Well after a three year layoff from the sport I decided this winter to try again. I had been running the past three years and raced decently. In the past I was a fair cyclist with confidence on the bike and good handling skills. I participated in group rides and raced well.
All winter I have been riding indoors and recently bought a tri bike. Weather conditions (especially this year) in Northern Ontario make it difficult to get outside early. There is alot of sand and salt left on the roads and in spots ice. I left work early today to venture out for the first time in three years. I was pumped! I felt I was in decent shape and I visualized myself burning up the road in the aero position.
To my surprise it was any but that. I felt awkward on the bike. The wind was strong and I had trouble holding a good line. I was nervous going in and out of the aero bars and the trucks and gravel shoulder didn’t help. My fitness level was decent, I climbed some hills strongly and my average speed was acceptable but I could not get back to my truck soon enough. I feel like I’ve lost my nerve.
I have my first race of the season on May 16th and need to quickly get some confidence.
Does anyone have some advice on some good drills to polish up my handling skills? Is this common after a layoff?
I always feel the same way on the first ride of the year. Get a few rides under your belt and will start to come back to you. Remember that you’re also on a new bike and the road/weather conditions are far from ideal. No need to fret.
I think everyone is the same , the trucks and cars always seem bigger , louder , closer and faster than last year , the aerobars feel twitchy , but remember that they always feel this way every year and think back to when you first ever tried aero’s i dont think anyone felt comfortable and controlled first time out on them
Thank God I am not the only one. Just had aerobars put on this winter…riding them on a trainer (no rollers yet).
Then, I get to the road and feel like I have never ridden a bike. I am moving my shifters back to the original position. I’ll leave the aerobars there so i can get used to them…but don’t want to feel like i am not in control (especially with racing starting next weekend!).
Twenty five years ago my friends and I would compete to see who would be the first to ride our 10 speed CCM targas the entire 3 miles to school without ever touching the handle bars.
This afternoon as an accomplished multisport athlete on a $2000 18 speed aerodynamic wonder I felt as though somone should be running along side me holding the back of me seat for balance.
Your problem could also be attributed to your fit on the bike and aerobars. I initially set up my TT bike myself and thought that I really needed to work on my control skills on the aerobars. A week later, I got fitted by Bicycle Sports. The changes seemed somewhat minor, but the handling difference was night and day. I was instantly comfortable on the aerobars. I probably could have just lived with the original positioning and gotten used to it, but the fitting made an instant improvement that made me glad that I took the time to get fitted properly.
Cyclocross riding, training, racing during the fall winter is an excellent way to improve bike skills. If you can handle an off camber turn in the snow /mud a little sand and silt is easy. G