In all the time I've been on BF, I've seen very little written about what I call the Confidence Factor. It preoccupied me tonight during a short "training" ride on the Diego.
Granted, the Diego doesn't quite fit me yet, until I get those handlebars raised. But I wanted to get some practice in shifting with the new bar-end shifters, and getting used to those brakes, both in terms of where they are and how hard they need to be squeezed.
I realized tonight how much I just instinctively know about my Cypress, after 1,600 miles on it. Things are just where they are, and I don't have to think about them. With the new bike, it's not just a matter of making sure it fits, but of getting my confidence level up there where it is with the Cypress.
Somehow, I feel so much more vulnerable on the road bike. I think that's because when it's time to start braking, for instance, I have to take a moment to THINK about it -- okay, where's the brake? Time to shift my hand position. A lot to think about before simply braking. I don't have to think about it on the Cypress. And, on the Trek, I sometimes instinctively reach for brakes where they would have been on the Cypress. Guess what? They ain't there!
Of course shifting is also different, going from grip shifters to bar-ends. But, I must say I really like these bar-ends. They are in a different spot, but very convenient none-the-less. I like that my shoulders and back do not move AT ALL when I reach down for the shifter knob. My arm just goes straight, the bar-end is right there, and I make the shift -- all without having to look, and barely having to think. So I'm pretty confident already with shifting.
Speaking of which, most of you know I am not much of a hill climber. But I learned tonight that this bike really zips up the little hills I DO ride. I was in the smaller ring up front (it's a double) but not in the granniest gear, and the bike went up these short little hills like they were flats.
Anyway, I think I'm about a 5 on a scale of 1-10 in terms of feeling confident on the bike, and I'm a 10 on the Cypress. That translates into taking fewer chances, going slower right now, and doing far too much THINKING while I'm riding.
I wonder how long it will take before I'm as confident on the road bike as I am on the hybrid?
Big Paulie
03-12-07, 08:26 PM
About a week, maybe two at the most...eventually, you'll feel foriegn on the Cypress.
Jet Travis
03-12-07, 08:35 PM
What BP said. Once you get it dialed in, you're gonna love it. Within a few weeks, the Cypress will feel like an old station wagon compared with a sports car.
John E
03-12-07, 09:06 PM
Keep at it, DG; you already appreciate the barcons, and you'll soon feel the same about the brakes.
roccobike
03-12-07, 09:22 PM
I read your comment about zipping up those hills, DG. Ya gotta love those light, aluminum road bikes! I have a Cannondale SR500 and love it.
CrossChain
03-12-07, 09:36 PM
All of the above...pretty soon your hands will caress the hoods and brake levers and find a dozen minutely different yet refreshing hand positions. You'll brake intuitively, shift intuitively, steer by leaning the bike so much more delicately....and feel graceful as you flow up the road, swerve around debris, etc.
Don't think about your progress, just have a ball and let it happen and happen it will.
Tom Bombadil
03-12-07, 09:39 PM
I know of what you mean. I am currently riding a rotation of three very different bikes. And I have less than 50 miles on each of them.
A Trek 820 mountain bike with 26x1.90 slicks, thumbshifters, and a nearly flat bar that is too low for me.
A Trek 7600 hybrid with 700x35 tires, grip shifter, and a new riser bar.
A Sun EZ-Rider recumbent with grip shifters, disc brakes, and 20x1.50 tires.
I was out riding the 820 over lunch. This is a very smooth riding bike, with the suspension fork and cushy tires. One gently bounces over bumps. The handlebar is too low, even though the 820 is sold as having a comfortable riding position with high stem. The bar is about 1.5" above the seat. I'm going to have to work on raising it at least another inch. I think I'm going to have some fun riding it around Madison's MUPs and bike lanes.
Dialing in three bikes is going to take some time. I must say that after riding the bent, going up on the 7600 & 700c wheels feels like I am riding up in air.
Digital Gee
03-12-07, 09:41 PM
I trust you guys know what you're talking about, because, to be honest, when I think of going for a ride of more than five miles, I automatically think of the Cypress. I doubt I'll even try that until after the handlebars are raised on the Trek. But you guys know what you're talking about, so I'll see what happens. I want the Trek to work!
