first ride on the road bike:-(

[SEFTON]

I've just come back in from my first ever outing on a road bike.

I live on the west Pennines so there are quite a few hills. when decending the palms of my hands where aching really badly whilst trying to brake (I had to stop quite a few times to shake them off).

my hands where positioned on top of the bars.

I feel I have the bike set up correctly (with regards to saddle height & position)

I thought maybe the brakes could be adjusted so I don't have to reach with my fingers quite as much? or adjusted so I don't have to apply as much pressure?

the bike is a planet x sl with sram red.

the gears also kept jumping a little too (and after putting it in the lowest gear it changed back down its self)

[Mark G]

Were your hands on top of the bars all the time, even when braking? By 'on top of the bars' do you mean braking with your hands on the brake lever hoods? (If not I've no idea how you reach the brakes unless you have some of those old touring style brake lever extensions). Try inside the curve of the bars. For most riding I have my hands on the hoods but its hard to apply heavy braking force for long periods from here so I'll swap them about to the drops on a long descent - better control at speed and easier to apply brakes. Also mitts with gel pads take some of the strain out of it but its probably also down to you simply not being used to the riding position yet.
Sounds like your gears may just be slightly out of adjustment, specifically your rear - if you are already an MTB rider the adjustment principles are the same and you probably already know them. If not, briefly, with you bike on a stand (or the rear held off the ground) use the pedals to spin the gears in top and adjust/increase the tension on the cable with the barrel adjuster until it starts to 'click' against the next cog, almost but not quite changing gear. Then adjust it back until the noise goes away, that should just about do it.

[PaulE]

Good advice above. Also, if your hands are sore it may be worth rotating the bars towards you a touch and/or raising them a little. I'd try the rotating first, only 5 or 10 degrees, as it's easiest. I always used to have the hoods quite level, new bike arrived with them up a bit and it was loads more comfy.

[SEFTON]

cheers guys, yep hands on top of the hoods (ouch)!

I think I'll try rotating the bars slightly and maybe adjusting the reach on the brakes.

If I need to raise the bars will I need some spacers?

very scary ride (coming from mtbing). I felt quite unstable (especially when moving hand positions) & descending.

I was amazed with acceleration/speed & smoothness of the drive train. got a great work out too.

need to get used to being clipped in to!

[daz h]

Sefton you may have to get used to just riding the road bike. It takes time for your body to adjust. When your riding are your arms locked straight or do you have a slight bend in them. Sit on your bike and see. If your arms are locked straight then you will put to much pressure on your hands.
And a daft question I know but how much higher is your seat then your handlebars.

You will need spacers to lift the bars up . But is your stem angled down ?. Roadbike stems can be turned round so they are angled up. This can help.
Your brake levers may need lifting slightly higher back up the bars as well.

Good luck

[SEFTON]

nope there is a small bend in my elbows when my hands are resting on the hoods. not sure how much higher the seat is. I think the stem has a 10 degrees rise (not sure if its pointing up or down)?

will check.

[SEFTON]

But is your stem angled down ?. Roadbike stems can be turned round so they are angled up. This can help.
Your brake levers may need lifting slightly higher back up the bars as well.

Good luck[/QUOTE]

yep the stem is angled down, so I'll try it the other way.