[Closed] New to road riding

Avoid the potholes.
Get clipless pedals if you dont have them already.
Dont wear a rucksack - you get a very sweaty back.

Get a Garmin edge 200. Great device.

Get out and start riding.

Spend time on google maps looking at new routes.

Enjoy.

Always give a nice cheery wave to folk on mountain bikes 🙂

Ride two abreast and jump red lights 😉

don't expect any mountain biker to ever acknowledge you back when you give them a cheery wave

if you end up riding with other roadies, make sure you do your turn on the front but don't let them take the Michael and use you as a windbreak

get rid of the cheap OE tyres and replace with something fast, lighter and more puncture resistant - Mich Pro 3 or 4/Conti GP4000S/Vitt Evo CX are usually going cheap on the likes of Merlin/Ribble.Carry two spare tubes and a pump because the chances are you will be a lot further from home than than usual. Also carry ID incase the worst happens.

It came with Mavic Aksion tyres on, thought they were decent?

get something with puncture protection as the main selling point. others might be good and light, but 50 grams doesn't make up 10 minutes at the side of the road in february. i go with conti gatorskins personally.

Only ever had one puncture on my GP4000S, can't speak personally for Gatorskins but they have a pretty good rep.

It will become very addictive so.....

1/ Join a local group, club runs, start beginner until you start getting used to riding in a group, what the signals are, how to ride, where to place yourself etc
2/ Get a garmin or other type of computer. Stats are important
3/ get proper road pedals and shoes. The make a difference
4/ Get used to wearing proper cycling gear, lycra shorts, top etc. Millions of other cyclists do it so your not alone and as above it does make a difference.
5/ In winter wear mudguards, winter tyres etc
6/ Take the peak of your helmet. You'll understand why after a few runs
7/ Carry proper tools, tubes etc . A pump, 1 tyre lever, a tube and a few allen keys/chain breaker and a spare link. Will fit easily in a back pocket
8/ Carry food and a fiver just in case
9/ Prepare,after only a few rides to be wanting lighter stuff, 50mm rims etc.
10/ Get a bike mortgage, you will need it
11/ Enjoy the crap out of yourself. It becomes seriously addictive

Service your mountain bike, lube the chain and put it in a safe place because it won't be getting much action now that you've discovered the road.

Don't wear flappy clothing - you will be riding at 15-25 mph and it will annoy the hell out of you and everybody else. There's a good reason why road kit is cut snug.

Get a track pump and experiment with tyre pressures - I weigh 72 kgs and find that 100 lbs in the tyres is fast and not too harsh.

Prepare to be amazed at how much fitter you become and regretful that you didn't start road riding earlier in life.

Oh dear mate you've opened pandoras box! I started about a year and a half ago on the road and am hooked. Biggest tip is really just enjoy yourself and find a mate to ride with, that way you can start racing or road signs! 😈 I've got some gp4000 and they are brill as a choice or the future, but use what you've got til you need a change. tyre pressures will be a lot higher think 90-100 psi more if your a lump like me!

Biggest tip though, stay away from any thing painted or metal in the wet!

Any tips for road riding?

Yeah ignore 95% of the stuff said on here, and spend your time riding the fine bike you've just bought.
As Coppi once said, the important three things are
a) ride a bike
b) ride a bike
c) ride a bike

Congratulations on your new road bike.

Just like with MTBing there's a lot to learn, and you never stop learning. My advice would be to join a club that has a big road contingent with training runs. They'll teach you how to ride in a bunch.

Shave your legs wear lycra and false tan in the early season months. Above all, have fun.

SB

Always remember rule 5

@oldgit - I thought Coppi said, "first learn how to suffer, then learn how to ride your bike". Maybe something got lost in the translation. Lol 😉

There is no reason why you shouldn't treat road rising like mtbing - if you're having fun, you're probably doing it right.

Full length mudguards and decent clothing, epsecially on extremities, are important IMO.

Otherwise just ride...I don't bother with groups much (I am an unsociable git tho), but they are helpful when starting out. You may find yourself wanting to spend £££ on kit but thee vast majority of it won't make you significantly faster (IMO comfort is more important unless you are racing), though you'll look like "one of the gang", and your bike may be nicer to ride.