BluesDawg
03-12-07, 09:53 PM
Confidence is a big part of any type of bicycle riding (or pretty much anything else for that matter). Keep riding that road bike and soon you'll feel more at home on it than you could ever have imagined. Your bike has very classic geometry which has been proven in millions of miles of riding and racing. All the angles and positions have evolved to the point that everything works very predictably. Once your mind and body learn how it all works together, you'll be amazed at how you'll start to feel like you and the bike are a single entity.
I've had to spend a lot of time lately getting myself in tune with my new MTB so I can feel confident to take it on the hairy XC racing courses at the speeds I'll have to hit them over the next few months of racing. I'm not quite to the "we are one" state yet, but I'm starting to trust how it will respond in some tricky technical sections and fast descents on rocky, rooty, twisty trails between trees that seem too close to get between. I'll need lots of confidence at my first race next Sunday.
dauphin
03-12-07, 10:01 PM
My poor Sirrus is relegated to Yosemite duty two or three times per year....I knew her as well as you know your Cypress. After eight months and 1100 miles on the Bianchi I no longer have to think and do things just as instinctually...I do think the roadie took a little longer than the hybrid though.
CrossChain
03-12-07, 10:02 PM
Pretty common feeling really. Early season every year I put in miles on an older sport touring bike. It exudes comfort, loves a straight line, doesn't care if the roads are wet. Then I get into things and switch to a twitchier racing bike that loves to turn, makes me a little more stretched out, takes some attention on downhills. It takes some miles to transition-- I don't even want to ride no hands for a few days.
Pretty common to feel it takes some getting used to. For Diego, just looking down and seeing that incredibly skinny (23's right?) tire you're now balancing on. You'll adapt. I remember my first date after several years of marriage. First hour or so I was thinking what the h*ll am I doing here. A few hours later, I was having a fine time.
Louis
03-12-07, 10:22 PM
That translates into taking fewer chances, going slower right now, and doing far too much THINKING while I'm riding.
A very wise man you are sir.
You're about to see a whole new world of cycling open up.
Big Paulie
03-13-07, 12:24 AM
Get the new stem/bars at least as high as the seat...maybe even 2-3 cm above the seat to start.
centexwoody
03-13-07, 07:48 AM
What BP said. Once you get it dialed in, you're gonna love it. Within a few weeks, the Cypress will feel like an old station wagon compared with a sports car.
Yesterday I had to ride my steel MTB with knobbies cuz the Surly is getting its new rear wheel laced. Haven't ridden what was once my every day bike since Thanksgiving. Pumped up the tires, adjusted the seat and set out to catch up with the wife. Did one of our standard rides and the brakes, shifting, everything seemed really 'easy' and convenient. The fat tires let me not worry about the gravel on the side of the road, roll over potholes & patches easily.
But the ride, oh the ride is NOTHING like the smooth rollin' of that Long Haul Trucker straight on down the road. And the speed and the ease of the barend shifters and the multiple hand positions. One ride on my 'ex' was enough & I'm really looking forward to straddling my current favorite again...:D
Retro Grouch
03-13-07, 08:07 AM
I'm already starting to feel sorry for your Cypress. By the end of the month it's going to get shuttled into some dark, dank, out-of-the-way dungeon never to see the light of day again. Meanwhile DG will be gadding about, checking out the girls in the sun on his new trophy Diego. That's a pretty sad ending for the Cypress considering how dutyfully it has served you.
Big Paulie
03-13-07, 10:01 AM
Bike path co-eds much prefer roadies, 3 to 1.
Just sayin....
Digital Gee
03-13-07, 10:29 AM
I'm already starting to feel sorry for your Cypress. By the end of the month it's going to get shuttled into some dark, dank, out-of-the-way dungeon never to see the light of day again. Meanwhile DG will be gadding about, checking out the girls in the sun on his new trophy Diego. That's a pretty sad ending for the Cypress considering how dutyfully it has served you.
