Training & Nutrition - starting out what is most important

I just purchased a road bike for the first time but have been into mountian biking for a few years

I'm realyl looking to improve my fitness level and become a better biker over all... my stamina in the past has really held me back

I lift weights 3 days a week currently and am pretty strong since I was into bodybuilding for several years

my question is what is most importnat when starting out rode biking.... should I worry about a specific cadence, speed or jsut concentrate on mileage at first

I own a Polar Heart rate monitor (f6) and will be installnig a cyclnig computer but it doesl; not have cadence (it was a gift and I might repalce it)

so what should I be concentrating on initially

I think the pedaling motion is the #1 thing to learn. So that's cadence: Try to ride the flat at 90-100 and climb at 75-85. At the same time, try to always pedal circles. No upper body motion.

And work on your bike position. Get comfortable. Flat back. Bent elbows. Elbows in. Knees right over the pedals or slightly in. Learn to get comfortable in all the hand positions: standard hood position, hoods with wrists on bar tops, hands on bar corners, hands on bar tops, hands in drops, hands on forward portion of drops. Switch hand positions often.

Never look at your speed. It's totally irrelevant.

At the same time, start building mileage. That will depend on the time you have available. Try to extend the time of your normal daily ride, a little bit at a time. But be careful of long daily rides. Try not to ride so much that you are always tired. Try to also go longer on your weekend ride(s). A good plan is to ride out until you feel quite tired, then ride back.

At first you will probably be leery of routes involving a lot of hills. Try to ignore that feeling and seek out routes with hills. That will improve your stamina more than anything.

You might want to consider getting a heart rate monitor. They really help. The less experience you have, the more they help.

I'd say the three most important things to learn road biking are pedaling, fueling, and clothing.

Have fun!

I'd add to that list, being comfortable riding with traffic.