First ride out......

[spence]

....on the road.

Just been out for my first spin on a road bike or any bike for a month or so after trashing my hand in Woburn. Only did 12 miles (restriction of lunch hour , good excuse) around the lanes. So a few observations.

Wet muddy roads and skinny hard slick tyres not good. Especially down hill on a curve.
Blimey you feel everything on the road. Still vibrating from crossing the cattle grids.
Brakes not good. Nothing, nothing, nothing, locked wheel!!! I can see why you lot advise changing the blocks for better modulation.
Same goes for the saddle.
Handling very different, twitchy and a bit nervous being over the bars. I guess I'll get use to that, it'll make the 5-Spot seem like a laid back arm chair.

Oh and my wife telling me I'm a roadie now on my return.

Till the next ride, then.

 

[joebingo]

It's fun though, isnt it Whooshing down a hill at 30+ knowing that there's no chance in hell you're stopping in case of a hazard!

The brakes take a while to get used to, it takes the first few revolutions of the wheel to dry out the rim, don't slam on the brakes too hard and you'll get used to it.

 

[cadseen]

depends on what bike/set-up you have, not all road bikes are harse to ride. depends on what you want.

 

[spence]

cadseen, just brought a 2008 Trek 1.2 still with standard setup. I know it's the bottom of the barrel so not expecting too much. I've ordered some Koolstop Slaloms to help with the braking and found an old Bonty carbon wingback in the garage lastnight to adress the sadle issue (hopefully).

What do I want? Well not sure yet, I brought it just to try really. Need to keep some miles in my legs, I've been off the MTB for a few weeks after a crash over Christmas, no intention to race or mega mile excursions.