I am going to take the controversial opinion of saying get off the indoor trainer and ride it outdoors.

Butt time in saddle…..outdoors.

I did take it off the trainer. Outdoors. Hence the thread, about handling my bike outdoors that had formerly been on the trainer. ???

Anyway, thank you all for the perspective and advice. I'm slowly starting to get more comfortable, less tight and stressed. Long way to go though.

The reason Jim above asked for your fit numbers is to see if he could from those ascertain if you possibly have a fit-induced handling problem.

I was implying that despite you being outside on it now, you seem to have expected the bike handling to take care of itself. And that something else is the problem. Nothing else is the problem other than you need to stay outside on it to gain the handling skills necessary. It isn't an instant thing.

Kind of like somebody who buys a full suspension 29er. Just having the equipment to handle trails doesn't mean you'll be ripping it up after limited time doing it. Takes time.

It isn't like cyclocross where we can prescribe you specific drills to go do, like dismounts, remounts, uphill carries, jumping barriers, off camber cornering, weight on the inside hand and outside pedal, tripod it around a slick corner, etc......

A tri bike isn't like that. Once the fit is there, it's just the miles and hours. So, stay outdoors to accumulate the miles and hours.

Maybe the only similar advice as to the cyclocross drills would be to "ease" into it. Flat, simple, windless rides at first. Then add one "evil" at a time. Big downhills. Or corners in aero. Or a windy day. Don't throw all of them at yourself at once.

That's all we've got really.