I would say get the fit of the bike right. You are more static than on a mountainbike so if the fit is off you will find it uncomfortable.

Look for routes- I used to try and link interesting places but now I try an link climbs 😈

Have fun.

Join a club. Group riding is ace for me it is when the road biking thing came alive. Racing is even better. You will also get route ideas and meet new people.

velomanti has the rules - some are worth follwing others are not.

Things don't break on a road bike or wear out. Casettes last for years.

Thought it was Barry Hoban who had the ride a bike quote.

Its just a bike, get on it, ridse on the road. There's nothing mystical about it.

Things don't break on a road bike or wear out. Casettes last for years

Hmmm - last night I topped up the air pressure back up to the usual 100psi. An hour later there was an almighty bang - the rim had exploded, 2 years of commuting and the rim brakes had worn it out!

This is the day after I've just replaced the cassette, chain and rings. Hey ho.

I find road riding really dull if I'm on my own, but I guess most of my road riding is commuting. It's fun going fast as, though!

The different position might take a bit to get used to at first and feel really twitchy in terms of handling but you will soon grow to love that.

I'd recommend getting a co2 pump and some cartridges as it saves so much time and effort if you get a flat the mini pumps can take an age to get up to a decent pressure.

[i]Things don't break on a road bike or wear out. Casettes last for years[/i]

That depends how many miles your doing. Cassettes and chains don't last years on either my proper road bike or commuter road bike.

Sign up to Strava

I'm 6 months into road riding, having ridden MTB's for 10 years. I bought a second hand 2011 Trek 1.5 from a chap on here. My view is that everyone here is right.

Just get on it and enjoy it which is the most important piece of advice on here. All the rest is true - pedals, helmet peak, fitness etc.

Oh and BTW, it IS addictive - tomorrow I'm taking the day off work to ride my first 100k I've plotted on my Garmin 500. Just becuase I can 😀

Cheers for the advice people.

Going to get myself one of those CO2 pump things - http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/Pumps-Mini-Genuine-Innovations-Air-Chuck-Elite-CO2-Inflator-with-16g-Cartridge/GENUPUMR240000000000 - That one most likely.

Got myself a Giro Monza for £45 too. (My usual helmet doesn't fit in with the colour scheme)

The thing I think I'll struggle with is stuff like lanes and roundabouts. I'm class at turning left, got that nailed, but right is a different kettle of fish 😆 Been speaking to the local club and I'll be going out with them in a couple of weeks when I'm back on a bike proper (I had an arthroscopy a fortnight ago) and I reckon that will get me used to where I need to be on the road.

daleftw - Member
(My usual helmet doesn't fit in with the colour scheme)

Sounds like you were born to be a roadie 😉

cynic-al - Member

daleftw - Member
(My usual helmet doesn't fit in with the colour scheme)

Sounds like you were born to be a roadie

Lol! I bought some castelli bib shorts a while bike, to be comfy. I have though found that I have "needed" to put the matching top on my birthday present list, although my wife thinks its rather expensive for a "T shirt"....

You get a lot more time to think about "marginal gains" which is no bad thing as it will improve your mountain biking technique. Things like road position, line, position in relation to the wind etc all help.

Shibboleth - Member
You get a lot more time to think about "marginal gains" which is no bad thing as it will improve your mountain biking technique. Things like road position, line, position in relation to the wind etc all help.

I've found it helps no end with cadence and pedalling efficiency when back on the MTB.

live by the rules:
[url] http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/ [/url]

and check
[url] http://www.bigringriding.com/ [/url]

for inspiration
and dont be forced into the club thing, my road riding is mostly solitary and i love it for that reason

Oh yeah and bib-shorts are a revalation if you dont use them already

best advice i was given... if it does'nt hurt you are not doing it right!

my 2p worth of advice... get a turbo trainer and some training dvds for next winter. makes a massive difference and so easy to get a quality session especially when you are time-strapped.

my road riding is mostly solitary

me too, love it. especially as i have stunningly good, really quiet, well surfaced roads from my door. what west cornwall lacks in mtb, in road cycling its superb!

I love roading as much as MTBing. Conti Gatorskins are wonderful is you want to avoid punctures but so are GP4000s (I sell both).

