themosquitoking
Guru
- Location
- Spain
I had those as a kid, we never called them suicide bars then. Why now?
First road bike, first ride. Scared witless.
- Thread starter jo_e
- Start date
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I had those as a kid, we never called them suicide bars then. Why now?
inkd
Senior Member
- Location
- New Forest
Hmmm. Have not been on a "racer" since I was lad, since then its been MTB and now on my hybrid. I am meeting up with @Monsieur Remings end of the month for a 40 miler and all this talk of twitchiness and brake reaching is getting me anxious. Have not seen my old school pal for over a decade so mate, it might be a good idea to give me a little crash course on a road bike. My old racer had suicide bars and the butterfly levers but that was a lifetime ago.
Devonshiredave
Active Member
- Location
- Brackley, Northants
Fell off my brand spanking new road bike first time out after the switch from my old MTB and found it very lively too. Couple of rides out and all that passed. I now love the bike and wouldn't go back to a MTB. Maybe a hybrid as my N +1? Roadies are lush! Just registered for the Ride London for next year fingers crossed.
Me too, hope I get a place. Lots of training needed though, may need to find a local training buddy.
D
Deleted member 1258
Guest
Yes I remember them, add those to a cheap set of side pulls and you would have been better off putting your foot in the spokes.
This is my tourer from the 1980's
WTF? Why do so many people find their first time on a road bike so difficult? If it was your 1st time ever on 2 wheels then fair enough. When I was young my first ride on a road bike may have only been up the street on a rusty old thing, but it felt wicked being able to go so much faster for the same amount of effort. I was used to BSO mountain bikes and BMXs as a kid. The gear levers were on the downtube if I remember rightly and it wasnt until years later I had my first decent road bike.
This.
A MTB on the road feels like a go kart on an F1 circuit. I hate road riding on it but off road is brilliant. I also feel much safer, even when riding along clifftops than I do taking my chances with the cagers.
This.
A MTB on the road feels like a go kart on an F1 circuit. I hate road riding on it but off road is brilliant. I also feel much safer, even when riding along clifftops than I do taking my chances with the cagers.
Bit harsh?
Thought this was the beginners section and just wanted to start a conversation. It's bigger & less stable bike than my old bike and I found it difficult to control as important things like brakes were no longer where I expected them to be. I did 40 miles on it over the next two days, give me a break.
deptfordmarmoset
Full time tea drinker
- Location
- Armonmy Way
Your body memory will soon learn to deal with what you call ''less stable'' and, crucially, where the brakes are. I've a mixture of road bikes - tourer and ''racers'' - after a while the different ways they handle simply tell you how to ride them. The first time I took a carbon bike down a steepish hill it felt twitchy, compared to the alu and steel bikes I'd ridden. The next few times I began to realise it was just quicker to respond and more manoeuvrable so I relaxed. And then it was just responsive; for me to take advantage of when a pothole or a wet drain cover appeared. I'm pretty sure you'll find something similar once you're used to it.Bit harsh?
I did 40 miles on it over the next two days, give me a break.
Leodis
Veteran
- Location
- Moortown, Leeds
RWright
Guru
- Location
- North Carolina
In the mid to late 60's...I was young
, my cousin that was a few years older got a racer, except here we called them British racers or English racers. I think we used both words, I didn't know the difference between British and English when I was about 7 or 8 years old anyway. 
I also had a Raleigh in the late 80s with the suicide levers. About the only thing they were good for was maybe knocking off a little speed to make a turn.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I rode bikes as a child until my 10-speed racer was stolen from school when I was 13 years old. I bought a 16-speed racer to replace it ... 20 years later!
It took me about 45 seconds to get used to cycling again after that 20 year break, and using that bike with its indexed gears and different handling. The bike was much better than anything that I had ever ridden before.
A few years later, I bought a 24-speed mountain bike with unfamilar 'Rapidfire' shifters and v-brakes, huge knobbly tyres, but no suspension. It took me about 2 minutes to get used to that bike.
The mountain bike was eventually replaced by a bike with front suspension, suspension seatpost, 27-speed gears and disk brakes. That took about 3 or 4 minutes to get to grips with!
What really shocked me was how much more traffic there was on the roads, and how aggressive and impatient many drivers had become. It took me 24 years (and counting) to get used to that!
It took me about 45 seconds to get used to cycling again after that 20 year break, and using that bike with its indexed gears and different handling. The bike was much better than anything that I had ever ridden before.
A few years later, I bought a 24-speed mountain bike with unfamilar 'Rapidfire' shifters and v-brakes, huge knobbly tyres, but no suspension. It took me about 2 minutes to get used to that bike.
The mountain bike was eventually replaced by a bike with front suspension, suspension seatpost, 27-speed gears and disk brakes. That took about 3 or 4 minutes to get to grips with!
What really shocked me was how much more traffic there was on the roads, and how aggressive and impatient many drivers had become. It took me 24 years (and counting) to get used to that!
I've had my road bike just over a week and second time out I couldn't unclip and was clipped by a car, sent me sprawling and my new bike is at the LBS awaiting a new rear mech hanger, which may have to be ordered from Germany it being a Canyon bike. I'm ok though confidence took a hit and seems a while until I can go back out.
Bit harsh?
I did 40 miles on it over the next two days, give me a break.
Sorry mate, didnt mean it like that. I suppose its like going from standard stick gearing you find in most cars to a ferrari with those "flappy paddle" things that Clarkson refers to them as. 40 miles in 2 days isnt bad for anyone. Its bloody brilliant if your just startin out.
Fubar
Legendary Member
Bit harsh?
I did 40 miles on it over the next two days, give me a break.
That does come across as very harsh, though notice an apology so fair do's - I think we all have to remember the difficulties starting out (again!) and appreciate that in the Beginners Section there will be, surprise surprise beginner questions.
