Do I just break myself into racing position? (new bike question)

Man am I glad you posted this question.  I myself just got my bike 4 days ago and have been on 2 rides, one being today.  I was going to post the same question b/c I am finding it nerve racking to enter into my areobars.  Thanks for the post and any replys guys.  It really helps.
                       

Yes, I was fitted at my LBS...right now I am at the textbook "optimal" aero position I guess you could say...90 degree angles and all...They suggested that it might be "too much, too fast"..but I said I would try it out to see how it goes...They are just worried its going to be too much for my shoulders...we will see!

I will post again after my ride today!

OK...so now I have an additional question/observation to add to my earlier question...So I went for an hour long ride just on paved trails so I can get used to my new bike and clipping in and out of the pedals...(I only almost fell over once!!! , I feel this is a big feat). I am just wondering about weight distrobution..At the beginning of the ride I was essentially putting all my weight forward onto my elbows and hands while in aero position...this was definately not the most comfortable position to be in and I started to feel it in my traps/lower neck pretty quickly...so as I was working it out trying to figure out how to get more comfortable, I decided to just take more weight in my legs and less in the saddle...This helped to relieve the pressure but I can sure feel my quads now...

What I am wondering is which distrobution is right? Weight forward or into the legs? I'm assuming legs because it seems like you should be trying to relax your upper body when in aero position...but I'm not sure. Sorry if this seems to be a stupid question or is just a repeat from somewhere else!

Believe me when I say I am just a new or more of a newb at this than you but.....

As I was watching Iron man Kona today, they were discussing how one rider was having difficult utiizing her aerobars because of a previous injury and that it forced her to put too much strain on her legs..  I took that as using the aero bars should keep more weight off of your legs to make it easier.   I COULD be dead wrong about this so keep asking but it was just my observation.
                 Datafur

You put your upper body's weight on your skeleton with your aerobars and take it off your muscles. Your lower body shouldn't have that much weight on it, that's what your saddle is for. About the only time you should have most/all of your weight on your legs is for larger bumps so they absorb the shock.

So the pain is normal then and will eventually decrease and I should just HTFU? I can deal with that...just making sure its not something abnormal that I should be concerned about...

Discomfort is normal. Pain is not. I'd honestly give it a couple/few weeks before making the decision though. You may just have to get used to the new setup.

Ok! By pain I meant discomfort...it kind of feels like I have been tensing up my neck and drawing my shoulder blades back more than "normal" or should be doing while riding...I will try and focus on relaxing my shoulders a bit. I tend to tense my upper body regardless of the discipline so that it probably not helping the situation.

Thanks for all the input! I feel like such a rookie

Could it be that being in aero means you have to use your neck/traps more to tilt your head up to see where you are going and that these muscles are just not used to being flexed to this extent?  Maybe it will just take some time for these muscles to gain the strenth/adapt.

Yes, i think you may be right...My ride today went a little bit better than my previous one as far as neck/trap discomfort goes...I was really trying hard to focus on relaxing my shoulders down and taking the weight of my upper body with my "skeleton" and it releived the pressure quite nicely..I do not beleive that I will be able to do 40km straight in 2 weeks in aero position, but I will be able to remain comfortable for a longer period of time than I originally thought!

Thanks to everyone for your input and knowledge! I appreciate it very much!