The Cycling Thread

[kaivalagi]

One more thing to add to Mavic's good advice is that if you do plan on getting a new chainset to replace what you have make sure you get one that works with an external BB as you'll have a much much stronger set of bearings to push against and an upgrade path for later which allows for decent hard wearing kit. I got a SRAM Apex GXP chainset (for £75 from Merlin cycles) and it came with a half decent ext BB included so it was a no brainer...SRAM do some nice MTB chainsets too.

All that said you may just want a replacement cassette for the rear and a new chain to start with...would be good to know what you have now to understand what the best route might be for you assuming you don't want to buy a complete bike

Back with an update, I'd been to-ing and fro-ing with the options since posting. I'd mailed the bike factory in chester to enquire about re-gearing my bike and they pointed out that I'd still be on MTB wheels which would lack a little too. I wanted to see what a road bike felt like to see if I could indeed get on with one.

I happen to be in a hotel near Warrington for two nights so popped into Decathlon who supply one of the two bikes I'd been looking at if I were to go for a road bike and I had a sit on it.... I now own it.

I'd decided on this one as the price was very similar, I preferred the colour scheme and this included pedals so no messing required there. I walked away with a Triban 500SE, overkill for what I'm likely to use but I really like it and it seems a decent value for money option.
Just been for a 4 mile test ride and really like the efficiency of it, seems so much more powerful somehow. Can't wait to get it on my usual lap tomorrow and see how I do. Feels nicer to ride too which I wasn't expecting.

[maviczap]

Carbon forks and a frame with a lifetime warranty, that's pretty schweeet for the money.

It also looks nice IMHO

[MisterTommyH]

So being relatively new to cycling - what are the common sense rules for going out in weather like today?

Don't do it? The rain itself doesn't bother me, but there's the wind. And the fact that drivers are probably less likely to see you? And the outside chance of getting hit by lightening.....

Any input welcome.

[maviczap]

Stay in doors, its too windy, only crazy fools go out.

When I was racing, I would go out in weather like this, but now I don't need to train to race, then I stay in.

Days like this are turbo days, you won't loose you fitness that quickly.

If you feel the need to exercise, then do some indoor work.

I went out But only because it was the 2 hour break in the weather that I'd spotted on weatherspark. Even sunny spells here now.

Been dying to try my first lap on the Triban and over my previous personal best I was nearly 5 minutes faster over the 13.3 miles! I'm pretty chuffed with that. I'm pretty sure I can break the 45 minute mark if I don't have dipstick pedestrians and other leisure traffic. My mountain bike made this easier because it clanked and rattled so people knew I was coming anyway

Not having to jostle the handlebars through the narrow speed gates is a whole lot easier. If only my shoulders weren't so wide I could likely ride through with care.

All in all I'm really chuffed with my purchase, only my neck is aching from the new riding position, my arms and shoulders are fine. It feels like I get way more of what I put in, out of this bike. I supposed because the "engine" is (comparatively) so underpowered that any lack in transmission becomes noticeable.

[Dipper]

Originally Posted by MisterTommyH

So being relatively new to cycling - what are the common sense rules for going out in weather like today?

Don't do it? The rain itself doesn't bother me, but there's the wind. And the fact that drivers are probably less likely to see you? And the outside chance of getting hit by lightening.....

Any input welcome.

I ride all year in all weathers, on a day like today I'd be on my Winter bike as it's heavier and drop the tyre pressures 10 psi. In my opinion rides in poor weather are some of the most rewarding...

[Mark_h]

Originally Posted by Brettus

....All in all I'm really chuffed with my purchase, only my neck is aching from the new riding position, my arms and shoulders are fine. ....

If you've still got the peak on the front of your helmet, take it off. I got neck ache when I changed bikes and it turned out to be because I had to lift my head just a bit higher to see under the peak. Took the peak off and no more neck ache. When I put it on again (evening mountain biking) and forget to take it off when I go out on the road bike I get the neck ache again.

If on the other hand you've not got a peak on your helmet then please disregard the above advice!

Originally Posted by Dipper

I ride all year in all weathers, on a day like today I'd be on my Winter bike as it's heavier and drop the tyre pressures 10 psi. In my opinion rides in poor weather are some of the most rewarding...

I ride quite a lot these days. And the ones I can remember the best are the days I was coming home from work with hailstones hitting off my face and the slush blocking up at my mudguards... Tough but happy memories! Although I did kind of 'find' myself riding in this type of weather rather than actually choosing to go out in it as such.
Just make sure your dressed properly and you'll be grand. Enjoy.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Brettus

I went out

All in all I'm really chuffed with my purchase, only my neck is aching from the new riding position, my arms and shoulders are fine. .

As Mark H said, if you've got a helmet with a peak, it could cause your stiff neck.

However, its more likely to be the bike fit is not quite correct at the moment.

As you've only just got the bike, and your neck muscles aren't used to riding in this new position, then give it few rides to get them used to this.

If you still keep getting a sore neck then you're probably over extending them, due to the handlebar stem being too long?

Everyone's different, and bikes need tweeking to get them to fit correctly.

If you've got ITV4 on demand watch this weeks 'The cycling show'. They had a short feature on bike fitting which although basic, would be useful to any new bike rider.