Smokin Joe
Squire
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
And a fourth.
First Road Bike
- Thread starter Snizzlepops
- Start date
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rugby bloke
Veteran
- Location
- Northamptonshire
I went through my first 6 months on a road bike without going near the drops - it all seemed a bit scary. I think it is something you come round to in your own time. I would say that braking from the hoods does take a little getting used to, but its just a matter of adjusting your technique and getting used to how your bike behaves.
Roadhump
Time you enjoyed wasting was not wasted
- Location
- The flatlands of South West Lancs
I did the same as you in late February and if you have the same experience as me, you will have great fun on your new bike.
What difference have I noticed?
Some people have mentioned riding position. I haven't noticed too much change there really, probably because my hybrid (it's the one in my avatar) is far more geared towards a road bike than trail or MTB. It has a high saddle position and I lean forward quite a bit. My road bike is a Giant Defy, which according to much of the stuff I read, has a more relaxed riding position. So, perhaps with different bikes I would have noticed more difference.
The road bike is certainly lighter, much more "tight", compact and responsive. It is also noticeably quicker, I average about 2 mph more than on my hybrid, which might not sound much, but the higher your average speed gets, the longer it takes to incrementally increase it, and I find myself moving along comfortably at speeds that I would have to work very hard to achieve on Hybrida. I have also noticed that riding into the wind isn't as hard work. I have found myself covering 7 or 8 miles further per ride on the road bike, but extra caution is needed to spot poor road surfaces sooner, I would rather take my chances with a pothole on a hybrid than a road bike.
One downside is that sometimes I find an ache in my thumb bones while holding the bars behind the hoods, but I hope that will subside as I get used to it.
Braking from the hoods was strange at first, and it is important that you get used to it. On my first ride, I actually went for where the brakes would have been on my hybrid, a couple of times, but of course they weren't there and I nearly came a cropper. I soon got used to that though and as the 3 people above have said in response to mjr's post, I would disagree that the brakes are weaker, mine are just as powerful.
I decided not to use cleats straightaway because all the advice I have had is that they take some getting used to, so rather than jumping in too deep I decided to get used to the bike first. Now I am used to the bike, that is my next move, and I will transfer the pedals to Hybrida as the old ones are getting a bit knackered.
A bit of a lengthy response, but hopefully has some useful pointers. I still ride the hybrid, it is a great bike and for commuting, and getting around town, it is super, but the road bike is a real treat. Good luck, hope you have as much fun as I am having.
What difference have I noticed?
Some people have mentioned riding position. I haven't noticed too much change there really, probably because my hybrid (it's the one in my avatar) is far more geared towards a road bike than trail or MTB. It has a high saddle position and I lean forward quite a bit. My road bike is a Giant Defy, which according to much of the stuff I read, has a more relaxed riding position. So, perhaps with different bikes I would have noticed more difference.
The road bike is certainly lighter, much more "tight", compact and responsive. It is also noticeably quicker, I average about 2 mph more than on my hybrid, which might not sound much, but the higher your average speed gets, the longer it takes to incrementally increase it, and I find myself moving along comfortably at speeds that I would have to work very hard to achieve on Hybrida. I have also noticed that riding into the wind isn't as hard work. I have found myself covering 7 or 8 miles further per ride on the road bike, but extra caution is needed to spot poor road surfaces sooner, I would rather take my chances with a pothole on a hybrid than a road bike.
One downside is that sometimes I find an ache in my thumb bones while holding the bars behind the hoods, but I hope that will subside as I get used to it.
Braking from the hoods was strange at first, and it is important that you get used to it. On my first ride, I actually went for where the brakes would have been on my hybrid, a couple of times, but of course they weren't there and I nearly came a cropper. I soon got used to that though and as the 3 people above have said in response to mjr's post, I would disagree that the brakes are weaker, mine are just as powerful.
I decided not to use cleats straightaway because all the advice I have had is that they take some getting used to, so rather than jumping in too deep I decided to get used to the bike first. Now I am used to the bike, that is my next move, and I will transfer the pedals to Hybrida as the old ones are getting a bit knackered.
A bit of a lengthy response, but hopefully has some useful pointers. I still ride the hybrid, it is a great bike and for commuting, and getting around town, it is super, but the road bike is a real treat. Good luck, hope you have as much fun as I am having.
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
That. I've only done well over 40,000 miles on road bikes, what do I know? I hardly ever use the drops and never had an issue braking, regardless of brake type.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
How about reading what I actually wrote rather than arguing with what you imagine I wrote? My main point is that it's very different to a hybrid's V brakes and so braking is a key thing to experiment with early on, to get used to - not that it's unsafe or any of your other scaremongering that was not in my post. I've seen a few riders surprised by how different the brakes behave on their first road bike and I'd like to spare others that... if you'd rather people had scary moments underbraking the first few times out because they expected hybrid-style, that's your problem.
