Learning to ride again - any advice?
 

Hello everyone. Super new here. At 35, I've still never owned or ridden a road bike. I'm coming from BMX and mountain bikes. The only gears I've used in years were grip-shifted. I recently went all-in with drop handlebars and integrated shifters, baby tires (I kid), etc. Not jumping to clip-in pedals just yet. Still, I'm kind of frightened. I'm used to riding upright and putting my feet down from the seat. Now my stand-over is essentially my inseam. My anxieties are myriad, but I know if I'm going to commute 100 miles a week, I'm going to need a road bike. And so here I am.

Does anyone have any advice for transitioning to a road bike? A group ride seems like a great place to chat and learn but I wouldn't want to get involved in one of those for a long while. I plan to spend a lot of miles just playing with the shifters but that's about as far as my plans have gotten.

Thanks in advance for your input!

I had never been on a road bike in my life, and hadn't been on any bike for probably at least 15 years, until about five months ago. I was def scared of being clipped in, and used pedal adapters so I could ride with regular shoes at first, until I could get used to the shifting. But don't put it off for too long, the sooner you embrace it, the quicker you'll get used to it. You'll fall, I've done it a few times, forget to unclip coming to a stop and over you go, just part of learning. Then it'll become second nature and you'll unclip one foot as you start to slow and be ready to put a foot down if needed. Ride as much as you can in safe areas (if you have them), I spent a lot of time on MUPs before I headed out on the road. Now I prefer the road to the MUPs, less pedestrians to worry about.

First, you need to decide which side you are on---discs or rim brakes? Then choose a chain lube.

Than and only then can you start to expound on your views of big-box bikes versus bike-shop bikes.

If you last long enough you can weigh in on 11-12-13-speed, and Shimano's pricing policies.

Those things, my friend, are what cycling is all about. I know, because I learned it from a premier cycling website.

Forget clipless pedals. I commuted for a very long time on flat pedals and consider them to be a huge safety advancement in tough traffic. You can always switch, but the benefits are negligible under the best of circumstances (and the costs are considerable.) I generally ride clipless pedals, and I have decades on flats. I am just giving you my opinion. But pedals are the last thing you need to consider.

First off ... make sure the bike fits. if you have zero stand-over clearance, the frame might be too big.

Stand-over isn't Really an issue ... I don't even consider it when choosing a frame---but with today's frame shapes and even wit the old flat-top-tube designs, you should be able to straddle the top tube generally. Your bike might be a little too big. I cannot say for sure, but before you get too attached, post some pics or ask around.

Fit is Really important on a drop-bar bike. As you learn to ride more leaned over, you will find different muscles (core particularly) get worked more. On a flat-bar bike it is easier to "cheat" and sit on the saddle hard when the legs get tired, or to put more weight on the hands. On a drop-bar bike that will hurt more---butt, neck, shoulders, and hands will suffer. Getting all the contacts and control surfaces set up just right really matters---and that will all change as you gain strength and get more comfortable on the bike. Don't be afraid to stock up on $15-$20 stems, move the saddle up or down, and/or front or back, put spacers under the bars, adjust bar angles and brifter locations, or even to get different bars.

Otherwise ... set up the bike so the bar tops (the horizontal flat parts leading out to the drops) are where you'd have your bars on a bike you are comfortable riding. You will probably want to drop them later, but you can sit just as upright on a drop-bar bike---the difference is you don't Have to. (And I have some countless thousands of miles commuting on flat- and drop bars. I am not inventing crap here---though you or others are free to disagree.)

Otherwise it is just a bike. You know how to ride it. There is not a lot of fundamental difference---balance and control, turning and braking all follow the same laws of physics.

The Most important thing, IMO, is learning to be comfortable in traffic. As it says in Dune (paraphrasing,") "Fear is the mind-killer. it is the little death which brings the greater death." I strongly suggest finding some quiet suburban streets or even (if there are any) MUPs (bike and pedestrian paths) without much traffic and just ride. Any suburban neighborhood, especially if there are linked cul-de-sacs, make great practice sites. it really won't take long ... it is as easy as riding a bike.

Humans are designed to adapt. We can do a wide range of things well enough. And all you are talking about is riding a bike with a different set of handlebars. A little practice and you will be fine.

Another thought---I used to do 15-50 miles a day on a flat-bar bike. You do not Need drop bars. I prefer drop bars because I have more options for resting my hands, and it is easier to get under the wind--but flat bars with good bar ends are also good. if you find that drops are Not for you, and if you are doing ten-mile rides twice a day, you could ride a unicycle and be fine. Don't let stereotypes limit you.

Whatever. Before long you will be posting pics from your rides and gushing about how wonderful it is to be able to ride every day.

I would just ride it around for a couple weeks. Get used to shifting and get used to stopping. When you coast up to an intersection, stand up on the pedals, and put a foot on the ground. After you feel comfortable starting, stopping, shifting, and all that, you could look for a super mellow group ride. Or not. Plenty of people ride solo.

I got my first road bike at 59. Had been riding an old Mtn bike with trigger shifters. Did not take any time to transition to brifters didn't really even have to think about it. Did take a while to strengthen muscles to the point I could ride in the drops for longer periods but that just comes from riding. If you're mainly going to be commuting, I would agree about sticking to flat pedals. If you really want to go clipless, I'd start with that on rides where you're not likely to get run over if you fall over at a stop sign/light.

