I know this sounds stupid, on my Trek I can see what gear I am in, they are numbered. The Felt bike has no indicators as to what you are in. I hate not knowing how many gears I have left going up a hill. Also, it has the 650 tires which I feel are so little. I know it will be a major step down if I sell the Felt and go back to the Trek line as far as quality components, etc. I am so confused. Also, being 64 years old, has to have something to do with this.

[pinsonp2]

I don't think age has anything to do with it....maybe your ability to adapr easily to new things may be slower. I ride with 3 other ladies from by bike club. All of us ride road bikes and are over 60! Although I do prefer my road bike to my hybrid for long rides, I understand that some do not like the feel of a road bike. However, I would agree that you might want to wait and try again next season before selling the Felt. I really got into my roadie after putting it on the trainer for the winter. I would alternate the hybrid and the road bike and found the roadie much more comfortable for longer sessions. It is even better outside!!!

Good luck with your journey and what ever decision you make will be the best for you. Just make sure you keep on riding and enjoy it.

P2

[TigerMom]

I definitely like the trigger shifters better, I think that is one of the main problems. Also, and I know this sounds stupid, on my Trek I can see what gear I am in, they are numbered. The Felt bike has no indicators as to what you are in. I hate not knowing how many gears I have left going up a hill. Also, it has the 650 tires which I feel are so little. I know it will be a major step down if I sell the Felt and go back to the Trek line as far as quality components, etc. I am so confused. Also, being 64 years old, has to have something to do with this.

Most of the 65+yo bikers in my bike club can leave me in the dust if I don't ride as hard as I can.

As to knowing which gear you are in, I get confused a lot too. That's why having a double instead of a triple is easier for me. I know that the front gear is only in the big or the small ring (uphill). As to not knowing how many gears you have left on your back cassette, I just use them until I am out of gears on steep inclines. Even if you know how many gears you have left going up a hill, when you are out of gears, you are still out.

I would change to wider tires before spending yet more money on another bike.

Keep up the biking! Just remember, my 65+yo friends are still going strong. I think one of them is actually 75yo.

___________________________________________________________________
2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle
2010 Santa Cruz Juliana with R kit and Crampon pedals
2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle (sold)

[Crankin]

Age has nothing to do with it. I am almost 59 and I am one of the youngest riders in the group I ride with.
As far as the numbers on the shifters. You don't need to know the number. It just begins to feel intuitive... I don't ever think, gee, I am in the 50-15 gear. I bet you know when you need to go to a lower or higher gear! So, maybe it's that you are getting confused about which way to push the shift levers. That just is practice and memory. Don't focus on what gear you're in, just how it feels. Start riding in the small ring (left side) and play around with the gears in the rear (right side). See how each one feels. Then do the same thing in the big ring. Do this on flat ground, so you can really feel the difference. When you get that, start making switches between the big and small ring on the front. Experiment with different combinations. You don't have to know what the numbers are, just how it feels. Eventually, it clicks.
There are people who give riding lessons; maybe you can find someone who is willing to help you.

[goldfinch]

The one issue you may have getting wider 650 tires is that there are very few choices available. My Madone with 650 wheels will not fit a tire wider than a 25. I found only one 25 tires in the 650 size. The Felt may be the same. If it happens to accept a tire as wide as a 28, Terry sells a 28.

Here is a link to the 650 tire in a 25 width. Not too expensive so worth trying: http://www.amazon.com/Panaracer-Pase...racer+650+x+25

[SFLiz]

Custardcup, I understand how you feel and as Emily and others say, you'll get become more accustomed to the shifting with time. It helped me to get a cadence sensor because I can focus on my cadence and base shifting off that. I had always tried to get a sense of cadence in my my years of spinning, but when I finally got a cadence sensor, that helped me to get a sense of spinning revolution speed. Currently I'm using a Garmin 500 and it offers just enough data for me - cadence, HR, distance, percentage hill grade for climbs/descents. I learned to always sustain a high cadence; I aim for 80-100 rpm. 80 minimum. If I'm going too much above 100, I shift.