Bonjour from Montreal!

[Crankin]

I had a Kuota Karma, which was too big and I exchanged it for a Kebel after 2 years (that's another story). I am not familiar with the model you have, but overall, it's an aggressive frame, so I can understand how it would be a tough transition from a hybrid. I had 2 other road bikes before I had the Kuota.
You might think about drop bars that have a short and shallow drop (there are a couple of different companies that make them), as well as short reach brifters. When I put the short and shallow bars on my Kuota, it made a world of difference. Something in your story tells me that you are around around a lot of male "racer types," who might not understand the importance of this. I did the research myself and insisted the shop put the bars on; I bought them elsewhere. I also just recently switched from 23 to 25 tires on my Kuota, which also improved what I call the twitchiness of the bike immensely. I had the 25s on my other road bike, which has a more relaxed geometry and I knew some of the difference in my confidence came from wider tires.

[Helene2013]

I had a Kuota Karma, which was too big and I exchanged it for a Kebel after 2 years (that's another story). I am not familiar with the model you have, but overall, it's an aggressive frame, so I can understand how it would be a tough transition from a hybrid. I had 2 other road bikes before I had the Kuota.
You might think about drop bars that have a short and shallow drop (there are a couple of different companies that make them), as well as short reach brifters. When I put the short and shallow bars on my Kuota, it made a world of difference. Something in your story tells me that you are around around a lot of male "racer types," who might not understand the importance of this. I did the research myself and insisted the shop put the bars on; I bought them elsewhere. I also just recently switched from 23 to 25 tires on my Kuota, which also improved what I call the twitchiness of the bike immensely. I had the 25s on my other road bike, which has a more relaxed geometry and I knew some of the difference in my confidence came from wider tires.

When I returned to my LBS and the mechanic saw my handles and told him I was coming to have them changed to flat ones, he said...yep...they may be a bit too narrow for you. I was boiling inside. Why telling me this now?? How come the store owner, their bike certified fitter did not notice this? Sure the fit may be prefect. But it does not mean that riding is perfect. There is a whole difference between sitting on my bike on a machine vs riding on the streets right?

I have an XS bike (which is ok for my height) and handlebar was already in the box (so they did not change it I suppose from what I understood afterwards) for that but my shoulders are a wider (I'm a big-framed - bone!) girl. So maybe if I had had the "right" - if they were not - handles, may be I would have liked my bike control a bit more. I don't know and at the time, I no longer cared. I was too afraid of riding. I never had pain or numbness while riding it. Just no control over steering. I figured it was me who was too stressed over a new thing (there is always a learning curb - but how dumb can someone be!!!! Millions of people ride road bikes - arggg). Now with the flat bar it has some curb in the middle (not sure the term but it looks very much like a hi-rise with minimal curb). I should take a picture of my "modified" bike. So I feel more secure and in control riding it. It's more me controlling the bike than the bike taking me somewhere.

The LBS is very nice, accomodating (they never charged me for many visits as I did not like this or that), and oh so patient with me, etc. BUT! Now I keep wondering, what if they had put the right one instead of what came out of the box???? I'll never know until I changed my handle again. And right now, nah! Maybe in winter when I train on rollers and trainer I may give it a shot...again. But it is hard to find the right person, who will do it the right way as everyone (shops/experts) their own mind/experience and who to believe! argggh

I also asked if I could put wider tires on mine (I have a set of American Classic - don't know width) and they said nope. I did not question more as they are the pros and I'm all new to this. I can argue easily when I know I'm right. But in this case, I'm too green. I'm learning.

I could go to my hubby's bike shop (where he purchased his) to see what more could be done but let's say they are not too happy about me getting a bike elsewhere (another story) but they did not have what I wanted to start off with. I wanted a Bianchi and they do not sell it. And the Bianchi I wanted was not even sold in Canada (would have to go through USA), which meant customs fees and lost of warranty unless I returned to USA to get it fixed if needed. So one afternoon, we walked into this reknown shop and I saw Pink Lady. That was it. I wanted it! hihi Fell in love head over heels. And I think the husband even more!

For me $3000 is a lot of money to spend on a bike. And honestly, if I had known all those issues I am experiencing, before purchasing my Kuota (which I love - but not to pieces) I would not have spent the money on it. It is a nice carbon bike, beautiful, rides very well....but hard for me to control. I'm sure with time (I only have about 350kms on it) I will get to learn and enjoy that baby of mine. Need to tame it first. hihi I did test drive a few bikes before (Giant Avail, etc). But not that one. Big mistake. I figured a bike is a bike (at least in the same category of bike!) WRONG! HAHA

But I will seriously look in the winter (when things are slows at shop) to see what type of road bike handles would really suit me and the bike....and if I can have wider tires. But that would probably mean changing my wheels right? If that is the case, I'm not sure it is worth it all. Those wheels are already $1000. Not sure I want to "re-invest" at this point. Time will tell.

