Yeah, the whole goal of shortening the stem (and keeping the old one) was getting me comfortable so I would want to put some time in on the bike. Then as I got used to the bike and got stronger in my back/core area, switching back to the old stem. Then eventually, "deflipping" the old stem to put me back where I should be.

I'm nervous about using the drops much because they make me feel "wobbly," and that's not the way I wanna feel with traffic around me. That's why I need more time on the bike and especially some time riding with groups - I could really use some help from experienced riders to say "why are you doing this?" and "why aren't you doing this?"

And I never expected the road bike or the Trek to put me fully upright. There's a slight lean that's a relatively comfortable position (I'm pretty close on the bar tops the way my bike is now). Any further lean is killer on my back after about an hour of riding. That's why I'm trying to strengthen everything while I'm waiting for the sun to shine a little bit more.

I just think time's gonna heal all wounds, and I've got a really nice road bike that someday I'll be really happy I bought.