new to bikes

[andy69]

I bought myself a bottom range beginners hybrid yesterday. It's the carrera subway from halfords for 279 reduced from 399. I haven't owned a bike since I was at high school...10 years ago.

I've got a few questions, what sort of maintenance do I need to do on the bike? Which oil should I use for the chain and do I oil anything else? Can I upgrade parts of the bike like pedals? How high should my seat and handle bars be? I pick my bike up Monday. I'm open to any other advice....thanks

 

[smokeysmoo]

It's the Carrera subway from Halfords

Nowt wrong with the Subways, plenty of CC'ers have started off with them, and I think quite a few still have them as back up bikes as well.

What sort of maintenance do I need to do on the bike?

On a weekly basis just check nothing is loose, tyres have no debris stuck in them, (some do this one daily), brake pads are clean and free from crud, tyres are inflated correctly etc.

Which oil should I use for the chain and do I oil anything else?

The options are almost limitless. Dry lube, wet lube? FWIW I use chainsaw oil as it works out a lot cheaper in the long run and works brilliantly, but anything is better than nothing, but don't use WD40 as it is not a lubricant. Also, familiarise yourself with the MICKLE method of chain maintenance.

Can I upgrade parts of the bike like pedals?

Yup, you can do anything you want, but, there does come a point when it becomes uneconomical, especially on cheaper bikes, then again, if you plan to keep it regardless this doesn't matter so much. Pedals are a must though, whether you choose flat or clipless, anything will be an improvement over the stock pedals the bike will come with.

How high should my seat and handle bars be?

A decent LBS would sort this for you, sadly Halfords won't have a clue so you'll be on your own to get it right. THIS is a great site about bike fit though and remember, small changes in things like saddle height can make a big difference to ride comfort, so take your time and once you've got your initial fit don't make any big changes all at once.

Hope this helps Andy, good luck, ride safe and welcome to CycleChat

 

[andy69]

Great answer. Thanks v.much for that, really big help.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Great answer. Thanks v.much for that, really big help.

Always a pleasure

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Cannot expand on smokeymoos' responses, but welcome aboard @andy69

 

[Nigelnaturist]

, most things have been covered.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

let us know how you get on with the cycling once you have your bike.

 

[andy69]

Picking my bike up today. Really excited...feels like Christmas. Got everything I need now from helmet to saddle bag to cycle shorts.
I noticed looking at pictures yesterday that there is no quick release for the seat adjustment. Can I buy one of these, and which one/size should I get?

 

[vickster]

Do you need one - just use a multi-tool? Harder for someone to nick your saddle

 

[Kies]

The Allen key adjustment is actually better. Buy a multi tool to put in your saddle bag. Good thing to have on long rides

 

[andy69]

Cheers, I'll stick with the Allen key, much better than I thought it would be.
Just rode back. Felt great, not as fit as I used to be but it'll come with time I hope. Bike felt good, seat was a tad hard but other than that only one small problem. The back disk brake doesn't feel as sharp as I've felt disk brakes before or as sharp as the front one on this bike. Should I adjust something? When I pull the brake, it doesn't take much for the wheel to keep turning.

 

[MaxInc]

Brake pads will take a little while to bed in, they will become more efficient as you keep using the brakes, unless it feels like you can't put enough pressure on the lever in which case you may need to adjust the cable tension.

 

[Goonerobes]

Get yourself some decent padded cycle shorts too as they made a big difference if you find the seat hard.

 

[andy69]

Thanks. When I press the brake and push on the bike it'll move forward with the wheel slowly moving where the other wheel has no movement.

 

[MaxInc]

If you are not sitting on the bike, sqeezing the back brake lever should lock the rear wheel pretty easily because there would be no weight on the back wheel and very limited grip. If the brake slips under these conditions, you will need to tighten the rear brake. There is usually an adjustment knob at either end of the cable.

On the other hand, if you are sitting on the bike, the rear brake will feel less efficient than the front since braking transfers weight to the front wheel which would have significantly more grip than the rear.