My first road bike !

[snowsparkle2]

Just got back from my first ever road bike trip - it was just unbelievably good, and I think I'm hooked for ever ! I've done loads of cycling in towns & then since we moved to the mountains, quite a bit of slogging down & back up the hill to our house on a mountain bike, but me and OH splashed out on a couple of basic road bikes a few weeks ago and have finally had a chance to get out and use them. We did about 30k of cycle track along the flat (-well nearly - nothing is flat round here!) next to this raging rapids river to a little town called Bourg-St-Maurice & back again. And I've not had such a brilliant time for ages - what fun!

Must admit I found the riding position a bit weird, and getting the hang of drop handle bars & skinny tyres is going to take some doing! Any biking divas got any top tips to help me get started and stop being wobbley on my new wheels !

 

[volklgirl]

Any biking divas got any top tips to help me get started and stop being wobbley on my new wheels !

Go faster!

 

[Kimmyt]

x2 !

Really, just ride more. You'll get used to the position. Also, when you ride, change position during your ride from the flats to the hoods to the drops, etc, so that you get used to being in all of them. Practice taking your water bottle out.

It really will come with time! Have fun out there!

K.

 

[snowsparkle2]

Thanks guys - yeah fast is better ! I keep thinking Tour de France - yippeee.... Good advise about water bottle too. When I'm on my mountain bike i normally have a hydration pack on my back, but I soon found out that if I do that on road back all the water just seemed to drip out and down my shirt - sigh, so much to learn. Weather's been rubbish lately, but hopefully next week will be sunny so fingers crossed for more bike fun.

 

[volklgirl]

I know my answer was kind of tongue-in-cheek, but seriously......

That lighter weight bike with skinny tires really will be more stable as you go faster. If you're used to riding a bike with V- or disc brakes, you'll want to practice using your new brakes. I find that my road bike takes A LOT longer to come to a stop than my mountain bikes. You'll also find that for a while you really, really need to keep your attention on the road and the bike. It takes major talent to be able to look back on a road bike without wavering all over or crashing.

Have fun!!!

 

[abc]

Looking back on a road bike, there're two ways:

If you're riding on the top of the handlebar, just turn your head. Take care NOT to turn your shoulder or you'll be wandering all over the road.

If you're riding in the drop of the handlebar, you can also look UNDER your armpit.

When riding on the brake hood, you can do one or the other, depending on how low your handlebar is set.

Oh yes, keep your elbow slightly bend. That's for riding, looking back or not. A locked elbow is bad for handling. :(

 

[snowsparkle2]

One thing, I find it quite a stretch to get to the brake levers when I'm down in the drop position. I asked the guy in the shop whether I could adjust the brakes to make the reach less, but he said no adjustment possible. So I'm wondering if I can adjust the angle of the handlebars and whether that might help me ?

Another question, when you're going down a hill, what position do you want to be in ? Drop handlebar position? Seems very scary, almost like pointing straight down!!!

Sorry to be such a beginner with brainless questions

 

[vanhoskier]

One thing, I find it quite a stretch to get to the brake levers when I'm down in the drop position. I asked the guy in the shop whether I could adjust the brakes to make the reach less, but he said no adjustment possible. So I'm wondering if I can adjust the angle of the handlebars and whether that might help me ?

Another question, when you're going down a hill, what position do you want to be in ? Drop handlebar position? Seems very scary, almost like pointing straight down!!!

Sorry to be such a beginner with brainless questions

There ARE brake levers out there made for smaller (female) hands, so if it gets uncomfortable, ask your shop.

It's more stable riding in the drops on downhills. I didn't believe this until at a bike camp where we had to INTENTIONALLY sideswipe another rider while they were in their drops vs. the tops of the bars. When in the drops, if you hit a bump or get hit by something or someone else, you'll hold your line better, but it takes getting used to.

Relax your shoulders. That will help.

Also, when you pedal, focus on keeping your pedal stroke round and smooth (light gears) while keeping your upper body nearly motionless while staying relaxed. This is most efficient in energy transfer.

Congrats on getting a road bike! You're lucky to ride in the country that has the most famous road race in the world!

 

[abc]

I asked the guy in the shop whether I could adjust the brakes to make the reach less, but he said no adjustment possible.

Mmmm...time to find another shop with a female technicien or more "female awared" shop guy!

