Tips for a newbie cyclist?

[Beej]

Not many people 'round these parts quote LeMond.

5 pts to you, sir.

"Shut up Legs"

You do get faster and you get better at learning how to suffer. Pain is temporary.

[Strychnine]

"Shut up Legs"

You do get faster and you get better at learning how to suffer. Pain is temporary.

LOL. What Would Jens Voigt Do?

or Jens Voigt Facts

• Jens Voigt has twice won Liège–Bastogne–Liège–Bastogne–Liège–Bastogne–Li ège–Bastogne–Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
• Jens no longer has a shadow because he dropped it repeatedly until it climbed into the Saxo Bank team car claiming a stomach ailment and retired.
• Jens Voigt prepares for the Tour de Suisse by reassuring scientists at the Large Hadron Collider that he means no harm.
• Jens Voigt doesn't read books. He simply attacks until the books relent and tell him everything he wants to know.
• Jens' big ring is 56. His rear cassettte is 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-12.
• etc

[black2002ls]

Started doing some HIIT stuff tonight. Going to start doing that during the week and doing distance rides on Saturday and Sunday.

The Hot Rocks ride is Augist 10th in Rockwall. They have a 13 & 21 mile course. I am thinking about registering for that race as well.

Ordered a set of Shimano 105 pedals and cleats tonight. I am going to try and pick up some shoes this weekend. Any suggestions?

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[Beej]

Hot Rocks is not a race, its a Rally.

[black2002ls]

Hot Rocks is not a race, its a Rally.

Whats the difference? I just noticed they had rides starting that morning

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[Beej]

Whats the difference? I just noticed they had rides starting that morning

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Well a race you are actually racing other riders. These types of events or rides are rally's. Just go out and ride, have a good time but no winner. Usually put on by local groups as fund raisers.


Races are usually categorized by age or skill level and are sanctioned by USA Cycling. requiring a license to participate.

Some events like the Cotton patch have both a rally for the non competitive riders and races for the licensed racers.

[black2002ls]

Well a race you are actually racing other riders. These types of events or rides are rally's. Just go out and ride, have a good time but no winner. Usually put on by local groups as fund raisers.


Races are usually categorized by age or skill level and are sanctioned by USA Cycling. requiring a license to participate.

Some events like the Cotton patch have both a rally for the non competitive riders and races for the licensed racers.

Cool. Thanks for the info! I did some googling and learned a little! Any recommendation on a mid level shoe? I don't want to spend more than $125, though I don't want to compromise and end up with a shoe I have outgrown as a rider in 6 months to a year (if that is possible) I have a set of Shimano 105 pedals on the way.

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[Vertnut]

Cool. Thanks for the info! I did some googling and learned a little! Any recommendation on a mid level shoe? I don't want to spend more than $125, though I don't want to compromise and end up with a shoe I have outgrown as a rider in 6 months to a year (if that is possible) I have a set of Shimano 105 pedals on the way.

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Shimano and specialized make some decent shoes that are very compatible with your pedals. As with anything in cycling, you pay for weight and/or technology. Carbon fiber soles are very light and very stiff. The stiffer the sole, the more efficient your pedal stroke is.

[Beej]

Shoes are like saddles too. You need to try on a bunch and see what fits your foot the best. If you make a bad choice you will have issues with numbness and other problems. $125 should get you a good entry level shoel. I like specialized shoes. I have had my current pair for about 3 years, but they are not for everyone. So just go try on a bunch and see what works best for your feet.

[black2002ls]

Shoes are like saddles too. You need to try on a bunch and see what fits your foot the best. If you make a bad choice you will have issues with numbness and other problems. $125 should get you a good entry level shoel. I like specialized shoes. I have had my current pair for about 3 years, but they are not for everyone. So just go try on a bunch and see what works best for your feet.

Thanks! I have been looking at saddles on ebay hoping to score some cheap used ones to try without dropping the $$$ on a new one and having it not work out!

I am going to have to get my bike in for service or learn to tear the crank apart soon. I am getting a click in the righ crank on the up stroke.

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[Beej]

Thanks! I have been looking at saddles on ebay hoping to score some cheap used ones to try without dropping the $$$ on a new one and having it not work out!

I am going to have to get my bike in for service or learn to tear the crank apart soon. I am getting a click in the righ crank on the up stroke.

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Probably Bottom bracket. Not knowing what you have, hard to diagnose. If there is a bike shop near by usually they have demo saddles and or let you buy and try as long as you don't destroy the saddle they will let you bring it back within a few weeks.

[black2002ls]

Probably Bottom bracket. Not knowing what you have, hard to diagnose. If there is a bike shop near by usually they have demo saddles and or let you buy and try as long as you don't destroy the saddle they will let you bring it back within a few weeks.

No LBS out here. I am going to go through the crank today and clean/check the bolts and see if that fixes it.

I am riding a Specialized Allez and as far as I know it has stock components, Shimano Ultegra IIRC.

What are you guys using for brakes?

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[Vertnut]

Could be a loose crank, too.

[black2002ls]

Hopefully it shows up. There are some spots on the cassette that look like they are excessively worn. I noticed them when I was tightening everything up and checking the chain.

The areas that concern me are on several of the cogs. It is very prominent on the big cog and the next to smallest.



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[Vertnut]

Those cogs are not perfect when they're new. They have a cross-cut pattern (sort of) to keep the chain aligned and so that switching gears is smoother.