Newbie...one burning question

[punkypossum]

Randochap - Why is a Giant not suitable for this kind of trip? I absolutely love it...granted it is my first 'proper' bike (discounting all the cheap mountain bikes i've had in the past) but all the same its an absolute pleasure to ride.

Randochap doesn't agree with people using certain types of bikes for commuting/touring/long distance rides... Don't worry about it - if the bike is right for you and feels good, there is no problem with it!

 

[Randochap]

I'd rather people didn't ascribe to me opinions that I don't actually hold.

I applaud anyone who gets on a bicycle and enlivens their heart. What I am actually attempting to do is resurrect the knowledge of what an appropriate general-purpose bicycle looks and rides like.

For the trip planned by the OP, that "ideal" machine would be a touring bicycle or perhaps "audax" if a lightweight " credit card" approach were the plan.

I'm amazed that in the country that taught me the basics of the cycling life -- going on this forum and my last visit -- has generally lost touch with the philosophy of such a machine. You can't depend on the industry at present to offer up that knowledge because they are too busy for the most part promoting & flogging "racer boy" bikes and "hybrids."

The bikes quoted by the OP are not ideal because one is a wannabee "racer" bereft of any braze-ons and the other looks like it only has bosses for a rack. From both geometry and gear perspectives they are poor choices.

I wouldn't wast my time banging on this keyboard and creating the VeloWeb site if I didn't passionately care that as many people as possible come to this sport and enjoy their experiences enough to stick with the greatest mode of travel in the world. I'm anything but an "elite."

Check the touring section of VeloWeb for what does and doesn't constitute an ideal touring bike

A fellow clubmate (and senior member!) did LEJoG in '05. You can see the kind of bikes that predominated in the group were dedicated touring rigs.

The OP, realizing he'd made purchases without a lot of forethought, asked for opinions. These are mine for what they are worth.

 

[betty swollocks]

The reason that you're able to go faster is twofold:-
i) you have a better bike
ii) you're a better cyclist. - even though you don't realise it!
Simple as that!

 

[tea]

Was his bike and or gears set up correctly, i purchased a cheap bike and for the first two weeks it killed me, i thought i couldn't be that unfit so i took it back to the shop, turned out the person had put the gears on wrong (sigh) you wouldn't believe the difference.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Does the other chaps bike have front sus? Of so is it locked out on the roads? So much energy is wasted by unnecessary movement - Case in point. I cycle with a friend who has a MTB bike (in fact several) far superior to mine in every possible way. However on a hill climb (on road) if he is riding a full sus or a hard tail (not locked out) I can leave him behind with relative ease - if he locks out his bike then we are pretty equally matched.

 

[Steve Austin]

Waffle waffle and more waffle

A Giant FCR1 will be fine for this guys trip. Randochap, you seem to think commuting, long distance riding can only be done on certain kinds of bikes, and you are entitled to your opinion but have you considered that if you post comments like you have, you may be coming across as sneering at beginners? I agree that there are specific bikes for specific activities, but i think you are wrong to make the generalised seeping statements about what bikes people should use. The op will be fine riding LeJog and I wish him all the best.

If i was riding it, i would be using my Carbon TCR. Because thats the bike i want to ride.

 

[Steve Austin]

The ventura equipe. It looks like a budget basic roadbike. no real difference to any other roadbike in style. It is heavy, 13kg, and really you don't want a roadbike to be any heavier than 10kg imo. it'll work fine, but its not the best.

 

[HJ]

An excellent link, Hairy, but I think you will get more sensible results, if you add in the county you are in, or the next door ones. Sorry if I am pointing out the obvious.

Trouble is a lot of the new people here don't tell us anything about where they are... I not suggesting that they give their full address, but some indication of location is sometime useful when giving such advice...

 

[Radius]

The secret to hill climbing is to choose a low gear and spin (your legs should be doing 80 rpm or more).

I'd have to disagree...there are times when standing up and pushing (not absolutely grinding, but not sitting and spinning) are far more appropriate for going up a difficult climb.


ON TOPIC: His bike is heavy, that will make a bit of a difference, but probably not as big a one a you've described here. You probably just are better suited to cycling for whatever reason...

