tahoe_girl

Hi everyone,

I have been riding a Trek fitness/hubrid bike for the past 2 years now. In addition to commuting 100 miles per week to/frm work, I have done the ride around Lake Tahoe (72+ miles) and many charity rides ranging from 30 to 60 miles - all on my hybrid. This past Saturday I thought I would take my riding to the next level and try a road bike. I bought a Trek Lexa series, but I have to say, I am scared s*&%less being on this road bike. I am not used to being in the drop down position for an entire ride and then going down hills - forget about it! I'm not digging the positioning of the brakes on the drop bar. I've put on about 37 miles so far, but I'm still very inimidated on the road bike. I am attempting my first century ride this year in September, and I have to say - if the century was tomorrow, I would do it on my hybrid. I've only had my roadie for a week, but i'm already looking at ditching it for the Trek 7.6 fx WSD.

My question is this: is the transition between hybrid and road going to take a bit of getting used to? I am confident to no end at the hybrid, but the road bike is a whole differant story.

Thanks so much for listening to my rant. Any advice or words of wisdom would be awesome.

SlimRider

Is the positioning problem more related to the placement of your brakes, or the bent over position of your body?

...You could always place your hands on the hoods of your drop handlebar and ride 90% of the time that way...

a1penguin

Hey tahoe_girl. It can take some time to get used to the riding position on a road bike. I spent a lot of time riding with my hands on the top of the bars. I got used to riding on the hoods pretty quickly. They are very convenient because you can shift and brake without moving your hands. It took me several hundred miles of riding before I felt comfortable in the drops. Part of is was that I didn't feel stable and the other was probably due to not being used to craning my neck. I don't like going fast down hill and unless I am on roads I know well, I ride on the hoods rather than in the drops on hills where I am going 30 mph. I recommend not giving up too soon.

catonec 

+1

experiment with saddle fore/aft/angle/height positioning as well as different length/angle stems if possible. your lbs will probably have a few stems they will let you try out and maybe even trade out for free.

a1penguin

tahoe_girl posted the same question in the Road forum. It's considered poor etiquette posting same question to multiple forums. She got the same answer in the 41 and was more comfortable with the road bike on a longer 20+ mile ride. Another road bike convert in the making!

GaryPitts

I'd be scared, too, if I was trying to ride in the drops all the time You should be riding the hoods (right on top of the brake levers) around 80% of the time. Switch to the crossbar and drops as needed or to switch things up. It'll come with a little time.

I made the transition a couple of months ago and felt quite a bit more uncomfortable on the drop bar bike than I did on my hybrid. I put a lot of time on the road bike and now it's reversed, I don't feel as comfortable on the hybrid.