Big or Small ring?

[si_c]

Thanks, I do understand it, I just like to keep it simple stupid. My bike is fairly basic with only 2 front rings, it's geared very different from my mates Trek as we were both on the small ring but I had to spin faster to keep up.

I do get it now, thanks to all for their input. I feel I probably need to experiment a bit more and obviously improve my general fitness.

Experiment and find what works for you. Don't have to get it right first time.

 

[gbb]

What bike are you riding slick ?
Where are you ?
What gearing is on your bike, particularly on the front chain set.

Hills are a funny one slick, when I was very fit at say 45 years old, I could sustain 18mph average over say 50 miles...but my terrain isn't particularly hilly. If I'd gone for a ride in say Yorkshire, Derbyshire etc...it'd have killed me for a while even though I considered myself very fit.

 

[Slick]

Hi gbb, I'm in Dumbarton, which is fairly flat, but I got it into my mind that I was getting too comfortable doing the commutes, so now heading out to the Trossachs to get some good workouts. I honestly don't know what gearing is on the bike, but it's a Carrera Karkinos from Halford. I now know that it's the wrong bike, but at the time of purchase, I couldn't tell you the difference between a good one and a bad one. I've got a whole other story on that front. I know that my fitness has to improve, but on a flat 50 mile run I would consider 15 mph average a success. Put a few hills in and that would go through the floor.

 

[gbb]

Hi gbb, I'm in Dumbarton, which is fairly flat, but I got it into my mind that I was getting too comfortable doing the commutes, so now heading out to the Trossachs to get some good workouts. I honestly don't know what gearing is on the bike, but it's a Carrera Karkinos from Halford. I now know that it's the wrong bike, but at the time of purchase, I couldn't tell you the difference between a good one and a bad one. I've got a whole other story on that front. I know that my fitness has to improve, but on a flat 50 mile run I would consider 15 mph average a success. Put a few hills in and that would go through the floor.

You're haven't really got the wrong bike...it should be OK but as always the more you spend, the better the ride should be.
As an example, I started on an 8 (16) speed, steel framed heavyweight budget bike. It was a blooming good bike, I did many thousands of miles on it and got very fit.
Then I brought a light Bianchi, 9 (18) speed, a much better bike, twice the price of my first heavyweight....did I go any faster...no. But the quality of the ride was so much better, shifting smoother, less gaps between gears etc etc...just all round better but you gotta pay for that...and you still won't go much faster.
Your bikes fine as a starter IMO.
Check the basics...tyre pressures correct ? Under inflated tyres drag you down.
Better tyres roll better, you will have budget tyres on it, good tyres would improve it, something like Gators perhaps.
Saddle the right height ?, too low, your thighs are going to scream in protest.

Ultimately, get the miles in, it will come.

 

[Slick]

You're haven't really got the wrong bike...it should be OK but as always the more you spend, the better the ride should be.
As an example, I started on an 8 (16) speed, steel framed heavyweight budget bike. It was a blooming good bike, I did many thousands of miles on it and got very fit.
Then I brought a light Bianchi, 9 (18) speed, a much better bike, twice the price of my first heavyweight....did I go any faster...no. But the quality of the ride was so much better, shifting smoother, less gaps between gears etc etc...just all round better but you gotta pay for that...and you still won't go much faster.
Your bikes fine as a starter IMO.
Check the basics...tyre pressures correct ? Under inflated tyres drag you down.
Better tyres roll better, you will have budget tyres on it, good tyres would improve it, something like Gators perhaps.
Saddle the right height ?, too low, your thighs are going to scream in protest.

Ultimately, get the miles in, it will come.

Yeah, I think that's the answer. I still think that I bought the wrong bike. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but I reckon that the only original parts in the 18 months I've ridden it are the frame and wheels, and they are on the way out. I was advised by the guys so called "in the know" to stay away from road bikes as the ride is too hard and far too uncomfortable for me to get into. I knew I would enjoy it, but not sure enough to invest too much first time. I reckon if I manage to keep my commute going all winter, I'll treat myself early next year.

