So after 3 weeks of inactivity on my new bike I finally got out on Saturday. I decided Id do a short lap of around 8 miles to get used to the bike and the clipless pedals. I made it 2 miles before my first 'off' the front end disappearing underneath me on a steep downhill. Luckily I wasnt going very fast as i had seen the ice and thought i could tip toe over it!! Lesson learned! But it has still left me with a sore right shoulder and a black bruised thumb.
My next problem was that having left the cleats loose on the advice of the shop until i got used to them, i must have lost one of the screws in the fall so spent the rest of the ride having to stop and tighten the one remaining screw.
I took the rest of the ride very steady indeed, including a long downhill stretch home. I was on the brakes constantly on the hoods and with having small hands had to use a reasonable amount of force on the top of the brakes to get any response by the time I got home my wrists and forearms were burning, I dont suppose theres much i can do about that? My riding position felt odd at first but I was getting used to it and the bike was way more comfortable than id expected.
On the plus side I was amazed how much easier going uphill was compared to my old hybrid, both up hill and on the flat i was able to keep up a much higher average speed than i have ever been used to. So here's to a lot more miles and a lot less falls in the next few months!!
My next problem was that having left the cleats loose on the advice of the shop until i got used to them, i must have lost one of the screws in the fall so spent the rest of the ride having to stop and tighten the one remaining screw.
I took the rest of the ride very steady indeed, including a long downhill stretch home. I was on the brakes constantly on the hoods and with having small hands had to use a reasonable amount of force on the top of the brakes to get any response by the time I got home my wrists and forearms were burning, I dont suppose theres much i can do about that? My riding position felt odd at first but I was getting used to it and the bike was way more comfortable than id expected.
On the plus side I was amazed how much easier going uphill was compared to my old hybrid, both up hill and on the flat i was able to keep up a much higher average speed than i have ever been used to. So here's to a lot more miles and a lot less falls in the next few months!!
