Advice need - new bike!
- Thread starter Lilylass
- Start date
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Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Hi
Just wondering if you can put your foot flat on the floor when you're sat in the saddle? I only ask, as it looks set pretty low. If this is the case, I would advise putting the saddle up a little bit. It's worth doing this in gradual stages until you get some confidence on the new bike. I had problems with the thighs due to a saddle that was too low when I first started cycling again. Adjusting the saddle so that the leg is almost straight (but not quite) at the bottom of the pedal stroke will stop pain in the quads but you will find that you can only reach the floor with tip toes. Hence the gradual adjustment suggestion until you get more used to it.
Anyway, it looks very nice - good luck with your new bike!
SD
Just wondering if you can put your foot flat on the floor when you're sat in the saddle? I only ask, as it looks set pretty low. If this is the case, I would advise putting the saddle up a little bit. It's worth doing this in gradual stages until you get some confidence on the new bike. I had problems with the thighs due to a saddle that was too low when I first started cycling again. Adjusting the saddle so that the leg is almost straight (but not quite) at the bottom of the pedal stroke will stop pain in the quads but you will find that you can only reach the floor with tip toes. Hence the gradual adjustment suggestion until you get more used to it.
Anyway, it looks very nice - good luck with your new bike!
SD
Thanks SD, yup, it's quite low, however, I can't get my foot flat on the floor (not as high as tip toes though).
It'll probably need to come up a bit ... I tore the ligaments in my right ankle a couple of years ago and went over (typically on that foot) a couple of weeks ago so it's not too happy at the minute.. thought I'd better err on the low side until I get used to the bike.
Will be starting off with gentle, pretty short rides until the muscles/ankle feels OK. Will be limited to routes as it's pretty hilly around here so fingers crossed it doesn't take long.
That's if it ever stops raining!
It's brightened up a couple of times and I've been about to venture out and it's started again - VERY frustrating.
It'll probably need to come up a bit ... I tore the ligaments in my right ankle a couple of years ago and went over (typically on that foot) a couple of weeks ago so it's not too happy at the minute.. thought I'd better err on the low side until I get used to the bike.
Will be starting off with gentle, pretty short rides until the muscles/ankle feels OK. Will be limited to routes as it's pretty hilly around here so fingers crossed it doesn't take long.
That's if it ever stops raining!
It's brightened up a couple of times and I've been about to venture out and it's started again - VERY frustrating.
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Sounds like you have it well planned 
The bike's going to get wet at some point - might aswell be on the maiden voyage! Get out there and get some grime on those tyres
The bike's going to get wet at some point - might aswell be on the maiden voyage! Get out there and get some grime on those tyres
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
Nice bike Lilylass
Just a quick point-if you don't want to ride in the wet or bad weather,then don't buy a new bike in November
Just a quick point-if you don't want to ride in the wet or bad weather,then don't buy a new bike in November
I'm back!
Thanks Potsy, I don't mind riding in the wet (as long as it's not torrential!) etc, I just didn't want to go out for the 1st time on it when it was really heavy - especially with me being so unsure of the gears and it being AGES since I was on a bike!
Anyway, it went OK! Was a bit wobbly when I first set off but was fine after a minute or so. Bike's pretty comfy and the gears were quite smooth... left it on the middle cog and it was fine!
Must've gone a max of 2 miles and my legs were like jelly when I got off!!! (It may take a while for me to be capable of going any distance, especially with all the hills around here).
So.. really pleased and glad I've been for the 1st ride, can't wait to do another.
Thanks for all the help/advice - I'm sure I'll be asking for more!!!!
Thanks Potsy, I don't mind riding in the wet (as long as it's not torrential!) etc, I just didn't want to go out for the 1st time on it when it was really heavy - especially with me being so unsure of the gears and it being AGES since I was on a bike!
Anyway, it went OK! Was a bit wobbly when I first set off but was fine after a minute or so. Bike's pretty comfy and the gears were quite smooth... left it on the middle cog and it was fine!