Does this mean I should stop thinking about whether to move the saddle on the Cypress over to the Trek?
Retro Grouch
03-13-07, 10:45 AM
Does this mean I should stop thinking about whether to move the saddle on the Cypress over to the Trek?
Like recycling an engagement ring.
robtown
03-13-07, 12:39 PM
I'm with you DG. I just built up a Fuji World touring frame as a road bike - with duraace barcons. It also has Avid cantalever brakes in back. Between my bikes I have STI, downtube, grip, thumb and barcon shifters - always an learning experience when I switch rides.
stapfam
03-13-07, 12:53 PM
My biggest confidence lack is whenever I get a new bike- Perhaps that why I have old bikes. It takes a while to dial everything in for comfort/ridability and once that is done- you can start to feel the bike. This will come- so get the stem height right and then get out and ride. Just feel thankfull its not a Tandem with a new co-rider. Took me and Stuart 3 months and about 500 miles before we had confidence in that thing. Mind you- it still throws us to the ground when we abuse it a bit too much.
On the saddle from the cypress- try it on the new bike but different riding position and it may not quite be right.
jppe
03-13-07, 02:32 PM
Brifters make the whole experience even more mindless.......you don't even have to think about moving your hands. Add to that a touch of a full carbon frame that climbs hills like a gazelle. You need to go ahead and go all the way to fully enjoy the full experience.
CrossChain
03-13-07, 02:51 PM
But, jppe, can't we just settle for 95% of the experience? I shift in all three fashions on 3 bikes. Every time I'm out on one bike or another, I realize how one just adapts and enjoys-- each has their virtues. That extra margin of Ms. Lightweight is undoubtedly appreciated on a 75 mile, "hill-aceous day", or when you're so toasted the need to slide your hand down the hit the shifter is an effort.......but most days for most of us aren't like that.
Besides, ;) , it's taken months to get DG on his skinny tire racer....just keeping him there for now may come before the need to move on to carbon. I don't discount the idea that 2 years from now he might be a skinsuited OCP on a 14 pound wonderbike with electronic shifting.
crtreedude
03-13-07, 02:58 PM
If I stopped riding my bike for even two weeks - it just doesn't feel the same when I get back on. Usually it feels like part of me. I just slow down until I feel good again.
Retro Grouch
03-13-07, 03:01 PM
it's taken months to get DG on his skinny tire racer....just keeping him there for now may come before the need to move on to carbon. I don't discount the idea that 2 years from now he might be a skinsuited OCP on a 14 pound wonderbike with electronic shifting.
Now don't discourage jppe.
I'm chomping at the bit to start harassing DG about owning a plastic bike. How Californian!
CrossChain
03-13-07, 03:32 PM
A California graffiti-haiku dedicated to DG:
Steel rusts in the rain,
Alu is dead, fred.
It's carbon, or yur skrewed, dude.
Yen
03-21-07, 11:14 AM
Now you guys are scaring me! If we buy a comfort bike (best for our bad shoulders and wrists) will we have as much fun as on a road bike? Should we look at a road bike instead and fit it with a riser and comfort bars/seat?
Something else to ask about at the LBS this weekend...
stapfam
03-21-07, 01:27 PM
Now you guys are scaring me! If we buy a comfort bike (best for our bad shoulders and wrists) will we have as much fun as on a road bike? Should we look at a road bike instead and fit it with a riser and comfort bars/seat?
Something else to ask about at the LBS this weekend...
If you want comfort- then get a bike that fits. On the road bikes- you can get a road bike with straight (Or riser) bars. I am thinking of the Specialised Sirrus as being the main example. A road bike that works- but with straight bars. Other manufacturers have Similar bikes but most of them could come under the Hybrid banner.
Now as to the FUN side of things- What sort of FUN?
spry
03-21-07, 02:44 PM
That ostrich seat was custom fitted to go with the overall natural balance of that specific road bike.Remove it and you upset the overall karma of your ride and safety.
Last time someone tried to bilk the system pilot whales started beaching themselves and all he did was change the chainring on a Trek.Besides,I feel some sort of sick attachment to that seat.