new bike ,and very unhappy

[suzieqtwa]

Well, I finally got my new TREK 2.1 out of layaway Sunday. I should be so happy ,but I'm not. It feels so foreign to me. Clip less pedals........ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh What was I thinking. Its not a good feeling to be locked into your bike. I only took it out for 5 minutes ,and tried going straight up a steep hill. I kept one foot out of the clip. The bike feels so light ,like it could tip over at any time. I haven't had time to ride it because by the time I get home from work its dark. I have no problem riding my hybrid in the dark. Now the gears....I get confused as to what makes me go fast ,or slow. Is there a easy way to remember. Did anyone else ever feel this way when going from a hybrid to a road bike ,and will I adjust.
I haven't taken any pictures because I don't like the bike too much. Will I ever learn to ride it. I feel wobbly on it. My TE friend Darcy and I are going to a State Park on Saturday to ride where its safe. She bought a TREK 5.2 ,and she is still learning. She said she felt the same way I did 3 months ago when she bought hers.
Suzie

[IFjane]

Hang in there, Suzie! You will soon begin to feel good on that new bike, and I can assure you one day you will look back and realize you don't feel safe if you AREN'T locked into those pedals. You are doing the right thing by going to a safe place to begin riding. Take it slow and don't try to do anything too technical at first. Let us know how you feel after this weekend's ride.

[Bluetree]

Don't worry Suzie, you will get used to it ... fast!

Soon you will learn to love going clipless and can't believe you ever did without them.

Don't worry too much about gearing for right now. It'll be much easier to adjust to your new bike by taking it one step at a time. If it helps, get some cheap $10 platform pedals and use them for a week or so to get used to the light weight. Then deal with pedals. Then deal with gearing. One step at a time... and most of all, have fun!

[spokewench]

Give yourself some time on the bike - it is hard trying new bikes and going to a road bike with a different position and skinny tires. I remember the first time I tried to ride a roadbike in a parking lot - trying to see if it would fit. The first one I rode had really steap racing angles and wow, I almost didn't get a road bike, but I perservered found a nice bike; and then just started riding it! It took a while but it was okay. Just remember to try to relax. Sometimes, when I'm stressed by the feel of a bike, I just tell myself to relax my elbows, try to be smooth and round in my pedal stroke, look ahead instead of down and then Woohoo, we're going along and everything is right in the world!

[Aint Doody]

Suzie, the other ladies are so right. We want you to come back and revive this post in the middle of the summer. I bet you'll be raving about how much you love your bike and how much better you're riding. Anything new feels a little scary and foreign at first. Don't give up.

[mimitabby]

Suzie
i am still not into clipless on a single road bike yet, (Doing it on the stationary bike AND on the back of the tandem), so i can't address THAT.
But i must tell you that after riding my Bianchi since June, I am finally getting comfortable with the gears!!!!
For now, figure out a few gears and just stay in them, and when you get more light, take that bike out and put it through its paces. I have thrown my chain twice on hills, and I spend a lot of time looking at the chain. (where am I?)
I won't go into a lot of detail, but learning how to shift in the right direction
and where it gets you has taken a bit of time for me.
It's a long process, it is going to feel foreign for a while but don't give up.

[suzieqtwa]

Mimi,
Ya ,my biggest fear is dropping the chain on a hill ,and falling over. I have lots of hills around here.

[mimitabby]

Mimi,
Ya ,my biggest fear is dropping the chain on a hill ,and falling over. I have lots of hills around here.

I can really identify with that. Seems to me you shouldn't have to learn the bike gear ing AND going clipless at the same time.

When I threw the chain, I sure might have fallen if i was clipped in and wasn't used to it.

Do you want some chain advice? when dropping gears on a hill ONLY drop
from the triple because gravity will help you.
The back derailleur with all the 9 gears, only use that when there isn't so much pressure.
Someone here told me that and i haven't dropped the chain since.

[Bluetree]

Suzie, I never change gears as I'm descending. I was taught to anticipate gear shifts before they are needed (before stopping, before getting to the apex of a hill) to prevent the chain drop. Hasn't happened since!

[SouthernBelle]

I second some clip on platforms until you get used to everything else. I only used them for a week, but it made getting accustomed to the new bike much easier.

[mimitabby]

Blue tree, I am talking about going UP hill.
that's where you throw the chain if you're not careful.

[Bluetree]

I do the same thing. If I have to change my ring, I do if before I start a climb. However, I have familiarized myself with my local hills and know which gear I will need to do each one, and which ones have false flats and so on.

But I digress... Suzie, don't worry about gears right now. It will come in time!

[Geonz]

Welp, I don't know from clipless but I do know first thing I did wouldn't be charging up a hill

This is a new relationship. Get to know each other. She's got to get used to you, too

[Triskeliongirl]

I had the same problem when I switched from a flat bar to a dropped bar bike. I took my bike to a park and practiced there. I didn't even deal with the clips (I had dual side pedals that are clip in on one side and platform on other). I suggest you start by putting the bike in your middle ring, so all you have to do is shift up and down the rear cogs. You may even practice that in a trainer if you have access to one. Get good at that, then learn to shift the front. Get good at that, then try riding with one foot clipped in and one free, then go to both feet. Give yourself time to adjust to each change.

[suzieqtwa]

Thanks for all the advise...I know I will learn how to ride this bike in time ,but I've waited so long to get it ,and now I cant even ride it. I'm a lot tuffer than this ,and I know Ill be fine soon ,but I want to be fine now. I think I need balance. The bike is so much lighter than the hybrid. Maybe after this weekend Ill start to figure it . There were small platforms on the bike when I bought it ,but they took them off as I was leaving?
Mimi ,bluetree,I do understand about what your saying about the gears ,but what if I'm climbing a steep hill ,and I need to go into a lower gear in the back. ,should I just kinda lift off the pedal when I shift ,so there isn't pressure. I get confused as to what direction I should shift. I could pretty much leave the left gear in the middle...then I should have full range of the 9 gears in the back. Do I make sence??