First time x2

[leedsmick]

I work from home and for 2 months the new bike has been stood in my office all shiny and smelling new.

Glad i took the plunge now. Day 2 starts today..........

 

[ChrisEyles]

Toe clips with straps are also an option if you'd rather not use clipless pedals. I use these on my 1960s racer and on my commuting bike, and performance-wise there's not a huge difference over SPDs as long as you cinch the straps up over your foot. There's still a tad of a learning curve getting your foot in the cage and remembering to un-cinch the strap to get your foot out, but I personally find them more natural to use than SPDs. On a vintage bike they're much better aesthetically too, though I can see why you might prefer the clipless look on a modern roadie

 

[Montydog]

.....come and join albaRosa club on Saturday social ride.....nice steady ride out to Bolton Abbey cafe

 

[Wafer]

I rode out of the saddle properly today as it just felt right

I love that about the Synapse Not sure if that's a general road bike thing btu I quite like being encouraged to get out of the saddle every so often and it does just feel right on that bike

 

[leedsmick]

Getting out of the saddle was my downfall today. Unless i went over some black ice which is a possibility i think i just lost balance standing to climb and the bike just seemed to go. Cue a very dirty new bike, me laying on the wet floor half way up a 6% hill. It took me ages to get my right foot out.
I also fell when i got home in my driveway, steep learning curve!

 

[ChrisEyles]

Sorry to hear about that, hope you're OK! There is a lot of black ice around at the moment and it can be pretty much impossible to stay upright over any distance of it. Be careful on the same spot in future, ice tends to form in the same places quite a bit. Make sure to check the rear mech if you fell on the right hand side (I've just had an evening's fettling straightening out a bent derailleur hanger after a fall on the icy lanes around us).

 

[leedsmick]

Thanks i will do

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Getting out of the saddle was my downfall today. Unless i went over some black ice which is a possibility i think i just lost balance standing to climb and the bike just seemed to go. Cue a very dirty new bike, me laying on the wet floor half way up a 6% hill. It took me ages to get my right foot out.
Never mind, it can happen
Hope the bike's ok
I also fell when i got home in my driveway, steep learning curve!

 

[User16625]

Good man - riding a proper road bike whilst clipped in makes you a proper cyclist - anything else is just playing on your bike

I love playing with a nice bike. In fact I may even prefer it to cycling.