Road Cycling - My first training ride(s) on my new 5200 (a bit long)

So I finnally took the plunge and got myself a Trek 5200 :D (I had been riding a Sirrus). I bought it from a small bike shop I stumbled onto with run by a pretty much retired Italian guy who runs his shop for fun. Part of the reason a bought from him (besides price) was he said he would take me out and teach me how to ride.

So I plan to go out with his "group" last Saturday at 8:00am, which ends up just being me and him. He asks if I can make it around the Palos Verdes pennisula I say sure, we start and he says I am going to here him say no a lot today and if we are going too fast just slow down.

We're going along, I'm trying to get comfortable, and he's barking at me from behind: You're weaving, wrong position, wrong gear, wrong pedal stroke, point to obstacles......

We're pedaling along and I am DYING. :cry: I ask to stop. NO!!!! :mad: Stop thinking about how miserable you are (I was). Nobody cares. You're wife isn't here. We did the major climb. On the first descent I finally cramped too much and stopped for a minute. I finished the ride in 1:20 something I probably did on my Sirrus in closer to 2:00 (with stops of course).

We finished and he asks me if I want to ride again on Sunday and for some unexplicable reason I say yes.

The next day there are 2 other guys with us so I trailed the three of them for most of the way till the same big climb. I'm just trying not to stop and he meets me halfway up GO GO GO....you were 7 minutes ahead but lost 3 minutes on the hill cuz he wasn't pushing me. In the end I was 5 minute ahead of the previous day.

My "coach" then said I was doing great and had "guts" to power through and finish in 1:15. It was quite an experience.

He wants me to ride to San Diego with his group in two weeks. Not sure if I'm up to it but he assures me I am.

All in all it was pretty cool. Quite a challenge but very cool.

:beer:

Sweet! I love those rides that make the heart go thump thump thump.

Tell us about the bike! Did you like the bike? Cool story though but tell us about the bike! :)

Tell us about the bike! Did you like the bike? Cool story though but tell us about the bike! :)

I like the bike so far. I agonized long and hard over size fit etc and elected to trust my "coach" and his fitting.

It's a 2004 5200 built up with ultegra open pros.

I'm still getting used to the position from my hybrid so it still is not the most comfortable ride for me yet.

So far so good. The wierdest thing for me that I struggle keeping the bike going in a straight line. I didn't anticipate that.

I too have a 2002 5200 (which i love), but what I do not have is a steady riding partner to keep me at it, so I tend not to ride as much as I would like.

Hey this guy is doing his best to modivate and educate you. He no doubt has a lot to teach. Learn all you can and you will be a much better rider. If once you've learned "enough" bail if you get tired of the drill sargent act. Just don't forget he is doing you a favor by pushing you.

I have a 5200, this being my first road bike since my 1973 Raleigh Grand Prix. Take my word for it, you will LOVE this bike.
Thats a great story about how you bought it. Sounds to me as if you should stick with this guy.
Why did you switch out the Race Lites for the Open Pro's?

These old Italian guys are pretty cool. We have one in our little group that we ride in the Pasadena area. He used to race in Italy back in the early 50's... I can never keep up with him.....and I'm at least 25 yrs his junior. This guy is still at the top in his age group at time trials.
Anyway, that climb up Hawthorne is a nice ride going up from the ocean. Have fun with your new partner...

George

Good stuff. You'll get used to the twitchy front end and be up opening energy bars and putting on arm warmers with no problem before long, all with no hands on the bars. Just a difference in the way a roadie bike's set up versus a hybrid. Good to have a riding partner, but not necessary. Part of the mental challenge for me is living in the middle of nowhere and riding so much by myself. Good for the brain. You don't get faster, but you don't slow down.