Road bike beginner

[jlamontagne]

I recently just got my first road bike after riding hybrids and mountain bikes, because of this I'm not familiar with the body position on a road bike.

Is this common for new road cyclists? and do you have any tips for me to get more familiar/comfortable on the road bike or is it just a case of putting the miles in?

 

[Nearly there]

Is your bike the correct size for you?Is it set up correctly i.e seat height correct etc?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

What is the problem? Nobody can offer a solution until you explain in more detail

 

[jlamontagne]

I just feel a little 'unstable' really, I'm just wondering if this will improve over time as I (hopefully) get more confident with the thin tyres and drop bars? I can't really have a proper ride on it at the moment though due to the atrocious weather

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Completely normal,you'll get used to it

 

[Nearly there]

I just feel a little 'unstable' really, I'm just wondering if this will improve over time as I (hopefully) get more confident with the thin tyres and drop bars? I can't really have a proper ride on it at the moment though due to the atrocious weather

You'll soon get used to it,are you clipped in ?

 

[Saluki]

I just feel a little 'unstable' really, I'm just wondering if this will improve over time as I (hopefully) get more confident with the thin tyres and drop bars? I can't really have a proper ride on it at the moment though due to the atrocious weather

I remember that feeling, when I got my Giant. The man in the shop said that the bike was responsive, I was thinking more along the lines of 'twitchy'. Within a week I was as happy as Larry and my old MTB was a distant memory.

 

[jlamontagne]

You'll soon get used to it,are you clipped in ?

Not clipped in as I don't have cleats

 

[paulw1969]

As has been said it wont take long and you will get used to it. Try and avoid going into the drops and stick to riding with your hands on the hoods to start with.....seemed to be the most "sturdy" grip for me when i got mine. Road bike are naturally twitchy/responsive....now i am used to mine it feels weird to get back on a hydrid....again you get used to switching....its just something new.
What did you go for in the end the Triban?

 

[Kins]

Congrats on new bike, what did you get in the end?

 

[jlamontagne]

Didn't get the Triban in the end, I bought a Claud Butler 'Roubaix' for £160 2nd hand. Bare in mind that this will be my first road bike so I don't need to go all out and buy a multi thousand pound carbon road bike . I know the Triban 3 would have been well worth it for £299 but the nearest Decathlon to me is in Sheffield and I had no real means of travelling there and the delivery cost was £15, so taking everything into account I went for the Claud Butler which someone was offering me. It will be good enough to get me started even though it is nothing amazing, it also leaves me money to buy all the necessary accessories such as lights, helmet, 2 locks and a new saddle. On top of that I can always upgrade the components to higher spec ones, all in all I'm really happy with it Now I've just got to wait for some decent weather to come along and i'll be able to put some miles in.

 

[Kins]

Funnily enough I was thinking about getting the same bike yesterday for the same price. They look pretty good for that sort of money. Glad you your happy with it.

 

[jlamontagne]

Yeah, the only thing is that I have to get used to going from an 'upright' position on hybrids to the body position on a road bike. Like others have said, it's just a matter of time

 

[helston90]

I don't even have a road bike so don't really qualify to respond- however most guys on here say they only spend maybe 5% down on the drops, lots more on the hoods and flats, so don't feel like you've got to be on them just because you have got them!
I'll now go back to a hybrid related thread!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

you'll be right, its the harder thinner tyres and less wallowy steering. its just a matter of getting used to it and feeding in your reactions accordingly in the meantime.

Next stage will be that you may find your back hurts for a bit as you'll be more stretched out and aero, putting different stresses and using different muscles to hold you right on the bike. As you get more onto the drops you could experience some neck ache from the more canted backwards head position to see where youre going.

When you do get onto the drops (usually showing off or in a block headwind) it'll probably feel like you're kneeing yourself in the guts and squeezing your lunch a bit.

Also be sure to get your saddle set up correctly from the off you'll be leaning more forwards onto it and potentially compressing some nerves and blood vessels down there more than a sit up and beg position. 2 words you don't want to be asking much about are Penile Numbness