Also feel free to sue you MTB clipless pedals on your road bike. I have always used CB eggbeaters or SPD's on my road bike as I use them on my MTB as well - it saves on shoes.

Most of all get out and ride - oh do carry 2 spare tubes + a pump that can take you to 100 psi. CO2 cartridges also work like the ones posted above. I also sell those and use them it makes short work of infalting a tyre.

I Know this has done the rounds already but its all good information 😉

Ride hills hills hills

So, yeah, first ride out didn't exactly go to plan... 😆

Got pulled over by the police. They thought I'd nicked the bike 😆

Apparently Nike joggers and 6.0s aren't what a rider would typically wear on such an expensive looking bike...

Had a laugh about it like, think they realised sharpish that I wasn't a typical scrote, showed them the photos on my phone of the build and they sent me on my way.

This has led me to the conclusion that those Rapha bib shorts I've been thinking of buying are essential 😀

LOVE the bike though. So quick and responsive. The SRAM shifting is wicked, was a bit sceptical, but by the end of my street really liked it.

Only problem I had though - When I'm pedalling round a tight corner (like a 90 degree left to join a road) my foot catches the front wheel. Is this normal for a road bike? Looking at the Canyon website and if I was to get the next size up it wouldn't make any difference, I'd still catch it. Hmm.

When I'm pedalling round a tight corner (like a 90 degree left to join a road) my foot catches the front wheel. Is this normal for a road bike?

I have very slight overlap if I turn the wheel very sharply. Only noticed it when trying to trackstand, never come across it as a problem when riding. You can sort the problem by making sure your outside foot isnt leading.

Re: The turbo trainer - Yeah, already got one, will be getting a cheap rear wheel though, the road bike looks much better on it.

Clipless pedals - I have a pair of CB Candys that I'm going to put on once I've got used to the handling. Plan is to swap them for Eggbeaters and put the Candys on the XC bike when the weather improves. Means I can use the same shoe.

The club thing - Just want to go out with a few people and learn the rules of the road as it were. I'm not a driver, so some situations (Junctions, lanes, etc) are a bit alien to me.

whatnobeer - Member
When I'm pedalling round a tight corner (like a 90 degree left to join a road) my foot catches the front wheel. Is this normal for a road bike?
I have very slight overlap if I turn the wheel very sharply. Only noticed it when trying to trackstand, never come across it as a problem when riding. You can sort the problem by making sure your outside foot isnt leading.

Yeah, if I'm rolling round a corner I'm fine, it's when I'm stationary and have to turn and pedal to join the road. (If that makes sense)

Enjoy!

Google Map can be your friend, although it seems massively glitchy at the moment.

Look for routes- I used to try and link interesting places but now I try an link climbs

I wouldn't be too fussed about the group thing, riding with mates, drafting, changing the lead etc is fun in places, but I think I'd get massively frustrated having to sit in a group for a whole ride.

If you're riding a 'boring' section of road, its probably flat and/or straight, so a perfect excuse to try out your time trialling! No road should ever be 'boring' if you're trying hard enough (a headphone in one ear and the right choice of music can help MASSIVELY but thats a whole other argument).

My mountainbike is in the corner, looking awfully clean and awfully unused. Poor thing.

not a normal problem with a stock road bike.. do you have a weird position on the pedals? or massive 6.0s? 😉

Nah, I've just put the clipless pedals on and clipped in, so my foot is in the 'right' position and still happening.

I do have canoes like, size 11 🙁

oh well. tight geometry is desirable, just don't turn any corners.

i get it on my 50cm Cannondale even with small feet, as before only ever noticed it trackstanding, otherwise never beeen a problem

Yeah, think it'll just take some getting used to. Won't be putting the clipless pedals on for while though because that combination will end badly 😆

titusrider - Member
live by the rules:
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/

Yeah, my mate made me aware of the rules when I told him I'd just be wearing my usual Endura baggy shorts on the bike 😆

Re: The turbo trainer - Yeah, already got one

But you know, each to their own.

get out find a nice smooth open road and break yourself, thrash your legs so hard they are shaking and you have difficulty walking through the front door when you get home. Road bikes are good for breaking yourself.

