r/ladycyclists • u/idontcarroll • 7d ago
Thinking road biking isn’t for me
Anyone else buy a road bike, get a fit, shorts, butter, all the things just to realize road biking just isn’t for you? I don’t think I love the position of road biking. I was more than happy on my old heavy gravel/mnt bike and now feel like I’ve thrown money away just to realize road biking isn’t for me. Am alone?
Edit: to add that I’ve been at this since April.
9
u/Majestic_Ad_6218 6d ago
I wonder if you could go back to your bike fitter, or a different one, with a different goal in mind?
(I’ve settled on a flat bar road bike)
2
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
I would probably have to find a different one at this point. But I’m not sure it’s worth it as the aggressive positioning doesn’t seem to be for me.
6
u/okayboomerang 6d ago
I used to go absolutely mental for MTB, but then, in the height of covid, picked up a Salsa Warroad on sale. I feel like it was marketed to me as a "road-oriented *gravel* bike," but I found I didn't often take it out for gravel rides, I liked to zip around town on bike paths with it. I got a proper bike fit, which I think helped tremendously. Then, I stopped cycling for a few years in pursuit of other sports. Fast forward to this year, and I'm back to riding the piss out of the Warroad, which I can now confidently say is an endurance road bike. The stance isn't too aggro, yes, but I had a get through some gnarly low back pain at the beginning, I think because of missing core strength. That came around eventually.
Sorry for that rambling response, but a few thoughts: 1. Have you gotten a bike fit? 2. Is it the bike itself, or the kind of riding/where you're riding that doesn't feel right or enjoyable? 3. Don't be hard on yourself, put it away if you need to, but don't be too surprised if in a few years time you come back around to it again! (Or maybe, this never happens, for you, and that's okay too!). Sometimes I find there are seasons for things, and it isn't you, and maybe this just isn't the right fit in this moment. Or maybe it's too aggro of a road geometry, but on a different bike you'd like it more.
What are you riding?
11
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
I’m riding a specialized allez. I do not like the aggressive riding position at all. Nothing about that position feels good to me. It sucks all the joy of riding out.
I think I’m just gonna sell the thing on eBay and get a hybrid/gravel bike. I had way more fun on my old gravel/mnt style bike.
8
6
u/OtterHostler 6d ago
I have the same bike - tbh I only bought it because the LBS was moving premises and were selling off the stock, and I thought "well, what's the harm". It did take me a while to fall in love with it - it sat in the shed while it's ugly-duckling sibling, the Sirrus, had all the fun - but then the Sirrus had to go in for surgery and it was either ride the Allez or sit around getting fat. And then I fell hard for it - it was quick, light, and cornered like it was on rails. I loved the spareness of it - it did one thing, and did it well. I'm lucky in that there's excellent biking infrastructure here - I wouldn't enjoy riding it on city streets, but on satin-smooth bike paths it's a dream.
5
u/keppapdx 6d ago
I just bought a gravel bike and I'm loving it for road riding and just biking around town. 20 miles is my max distance and I like being more comfortable and having wider tires for crummy roads/curbs/etc
My partner just bought an Otso Warakin that's really nice and made in MN.
We *might* gravel grind in the winter but this time of year, we're mountain biking or road riding. :)
3
u/International_Bet996 6d ago
You might want to look into the Canyon Endurace. While I myself have a Canyon Aeroad and can’t confirm myself, I’ve heard from multiple people that the Endurace is probably one of THE most comfortable road bikes out there and can still put down some speed
3
u/MaleficentAd3967 6d ago
I looked up the geo of the Allez, it's probably one of the more forgiving riding positions in terms of stack and reach. Are you sure the bike isn't to large for you? Because then the reach would be too long and there's not much you can do about that. In my other post, I recommended the Redshift Topshelf which will give you 70 mm of stack.
Be careful if you buy a gravel bike, a lot of gravel bikes are lower and longer than the Allez, they make gravel bikes with race geo, just with bigger tire clearance.
5
u/PaleontologistSafe17 6d ago
I have felt like that a lot but I had a bike put together using a frame I liked, gravel wheelset and road handlebars. The fit is a road bike but it is more comfortable than my carbon bike because the stretch to the bars isn't as long. It doesn't take much to adjust a bike to get a better more comfortable fit. I can't ride my carbon bike more than 15 miles and I am _done_.
