My First Cycling Experience

[NeilEB]

So, my new bike arrived yesterday - it was taking up the lounge when I arrived home from work.

Excited, I got it out of the box, got the pedals on easily enough, and then looked at the handlebars - wait, thinks I, I'm sure it said the handlbars would be 'turned', not removed!

So looking for instruction and finding none, I set about it with the supplied tool, and after a bit of swearing got the bars attached and the right way up. Yay!

So I took it into the garden and a problem immediately surfaced. Surely it can't be right that I can barely touch the ground while seated? With the saddle in it's lowest position? And why does the wheel hit the pedals when I turn the handlebar slightly?

Puzzling over this for a few minutes I realise the problem.....I had managed to put the handlebars on whilst the front stem was facing the wrong way - oops. So after a bit more swearing I got the handlebars off again, turned the stem round and reconnected the handlebars - finally the bike was ready for it's maiden voyage.

So dressed in my pyjama bottoms, t-shirt and crocs, I wheeled the bike up the side path, and took it for a quick (2 minutes) ride along my street. I'm sure bikes never used to be this wobbly when I was riding my BMX 20 years ago? Then again, I guess I never weighed 17st then either.

So initial impressions - much nicer then the BSO I had about 8 years ago. This one actually goes where it's meant to; breaks are really responsive - saddle is incredibly uncomfortable, but then mt behind has been very pampered over the years so I assume I'll get used to it.

I'm hoping to take it out for a slightly longer ride this evening after work if I can find anywhere to go - but Saturday afternoon is shaping up to be the first 'serious' ride of an hour or so.

Could this be the birth of another cycling nutter?

To be updated :-)

 

[fossyant]

PJ Bottoms in the street - lock him up !

 

[fossyant]

PS you could work for Tesco assembling bikes - LOL !

 

[numbnuts]

My First Experience

I thought this was going to be about sex

 

[NeilEB]

I thought this was going to be about sex

I think that says more about you then it does about me

 

[WychwoodTrev]

Happy new bike day. I hope have loads of smiles per mile

 

[Fab Foodie]

First - never consider a job in engineering.
Second - PJs Crocs PJs+ Crocs In Public - Don't apply for a job in fashion

Lightweight modern bikes feel flighty and unstable at first, but you'll soon overcome that and realise the pleasures of a fast responsive machine. Getting set-up takes a bit of time, but worth experimenting. I recommend:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm
Could this be the birth of another cycling nutter? I do hope so

 

[WychwoodTrev]

Ps what you got ?

 

[byegad]

PS you could work for Tesco assembling bikes - LOL !

Nah! He tried it and realised it was wrong! Not even Haulfrads standard. Much better!

 

[Judderz]

Ps what you got ?

A bad taste in fashion by the looks of it!!

 

[Oxo]

So, my new bike arrived yesterday - it was taking up the lounge when I arrived home from work.

Excited, I got it out of the box, got the pedals on easily enough, and ...... finally the bike was ready for it's maiden voyage.

So dressed in my pyjama bottoms, t-shirt and crocs

So you come home from work wearing your PJ's and crocs!!!!

 

[NeilEB]

First - never consider a job in engineering.
Second - PJs Crocs PJs+ Crocs In Public - Don't apply for a job in fashion

I work in IT - maybe that explains a few things?

And no, I came home from work in my suit, got changed into comfy clothes before tackling the bike. I didn't know I was going to take it out for a quick spin.......

This is my new baby.

 

[_aD]

PJ Bottoms in the street - lock him up !

I've done six miles in a dressing gown and PJ bottoms for a sleepover party and _I_ wasn't arrested!

 

[abo]

Backwards forks get in

Glad you got it together, that tool you mention; is it one of those all in one spanner sheet metal things? Throw it away You should invest in a good set of allen keys mind.

Your next step, get it set up properly. You'll save yourself loads of grief. When you say

Surely it can't be right that I can barely touch the ground while seated? With the saddle in it's lowest position?

Oh yes... Probably wants to be higher! I'm going to give this advice because I did the same earlier today... Get a bit of cane, stick it between your legs and shove it up as high as you can (parallel to the floor...) and get your inside leg measurement from that. Multiply the number by 0.883 and that is what the distance from the middle of the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle(measured along the seat tube) should be.

When I set mine I found that what I *thought* was the correct height was actually nearly three inches too low! That, and moving the saddle forward to the correct position has made the bike feel more comfortable.

Good luck with it! I like the look of that Kona so we need reviews!!!

 

[calibanzwei]

and get your inside leg measurement from that. Multiply the number by 0.883

Is that in cm or inches?