First road bike, first ride. Scared witless.

[Fubar]

I've had my road bike just over a week and second time out I couldn't unclip and was clipped by a car, sent me sprawling and my new bike is at the LBS awaiting a new rear mech hanger, which may have to be ordered from Germany it being a Canyon bike. I'm ok though confidence took a hit and seems a while until I can go back out.

That is very unlucky! GWS and try to get back out as soon as you feel able, will help to build your confidence up. All the best, Mark

 

[Deleted member 1258]

What really shocked me was how much more traffic there was on the roads, and how aggressive and impatient many drivers had become. It took me 24 years (and counting) to get used to that!

This was what I fell over a few years ago, with me having been cycling so long, its been over 30 years since I came back to cycling, I hadn't noticed the change in the way people were driving, it was a gradual deterioration, but I had two crashes, the one in 2005 I was carrying too much speed down a cycle path with a slow moving line of traffic on my right and got taken out by a car turning through the line of cars, the second one in 2007 I was clipped by an overtaking car whilst trying to get in position to turn right, the second one led to a trip to A & E and three weeks off work, whilst laid up I had time to think about the way I was cycling and the way people were driving and when I got back on my bike I started to change the way I was cycling and developed a far more defensive style.

 

[Surrey]

One difference now from when I used to ride when I was a kid is the number of drivers who want to kill cyclists. In the six short weeks I have bin riding I have had two drivers deliberately try and force me off the rode and another bimbo drive her car straight at me when she was overtaking another cyclist on the other side of the rode.

 

[jo_e]

Sorry mate, didnt mean it like that. I suppose its like going from standard stick gearing you find in most cars to a ferrari with those "flappy paddle" things that Clarkson refers to them as. 40 miles in 2 days isnt bad for anyone. Its bloody brilliant if your just startin out.

No worries, but I think you make a good comparison.
Gears took a few mins to work out but I still got caught out on steep uphills once or twice, pushing the wrong lever, running out of steam and stopping dead. No one saw it though, so it didn't happen.

Braking on the hoods seems really hard, not sure if it's hand strength, reach, or just not enough practice. This is my main worry at the moment. I like to be able to stop!

I was doing 18 miles a day on the MTB (now I'm aware that it was a bloody painful slog!), despite being "wobbly" on the road bike I cut my journey by 10 mins each way, and I was taking my time. Bit chuffed with that, I wasn't trying very hard and wasn't hot and bothered like I usually am arriving at work. The hills were so much easier. Bloody love that bike. Apart from the saddle. The saddle hates me.

 

[vickster]

Get a new saddle...if of the female persuasion, look at the selle Italian diva gel, £60 but well worth the outlay IMO

 

[buggi]

WTF? Why do so many people find their first time on a road bike so difficult? If it was your 1st time ever on 2 wheels then fair enough. When I was young my first ride on a road bike may have only been up the street on a rusty old thing, but it felt wicked being able to go so much faster for the same amount of effort. I was used to BSO mountain bikes and BMXs as a kid. The gear levers were on the downtube if I remember rightly and it wasnt until years later I had my first decent road bike.
quote]
Strangely, i bought an MTB recently and my first time home i was bloody useless on it. has flat pedals so kept trying to clip out, couldn't pull the pedal up so couldn't get my act together at junctions, couldn't get used to the gears, hated going so slow (bag of nerves on the roundabout!) and it totally took me by surprise how used to my road bike i had become. I mean, it's only 15 years since i've been on one FFS.

 

[Julia9054]

Hi Jo
I got my first road bike at the beginning of the summer after always riding a hybrid. I have spent a hugely enjoyable summer holidays exploring the differences and braking from the hoods has been the biggest thing to get used to.
After asking for advice on here, I have tilted my handlebars slightly upwards (as someone on your thread suggested) which has helped but also got used to the need to brake earlier than with the disc brakes on my hybrid.
Having said that, I did 44 miles above Pateley Bridge yesterday including some very steep ups and downs (well, for me anyway!)
On my old bike, my knees would be aching today. As it is, knees are fine but my hands are killing me from all the braking!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

No worries, but I think you make a good comparison.
Gears took a few mins to work out but I still got caught out on steep uphills once or twice, pushing the wrong lever, running out of steam and stopping dead. No one saw it though, so it didn't happen.

Braking on the hoods seems really hard, not sure if it's hand strength, reach, or just not enough practice. This is my main worry at the moment. I like to be able to stop!

I was doing 18 miles a day on the MTB (now I'm aware that it was a bloody painful slog!), despite being "wobbly" on the road bike I cut my journey by 10 mins each way, and I was taking my time. Bit chuffed with that, I wasn't trying very hard and wasn't hot and bothered like I usually am arriving at work. The hills were so much easier. Bloody love that bike. Apart from the saddle. The saddle hates me.

Can your brake levers be adjusted for reach on your set up? I have SRAM Rival on my geared bike and I was able to adjust the reach and improve my comfort and braking.

 

[jo_e]

Get a new saddle...if of the female persuasion, look at the selle Italian diva gel, £60 but well worth the outlay IMO

Thanks for the recommendation. I will give it a few more weeks and if I still have problems I may look into getting a new one - have to wait 'til payday September though!