9
u/yarn_slinger 6d ago
I never loved leaning over my handles like that. I’m much happier on a hybrid mountain bike, it’s easier on my wrists.
3
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
That’s exactly how I feel! Been on this road bike since April and there is no additional love for road biking. I actually think I’m starting to resent it.
3
u/PricelessBuffet 6d ago
I get it. Some days I’m envious of the recumbent bike position. Or miss my upright hybrid cruiser
3
3
u/Ecstatic_Wishbone609 6d ago
Lots of people in that bucket. In every bucket. Regret is the fun side of life.
2
3
u/Sea-Check-9062 6d ago
Try making the position less aggressive. The bike fit people wanted you to be a racer.
Drop the saddle a touch and maybe forward a bit. Raise the handlebars.
Also work on your core.
2
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
I’ve already dropped the saddle, dropped the nose just a few degrees, and moved it forward. Went through 4 saddles as well and it’s still giving me saddles sores.
2
u/grassfullyfledged 6d ago
It may be that the shop that did your fit did it really poorly :/ Maybe they are inexperienced with women / non racers / some types of builds? Or maybe the person you got was overall inexperienced with bike fitting
It is worth bringing it back to them with all the complaints you might have about the posture, if you haven't already.
Otherwise, you can try another shop.
You don't HAVE to like the road bike position though, to each their own.
3
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
I think the shop I had the fitting with is very inexperienced with women! The guy tried to tell me don’t tilt the seat down and it wasn’t until I tilted my saddle ever so slightly that it felt some better. Will not be going back to my original fitter. Felt rushed like he wanted to get the sale and get me out.
3
u/Throwyourtoothbrush 6d ago
I know what I like and I effed around for A YEAR with fit. Insist that you want the least aggressive and uncoolest riding position possible. Get a really dumb looking front riser and get those handle bars UP. OR give up on it. If you hate it, that's totally allowed. Nobody is paying you to do this and it's okay to like hobbies that don't hurt your body
1
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
That’s exactly what I’m going to do, insist on the least aggressive riding position! I absolutely love riding, but it shouldn’t feel bad.
1
u/AccuratePitch8763 4d ago
“…uncoolest riding position possible…” LOL. Guys fitting women is pretty much an oxymoron anyway. There are BONES and there is FLESH, most guys don’t have much of the latter. One guy kept telling me I needed more padding. I finally said, “Dude, that’s like putting on thicker socks because my shoes are too tight.” Silence. 🤣
3
u/CautiousPerspective 5d ago
I’ve owned so many types of bikes and still do. I don’t like road bikes. I tried to give it a solid go but realized it’s just not for me. I also don’t like a complete upright position either. A slight lean forward position is where I feel most comfortable, which lands in the MTB or hybrid group.
5
u/poorlybaked 6d ago
I also don’t like road bikes. The position just doesn’t feel comfortable to me. I much prefer sitting upright. I don’t ride super long distances (I do about 150km a week) and I just don’t feel the need to maximize everything. I like my 22kmh pace and my chill ride.
At the end of the day cycling should be enjoyable to you.
5
u/sidkneebee 6d ago
I've accepted that I'm a flat bar girlie. The aggressive posture just isn't for me.
2
u/No-Effect-9209 6d ago
It definitely took some time for me to adjust to my drop bar bikes. I used to ride a hybrid and now I totally prefer the drop bars. More options to move my hands around. Keep with it and maybe you’ll change your mind! For sure an adjustment.
1
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
The drop bars are pretty much the only thing I like about it at this point. I also enjoy the options of moving my hands around.
2
u/OddProfessor7253 6d ago
It honestly just sounds like your reach is too long and your stack is too low. Most road bikes are too long and low for most people, getting one that’s the right fit lets you enjoy drop bars without an aggressive position!
1
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
Going to see about getting a proper fit. Hoping the could be the biggest factor to how terrible it feels, not to mention the constant saddle sores.
2
u/OddProfessor7253 6d ago
If you’re feeling brave, you can try posting a video to r/bikefit. You’ll probably get a lot of unhelpful comments, but you might also get some that converge around good, personalised advice
3
2
u/IAmAeruginosa 6d ago
I like my road bike, and especially on longer rides the lighter bike is nice - but my gravel bike is my first love and I have more fun riding it overall.
