It just didn't feel right.

Jonny Fortnight

Hi guys, another noob here with random questions.

I went down to my LBS and Halfords yesterday and had a go on my first ever road bike. I was quite excited about it beforehand, as I've been anticipating the thrill of being on a proper, nice, modern bike... but I'm afraid to say that it left me a little confused. It felt completely wrong. I'm currently riding a very old mountain bike with slicker tyres and thoroughly enjoying riding (but not the bike) and thought I would feel instantly at home on a road bike.
I've been doing a bit of research online and reading lots of posts on this forum about which bikes are good for beginners and getting fitted correctly for a bike, etc, and spoke to the guy at the LBS about sizing and he said I'd probably right for a 56.

The bike I tested was a Boardman Team in Medium/55.5

My questions to you guys are:

How long would I need to ride a road bike for before it felt more normal?

Will it be due to the change in tyre width and size that I felt completely off balance or could it jst be my lack of confidence on a new style of bike?

Again, is it the change in tyre width and size and the change in handbar style that made the bike feel so sensitive to any movement I made?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

roger_merriman

road bikes are while still bikes fairly differnet in feel to a MTB, they on the whole have a faster stearing with more head down postion. it does feel odd at first, it's more the frame rather than the handle bars tires. it's a slow speeds it's most noticable, one out on the road the bike feels right. but unlike a MTB it's not for picking it's way past rocks...

mattbarnes

Jonny

From one relative noobee to road cycling to another, don't worry about it.

I came from 20 years of riding MTB's and bought a road bike to supplement my fitness. The first time I went out it was an embarassing mess. I was all over the road, felt rattled to death due to the lack of suspension, there weren't enough gears to help me up the hills and found I couldn't get my hands comfortable on the bars.
We MTB'ers who have made the crossover have had it too good for too long. The luxury of having a bike that'll clatter over everything and forgive you of any little mistakes is not part of road cycling. Once you've been out on the road a couple of times and become accustomed to the finesse needed to have a good day in the saddle, you'll find that your riding skills, be that bike handling, fitness and thinking process, will improve greatly. Ridiculous though it sounds, getting a road bike has been one of the best things I did to improve my MTB'ing!

Jonny Fortnight

Finesse? Do they sell that online?

Matt, I'm actually a noob to all cycling. I bought my current bike from a neighbour about 14 years ago and it's pretty much lived in my parents shed until a few weeks ago.

I'm glad to hear that after a few rides it will feel more natural though.

Anonymous

Funny, I find my MTBing helps my road biking too!

Can't beat a bit of cross training

When I first got a road bike, I hadn't ridden a bike in about 15 years and then it was an old mountain bike (that I still use today).

I was somewhat shocked. I was all over the place, unfit, couldn't clip in/out.

Now I ride as gracefully as a swan and am much fitter.

(Except for my crash recently due to a bike handling skills related brain fart, resulting in a massive loss of fitness...)

mattbarnes

Unfortunately, especially where I live where the conditions of the road are suitably ignored by the local authorities, you have to be switched on and concentrate on your riding. The more you get out and ride, the more you find you're looking at the road ahead, anticipating any obstacles, altering your riding accordingly. thus making your riding smoother. I got my road bike about six weeks ago and have already lost over 1/2 stone, overcome looking like a new-born girraffe trying to take those first few steps and I'm concentrating on a programme to improve my fitness.
I believe it makes no difference whether you come into road cycling from another discipline or are new to cycling generally, just take the plunge. We've all been there - that 'Bambi on the ice' moment. Just find a nice quiet stretch of road where no other cyclists will see you ( ), get the embarassing first ride out of the way and start looking forward to getting the miles in and the fitness levels up.

Cheshire_Cat

Hi,

I made the switch from MTB to fixed road bike 4 years ago. Utter disaster and provided me with the most unnerving bike rides of my life. Ditched the “fixie” & then got a vintage Italian road bike off Ebay for around £150. Again, still very twitchy at first (especially using downtube shifters!) but once I’d made a slight modification to the handlebar angle (i.e. made it more comfortable to ride on the brake hoods), I quickly got used to the change of riding style.

As my road bike is primarily used for commuting, I use double-sided MTB spds which help with my comfort & confidence levels. I run 700 x 25 tyres which I am happier with than the 700 x 22 tyres I initially experimented with.

kingrollo

It will feel different - I ride both. That said don't hand over to much cash on a bike that doesn't feel right. Maybe get a very basic 2nd user road bike - to get a feel for the position (ohhh errrr Missus !)

Jonny Fortnight

get the embarassing first ride out of the way

I've already had the embarassing first SPD outing and fell over within 5 minutes, so hopefully my ego will be able to stand up to another bashing.

Jonny Fortnight

That said don't hand over to much cash on a bike that doesn't feel right.