After you get the bike do some non commuting rides to get used to it. Once you feel comfortable start commuting. If you're in decent shape, it probably won't take long at all.

I was 35 last year when I bought my first road bike. If you have mountain bike and bmx experience, then you have a more solid cycling background than I do. You know you can start off in a more upright position on a drop bar bike by adjusting headset spacers and the stem, right? Other than that, relax and get some miles in. First month (Feb 2018) I did about 20-30 miles a week, the next month I started bike commuting more confidently and did 50. By April, 100+ miles a week was my norm.

GCN is your friend. My friend. Everybody's friend.


Balance exercises can improve confidence. I combine indoor leg stretching and mobility exercises with balancing, especially working on the glutes. I may begin with my fingertips resting on the back of a chair but gradually try to balance without support.

And I've worked a lot on neck flexibility. For the first few years I depended on mirrors -- handlebar, helmet or eyeglass mounted -- to see behind me because I literally could not turn my head without pain and dizziness. I still use a helmet mirror but don't absolutely depend on it as much.

Other videos they demonstrate slow speed maneuvering drills such as setting up plastic cups or other objects to weave around. I wouldn't try riding along a balance beam or log, but on my hybrid with wider tires I have practiced riding along a deserted sidewalk, veering across the gap between the sidewalk and grass at a bad angle (rather than the recommended perpendicular approach) to get a feel for how the bike and body react to that sudden sensation of being jolted off balance by a rut in the road. I've fallen on the grass a couple of times practicing these drills but no harm done and it helped keep me from overreacting in group rides when the folks ahead didn't call out road hazards.


Expect it to be an ongoing process, including body fitness and bike fit to the body.

When I resumed cycling in 2015 after a 30 year hiatus I started on an upright comfort hybrid. Took years to recover from a broken back and neck after a 2001 car wreck, so I started slow. A year later I switched to a hybrid with riser bar at saddle height. Still on platform pedals.

By summer 2017 I was ready to try a road bike again. Huge adjustment. My neck flexibility was still poor -- the old C2 injury caused blurred vision from the drops. I started with the stem/handlebar at saddle height, platform pedals and casual shoes, and worked gradually toward better conditioning.

By January 2018 I was ready to try clipless, and made lots of little adjustments as my conditioning improved: firmer saddle, lower handlebar, etc. Even now I still make adjustments as necessary to suit either improvements in flexibility and conditioning, or in some cases the other way 'round due to physical setbacks (neck surgery in November 2018).

Before any ride I do a few quick drills around the parking lot to check my balance, be sure the bike is responding as expected, etc. Although I do pre-ride inspections too there have been a couple of occasions when something I've done after a pre-ride inspection changed things. For example, check to be sure any lights for nighttime rides, video cameras/mounts, U-locks, etc. don't interfere with turning the handlebar, braking and shifting, pedaling, etc. I don't put much stuff on my road bike, but on a few occasions I've found accessories interfered with something else on the hybrid bike, usually with the exposed cantilever brake cables when the handlebar was turned. Best to find out in the driveway or parking lot rather than on the road at high speed.

Use the internet (Google maps, Strava, local bike forums) to find safe routes. Whenever I can I avoid cars - more and more bike paths are popping up that allow this - and if I must ride roads with cars I try to avoid busy commercial boulevards and heavy rush hour traffic routes.

Good advice. The route you would take by car is usually not the best route by bike. Depending on how your city plan is laid out, you might find a much quieter street parallel to the main car arterials, or a detour could put you on a bike path. I like the idea of using Google maps and using the bike toggle. And then from there, experiment and explore.

I'm fortunate to have a route that's through my neighborhood, then a trail until the last 3 miles, and those are largely residential streets. Google has been an awesome tool. I tried the route once but the trail was overrun by snow run-off and I wiped out into 8" of freezing water trying to ford it on my mountain bike/hybrid. I'm driving a few variations of the last few miles this afternoon to gauge it for next week.

I built my bike yesterday. Installed some 700x28 gatorskins and set the brakes up. Setting up the shifters and derailleurs this evening. I took it for a spin to test everything out. Once I reduce the travel on the shifters a good bit, I think I'll get the hnag of riding it pretty quickly. The geometry isn't nearly as different as I thought it would be. Feels like riding on the vertical ends of my mountain bike, only more natural. Good stuff.

Thanks again.

Protect your front wheel and hold your line.

traffic in Alexandria VA has to be nuts, but I guess you get paid better there..

I came from mountain biking and I bought my first serious road bike four years ago. In my opinion, your number one priority would be to learn to enjoy biking. Find a club or someone to ride with. Don't worry about speed or power or cadence. Just learn how great it is to be out on your bike enjoying the day.

You can go down the rabbit hole pretty deep and you'll be tempted to buy a lot of road bike things. Buy some good padded bike shorts. Don't wear underwear, use them commando style. Get a good cleat system and some good shoes. Learning to clip in and how to unclip is something all bikers go through. Buy a good saddle and level it out. Eventually, you should invest in a good bike fit. I know, it sucks to pay someone to turn some bolts on your bike to get you dialed in. It will be worth it.

If you don't enjoy biking, what's the point.

This thread is turning out well. post pics and ride reports as you have time, please.

The Strava heat map here https://www.strava.com/heatmap#12.38...80648/hot/ride is a great place to see where others in your area are riding. The "hotter" the street, the more riders are using that street in the rides they upload to Strava.

you should be done w snow runoff & seeing cherry blossoms soon, no?