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Post by Radchenister on Apr 18, 2014 9:30:00 GMT
It is worth learning as an integral part of being a rounded cyclist - having your bike nicely trimmed gives confidence on the road (and a good maintenance regime generally saves on parts and labour).
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Post by ianmoss on Apr 19, 2014 9:23:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2014 9:50:54 GMT
Just to throw it in there (and I'm sure you'll already know this) but the chain will often rub on the front mech if you "cross chain", ie you try to sit in the right-most cog on the back and the left-most cog on the front, or vice versa. Some mechs have a "trim" function to get around this - Sora on the T5a does, not sure about the Microshift. Unless you get one of the fancy-pants electric setups, no gear mechanism is perfect at handling a diagonal chain.
As I say, you're probably already aware, but just thought I'd throw that in there. I completely sympathise with you receving your bike badly set-up - mine was absolutely appalling and took at least an evening to get right (and now I'm noticing that the front brake calliper bolt wasn't nipped up enough originally, so the brakes are gradually becoming looser and looser...)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2014 12:26:21 GMT
strange, I expected the Hutchinson tyres on my White T3a, but got the standard Btwin ones instead Im going to change them soon anyway so not too bothered
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2014 12:44:35 GMT
strange, I expected the Hutchinson tyres on my White T3a, but got the standard Btwin ones instead Im going to change them soon anyway so not too bothered BTWIN trivia alert... Hutchinson was an American guy who moved to France a hundred years or so ago and set up his own tyre business. So they're very well known in France despite the anglicised name. My T5a came with the BTWIN tyres, apparently there's no difference in the quality and I've changed them now anyway
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2014 16:37:42 GMT
Thanks for all the further advice. Ianmoss I dug out the original post, thanks. I managed to make a right pigs ear out of the gear adjustment - rectified with a quick heat service at my local shop (where the cheapest road bike is Β£450!).
Now I just have to get out and ride - and stupid as it may sound, I am nervous to do so! I have never ridden road bikes and it does feel alien. I do know I just have to get out there but I need to overcome my nerves. Plus the mechanic put the fear of god in my with what I should and shouldn't do!
Re the tyres - decathlon are sending me out the hutchinsons free of charge, if you want to request the same...
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Post by Radchenister on Apr 19, 2014 16:47:01 GMT
Don't over think it, go somewhere easy listening and settle in, a cycleway would help - energy management is what cycling is all about, so we don't want to be wasting mental energy on too many variables at once. Start local, quiet and comfy ... repeat and expand as skills and fitness progress. It's supposed to be fun (until suffering a tad becomes part of the 'fun' - weird I know but you'll get there ) !!!
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Post by Radchenister on Apr 19, 2014 16:48:14 GMT
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Post by ianmoss on Apr 19, 2014 19:43:32 GMT
I hope you get out soon and enjoy it. Especially after all the egging on we gave..!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2014 19:46:36 GMT
Echo what Radchenister said, start local and easy and build up. My first ride was about a mile along the main road and back 50 yards from my front door just to get a feel for a very new riding experience. It did feel very different to anything I'd tried before. In fact as I pushed off at the very start the front wheel shot up 'wheelie' style as I pulled on the bars not realising how light my steed was and how efficient the power/transmission/speed effect would be in my new biking genre
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2014 20:32:44 GMT
Indeed Ian, I blame you [all!]. I rode it literally round the corner, it feels so different, not sure if I am any less nervous now! Didn't quite do a wheelie but I know what you mean Volcanicflash. Thing is, when you watch people on road bikes, they seem so comfortable, it feels very different once actually on top of the saddle. I guess I can make a clumsy analogy with my job as a radio presenter. It "feels" completely different to how it "looks". And like the radio, I think it is going to take some learning (and, like the radio, there's no guarantee I am going to end up any good!! )
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Post by captslog on Apr 19, 2014 20:36:36 GMT
Now I just have to get out and ride - and stupid as it may sound, I am nervous to do so! I have never ridden road bikes and it does feel alien. I do know I just have to get out there but I need to overcome my nerves. Plus the mechanic put the fear of god in my with what I should and shouldn't do! Jeez man, relax. The hardest bit is looking like a burk, but beleive me, that comes easier with the more lycra you manage to put on. but anyone who extracts the urine is an idiot. They probably wouldn't reach the end of their street, and if they're more experienced than you they are idiot^2 because they should know better. It's just you and the bike. Take it steady and just learn and have fun. Good luck
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Post by Radchenister on Apr 20, 2014 7:32:28 GMT
3 or 4 x 40 to 60 minute rides for a couple of weeks, find a nice loop, start logging Strava.
In December 2012 I was doing about that (but only 2 times a week as colder).
Looking back at stat's to my first Strava log on 26/12/2012 (not my first ride as used 'map my ride' for a couple) it took me an hour to cover 20.5 kms on a local loop, it was hard back then for me to do that.
I would expect to cover 30+ kms in an hour now, including my initial 'nemisis' hill, that used to have me walking but recently I managed to power up in the big cog.
You'll look back on these early rides fondly in a few months but you need to think long term and perseverance is the key.
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