Getting used to a road bike

[MattHB]

Did my first decent ride on the Felt today. It was about 2c, so not exactly shorts weather.

Its going to take me a while to get used to the flatter riding position.. Although its very nice to have so many options, much nicer than the hybrid with flat bars.

I struggled a bit with big gloves on and the inner gear change lever, particularly if on the drops.

Ah yes, the drop position.. I fear that I might have to stay on the hoods until I loose a bit more around the middle, my thighs touch my spare tyre on the upstroke a little which makes me feel enormously fat!

I noticed body aches in places that I've not felt them before.. Because of the different positions? Going to try to build up the miles slowly as it feels like I'm starting again. I'm a bit out of shape too, I've had a horrid virus and time has meant that I've dropped my average weekly miles a lot more than I would have liked over the last few weeks.

 

[cyberknight]

You will spend most of your time on the hoods anyway so i would not worry to much about the drops, i only use them if i am battling against a head wind, really flying or trying to catch up with some one ,otherwise it the hoods all the way .
If your not used to a drop bar bike it will definitely pull on muscles your not used to , assuming your bike fit is right then some core exercises + more time in the saddle is going to help .
My favourite set up site ..
http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html
Aches and pains..
http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefitchart.html

 

[ianrauk]

As cyberknight say's, you won't spend much time in the drops. No one does really. Unless you are racing.

 

[billy1561]

Hang in there matt. You will get used to it far sooner than you think. I thought the low position would give me problems with comfort, but I actually believe the position to be much more comfortable than my hybrid. Although I selected a road bike with a more relaxed geometry. As for the thighs and belly contact, well that will improve as you tone up.its only on the drops where it bothers me now.

 

[MattHB]

Thanks folks I can't see me being on drops much, although after an hour today it was quite nice as it allowed me to stretch out my back and shoulders.

Fit is good, something I made sure of right at the start. The shop did a great job swapping out stems, flipping it over etc so I'm sure it's bang on. It feels a bit of a stretch at the moment, but I'm sure that's just the contrast between the flat bars I'm used to and this. The felt is sportiv setup, so it's not so bum in the air as some

More miles it is! will put another 25-30 in tomorrow weather permitting. Should be a good deal warmer tomorrow, at least 6c!

 

[MattHB]

Went out for 30 today having done some research about cadence. Now I have the ability to view it it's quite interesting.

I feel SO out of shape at the moment (relative to 2 weeks ago before the virus). I'm more tired after 30 on the roadie than I was 4 weeks ago from 40 on the hybrid. I guess my miles have dropped over the last few weeks so I have to build back up.

Also trying to get used to a more difficult gearing I suppose. Encountered my first long hill today and made it up, but it was hard hard work.