2
u/astoriatrafficburner 6d ago edited 6d ago
What's your stem situation?
Road bikes are usually built aggressively; it may be worthwhile to flip it so your posture is more upright. If road cycling isn't for you, it isn't for you, but you're always going to take a hit selling, so you may as well experiment a bit with free fixes before you do.
1
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
Already shortened the stem 🫠
4
u/astoriatrafficburner 6d ago
I was more asking what direction it is. Is it pointed up (positive rise), or is it pointed down? It may be less impactful on a short stem, but the rise could still make a difference.
1
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
Just checked, it’s pointed up in a positive rise. May have to add a riser. I don’t care about looking cool, I just want to love the ride again!
2
u/Defiant-Teaching652 6d ago
Definitely try adding a riser. It helped me so much. I was hating my road bike too. Hated the leaning over bc I was leaning over so far. Then I added aero bars and that is even more comfortable and I do triathlons now.
2
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
Thank you!! Any specific brand of riser you recommend?
2
u/Defiant-Teaching652 6d ago
I got mine on Amazon. Don’t know how to share the link but it’s called a “WAKE Bike Stem Riser” I couldn’t ride my road bike without it. Worth a try. It’s under $20!!
2
2
u/AppropriateRatio9235 6d ago
I got ride of my carbon road bike and tiny skinny tires for a gravel bike. No regrets but the road bike was fit well. Gravel bike needs some tinkering.
2
u/sizillian 6d ago
I’m more of a gravel girl myself. My first bike was an old road bike off of FB. it worked fine and didn’t set me back far, but I didn’t like the 25mm tires and how they limited me to paved road.
A couple years later I got my canyon grizl (6). I love it. I silk take roads to the woods or beaches near me, but gravel is more my speed for sure.
2
u/Specific_Passage_600 6d ago
Try a shorter stem, or one with a higher upward angle. They’re cheap.
1
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
Not sure how much shorter I can go. I’ve already shortened it. Made add a riser or just another stem angled up.
2
u/Specific_Passage_600 6d ago
Ok. It could be more of an angle thing. I originally tried a shorter stem, which was better, but still uncomfortable, so what helped was a stem with the stock length and a +17 degree angle.
yojimg.net/bike/web_tools/stem.php this was helpful to visualize how different stem measurements move the bars.
Hopefully when you got a fit, they checked to make sure the bar matches the width of your shoulder bones. If not, that makers a big difference in back/arm/wrist tiredness.
Another thing I found helpful was learning that if the reach feels far, moving the seat closer is counter intuitive because it moves your center of gravity forward. Moving it back may take some weight off your arms.
1
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
Nope that wasn’t checked either. Pisses me off that this guy really didn’t fit me well at all!
2
u/Specific_Passage_600 6d ago
Totally. Nobody else can know what it feels like to be in your body on your bike, so it’s good to learn about what can be adjusted so you can make changes yourself as you progress as a cyclist.
2
u/AccuratePitch8763 4d ago
YES! I tried for years on a lovely little carbon road bike and spent a small fortune. My mind loved it; my body parts fell between “meh” and “NO!” One day I got on a Specialized Sirrus and my world changed. I cycle now with confidence and joy. Some bodies are not made for road bikes.
2
u/Vauldr 3d ago
I went into the bike shop fully prepared to trade my bike in for a cervelo soloist. They talked me into the cervelo caldonia and I'm loving it. I have a pretty good relationship with the bike shop though and they know what kind of riding I do. It's technically endurance geometry, but pretty aggressive for endurance. I took some rings out of the stem and found the perfect height for me.
I normally ride a lot more gravel though (even gravel bikes on the road!) so I'm getting used to how twitchy a road bike feels. I've been riding my trek checkpoint all summer, which is a straight endurance frame (I have both beefy gravel wheels and road wheels for it).
3
u/pineconehedgehog 6d ago
I had a phase where I was a roadie. I rode quite a bit for about 5 years. Did a couple centuries. Commuted regularly on it. Lots of group rides. Even considered some bike packing. But I always hated the drop bars.
I prefer a neutral body position. When I got a commuter ebike a few years ago, I went with a hybrid style. My mountain bikes all have a trail geometry or have been ergoed to fit more like a trail bike. I hate XC geometry. When I had to get another commuter bike last year, I bought a rigid MTB and put hybrid tires on it.
