i Am Frightened of my Road Bike

[paulb55]

I had a bike that frightened me once. I'd get to the shed and it would be facing the opposite way to when I left it. When I was riding it it would sometimes lurch into traffic for no apparent reason and the brakes would fail just as inexplicably at dangerous moments. Whenever I would get on it there would be a chill in the air, even in summer and whilst riding I'd end up somewhere without the slightest idea how I got there, sometimes hundereds of miles away from home.

So I sold it.

OKAY

WEIRD

don't know what to say mate, was it called CHRISTINE by any chance

 

[Fab Foodie]

Having the same issues with others here. Went for another ride yesterday and felt much more controlled on the bike. Still feeling very nervous though changing gears. Having to reach down to the down tube and taking one hand off the handle bars leaves me tensing up (no issue with tensing when indicating mind).

Amazing how much more controlled the bike feels each time I ride it though.

Next plan is to by a bike computer to see my speed, as according to endomondo I can do the route quicker on my MTB??? I think I must ride harder when I see the speed.

Being tense on a road-bike makes them even more skittish, relax, be masterful!
DT shifters are fine, they soon become second nature. Remember this, when moving, a bike naturally wants to go in a straight line, so relax the death-grip on the bars!

 

[Black Sheep]

My wife's bike has the same tyres as yours, prior to her road bike she had never ridden anything but a mountain bike.

I would say that you need to watch out for road paint (white lines, arrows etc) in the wet as it can be slippy.

take it steady, you'd be surprised how much grip your tyres offer, and get used to it as your confidence grows

keep tyre pressures up.

 

[vickster]

Ok,

I have some Taiwanese tyres on my bike, Kenda i think, what's the med to best tyres for a sub £350 bike then for me

I was recommended these when I wanted red tyres to further pimp up the carbon, seem decent enough for the money so far

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/High-On-Bi...LH_TitleDesc=1&_sasi=1&_fsub=17&_sid=69901822

I got the folding ones, they have a range of colours to match the bike or dull old black

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I was recommended these when I wanted red tyres to further pimp up the carbon, seem decent enough for the money so far

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/High-On-Bi...LH_TitleDesc=1&_sasi=1&_fsub=17&_sid=69901822

I got the folding ones, they have a range of colours to match the bike or dull old black

They are the ones I plan to get next. They look seriously good as well

 

[HLaB]

They are the ones I plan to get next. They look seriously good as well

IIRC Planet X are selling the Schwalbe Blizzards cheap, I dare say the won't be the lightest/ most rolling of tyres but they do look good for not dear

 

[Angelfishsolo]

IIRC Planet X are selling the Schwalbe Blizzards cheap, I dare say the won't be the lightest/ most rolling of tyres but they do look good for not dear

Sadly they only have White in stock at the mo

 

[Nebulous]

Ribble are doing the Ultremo ZXs in a range of colours cheaply.

tyres

I'm quite tempted - though I don't suppose they'll last long.

 

[paulb55]

Ok Guys

Went out on my new steed today for a 12 miler after doing a few adjustments and got to say it was quite enjoyable,

2 things are for certain:-

My average speed has gone up

I need mudguards

thanks for all the feedback and i am not frightened of my road bike any more !!!!!!!!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

i am not frightened of my road bike any more !!!!!!!!

 

[HLaB]

 

[StuAff]

Just found this thread & had a quick read-through. Well done Paul!

 

[VamP]

Ribble are doing the Ultremo ZXs in a range of colours cheaply.

tyres

I'm quite tempted - though I don't suppose they'll last long.

I got a ZX on the back of my road bike (R.1 on the front). Done about 300 miles so far and looks as new. In stark contrast to the R.1 on the rear which pretty much disintegrated after about 300 miles.

Oddly enough the R.1 on the front still looking in very good nick after 600 odd miles.

In terms of speed and rolling resistance there ain't a lot between them, but the ZX does appear a lot more durable.

 

[potsy]

Thanks Guys,

Really good answers and debate coming back and keep it going

On tyres i am thinking of buying some scharwbe marathon plus tyres 700 x 23C for my bike, will it make much difference to the bike as i don't like punctures

You won't get them in 23's Paul, 25 is the thinnest they do.
That said I wouldn't put them on a bike like yours tbh, kind of defeats the object of having a nice light fast bike.
The Durano+ are the race bike equivalent and are pretty good if not as bombproof as the M+

Good to hear you are now mastering the bike

 

[eyko]

Being tense on a road-bike makes them even more skittish, relax, be masterful!
DT shifters are fine, they soon become second nature. Remember this, when moving, a bike naturally wants to go in a straight line, so relax the death-grip on the bars!

Due to commitments and weather (if it's wet the MTB comes out not the road bike) I haven't been out much on the road bike. However I took it for a leisurely ride down ncn 23 from Reading to B'stoke last Friday. Figured a longer ride might help me feel more relaxed, and I was defiantly feeling a lot less tense than previous rides.

After about 10 miles I decided the saddle needed raising, quick change and the bike suddenly felt like a different machine. I felt in complete control, and was even fine riding the bike when the route went down a muddy track for a v.short distance. Still not spending time on the drops but I now love my road bike