Road bike beginner

[Eribiste]

What's penile numbness?

I changed from a 'gentleman's town bike' to a lightweight hot shot, and one of the first things I noticed, apart from the requirement for a much tougher bum was how twitchy the steering is in comparison. 150 miles later I've got used to thinking about turns rather than consciously making turns. One word of caution; try to avoid going from hoods to drops or t'other way when not going in a straight line, I've found that to be a way of unsettling the bike. Anyway, enjoy your new bike and look forward to better weather.

 

[jlamontagne]

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.

This is exactly how I felt I was suprised by how far down you need to reach, doesn't seem as far when you're looking at someone else riding in the drops

 

[jlamontagne]

Cheers Eribiste, yeah I can't wait for better weather. At the moment here in Yorkshire you would think the world is ending with the amount of wind and rain we've had.

 

[Kins]

Come to Wales, the world officially ended 5 years ago!

 

[smokeysmoo]

I don't need to go all out and buy a multi thousand pound carbon road bike .

Don't worry, you'll never need to do that, carbon is highly over rated

I remember when I got my first 'modern' road bike after riding MTB's for years. I couldn't even reach down to get my bidon without slowing to an almost standstill.

As other have said, your confidence will build and before you know it you'll be flying along and wondering why you didn't get a proper bike much sooner

 

[HLaB]

jl If the bike is set up right you'll get used to the twitchyness and soon you'll be saying its responsiveness. As to the drops you don't have to be in them all the time, riding on the hoods is more common and positional wise more akin to a flat bar. There's an even more upright, flats position but your hands are away from the brakes and it can be more twitchy.

 

[jlamontagne]

Hello all, just a little update here.

I had my first proper ride with my road bike today, just going around my local park cycle path...spent about 40 minutes getting used to the handling and positioning/balance over a mixture of flats and small hills. Firstly, going uphill is so much easier also I managed to get to speeds that i've never done before on a bike which was great. Although it is generally quite smooth, it was horrible going over imperfections in the path such as bumps/cracks as I'm used to having thicker tyres which take most of the force out of them. I had a bit of neck pain after getting back and felt a bit dizzy but the latter was just down to the fact that It was my first time out on a bike for 2 months and it was rather cold

I also need to get more familiar with the gear system.

All in all, I can't wait for warmer weather to come around so I can have some nice long journeys out into the countryside! (Winter solstice today so it can only get better)

 

[Onthedrops]

I also need to get more familiar with the gear system.

All in all, I can't wait for warmer weather to come around so I can have some nice long journeys out into the countryside!

Amen to that! I'm in the same boat. Brand new Triban 3 in the garage but the horrendous weather certainly doesn't promote eagerness to get out and about on it.
I'm a complete newbie and need to get used to the gears too. It's very hilly round here so the chainset should see some action!

 

[Sillyoldman]

Amen to that! I'm in the same boat. Brand new Triban 3 in the garage but the horrendous weather certainly doesn't promote eagerness to get out and about on it.
I'm a complete newbie and need to get used to the gears too. It's very hilly round here so the chainset should see some action!

Onthedrops, if you are new to gears as I was a few months ago let me pass on a bit of advice from my LBS. Don't use large front cog/large rear cog combination or small front cog/small rear cog combination. Puts the chain under strain and if you select one of these combos and look from the rear of the bike you can see what he meant.

 

[on the road]

All in all, I can't wait for warmer weather to come around so I can have some nice long journeys out into the countryside! (Winter solstice today so it can only get better)

Next summer is going to be a scorcher, you heard it here first

 

[Lanzecki]

Next summer is going to be a scorcher, you heard it here first

Putting any money down?

 

[antnee]

Ok About Road bikes then My present bike is a Hybred Trek7200 with straight bars and with a 22.5 inch frame or 57cm in new money. If as I am comtemplating a road bike as well (30 years since Iv'e ridden one) Am 6'1 and have 31" leg; will I need the same size as my hybred Trek? As have decided to get one new Triban 3 online as much cheaper should I keep to the same size frame.
Any help would be most welcome. Many thanks all and Happy New year.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Onthedrops, if you are new to gears as I was a few months ago let me pass on a bit of advice from my LBS. Don't use large front cog/large rear cog combination or small front cog/small rear cog combination. Puts the chain under strain and if you select one of these combos and look from the rear of the bike you can see what he meant.

Applies to all bikes.
Weather, what bad weather it's just been a bit windy and a smattering of rain, rain in Nov i rode in was 3.2mm Dec 2mm and Jan so far 0mm, but the winds are stronger, Nov avg speeds 4.0mph Dec 4.85mph Jan 6.09mph

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Ok About Road bikes then My present bike is a Hybred Trek7200 with straight bars and with a 22.5 inch frame or 57cm in new money. If as I am comtemplating a road bike as well (30 years since Iv'e ridden one) Am 6'1 and have 31" leg; will I need the same size as my hybred Trek? As have decided to get one new Triban 3 online as much cheaper should I keep to the same size frame.
Any help would be most welcome. Many thanks all and Happy New year.

I have a Felt Hybrid which I think is a 58. I am about to get a road bike and going for a 58 without trying it. I did sit on a mates 56 and decided it was a tad to small plus the sizing guide says I should have a 58.

You should be pretty safe size wise if you follow their size guide, downside is you don't get a fitting to get everything set up correctly, you will have to do that yourself.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Just found the paperwork for my Felt, and it says it is a 55. Looking at the dimensions of both my Felt and the Allez I am looking at, I am still sticking with the 58