 

[S-Express]

I was advised by the guys so called "in the know" to stay away from road bikes

Lol at anyone 'in the know' who says that.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Slick ^^^^ what he says, the only thing original on my Viking is the frame, forks, brake calipers and the mud guards, its gone through many guises from a 7sp triple to a 10sp triple with the kit it has I think I would be pushed to get a bike under £1,000 (105 triple 10sp) apart from the brakes its all 105 or above, but its took me 4 years to get here with it and to be honest I don't think I want a new frame (unless this one brakes) it has done everything I have asked of it, it originally cost £300 in 2008.

 

[Slick]

Lol at anyone 'in the know' who says that.

The real annoying thing was I was really unsure what to go for and thought I could trust my local ( at the time) dealer. He had his own agenda trying to shift a load of over priced mountain bikes.

@Slick ^^^^ what he says, the only thing original on my Viking is the frame, forks, brake calipers and the mud guards, its gone through many guises from a 7sp triple to a 10sp triple with the kit it has I think I would be pushed to get a bike under £1,000 (105 triple 10sp) apart from the brakes its all 105 or above, but its took me 4 years to get here with it and to be honest I don't think I want a new frame (unless this one brakes) it has done everything I have asked of it, it originally cost £300 in 2008.

I'm starting to come to the same conclusion. I kind of wish I bought them the other way round though, as I think I would quite like to try discs in the winter as my brakes are a bit like a lottery on a really wet morning.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Try getting some Koolstop Salmon blocks for your brakes, depends what sort of brakes you have if calipers without the cartridge system you will need to get some cartridges, if you can upload a pic of your brakes I or others can advise further.

 

[Racing roadkill]

So I'm trying to improve my cycling performance, so trying to use my commutes as workouts but also riding with others on training runs. On one of these runs they kept remarking they thought I should be on the small ring more often as I'm not efficient by expending energy I don't need to. I felt comfortable enough at the time but I do feel my legs are letting me down first as my weakest point, and I did begin to flag a bit on this run as well. Would spinning on the lower ring help this even if I was trying to keep my speed reasonable?

Don't fear the granny gear.

 

[Truth]

I have always used Bell brake blocks, on my old Kona Hybrid , from Asda and found them to be excellent and cheap!

 

[Slick]

Try getting some Koolstop Salmon blocks for your brakes, depends what sort of brakes you have if calipers without the cartridge system you will need to get some cartridges, if you can upload a pic of your brakes I or others can advise further.

I just fitted a cartridge system a week or so back, but they haven't been tested on a wet winters morning just yet.

 

[leedsmick]

Interesting post. I went for one of my thrice weekly lunch hour spins around Leeds. I normally do between 800 & 1000ft climbing, about 15-16 miles covered. I always finish tired, without fail, but 10 mins later i feel i could go back out again. Today i tried spinning in a lower gear on some of the harder sections, and whilst it was easier i expected my average speed to be down overall for the ride, and i was pleasantly surprised when i got back that i was actually quicker, so for me providing you find the right gear for you, spinning lower gets you further faster. I was still knackered at the end of the ride however!

 

[S-Express]

Today i tried spinning in a lower gear on some of the harder sections, and whilst it was easier i expected my average speed to be down overall for the ride, and i was pleasantly surprised when i got back that i was actually quicker, so for me providing you find the right gear for you, spinning lower gets you further faster. I was still knackered at the end of the ride however!

N=1 is not proof, unfortunately. I think there could be a lot of possible explanations for that, only one of which is a different gear choice. You might go out again tomorrow and be significantly slower. So I wouldn't jump to any conclusions just yet.

 

[leedsmick]

N=1 is not proof, unfortunately. I think there could be a lot of possible explanations for that, only one of which is a different gear choice. You might go out again tomorrow and be significantly slower. So I wouldn't jump to any conclusions just yet.

Also depends how hungover i am by lunchtime usually!