 

[Speicher]

Trouble is a lot of the new people here don't tell us anything about where they are... I not suggesting that they give their full address, but some indication of location is sometime useful when giving such advice...

Yes, knowing at least which county someone is in, is useful.

 

[Randochap]

Randochap, you seem to think commuting, long distance riding can only be done on certain kinds of bikes, and you are entitled to your opinion but have you considered that if you post comments like you have, you may be coming across as sneering at beginners? I agree that there are specific bikes for specific activities, but i think you are wrong to make the generalised seeping statements about what bikes people should use. The op will be fine riding LeJog and I wish him all the best.

I wish him all the best as well.

Again, you are misrepresenting what I write and ascribing opinions to me I don't hold. Nowhere have I said only certain kind of bikes can be used for certain purposes. I'm trying to get across what are "ideal" bikes for such uses.

In no way am I "sneering at beginners." My whole website is dedicated to providing information to beginners, for **** sake, and I get e-mails from beginners all the time thanking me for my advice.

Sure people do impressive rides all the time on less than perfect machines. I've done so myself. But why do that if you don't have to?

Gotta go. Tomorrow morning, I oversee our big season-opening populaire here, with riders of every level of experience. I'm busy printing route sheets and control cards at this moment. Why would I undertake such volunteer work if I looked down on beginners? The whole idea is to attract newcomers to our sport of long-distance cycling.The biggest kick I get is seeing not the elite riders blaze in setting a course record, but those for whom just finishing the route is a stretch of their abilities and who are so chuffed that they did something they never thought they could do.

Some will no doubt do the ride on MTBs and all form of "inappropriate" machines. They will -- if they pay attention, and if they want to continue in the sport -- notice and ask about the bikes the experienced riders are using. Again, anyone is welcome to accept or reject what I have come to believe is the "ideal" machine for such use over 40 years of cycling.

Cheers.

 

[philr]

just over a year ago, i decided i wanted to get back in the saddle. not really having ridden since school days (a long long time ago in a galaxy far away !!!)

anyway i went to halfords wish i knew this forum existed then, purchased a cheap MTB, and wondered why hills killed me, flat roads killed me, downhils were the only enjoyable part of it.

moving swiftly on, i visited my LBS did a couple of test rides, wow what a difference i tried 3 different bikes out, at approx £100-150 pounds different starting at £350. anyway i settled for the mid priced one as i felt so much more comfortable, and hills much easier.

i am still very new and welcome constructive feedback whats wrong with
Randochap thats got a lot of you so wound up..

 

[Ivan Ardon]

3 Kg difference in bike weight won't make THAT much difference compared to the better wheels and tyres you've got on your Giant.

I'd probably try a better pair of tyres before dismissing his bike as total junk. The ones on there will be the cheapest of the cheap, but you'll always be up against the poor quality you get from buying at the low end.

 

[Wigsie]

Rando is the voice of undiluted reason.... to do LE2JOG in would inevitably be more comfortable and more practical on a tourer than on a road race style bike.... his advice is pure common sense, giving me similar advice when I was looking for a bike to commute 18.5 miles each way to work.

Unfortunately like many when I have 1k burning a hole in my pocket I wanted something a little racier and bought an Allez Elite. It has NO mud guards, racks/panniers and the saddle is pretty slim and firm. Ok so I cant ride every day as I cant carry my laptop and I have to keep a spare change of clothes at work but I love it, it excites me and i have never regretted it... if I was going to do the LEJOG then I would want do it on my Spesh.

Road bikes like my Spesh and the OP's Giant are not really made for high miles day after day but thats not to say you cant do it and have fun 99% of the way you just have to make some sacrifices.

 

[evilbob333]

Thanks for everybodys input...its given me a lot to consider! Like i said originally i'm very happy with my bike and cant wait to get on the road.

As for my original point...it turns out that the friend who was struggling with hills didn't have a clue what he was doing with his gears...he had told us that he was in the right gear, etc...but was in the harder set!!! Anyway, you'll all be glad to know that we've taken the appropriate amount of piss and shall continue to do so all the way from lands end to john o groats!!!!

cheers