I have to post because I went on my first ride on a modern road bike, and my first on my new "nice" bike and all I can say is omfgomfgomfgomfgOMFG!

I love brifters, I love shifting, I love it when my bike fits, I love to go fast. Well, fast for me. OMFG!

BTW, here's a good way to HTFU - ride 4 miles on level ground with a slight headwind and think, dang, I'm way more out of shape than I thought, trainer miles must not count for anything. Work harder. Wonder what the big ring could possibly be for since you're in like 39-18 or something.

Then notice there's no headwind anymore. It's still really hard. Turn off tunes to listen to the bike to see if it's about to implode. While coasting and listening for a second, notice that you are slowing down really fast.

Because both of your brakes are dragging, the rear enough that it's pretty hard to spin yr wheel by hand. Adjust, adjust. Hmm, ok.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh. That's better. Oh, that's what the big ring is for, for go faaaaaast. Mmmm. I CAN DO ANYTHING.

Interesting observation - stopped twice for small tweaks, and every single roadie that passed me by, perhaps 6 or 8, made eye contact and asked if everything is ok (as I always do) (and thanks!). In my memory I can't remember a single time this has happened when I was riding my other (fixed gear, of a popular fg marque) road bike and was stopped with something mechanical.

40F, sunny, tiny headwind. My avg speed on my 25 miles: approx. 1 zillion mph, at least compared to my other bikes.

OMFG!