Bike switching advice.

omri

I was going to post this in "how was my cycle today" but perhaps a separate thread will be more suitable.

I had around 3 weeks or so of just using the cargo bike, with platform pedals and regular runners. So today finally I decided to go out for a spin on my road bike. And I cannot express enough how awful this spin was. It was so awful in fact I cut it short from an hour to 15 min maybe. I planned to do Sue Ryder Foundation 110km cycle at the end of the month but now I'm not even going to bother with it for my own safety.

The first week on the cargo bike was pretty weird too, but the road bike exceeds all that. It's very jerky in steering, I am simply unable to indicate as this causes a serious wobble. Having my feet attached to pedals makes it even worse. A simple transition from the hoods to middle of the bars was similar to indication. Looking over the shoulder another unpleasant wobble. I clip out 20m before red lights. I just really hate it. I know its now probably a matter of time and getting more hours in the saddle but I'm using cargo daily, I might try to go out when theres no traffic, early mornings. But for now I think I might either put platform pedals on the road bike or get spds for the cargo or stop using the road bike entirely.

I really can't afford to crash on the bike and its was as close as Ive ever been to date. Any advice how to make this transition less stressful and safer?

fat bloke

Sounds like there's something wrong with your bike. Road bikes should be sure and steady and confidence - inspiring. Get it checked out by a mechanic

omri

fat bloke wrote: »

Sounds like there's something wrong with your bike. Road bikes should be sure and steady and confidence - inspiring. Get it checked out by a mechanic

Bike is ok - the handling is much different after using the cargo.

Mr. Grieves

If you have 2 bikes which are very different, ride both regularly and swapping between the two will be second nature. It's going for ages without riding one which causes the issues. You managed to get comfortable on the cargo bike after a while, right, without attempting to make it more like your road bike? Same should apply in reverse.

omri

Mr. Grieves wrote: »

If you have 2 bikes which are very different, ride both regularly and swapping between the two will be second nature. It's going for ages without riding one which causes the issues. You managed to get comfortable on the cargo bike after a while, right, without attempting to make it more like your road bike? Same should apply in reverse.

I'm aware of this but I think having my feet tight to pedals makes it worst. Might switch to platforms until I get comfortable on both bikes.

rollingscone

FWIW my experience as an all round bicycle coward is that road bikes are largely controlled with your lower body and if your upper body tries to intervene too much things get very jerky and alarming.

I had an episode early on in my roadbike having days where a near crash set off my non cycling related flashbacks and stress reactions and I had to walk the bike down Cruagh Road in abject misery feeling like I'd have to give up cycling and sell the gear.

My recommendation based on that experience is threefold : read up on technique for stuff like descending and cornering even if you've done so before just because mentally checking off the stages keeps your rational brain in charge. Find a small safe circuit that you can cruise around on for 15 minutes at a time a few times a week to reacclimatise your body to roadbike controls and lastly set yourself some agreed limits about what type of descents or speeds you're willing to tackle and let yourself enjoy this comfort zone until you naturally grow out of it.

I may be a crap cyclist but thanks to all of the above I still am a cyclist.