i Am Frightened of my Road Bike

[Chris-H]

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.c...7&_sid=69901822

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

whats the difference between folding and non folding mate,seriously considering these for my bike now too

 

[HLaB]

whats the difference between folding and non folding mate,seriously considering these for my bike now too

Non folding tyres have a wired bead (hence their rigid non foldable state) and are generally a tad heavier folding tyres do not and are generally a tad lighter.

 

[Chris-H]

Non folding tyres have a wired bead (hence their rigid non foldable state) and are generally a tad heavier folding tyres do not and are generally a tad lighter.

Easy as that,cheers mate,i take it the weight difference is very marginal?

 

[HLaB]

Easy as that,cheers mate,i take it the weight difference is very marginal?

It depends on the brand, I think my wired grand prixs weigh around 270g but the more expensive foldable grand prix 4000S weigh 205g but I looked at some cheap schwalbe foldable tyres the other day and they were heavier than both; you need to swap around and figure out what is best for you and what you are doing. I barely notice the weight difference on my own or on the relaxed runs with the club but with the really fast boys I feel it (its probably more than just that though ), but at this moment the wired tyre suit my pocket better.

 

[BSRU]

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

The default riding position for a road bike is on the brake hoods. I cannot remember the last time I went on the drops. I also found the change from my flat bar hybrid to the drop bar road bike a little scary, but now I find the road bike is alot easier to ride/control than the hybrid and even more fun.
The only way to get over you fears is ride as much as possible. I only commute on my road bike when it's dry and no chance of rain, so in the past four months I have managed just 1600 km, as the weather has been very good this summer, in my opinion.
I feel so much better on the road bike that I am going to replace my hybrid with a drop bar main commuter bike next spring, when the C2W vouchers are available again.

 

[eyko]

The default riding position for a road bike is on the brake hoods. I cannot remember the last time I went on the drops. I also found the change from my flat bar hybrid to the drop bar road bike a little scary, but now I find the road bike is alot easier to ride/control than the hybrid and even more fun.
The only way to get over you fears is ride as much as possible. I only commute on my road bike when it's dry and no chance of rain, so in the past four months I have managed just 1600 km, as the weather has been very good this summer, in my opinion.
I feel so much better on the road bike that I am going to replace my hybrid with a drop bar main commuter bike next spring, when the C2W vouchers are available again.

Don't know why, just assumed the default position was on the drops. Spend most of my time on the brake hoods though as it feels the most comfortable. Nice to know this is normal.

And yep, more riding defiantly does make it easier. Not expecting to get that many more road bike miles in this year, but going to take every opportunity I get to ride it.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

I think a big part of getting to know your ride is not only of the bike itself, it's knowing the roads and routes you take.

A few weeks back I cycled to meet a mate at the Gorge for the ToB that was passing through Cheddar Gorge. On the way, down Shipham Hilll - a long descent down into Cheddar - there was a cyclist in front of me caning it down. Now, it was pretty awesome but not stupid or irresponsible. I caught up with him later and congratulated him on an awesome descent and then realised that I'd only descended this hill twice before and if it had been the Gorge itself, that I know very well, I may have been more confident at his kind of speed. Then I realised that the only criterium I'd employed for measuring my own speed was someone else, on a hill I wasn't used to. A recipe for disaster methinks.

So, get to know the routes you take on your road bike and soon enough you'll gain confidence enough on those routes, hills, descents to teach you a bit more about how your road bike differs, if at all.

Of course, little things can still give you the jitters. I bought my carbon earlier in the year and for various reasons couldn't ride it for the first few months but soon got the handling and elements like the brakes served to induce me with more confidence. But, I had a nasty blowout a few weeks ago now, on a descent, round a bend, nearly lost control of the bike, and I treat that particular place with slightly more respect than perhaps I did.

Only you know your own limit and it changes with confidence and that confidence, I believe, is also about knowing your road as much as the bike.

 

[david k]

Hi Everybody

I have a specialized crosstrail hybrid bile which i have been riding for over a year now and love every minute of it but as my fitness is getting better i have purchased a road bike, Carrera TDF.

I picked it up today and the first 2 things i noticed was the weight, very very light compared to my hybrid and secondly the tyres, WOW they are thin, 700 x 23C

I went on a little ride on it and it seems very light to handle so tell me what should i be looking out for and what should i be wary of like:

Going downhill fast, i am frightened that the wheels will skid from underneath me especially in the rain or if roads are wet

Being able to control the bike at speed

Riding on rough roads, will my backbone be jarred into submission

I only intend to ride it in the week on my training rides and will use my hybrid for the weekend on canal towpaths etc, so nay advise on how to handle a road bike as i feel like a learner driver at the moment

almost exaclty the same as me, got a subway hybrid then got a careera vanquish, same fears

 

[twobiker]

I feel much higher up on my road bike and my hands are much closer together, so balance more critical, but MTB feels lower and is wider so feels more stable especially on downhills, chalk and cheese.

 

[native son]

I too have had a crosstrail for about a year, cycling about 60 miles per week. On Friday I collected my first road bike, following a bike fit from racescene in barnsley.
First ride was like starting like a beginner again. Hills were harder with the compact, had to remember where the brakes were . Spd sl, different from Spd with platform. Covered about 8 miles .
Went out again Saturday, found hills hard work but so much faster up them. Couldn't believe the speed on the flat. Think I might like the road bike.
Today having figured out how to use the gearing to better effect, had a huge grin all the time out riding, don't think it was the tightness of the lycra. It suddenly hit me that going for the road bike was a great decision. Enjoyed the hills up and down, flying along the flat. At one with the bike, a feeling I never had with the hybrid. I cannot believe the difference in just 3 days.
Back to the hybrid tommorrow in the dark, so havnt given up on it but ant wait to get back on the road bike .