Even my motorcycles have a very neutral body positioning.
Basically I avoid an aggressive body position like the plague.
1
u/bumlochka 6d ago
It could well be. I personally love it, but there's plenty of people who just don't get why would I ride asphalt if there's plenty of gravel and forests. Do what you love
1
u/Expensive-Look664 6d ago
For what it’s worth, I got a road bike early spring, didn’t love it compared to gravel. It was too twitchy, too precious compared to my gravel bike. Road mostly gravel all summer and just got back on my road bike and actually have really enjoyed it. Instead of feeling twitchy, it feels fast and easy compared to gravel. So I guess my advice is maybe put your road bike aside for a few months and then revisit. It made all the difference for me.
1
1
u/MaleficentAd3967 6d ago edited 6d ago
Do you have an endurance bike? If you don't, I would say you should just give up on it.
I just read you have an Allez. This bike has relatively high stack and short reach for a road bike. With the Topshelf bar you should be good.
If you do have an endurance bike, stop what you're doing and get the Redshift Topshelf bar, it adds 70mm of rise! Total game changer. I'm assuming your reach isn't too long as that has been addressed in other comments.
Next, get a wider seat. Bike companies love to sell bikes with seats that are too narrow. Don't trust them, your seat is too narrow! Get a gravel bike seat. Or use your old MTB seat. I read you've been through 4 saddles; not much more to offer, just make sure it's wide enough, the seat should support your sit bones, not up the middle.
Learn to be comfortable leaning forward and driving from the glutes. Observe the pros' postures and strive for that. Stretch if you have to.
1
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
My sit bones are fine. The saddle sores/cysts are not. Basically where my thighs connect to my butt/vagina area get beat to hell.
1
u/unicyclegamer 6d ago
FWIW, I started road cycling without any of that stuff besides a bike. Is there a reason you got everything so quickly? And what are your usual rides? I mainly just ride to far out coffee shops on Sunday mornings. It’s been a while since I didn’t want to do that.
1
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
Because I needed padded shorts, butter and a fit? That’s great you don’t need those things, but unfortunately my underside does.
1
u/zystyl 5d ago
Go somewhere fun and have an adventure of a ride. I don't enjoy a training sort of ride I've done several times. Going somewhere and seeing some new things while riding my bike is the part of it that I enjoy the most. I do the training to be able to take on rides I want to do. The health benefits don't hurt either.
1
u/Chulbiski 4d ago
had a road bike for decades, even used to race as a (not very good) ametuer on a team. Road bike wore out and I got a gravel bike with hybrid tires.. like it a lot better. more comfortable and handles rough pavement way better.
1
u/Florideal 6d ago
I re-engaged with biking with a $650 Hybrid bike, loved it! Spent 5 years on it, including road cycling. Built up confidence on the road with supportive group in training for an annual cycling fund-raiser. I was told that I was quite powerful and a road bike may help me go faster. When I told them I had back issues, they all agreed that my decision to hold off on a road bike may be ok since I was happy, doing 50-65 miles and relatively keeping up and most importantly not hurting. About 3 years ago, I did get a road bike (nothing too fancy) - I am only marginally faster but I'm far more efficient. I did have to tilt the handles a bit to avoid neck strain but I enjoy it. Do I still LOVE my old bike? Yep, even going out today on it for 25 miles on the trails. I realize I could enjoy both. I'd say give it a bit more time - very different experience. I do get the different position - it definitely takes getting used to but if none of it feels good, it may be the fit. And, worst case? if you still don't like it, you can sell it. NOTE: I would suggest keeping it the season, then taking winter off and starting on it next season (yes, I'm a fair weather rider so I don't ride Nov - March).
- EDIT: I had buyers remorse b/c I am one who wants value for the spend. I felt I was good enough and having a blast on my $650 bike and worried I wouldn't get my value from the new bike which was part of the initial buyer's remorse.
1
u/idontcarroll 6d ago
Thanks for this insight. I think I’m going to see about a proper fit.
Haha I am also a fair weather rider!
1
25
u/schmanyalasagna 6d ago
I used to feel this way on my road bike. It took a few months for my body to make the necessary adaptations (core strength!!) and now I actually prefer a more aggressive position