Road Riding Awkwardness

thygreyhound · Postby **thygreyhound** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:46 am

After taking about seven weeks to get my second hand, steel frame road bike in a rideable condition, I can't help but feel very awkward while riding.

What was everyone's thoughts the first time they jumped on a road bike?

BarryTas · Postby **BarryTas** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:49 am

apprehension, nerves etc. Just find a quite flat road of bike track and do it.

remember to ride in an easier gear and spin rather than grind it on a hard gear

have fun

duds2u · Postby **duds2u** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:53 am

It took me a couple of hundred K before I was game to have a drink on the move.

Kenzo · Postby **Kenzo** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:44 am

When I hop on a bike which I know is or is close to the right size for me... and it feels awkward... then there is something with the fork, headset or stem which needs to change.

<2 cents>

maDKient · Postby **maDKient** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:10 pm

Just wait till you start to clip in!

thygreyhound · Postby **thygreyhound** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:58 pm

maDKient wrote:Just wait till you start to clip in!

One of the last things still needed with my bike build are some good pedals. Atm there crappy little plastic ones

I should also mention that I have down tube shifters which are also very awkward.

Practice seems to be the way to go.

Comedian · Postby **Comedian** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:16 pm

By the time my road bike came along
I was really very ready for it so it was no worries.

I did carry my pedals and shoes across which may have helped.

goneriding · Postby **goneriding** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:34 pm

Like everything else new it takes some people longer than others. It could also be bike setup.

Since getting back on the bike I've had a couple of periods 1 - 2 months where I've been off the bike (surgery and O/S holiday) and the first couple of rides back have been "weird". Then normal service resumes and the pain starts a little earlier than normal!

Re the pedals, I started with the toe "clips" (i.e. straps) and rode my, no longer, shiny road bike around for a few motnhs before going over to clipless. I'm not sure if this reduced the number of clip stacks or not but, for me, it was a case of slowly, slowly given my lack of co-ordination and extreme lack of fitness.

pauls51 · Postby **pauls51** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:06 pm

maDKient wrote:Just wait till you start to clip in!

So true... I was unclipping 200 metres from a set of lights until I was comfortable with the amount of pressure you needed to get them out.

maDKient · Postby **maDKient** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 5:29 pm

pauls51 wrote: So true... I was unclipping 200 metres from a set of lights until I was comfortable with the amount of pressure you needed to get them out.

Oh yeah I forgot, clipping in is a mission. Clipping out is even worse lol. And oh, wait until you get to the lights and need to clip out on a uphill!!

Analogous to manual car hill start hehe!

Patches · Postby **Patches** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:47 pm

I find looking at a point in the distance instead of down at the front wheel helps me stay stable and in a straight line.

Livetoride · Postby **Livetoride** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:12 am

pauls51 wrote:
maDKient wrote:Just wait till you start to clip in!

So true... I was unclipping 200 metres from a set of lights

+1, took me ages to get used to them, even though I had something on my MTB, thankfully I never fell off probably due to the unclipping so far in advance of needing too

Ken Ho · Postby **Ken Ho** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:20 pm

Everything about road bikes is completely horrible, and utterly wonderful at the same time.
They are hard, and twitchy and stiff and quick and responsive and uncomfortable and fast.

velocopedant · Postby **velocopedant** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:23 pm

Ken Ho wrote:Everything about road bikes is completely horrible, and utterly wonderful at the same time.
They are hard, and twitchy and stiff and quick and responsive and uncomfortable and fast.

This was my experience when I moved from a hybrid to a road bike, (especially the twitchiness). Now, when I ride my hybrid, it feels like I'm riding around on a mobile lounge chair.

ColinOldnCranky · Postby **ColinOldnCranky** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:23 pm

It is common (universal?) to drift in the direction of your head when checking over your shoulder for following traffic. And dangerous. Like all things practice makes perfect. And if you have dropped bars then try checking the blind spot with your head down and facing the road beneath you. It will reduce the drift problem and it requires less time of eyes taken off the road ahead.