Must've gone a max of 2 miles and my legs were like jelly when I got off!!! (It may take a while for me to be capable of going any distance, especially with all the hills around here).
So.. really pleased and glad I've been for the 1st ride, can't wait to do another.
Thanks for all the help/advice - I'm sure I'll be asking for more!!!!
PaulSecteur
No longer a Specialized fanboy
- Location
- Walsall, West Mids.
Hi Lily,
Glad you took it out and were ok. I remember at the start of the year I got my new bike and planned a short 5 miler, I was sooo dissapointed that I was out of breath after 2 miles. For your first couple of rides do distance you are comfortable with, and weather permitting do them regular as it will help you gain confidence and get accustomed to the bike.
A few tips for you if you are riding in the wet is leaves can be VERY slippery - especially ones that have been on the floor for a few days and walked or driven over as they rot and leach out slippery goo, and look for the rainbow colours on the road surface, as it means that oil or diesel has been spilled, both slippery and best avoided!
Glad you took it out and were ok. I remember at the start of the year I got my new bike and planned a short 5 miler, I was sooo dissapointed that I was out of breath after 2 miles. For your first couple of rides do distance you are comfortable with, and weather permitting do them regular as it will help you gain confidence and get accustomed to the bike.
A few tips for you if you are riding in the wet is leaves can be VERY slippery - especially ones that have been on the floor for a few days and walked or driven over as they rot and leach out slippery goo, and look for the rainbow colours on the road surface, as it means that oil or diesel has been spilled, both slippery and best avoided!
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Going back to the gears ... not sure how many you have on that bike ... but for example if there were 3 on the front, and 7 on the back then you don't get a straight forward sequence such as ...
Front 1, Back 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and then Front 2, Back 1,2,3,4,5 6,7, then Front 3, Back 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Instead they overlap so that pedaling in Front 2, Back 1 might be the same as using Front 1, Back 3..... so you wouldn't actually have 21 different gears.
The easiest way to think of it is that the Front gears are big jumps in gears (counting in tens), and the back ones are fine adjustment (counting in ones)...so if you stick to the middle gear and get to know the rear ones first ... and if its hard going up one of those hills then swap down to 1 on the front.
Good luck and feel free to ask more questions .... they're just the sort of questions I was asking when I started.
Front 1, Back 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and then Front 2, Back 1,2,3,4,5 6,7, then Front 3, Back 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Instead they overlap so that pedaling in Front 2, Back 1 might be the same as using Front 1, Back 3..... so you wouldn't actually have 21 different gears.
The easiest way to think of it is that the Front gears are big jumps in gears (counting in tens), and the back ones are fine adjustment (counting in ones)...so if you stick to the middle gear and get to know the rear ones first ... and if its hard going up one of those hills then swap down to 1 on the front.
Good luck and feel free to ask more questions .... they're just the sort of questions I was asking when I started.
ohhhh, seem to be having internet problems again, haven't been able to get online for ages, very frustrating.
Paul, thanks for those: there are quite a few leaves lying around here so will def remember that one! Hoping to be able to get out a few times a week and do at least a short ride to try to build up some stamina.
Summerdays, that makes total sense (a bit like you can drive your car at the same speed but use different gears), cheers.
Also, pleased to report that my bottom is fine so the new saddle is certainly well constructed! (or maybe it's the padding on me)!
Def need some full fingered gloves tho' as the tips were freezing.
Paul, thanks for those: there are quite a few leaves lying around here so will def remember that one! Hoping to be able to get out a few times a week and do at least a short ride to try to build up some stamina.
Summerdays, that makes total sense (a bit like you can drive your car at the same speed but use different gears), cheers.
Also, pleased to report that my bottom is fine so the new saddle is certainly well constructed! (or maybe it's the padding on me)!
Def need some full fingered gloves tho' as the tips were freezing.
