Riding light and learning to love the new road bike

I am still breaking in and getting used to my new road bike, which is a fun and challenging process . The most noticeable difference so far seems to be the weight difference. My old trek hybrid 7100 weighed in at a hefty 31 pounds with, Terry seat, SPD clipless pedals and aero bars while the pilot weighs in at slightly less than 22 with the same equipment. Aside from a marked increase in my average speed, the weight difference is most noticeable when a big truck passes by. I can actually feel the bike drafting! It also seems much easier to ride into headwinds although whether that is the weight or the better gearing ratios I can't say for sure.

In honor of the new lightness I have started riding lighter as well. I have left the big bike bag on the old trek and am trying to apply the "if you can't carry it in a jersey pocket then you don't need it" philosophy. Of course this only works if you ride in fairly urban situations or are on supported rides but still I am lightening the load however possible. I've gotten an under seat gear bag just large enough to hold an inflation kit, tire levers and tire tube along with a patch kit. I ride with a camel bak for hydration into which I can also stick a cliff bar, my wallet, and a small portable first aid kit and I can carry two water bottles on the bike. Cell phone and keys in a jersey pocket and I'm good to go.

The biggest obstacle so far seems to be getting used to the entirely different "flight deck"/ handlebar set up. The Trek hybrid had straight handles with in handle shifting and the brakes directly below the handlebar. On the new bike I am riding with a more traditional race/road bike set up with the deep down curve underneath and with the brakes and gear shift on the forward part of the curve. The hybrid had the gear positions numbered on the handlebars and I got used to judging my progress by gear ratio number/distance. The pilot has shimano ultegra gears with double controls on each brake handle. It has been a challenge to learn which combination of brake lever, gear lever moves the gears up or down and it is not yet instinctive. Nor is finding the right ratio between front and back derailleur gearing for a particular riding terrain or speed. It will come in time, but in the meantime, there is this momentary, in or out, up or down, right or left, one lever or both quandary each time I shift through a gear. Add to that the fact that as I unclip to stop I also have a momentary fumbling panic as I remember that the brakes are on the hood and not at the end of the handle bar, and that they have to be squeezed straight in or I might end up shifting as well as stopping.

It is a delightful ride however, the all carbon frame smooths out the sharp jolts into thrums and slight vibrations, and the bontrager seat fits me very comfortably, and I am finding riding in the hoods and drops more and more comfortable as I go. All in all it will be a positive experience to relearn how to ride and how to set up my gears and cadences for longer distances and higher speeds.

The only solutionto the instinctive learning of riding, is miles and miles of miles and miles, experimenting with gear ratios, practicing stops and starts and playing with cadence and speed until it all becomes instinctive again, which is what I am doing. We have had a spate of good, albeit very hot and humid weather so it has been a good week for riding, however, I did end up racing the clouds and thunder home today, and it is looking very wet for the next couple of days as hurricane dean comes ashore so how much riding I will get in this weekend with my husband or next week remains to be seen. If all else fails, I can always go to the gym and do speed and hill intervals on a stationary bike, but it's not nearly as nice as being out on the road.