[ny biker]

Welcome aboard.

Some cycling clubs have rides for slower cyclists who just want to have fun in addition to fast aggressive rides. So you might find a group you'll enjoy cycling with. Of course there's nothing wrong with just cruising along on your own, if that's what you enjoy.

[Helene2013]

So far, the groups we have in the area are all too fast paced for me. Maybe one day when I get stronger (I'm just back into training from injuries) it may be something to look into. Time will tell.

[ny biker]

My current tires are 700x23. I know I can switch to 700x25, because last year I spoke to someone at the LBS who had measured the frame for another customer who had the same bike, to see if she could put 700x25 tires on it. However I could not go wider than 25. I think the issue (and what he measured) is the amount of space inside the forks. I would not need new wheels to make the switch.

It may be possible for you to use a wider tire than what you have now, just not as wide as the ones you asked about. And you would not necessarily need different wheels.

[Helene2013]

Thank you. I will check again. All I know (and I'm very limited in road cycling stuff...but it is improving slowly but surely) is that my wheels are American Classic 420 Aero 3 aluminium. It is written ERD700C 572. It says Rim depth 34mm. Tires are Vittoria ZaffiroPro 700x23c. I may also write to the rim maker if I can't find a safe answer. Husband thinks it may be possible, but when I asked LBS (it was more like hybrid tires then, for gravel trails - just out of curiousity) and he had said no.

[Crankin]

You can put the 25c tires on your wheels. They are not the same as tires for gravel roads.
I would go to another shop that has good experience fitting. There's no reason to be tied to the one you bought the bike at, especially since they are not treating you well. Read, read, and learn. It may well be that the Kuota is just not the frame for you.

[Helene2013]

Crankin,

I would not be ready to say they are not treating me well. On the contrary. I'm sure it's me who did not ask the "correct" questions before goint out of the store with that bike. I loved the look of the bike so much, I never thought of asking more. And they did tell me when I told them I was not sure about road bike handlebars, they could change it for me to flat ones if it made me feel better/safer, etc. Which they did, free of charge, like many other things they did for me. I think most of my "frustation" is why would the mechanic think that the bars may have been too narrow for me (which made it harder for a newbie to control the bike) and no one else noticed that!! This is what got to me. Note that I did not know much, but enough to question. My husband's LBS was ready to send me to Marinoni to have one customed to me. It would have come up to same price but wanted me to get a steel bike. I wanted carbon. Seriously....I did not need carbon bike that much. Just that hubby is drooling over his and he pushed me to carbon: lighter, smoother, blablabla. And the worst is to admit that hubby's LBS may have been right all along.

Last night I was having a discussion with him and told him I don't know anymore if I like riding it. I'm afraid. Afraid of what? Don't know. It's just I'm not sure I feel safe on it. Hard to explain I know...I'm confused myself. lol I don't get that "losing control" type of thing on my old 1992 hybrid. But then again you have to compare apples with apples. That hybrid probably weighs over 30 pounds. Totally different handling, etc.

My husband is asking what I fear on this bike. And the more I think about it...the more it is crazy as unfounded. They are too easy to get flat tires. I'm afraid of that. Last night, he went with his bike club and a girl had a flat tire. Every ride someone gets a flat (our roads are bad! - Seriously). So I tend to remain on bike paths. What's the point of having a "racer" bike if you're not speeding (and I mean cycling at a decent road bike speed), not wanting to be on roads heuh!

He said we should try to change my tires. But not to dream as 2mm wider won't make a huge difference. But it may be just enough to make me feel more secure on my bike as I would "feel" like having more grip on the ground, less air in the tires (now I have 110 psi), a smoother ride, etc.

Like hubby tells me: until you remove that mental blockage of yours out of your mind, no matter what type of bars or tires, you will be afraid. He's asked me: how many people have I seen lose control or fall while I was riding? NONE. So why worry. He's 100% right. He said I have to get out of my mind the way I have to "drive" my road bike vs old hybrid. 2 different things. And when I tell him I'll sell my Pink Lady and use my old hybrid he reminded me how sore I was from shoulder blades, knees, etc. Something I have not experienced with my Kuota. And again he's right.

So I may try the 25mm tires and if it does not do, then what? Change bike. Try to trade it with another bike at the shop? That would mean I'd probably lose 1/2 of what I paid. It's a lot of money. But I may have to bite the bullet and just swallow it all if it makes me enjoy riding. OR, I could just buy a trainer and use the bike on it, where I would feel 100% safe. Same end results for me.

Ahhhhh when your mind plays game with you.