Jtf6

Like I literally learned to ride yesterday after a three hour session taking an REI class. Well, I think it took me two hours to learn since the first 30 minutes was talking, and we probably rested for 30 minutes.

In any case after never being on a bike before, to doing four rounds around a dmv parking lot, I am pretty ecstatic. By the way, I'm 36 year old male.

This is the problem. I purchased a bike a month ago. A purchased a road bike. I have yet to take it out. I was going to take it out this morning to practice, but it felt awkward compared to the hybrid bike that we used in my class yesterday.

What do you suggest I do, to become a good cyclist? Should I go out and practice with my road bike, or should I wait until Tuesday and borrow my friends mountain bike to practice?

koolerb

There's no substitute for time in the saddle. Just go ride it. Someplace out of the way without much traffic or pedestrians would be best to start.

jhazel

Any bike you aren't used to will feel awkward. A little riding should fix that. On the other hand, a bike that you bought before you learned to ride may not fit you well. You might want to get an experienced friend or a bike shop to check the fit on your road bike.

TallTravel

Great advice from the prior posters. Relax, it is going to take time to adjust to any bike. I have precisely the same issue, and I rode 240 miles this week on my road bike. This afternoon I took the mountain bike or for an easy 10 mile ride. Guess what?

It felt WEIRD! A bike on which I've ridden 2,000 miles in the past 12 months, felt WEIRD!

Just ride.

fietsbob

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BlazingPedals

Go out and ride it. Of course it will feel different, but it's still a bike.

linnefaulk

Even after riding for months, my road bike felt awkward until I rode it for awhile. Go ride.

CompleteStreets

I second the recommendation to have a close friend or reputable bike shop tell you if the road bike fits you properly (and get more than one opinion). The last thing you want is to start riding it regularly and later find out that the frame is too small or that the seat and/or handlebars weren't positioned correctly. I know more than one "bike enthusiast" who has had serious medical problems, including back problems, because their bike didn't fit correctly. Correct bike fit is more important on road bikes than on hybrid bikes or upright utility bikes because the hunched over position can cause strain on the back, shoulders and wrists.

If you'll only be riding a couple miles at a time, getting the fit perfect is not necessary. If you'll be doing rides of 10, 20, 50 miles at a time, proper fit becomes crucial.