I usually only get out of the saddle when climbing, and when I do so I am almost always on the hoods.
A couple of weeks ago I was on a long downhill with a couple of short but steep rises in it. I was goin' in the low 30's, trying to stay pretty aero; when I hit the rises I wanted to maintain my momentum, so I got out of the saddle and pushed hard till I got over... It was pretty unsteady feeling, getting out of the saddle while holding the bar on the drops, the front wheel felt like it was all over the place. Is this normal? Will I get used to it? Or, is this an indicator of a likely fit problem (or something else wrong)?
I usually only get out of the saddle when climbing, and when I do so I am almost always on the hoods.
A couple of weeks ago I was on a long downhill with a couple of short but steep rises in it. I was goin' in the low 30's, trying to stay pretty aero; when I hit the rises I wanted to maintain my momentum, so I got out of the saddle and pushed hard till I got over... It was pretty unsteady feeling, getting out of the saddle while holding the bar on the drops, the front wheel felt like it was all over the place. Is this normal? Will I get used to it? Or, is this an indicator of a likely fit problem (or something else wrong)?
Any help is appreciated...
Sounds like forearm strength to me. I felt the same way at first, but got better as my strength improved. Not so wobbly. If that's not it, then maybe you are transitioning from the bar or hoods badly? Could be jerking your wheel around a bit without you really noticing why. I really had an issue with that until I figured out how to make the movement smoother.
These days I never get out of the saddle in the drop position. I ride flat with my palms on the hoods and climb with my hands in the same position. If I was coming out of a descent I'd automatically shift back to the hoods once my gear had kicked back in. I would feel uncomfortable and awkward standing while my hands are in the drops.
tamman2000 said:
I usually only get out of the saddle when climbing, and when I do so I am almost always on the hoods.
A couple of weeks ago I was on a long downhill with a couple of short but steep rises in it. I was goin' in the low 30's, trying to stay pretty aero; when I hit the rises I wanted to maintain my momentum, so I got out of the saddle and pushed hard till I got over... It was pretty unsteady feeling, getting out of the saddle while holding the bar on the drops, the front wheel felt like it was all over the place. Is this normal? Will I get used to it? Or, is this an indicator of a likely fit problem (or something else wrong)?
Sounds like forearm strength to me. I felt the same way at first, but got better as my strength improved. Not so wobbly. If that's not it, then maybe you are transitioning from the bar or hoods badly? Could be jerking your wheel around a bit without you really noticing why. I really had an issue with that until I figured out how to make the movement smoother.
I am pretty sure it is not forearm strength, I spend a fair amount of time in the gym every week doing free weights (one of the best things you can do for forearms).
I guess I wasn't complely clear, I was not on the hoods when I was wobbly, I was still in the drops... I don't want to point my chest into the wind at 30 mph, I was trying to (and suceeded in doing so, but felt wobbly) get over the rise without going under 25...
I am pretty sure it is not forearm strength, I spend a fair amount of time in the gym every week doing free weights (one of the pest things you can do for forearms).
I guess I wasn't complely clear, I was not on the hoods when I was wobbly, I was still in the drops... I don't want to point my chest into the wind at 30 mph, I was trying to (and suceeded in doing so, but felt wobbly) get over the rise without going under 25...
Well, your going to feel wobbly if your jerking the bars back and for really pushing hard. Watch the pros do a sprint finish, those front wheels are going back and forth big time. That's not that big of a deal. If your leaning your bike back and forth, it's going to be wobbly cause your riding it wobbly.
Yea, thats true...standing while holding the drops is called sprinting. Try sprinting with some friends for some landmarks that are about 50 yards away from where you start. Maybe if you practice some sprints, you wont be so uncomfortable while climbing in the drops. Typically I think of being on the drops while I'm in the big chainring. Were you climbing on your small chainring? Small chainring plus drops equals unsteady bike.
