I can't ride a bike

Do you feel relaxed when in your riding position? Sounds like you're tensed up in the shoulders and your body is not flowing with the bike. Next time you go out, concentrate on relaxing your shoulders, keep your arms bent slightly and let the shoulders drop naturally.

The only reason I mention this relaxing thing, is because last year, I had a proper back and shoulder massage. Later that day, I went out on my MTB in the local woods and was riding it much more smoothly and faster, as I was chucking about in the corners. It felt natural and fluid. All because the tension had gone out of my shoulders, which I didn't even realise was there.

I'd say you ned more time on the road bike rather than on a completely different type of bike. Get out on your own, in quiet locations (maybe a carpark after closing) and learn the bike. Build confidence by going around and around the same course. You'll get there soon enough.

Good points above regarding relaxing on the bike too. try to keep your arms and legs lose and keep your eyes on where you are going, not on the road directly infront of the wheel.

Trust the bike. These are amazing machines. Look at how someone like Cancellara handles a road bike in the mountains. His kit isn't a million miles away from whatever you are riding, he just rides it with experience and confidence and it looks after him.

Please do avoid group riding for now though. If only more beginners were more aware of their shortcomings like you are, we might have less crashes in the lower cat races.

Good luck

i would just play more on bikes.. it sounds like alot of this is psychological, theres no way you'll feel safe if you're not comfortable or confident. I have surfed alot and done allsorts of other things. I reckon paddling into a big wave isn't that much different (psychologically speaking) to rolling into a fast corner. you set things up on the entry and have faith that its going to work, then stay loose and ride through it... if you see it failing before you're even there then the chances are somthings going to go wrong..... i.e "your beliefs about your ability will impact you ability" so I'd say relax, practise and play, the more you find the limits of your road bike the more evidence you'll given you self that you're able to do it...

as someone above said; find a carpark and hoon around it leaning into corners and get a feel for traction, try different positions, see what happens on the drops vs hoods, see what happens when you move you weight forward/backward, just repeat things and develop a more acute feel for things.... i know we've all riden bikes for ages but its not often we go out with the intention of mindfully focussing on minute bits of our riding, we're usually focused on keeping with the group, or hammering up hills...

its repitition that makes you expert, theres really no substitute for repeating things... the more you do one thing the more you notice the nuances and detail that allow you to do it better.

I'm disappointed that the inevitable "take up triathlon lol" joke was forestalled.

Herbsman wrote:

I can do no handed backwards circles on a track bike with my eyes closed. That doesn't help with cornering confidently at speed

Sounds like a confidence issue rather than any innate lack of physical ability. Practice descending at high speed, get used to the feel of the bike as it approaches the limit of adhesion etc.

I discovered how fast you can actually corner in the very first bunch race I did in the middle of the pack. everyone else managed to get round so assumed I would and just went with it.