Yes, you can adjust the brake lever. Is it Shimano? A lot of shops will glue a little wedge in the base of the lever so it comes closer to your hands.


Ask to see a female specific brake lever and examine it very closely. You should be able to find the wedge. You can retrofit a regular lever the same way.

 

[Consuela]

I didn't believe this until at a bike camp where we had to INTENTIONALLY sideswipe another rider while they were in their drops vs. the tops of the bars.

Dang, VanBiker! What camp did you go to?? You guys are tough back east, eh?

Note to self: Don't do practice sessions with VanBiker.

 

[abc]

I'd guess it's probably a racing camp!

Yeah, I'm told they make you do that so you know how NOT to panic when being sideswiped. Not sure I want to "pratice" it since I have zero interest in road racing. Not that I'm even fast enough to THINK about it.

But it make sense to be more stable in the drops. Lower center of gravity.

 

[LilaBear]

I'm getting interested in cycling since everyone around here does it. I've been looking at getting a new road bikes and like everything else it's scary when you have so little knowledge. The prices especially seem to jump up very quickly.

What would you recommend for a "starter" or "entry level" model? And, are there good sites for deals or gently used bikes?

 

[abc]

Join a club! There's got to be a good local one where you are. Then ask for recommendation of a good local shop.

Go with someone who's knowledgable or ask for name of a good fitter. Like boots, fit is everything for road bike! Listen to the fitter's recommendation. Once you get a good fitting frame, you're pretty much all set.

Don't get too hang up with componentry. You simply get what you pay for. So whatever budget you have, you'll get the corresponding quality of groupo. Keep in mind lots of racers success in middle of road components, it's a good indication how much those things DON'T matter! (if the sales guy start rambling about this wheel vs that derailleur, you might as well walk away to another shop )

 

[LilaBear]

Thanks - especially on the advice to walk away. As a novice I get confused by sales pitch but don't have enough knowledge to challenge, and often stick around/spend more than I would have wanted - out of ignorance. How stupid is that!

I'll look out for a club that has a beginner's group. I haven't ridden a bike regularly since I was in my early twenties. I grew up riding racing bikes and tandems - I could only ride stoker, and most of the time I'd have my feet up on the crossbar reading a book, I'd only peddle when we came to uphills and my brother shouted at me to put my feet down!

 

[itri]

Lilabear, I've been very happy with Bicycle Village (although I haven't been to the Boulder location, I go to the Aurora shop). Their service has been great, and their exchange policy can't be beat...basically, if you're not happy with your bike, bring it back in and they'll find something that you ARE happy with.

Probably the most important part about shopping for a bike is to find the bike that fits you well. I had a hard time because most women's bikes are built for a short torso/long legs and I have the opposite. There were only one or two women's bikes that were even close to fitting me well, and I think I sat on just about all of them!

 

[Robyn]

Sarah, in your area I'd recommend University Bicycles on the west end of Pearl Streat or Bicycle Village. I know there are some smaller shops as well but those are both good local bike shops. Bicycle Village is a LOCAL chain and I do a group ride with them down here and they are fantastic to me. Actually they are having a ladies night next week at the Boulder one, can't remember if it's the 25th or 26th at that location. Big discount on a Trek bike that night only but don't feel like you have to buy Trek.

 

[Robyn]

Haha, itri and I were posting the same rec at the same time!

 

[abc]

All but one of my bikes are unisex bikes. And the only female specific bike I have is the one I want to replace, with its unisex brother!

I'm half way between male and female body type. Not too long legs but short'ish torso. So it's either make the unisex frame shorter in the top tube or make the female specific geometry longer in the toptube. I found since there're so many more choices in unisex bikes I'm better off starting there!

 

[LilaBear]

Thanks for the steers, I'll definitely head down to BV on the 26th for the event. And they have a riding club that might be very interesting for me to join.

I think I'm long in the body and short in the leg - we'll see how things pan out for me - am I women specific?? Wish I had the long legs they're talking about, today I will be looking at men and women's bodies in a new way - for proportions.

 

[itri]

Sounds like you're built more like me, in which case you may have a hard time with women's frames. My bike is a Specialized, and it fits me well, but you may want to try out some unisex or even men's bikes. A good salesperson (which you should be able to find there) will be able to help steer you toward a bike that should be a good fit. Good luck!