I'm hoping to test ride a couple of other bikes this weekend at my LBS. See how long they'll let me test ride it for. I'm hoping to try out a 54 and 56, just to see the difference.

I was only trying out the Boardman Team for size and not as a whole bike. I doubt I'll be spending £800 on a bike until I feel comfortable.

on the road

Don't forget that a road bike is a lot lighter then an MTB, which makes it a lot more sensitive when you put any extra power in to the pedals.

top_bhoy

I find it strange on the rare occassion I manage to get out on a mountain bike - the handling seems so wrong and the bike not responsive!! Horses for courses - give it itme and you'll adjust.

Jonny Fortnight

give it itme and you'll adjust.

That's what I was hoping for. Only time will tell.


How much time would you guys recommend I spend on a test ride?
If I'm not completely comfortable (at the moment) on a road bike, how will I know if it fits properly?

badhand

I'm currently looking for my first road bike, (stumpjumper looking sad and unloved). First one I tried was a Spesh Roubaix. I was on the drops of the bars the whole time batting along like a nutter. Needles to say my back really hurt and I hated it.

Since then I have tried a few other bikes, and it's amazing feeling the difference. You should try as many as you can, not just the Boardman, and use that time to hone your skills By the time you actually get your new bike you'll be an old pro.

Stumpy Ade

I think it's the aggeressive riding position that feels unstable. On a MB you are usually trying to get your weight over the back wheel whereas when you are on the drops it feels like your weight is over the front wheel with your nose about 6 inches from it, very un nerving.

I agree with the other comments about feeling every bump or ripple on the road at speed, I'm just waiting to be thrown off by hitting a pea sized pot hole.

My first clipless crash was inside 30 seconds, I pulled up alongside my MB er neighbour, 3 doors away, couldn't unclip and keeled over :oops:

That said I love the instant acceleration you get with a raod bike. I've been using a road bike for about 8 months, I still don't feel 100% confident but I'm getting there.

guilliano

Jonny. The Boardman is quite a racy feeling bike and not everyone is suited to that riding position. As Badhand said, try a few. There are other road bikes such as the Trek 1 series, Spesh Roubaix, Giant Defy etc that are a more relaxed position and are also worth a try. My only advice as a firt time road bike buyer would be DO NOT buy online no matter how good the bike's review is. Get it fitted and set up by a bike shop..... you won't regret it

Jonny Fortnight

The Boardman is quite a racy feeling bike and not everyone is suited to that riding position.

I think that might be me.

I'm going to pop along to Paul's Cycles in the morning and hopefully try out a few of their bikes. They (seem to) have some old stock but nicely spec'd bikes with huge savings. I'm not sure what the ride position is like but there's only one way to find out.

bompington

My name is Andy, and I am a roadie.
I'm sure you've heard many stories like mine. I started out as a pure MTBer, got curious & cycled to work (20 miles) one day, once I stopped hurting I did it again, started doing it regularly... every addict is different but all have similar stories to tell.
After a while I decided my bike (basic Edinburgh Bike MTB) needed a bit of modding, so I fitted spds, semi-slicks, & a longer stem (upside down to lower it). Average speed went up by about 3mph instantly.

But then a friend offered me his old (but hardly used) Raleigh road bike. Now I'm onto the hard stuff, but it certainly took some getting used to, all the problems mentioned by posters here are familiar to me; but it's worth it!

Why? Apart from the few minutes each way it saves me, I think it's just that the road bike simply feels faster. It's the "need for speed" mentality in another of its many guises.
To anyone like Johnny F thinking of taking the plunge, I say go for it - try out every bike you can & find the one you like, I can certainly recommend the cheap second hand option.
You will get used to it. It is rewarding - I just broke my PB coming home by 2 minutes the other day, I was chuffed out of all proportion to any real world significance such a feat might have.
But it's also the sensation when you're chugging uphill & you realise "Today I'm actually not suffering!" Or the wind just swings into the right direction and, maybe just for a few seconds, there's almost no sound. Or even when you realise "I can wear lycra in public without embarrassment!"

badhand

Oh Bompington, that was all sounding really good until right at the end you revealed the true reason of your road bike, erm, shall we say, fetish!

keekiben

I went into Pauls a few weeks back (live just outside Dereham) and they only had 5 or 6 road bikes in from what i could see. They have mountains of bikes though so maybe they had some more tucked away.

I too am looking to get a road bike. just trying to find one and then spend the cash on it, first child due in 6 weeks so plenty of "more important" things to spend the cash on at the moment though.

Ben

Jonny Fortnight

Ben, I don't suppose you can remember what road bikes they had in at the time?