D0NK - Membertake one of the greatest sports in the world and take all the fun stuff out of it. Awesome.
I can just about cope with running machines coz running is rubbish anyway, no way could I hack turbo sessions tho.
But you know, each to their own.

get out find a nice smooth open road and break yourself, thrash your legs so hard they are shaking and you have difficulty walking through the front door when you get home. Road bikes are good for breaking yourself.

See, now I love my turbo trainer because I kill myself on it. I love seeing how high my heart rate is, how much sweat is dripping off me. Sounds daft, but I tend to push myself harder on the turbo 😆

Love my 15 minute warm up, sprint for 30 seconds, recover for 4 minutes, sprint for 30 seconds, rinse and repeat routine.

as a training aid they kinda make sense and yeah I guess you can go balls out without having to worry about traffic, still not proper riding tho is it? Where's the speed, the adrenaline, the rushing wind, the views, the fresh air?
I'm oot 🙂

D0NK - Member
as a training aid they kinda make sense and yeah I guess you can go balls out without having to worry about traffic, still not proper riding tho is it? Where's the speed, the adrenaline, the rushing wind, the views, the fresh air?
I'm oot

Get all that on the TV I can watch while doing it man. 😆

If/when you get the spare cash I would seriously consider ditching the CB's and buying dedicated road shoes and pedals.

Easily the best 'upgrade' I made early on, I thought I was doing fine on my Candy's until I stepped into some proper pedals!

proper road pedals and shoes are a worthwile addition, the shimano RL450 or what ever they call them, the bottom of the range ones are great

toe overlap does happen on rare occasions but shouldn't on corners; hands on the bottom of the drops covering the brakes, elbows bent and tucked in, outside foot at the bottom of the stroke, press on the outside pedal, slight cock of the inside knee and look forward through the corner

oh yeah, don't put tools in your pocket unless they are in a protective something, otherwise they become an implement to puncture the skin on your back if you come off, the pockets are for food and a small packing waterproof/arm warmers for emergencies

garmins aren't necessary either, just print out rough directions from google maps at work.

enjoy 🙂

edhornby - Member
toe overlap does happen on rare occasions but shouldn't on corners; hands on the bottom of the drops covering the brakes, elbows bent and tucked in, outside foot at the bottom of the stroke, press on the outside pedal, slight cock of the inside knee and look forward through the corner

oh yeah, don't put tools in your pocket unless they are in a protective something, otherwise they become an implement to puncture the skin on your back if you come off, the pockets are for food and a small packing waterproof/arm warmers for emergencies

Like I say, I'm fine when the bike is moving, just when I have to pedal and turn - Like turning left at a T junction. Will just take some time to get in the habit of pushing off, turning, then pedalling.

Second point is a great shout, definitely getting myself a saddlebag.

daleftw - if you want a nice new small saddlebag I have one on the classifieds 🙂

I just love rule 42.

I turbo I the winter, makes a significant difference to my mtb riding. I'm just that much fitter. It serves no other purpose. When it's warmer I ride more out doors. Makes sense to me.

Most of the rules are BS.

But any time you see a guy on a decent road bike in baggys you do wonder what he's trying to prove.

Was riding with Fedor den Hertog in 197something (google him) when he was on a visit here. He said to ride well you had to do miles and eat peas! He obviously hadn't heard of the rules ..... He was wearing one of those full flap fur hats!

any time you see a guy on a decent road bike in baggys you do wonder what he's trying to prove

cynic-al - Member
Most of the rules are BS.

But any time you see a guy on a decent road bike in baggys you do wonder what he's trying to prove.

That most of the rules are BS?

[i] any time you see a guy on a decent road bike in baggys you do wonder what he's trying to prove[/i]
that he's got a really small nob and is more concerned about looks than performance.

But any time you see a guy on a decent road bike in baggys you do wonder what he's trying to prove.

what if i'm just riding to the shops?

You'd change into mtb baggies to ride your decent road bike to the shops?

no. but I live in the tropical SW and wear shorts quite a lot.

lycra ones round the house are a bit over the top....

Oh well, just for you, I will re-state my proposition:

But any time you see a guy on a decent road bike [u]doing a training[/u] ride in baggys you do wonder what he's trying to prove.

That OK? 😉