As for the pads, well, the pads supplied on some bikes are awful IMO, as often are tyres, saddles, pedals - they're not aspects that many people will choose one bike over another for and easier places for sellers to cut costs to make a target price. Just something for someone with a new road bike to consider, to be aware that a fairly cheap upgrade there may be possible if wanted.
The drops... yeah, the drops... I know it's not essential and it's not easy for everyone (and I definitely sympathise as I rode off the right-hand side of the road into a corn field my first time out on a road bike...) but it is worth learning IMO and one of the benefits is more comfortable braking because you pull straight near the end of the lever, instead of being limited by how far your fingers can reach down them from the hoods and how much you can sort-of rock them over the pivot.
OP
OP
Snizzlepops
Active Member
@Roadhump Lengthy but very much appreciated! Pot holes are quite a pain near where I live so vigilence will need improving! Let me know how you get on with cleats! I will wait a while before taking that next step!
@mjr
When trying bikes, I mentioned the breaks from the hoods and I didnt feel quite comfortable in that it didnt feel strong - but I think that was a positioning of my hands/getting used to it etc.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
I've been riding road bikes a very long time and fiddled with levers and positions and brakes soooo much and I still think braking from the hoods is always weaker (but the old suicide levers were worse
). I'd just brake early at first and remember that you can always ease off if needed - I expect you'll get used to it. Maybe once used to the drops, I'd see how quickly I can move to them for braking but careful with that - almost all bikes are still quite capable of causing a mishap if one snatches the brakes (except maybe vintage steel rims in the rain which make a lovely noise and do little else... )About the whole hoods/drops debate, it's been done many times before, including https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/drops-or-the-hoods-when-descending.22515/
goody
Veteran
- Location
- Carshalton
Here you go;
Although a larger area of contact between two surfaces would create a larger source of frictional forces, it also reduces the pressure between the two surfaces for a given force holding them together. Since pressure equals force divided by the area of contact, it works out that the increase in friction generating area is exactly offset by the reduction in pressure; the resulting frictional forces, then, are dependent only on the frictional coefficient of the materials and the FORCE holding them together.
Congrats on the new bike, hope you have loads of fun on it, I've had a few Trek bikes, and they are good bikes 
As @TheJDog says just above, the position is somewhat different from a hybrid, so it may take a little time to get used to it as it's much less upright than your old bike.
I'd not worry too much about the brakes, the ease of braking in different hand positions depends more on the shape and design of the hoods, and I noticed when moving from older design hoods to modern ones that I now find it easier to brake from the hoods and not the drops.
I'd definitely change the pads at some point though if you are planning on riding in inclement weather as I find that different brake pads (I use koolstop salmons mostly) give me more confidence braking in wet weather compared to stock.
As @TheJDog says just above, the position is somewhat different from a hybrid, so it may take a little time to get used to it as it's much less upright than your old bike.
I'd not worry too much about the brakes, the ease of braking in different hand positions depends more on the shape and design of the hoods, and I noticed when moving from older design hoods to modern ones that I now find it easier to brake from the hoods and not the drops.
I'd definitely change the pads at some point though if you are planning on riding in inclement weather as I find that different brake pads (I use koolstop salmons mostly) give me more confidence braking in wet weather compared to stock.
vickster
Squire
I disagree, as a woman who has a well fitted bike, I have crosslevers as well as slimmer SRAM hoods. I feel much more confident braking, especially in traffic and downhill, I ride on the hoods. Drops don't suit me
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
That's a cruel thing to write to a man you know has a receding hairline, yet it seems the mods allow it. I won't respond with a similar sexist/ageist remark
OK, more simply: as part of one's first rides on a road bike, I'd deliberately get used to how the brakes behave differently, before you need to rely on them. If you're not happy with them as supplied, upgrades are usually possible.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
No issues braking from the hoods. I could still lift the back wheel with full panniers on. Riding on the hoods can be more comfortable and I would advise that for any new road bike as coming from a hybrid, the drops might put more stress on to your back if not used to the position.
vickster
Squire
I'm guessing you are a man with largish hands and longish fingers...I am not which is why I find it hard on Shimano hoods especially to brake confidently from the hoods on hills/in traffic. The OP has also decided they would be good for her at least to start
We're all different however
It would have preferred the advice not go get yourself out of the saddle and throw yourself forwards for a fast start as I very nearly flew over the handlebars when I first popped out on my road bike.
Other than that, I did what the overwhelming majority would do, which is go for a spin and see how it feels.
Other than that, I did what the overwhelming majority would do, which is go for a spin and see how it feels.