Maybe I'll just give them a ring and find out what they've got in stock.

keekiben

Sorry matey, can't recall. I just wandered up and had a quick look as i was at the very start of looking around at the idea. Probably bets to give them a call and see what they have. They may well have a load not out that they hold somewhere.

I'm sure they will soon let you know what they have with a quick phone call.

Managing to get out of buying a bike at the mo, brothers away so have stolen his!!

mask of sanity

I wouldn't get to caught up on the frame size. My LBS told me when i bought my first road bike a few weeks ago that there are two or three frame sizes that will be suitable for any given height and its just a case of adjusting the position of various components of the bike to get the most efficient riding position. So one of the most important things when getting a bike is to get it fitted and not just go for the frame size that seems most appropiate.

They feel so different to MTB's but after a few rides you should get used to it and start to love it! Im off back to uni tomorrow and have to leave my road bike at home so will be back using my MTB and am really not looking forward to it!! lol.

HonestAl

I'm sure this is a very obvious point that you've thought your way through, and I almost apologise for making it, but are you pretty confident the size is right for you? I've got an old spesh Allez Sport that felt OK when I got it, but compared to a few other bikes post getting "fitted" for one and the difference is pretty significant. Points everyone s making about the MTB versus road feel are totally right (it's years since I've ridden a MTB) but even the wrong size roadie will feel unstable to you.

See, told you it was an obvious point.

Starwasp

According to sizing guides, a 56 is the 'right' size for a c5'10 - 5'11'' chap, so I assume you are not 4 foot nothing!

22 cm tyres can definitely make a bike feel twitchy, and if you are migrating from a mtb or hybrid, I can recommend from my own experience that a rising stem will help, as you get into a slightly more raised position. As I have got used to the road bike position, and spent more time on the drops, I have also swapped the stems to a lower angle, and continue to be comfortable.

Keep it up: the sensation of speed and power transmission is fantastic.

Jonny Fortnight

As far as the frame size goes, I used a fitting calculator that was recommended on one of the other threads.

Here are my results:

Measurements

---

Inseam: 91.3
Trunk: 66
Forearm: 35
Arm: 68
Thigh: 64
Lower Leg: 58.5
Sternal Notch: 151
Total Body Height: 188


The Competitive Fit (cm)

---

Seat tube range c-c: 59.1 - 59.6
Seat tube range c-t: 61.0 - 61.5
Top tube length: 55.3 - 55.7
Stem Length: 11.6 - 12.2
BB-Saddle Position: 81.7 - 83.7
Saddle-Handlebar: 55.2 - 55.8
Saddle Setback: 7.3 - 7.7


The Eddy Fit (cm)

---

Seat tube range c-c: 60.3 - 60.8
Seat tube range c-t: 62.2 - 62.7
Top tube length: 55.3 - 55.7
Stem Length: 10.5 - 11.1
BB-Saddle Position: 80.9 - 82.9
Saddle-Handlebar: 56.0 - 56.6
Saddle Setback: 8.5 - 8.9


The French Fit (cm)

---

Seat tube range c-c: 62.0 - 62.5
Seat tube range c-t: 63.9 - 64.4
Top tube length: 56.5 - 56.9
Stem Length: 10.7 - 11.3
BB-Saddle Position: 79.2 - 81.2
Saddle-Handlebar: 57.7 - 58.3
Saddle Setback: 8.0 - 8.4
[/url]

guilliano

An easier way is to try bikes and see what you are comfortable on. I am 6'1 and fit either a 56cm, 58cm or 60cm Trek bike (although the 60cm felt way too big). But I ride a 55cm Giant. Different brands and even models from the same brand come up different sizes so never go by a size chart.

superruss01

With the frame size being 55.5cm it might be a compact frame, and that size is then more equivalent to a traditional 58cm frame, much like Giants bikes whihc use a compact geometry.
Could be wrong but that could solve the sizing problem pretty fast.

guilliano

Well done Superruss.... I do ride a Giant.... a Defy to be exact which is a compact frame.

Jonny Fortnight

I did test ride a Giant yesterday, which felt a lot nicer to ride than the Boardman.
It was a 55 and I'm thinking I need to go back and test out the smaller size just to be sure, as it was a little long but felt perfect for handlebar height.

Easyriding

I bought a road bike a couple of months ago, having ridden a hybrid for some time. On my first outing on the road bike it just felt weird and I wondered if I'd made a mistake - it just felt so light and twitchy after the hybrid. Having stuck at it I love the road bike and wonder why I didn't get one sooner, I don't know if I've got fitter but going uphill seems easier and I've tackled hills that scared the pants off me on the hybrid.

I'd say go for it, take the time to choose a bike that feels good and get all the free advice you can.

Talking of embarrasing moments, I had the 'falling over while clipped in' moment at the end of my drive when I stopped to talk to neighbours and forgot I was clipped in! :oops: