Roadies

Just give it a bit longer, it’s super shitty out at the mo even I can feel the differences.
Give each change plenty of time as well.
When I ride at the back with newcomers I always tell them to relax which sounds patronising it’s not meant to be, I mean don’t fight the bike.
Thing is waht can we say over the net without seeing you and the bike, an experienced rider might just put you straight at a glance.

without getting a massive twitch on.

😯

Made me laugh anyway!!

Seriously though, it is like most things, the more you do it the easier it gets.

My second bike (aged about 10) was a Ti Raleigh replica drop bar ‘racing bike’ so it is second nature, not sure how I would feel if starting out now (you can over think things when you get older).

Get out on some quiet roads, relax your grip and shoulders and let the bike find its way. Despite what some people say/think, grip is surprisingly good (push through the outside pedal when cornering can help).

When descending you may find it better to raise you self a few mm off of the saddle and take some of the bumps through your legs/arms (much like mtb’ing but not as extreme). Get on the drops and get low.

If you are at all uncomfortable/nervous then you are going too fast (for your current competence). Give it a few weeks and you will be going faster for the same terrain.

Get it on some rollers/turbo and practice moving from hoods/tops to drops (alot).

Enjoy it!

I think the main thing is. Poor weather/road conditions combined with being nervous meant I had a death grip. Riding the mtb or motorbike I’m relaxed and any slides are corrected easy enough.
Need to wait for drier roads and get some practice in. Then get a bike fit and enjoy summer on both the road and off road.

My mileage was 100 miles last year due to injuries. I want to smash the 1000 mile barrier this year.

The main reason I’m uncomfortable on a road bike is that wearing lycra makes me feel like I’m half naked and putting tubes and bits in my jersey pockets makes me feel like I’ve not got enough stuff to get me back if I have multiple punctures or mechanical failures

You don’t have to follow convention you know. I’m going to wear my hip pack on mine. **** it if a total stranger chooses to sneer at me as he passes on his road bike dressed in advertising kit for a team he doesn’t work for or have any affiliation with.

How much stuff do you think you need jools? I carry my phone and a pump in my jersey pocket then a couple of tubes, a multitool and a quick link in a saddle bag plus an emergency tenner. I’m pretty sure you are never going to be somewhere so remote that help isn’t a phone call away if it goes really tits up.

A phone call to who?

A taxi most likely!

I have a small bottle cage mount pump to get me home, I have a micro saddle bag (with a tube and some tyre levers in). In my jersey I carry a small puncture kit (and another tube if doing a really long ride), a phone, a multitool and some food.

Stow some of the stuff on your bike if you can. These are small (just enough for some tyre levers and a tube). They were selling them off for under a fiver a while ago:

Link

You don’t have to follow convention you know. I’m going to wear my hip pack on mine. **** it if a total stranger chooses to sneer at me as he passes on his road bike dressed in advertising kit for a team he doesn’t work for or have any affiliation with.

You Go Girl!

A phone call to who?

A mate, your mum, who knows?

Mate, mum etc are all on standby of course in a Thunderbirds lair waiting. Fast response..

feel like I’ve not got enough stuff to get me back if I have multiple punctures or mechanical failures

how much space do patches take up? and check beforehand that your bike is in good repair will stop 99% of failures before they start.

Mate, mum etc are all on standby of course in a Thunderbirds lair waiting. Fast response..

See if a mate of mine phoned and needed my help I’d do what mates do, I’d stop what I was doing and go help him.

Me too. But what if I’m out on a ride, taken son out, gone away etc. After all at weekends we don’t sit laying about the house so you can’t assume.

Run tubeless so road kit consists of Phone, card/cash, Lezyne SV5, Leatherman Squirt, a CO2 cylinder and a few munchies what else do you need?

Surely you would take the piss a bit first?

Then I’d phone someone else. Is it really that difficult to comprehend?

putting tubes and bits in my jersey pockets makes me feel like I’ve not got enough stuff

Get a saddlebag then. Saves a lot of pre-ride faff IME.

Just don’t forget to switch it to your other road bike and then get a puncture two miles into your ride – meaning that you have to walk all the way back to your house in cleats.

😳

The main reason I’m uncomfortable on a road bike is that wearing lycra makes me feel like I’m half naked and putting tubes and bits in my jersey pockets makes me feel like I’ve not got enough stuff to get me back if I have multiple punctures or mechanical failures

Sell it!
Road biking is clearly not for you… you’ll not only benefit from some extra money in your pocket but it should free up more time to whine about non-issues online too. 😉

Mister P – Member
Then I’d phone someone else. Is it really that difficult to comprehend?

This relies upon having a number of friends. Perhaps you now see the issue?

chakaping
Just don’t forget to switch it to your other road bike and then get a puncture two miles into your ride – meaning that you have to walk all the way back to your house in cleats.

Ah yes, the 4 1/2 mile trudge home in the rain in cleats after a tyre tear and puncture.

Not tried the Open Corsas but I use the veloflex Master open tubs in 23 front, 25 rear and they’re lovely. Yes the tread on the rear will begin to ghost at around 5/600 miles but the important bit on the sides is still there.

scottroutes grow up. – Better to bank favours and simply stick a £20 note in your pack and call a taxi.

It wont be much shy off that in petrol costs to a friend, partner or relative will it.

Leave the stranded favours to those who aren’t prepared/the feckless mates who dont go prepared. I always think its better to be the one that goes to help/offers to help than one who needs picking up on a 30mile round drive simply because their bicycle stopped working for them.

See the bigger picture?

I’ve no doubt got enough tools and patches to get me out of most situations

It’s purely psychological

The main reason I’m uncomfortable on a road bike is that wearing lycra makes me feel like I’m half naked and putting tubes and bits in my jersey pockets makes me feel like I’ve not got enough stuff to get me back if I have multiple punctures or mechanical failures

Small saddle bag has tube, tyre lever, multitool, glueless patches and tyre boot.
Jersey pocket has pump and one more tube.

Struggling to think of what else you need other than phone, credit card and a couple of £10 notes for the café stop (although I tend to use contactless if possible, saves carrying change around later). It’s all about the weight savings. 😉

You don’t have to wear Lycra either – Some roadies I see out really shouldn’t. Some running leggings will do just fine. You can get padded ‘knickers’ to go under them to save your perenium.