Newbie Road user

[Simontm]

he

I will say doing things on the cheap is not an easy thing, I could very easily spend a fortune, but then I cant. negatives found are the little multi tools, get a cheap one and you do indeed get a useless thing that wont last long at all (as found today adjusting my seat), foot pump, also crap if cheap.

I have the computer, and to be honest dont even know if it is set up right, when it says 10mph I could be doing 2 or could be doing 15, I dont really know, I followed the instructions, but it too was a cheap Wilko one, lol, later I will get a better one.

I have found an ebay shop that sells proper sunglasses for cycling that come with prescription lenses that only cost £25 so Ill give those a go, and I am confident Muddyfox cheap shoes are not the best, but they are cheap.

I do love cycling, looking forward to going out tomorow.

As been said Aldi stuff's not bad but if you go in today look around, I picked up a pair of padded shorts yesterday for £3 from the last lot if bike stuff. Also pick up the track pump that's on offer. Won't be brilliant but will suffice for that price.

Curious about the ebay shop - got a link?

Ta

 

[cyberknight]

I never said it was, however you didn't say what tyre you were running, but from the three I have had, not once has the actual tyre been punctured, even though a fair chunk of rear tyre got ripped off, as I said in 12,000 miles, but I have had punctures, which I also quoted. The first and last 100yards or so, I cover a lane covered in all manner of debris from thorns to broken glass, so plenty of opportunity to pick up something non to nice. I get through wheels quicker than tyres, this is the third front wheel this tyre has been on.

Yup i just dont want the OP to get the wrong impression that gators are magic .

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@cyberknight what were the circumstance for each puncture, because I find it difficult to believe a gatorskin to be punctured three times in one ride, as in something had gone through the tyre, on three separate occasions, as I said I have done 12,000 without the tyre/s being punctured, you can see where I am coming from, though I agree don't just relay on CO2 inflater's, as if the object causing the puncture isn't removed it is likely to re-puncture.

 

[cyberknight]

Cycling home from work along normal roads , i dont gutter ride but i do have to use a cycle path for maybe 1.5 miles .

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@cyberknight even so, I still find it difficult understand how it punctured three time, how have you got on since with them or until or if you have changed them.

EDIT
I did hear they were a bit suspect on the side walls.

 

[craig kennedy]

lol, ok well today I used Map my ride and covered a very nice route of around 16-17 miles (started the app part way through lol)
stopped at all red traffic lights so I dont get any tossers being pissy at me. Had a few hills, mostly lengthy ones, some nice down hill and level areas. All in it was a nice route, one I will do again now that I see how it all works out well. Fair bit of traffic but nothing I cant handle
About 3 miles from home and I was starting to feel a little muscle pain in the left leg, but I pushed through it (hero), now legs are somewhat jelly ish, lol, but I feel good for doing it.
Pain felt during the cycle was in the shoulders where they meet the neck.
I think I have the seat hight about right, thanks to the videos posted above, am going to look at the seat distance in a moment as I dont know that it is right, but I do not feel comfortable when cruising with hands on the top, the handlebars seem too low or far away from me? To be comfortable, sitting up right, I use my finger tips on the handle bars. Def need a better seat as well my one is not so good

 

[cyberknight]

lol, ok well today I used Map my ride and covered a very nice route of around 16-17 miles (started the app part way through lol)
stopped at all red traffic lights so I dont get any tossers being pissy at me. Had a few hills, mostly lengthy ones, some nice down hill and level areas. All in it was a nice route, one I will do again now that I see how it all works out well. Fair bit of traffic but nothing I cant handle
About 3 miles from home and I was starting to feel a little muscle pain in the left leg, but I pushed through it (hero), now legs are somewhat jelly ish, lol, but I feel good for doing it.
Pain felt during the cycle was in the shoulders where they meet the neck.
I think I have the seat hight about right, thanks to the videos posted above, am going to look at the seat distance in a moment as I dont know that it is right, but I do not feel comfortable when cruising with hands on the top, the handlebars seem too low or far away from me? To be comfortable, sitting up right, I use my finger tips on the handle bars. Def need a better seat as well my one is not so good

Thats normally a sign the stem is too long or too low , many new road bike riders start with a higher handlebar and can if they want/ like/ need (?) have it lower as they get used to it .
Has your bike got a quill stem

or a

The second type is easier to either flip to raise or replace with a shorter one .

 

[craig kennedy]

sorry, yes, this is the ebay link to the prescription glasses
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181781885328?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&var=480725403819&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDXT

regards the stem, the second one it has

 

[craig kennedy]

Seems I wont be able to raise the bars any higher, the 2 spacers are already on the bottom, so perhaps a shorter one to bring the bars closer to me is the issue

 

[craig kennedy]

ok so I need to look at a shorter stem. I presume I need to remove the one I have and measure it, so question is from where to where do I measure

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@craig kennedy it may be possible to flip it to start with, unless it is completely straight,otherwise centre to centre

 

[craig kennedy]

holy crap, nice and simple then eh.....just reaching for my geometry book

 

[jonny jeez]

My advice would be to save the £40 it costs to ride on free roads to Brighton...and just ride to Brighton.


If you are not sure of a route, then let me know and I am sure we can help on that. Then, maybe invest half that amount joining the fairies and accumulate as much knowledge as you can from them in the first year.

You could always go along as a guest for free one Saturday , when I rode with them they broke the club into two, those riding at 14-16 mph and those at 16-20.

Good luck.

 

[jonny jeez]

holy crap, nice and simple then eh.....just reaching for my geometry book

Haha, it's actually dead easy,,what Nigel is saying is that if your stem has an angle to it, you can turn it upside down to make it point up a bit.

If it's a flat stem, then you can't.

And the measurement go from the centre of each hole.

 

[craig kennedy]

Thanks Jonny. The London to Brighton thing is a goal for me, doing it by myself would not likely have the same mental impact as paying £40 and having to do it does. Ideally I would love to be fit enough to do the London to Paris run but I am not sure I will be by then.
I did go out on one of the local club rides, my first ride on a bike in years and we cycled 32 miles with one stop. My arse was numb, and I certainly did not feel great after, I did make it however.