Show us your.......newbie progress! [4 Sep 2012 - 4 Oct 2014]

[Nigelnaturist]

Sad indeed.

 

[MaxInc]

I don't want to dampen the enthusiasm but I was just reading about a bike fatality in my area yesterday. The retired CEO of a large and well established road construction company was killed when a car turned into his path. The car was driven by a retired doctor that was a founder of a highly regarded regional orthopaedic clinic. Not that it matters so much what they had done or accomplished, it did make top headlines on the regional news and hopefully will make more drivers and riders aware.
http://www.wral.com/pedestrian-killed-in-raleigh-crash/12406954/
This was not the first bicycle fatality I have read about in my area this week.

RIDE WITH CARE! ....just think a little harder and more in advance when hitting those Strava segments! and stay alert!

Cycling is busy traffic is no joke indeed and incredibly vulnerable. It is always sad to read about such things, kind of remembers you how fragile life really is.

 

[RWright]

Typical rookie behaviour, get the shiny stuff first and deal with the hard work later It's a Cannondale Synapse 5.

I got a used Synapse recently, wish it had been my rookie behavior. I am enjoying mine.

 

[SWSteve]

@Mo1959 your ticker bar, was that your actual annual target? Just because you have absolutely trumped it and I am a little shocked

 

[SWSteve]

The forecast for today was "Go out and ride!" And I'm glad I did, although at 6C in the morning wasn't much fun to begin with, it warmed up pretty quickly. Later I visited my LSB at Sidcup Cycle Centre which happened to have in stock a boxed 56cm Cannondale Synapse 5 105

What colour is the bike? I've had a look online and it is gorgeous, but there seem to be some vulgar options available

 

[SWSteve]

Getting in wasn't much of a problem save for a couple of times after lights, but felt natural with a little learning to go along with it. Unclipping absolutely no problem, though the spring tension was on the easiest, and Im using those easy to unclip shimano cleats so.

I have posted in the Clipless Pedals FAQ thread about the few issues I have, think they all relate to bike fit more than anything.

Have you found you need to raise/alter the height of your saddle? I felt like my legs were never getting as straight as they used to last night (my first 'real' clipless ride) and will be playing with my saddle tomorrow after my ride

 

[SWSteve]

RIDE WITH CARE! ....just think a little harder and more in advance when hitting those Strava segments! and stay alert!

Definitely! If I had a pound for every time I said or screamed 'for f**** sake' when cycling at rush hour/on a road I would have a very very very fancy bike. Keep your eyes and ears open kids

 

[Nomadski]

Have you found you need to raise/alter the height of your saddle? I felt like my legs were never getting as straight as they used to last night (my first 'real' clipless ride) and will be playing with my saddle tomorrow after my ride

Interesting point, will pay more attention to my leg shape next time I'm out on it.

 

[RWright]

If I were wanting more calf work I think I would raise my seat a little and/or move my cleats a little more toward the toe of my shoes. Very gradual increases. I cut a small piece of duct tape with scissors to mark my current seat post height. I guess you could mark your cleats with a sharpie or something similar to keep track of where they were when you started, so you can go back if you don't like the change.

 

[MaxInc]

What colour is the bike? I've had a look online and it is gorgeous, but there seem to be some vulgar options available

Other candidates were the Scott Speedster 20 for the aero frame and internal cabling but lost on colour scheme and poor availability. The other was Specialized Allez Elite for the gorgeous design at this price range but lost on Tiagra vs. 105. Settled on the Synapse for the 105 components and Shimano wheels, design focus towards comfort, and general good looks.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Other candidates were the Scott Speedster 20 for the aero frame and internal cabling but lost on colour scheme and poor availability. The other was Specialized Allez Elite for the gorgeous design at this price range but lost on Tiagra vs. 105. Settled on the Synapse for the 105 components and Shimano wheels, design focus towards comfort, and general good looks.

That looks very nice indeed!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I will replace the battery and check the magnet. Hopefully that will do the trick.

I think I might need to change mine as it keeps auto stopping even above 10mph.

It was hard work this morning.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

20 mile pootle with our lass this morning, was very windy and got caught by a fantastic downpour that lasted a few minutes before it was brilliant sunshine again

 

[SWSteve]

Other candidates were the Scott Speedster 20 for the aero frame and internal cabling but lost on colour scheme and poor availability. The other was Specialized Allez Elite for the gorgeous design at this price range but lost on Tiagra vs. 105. Settled on the Synapse for the 105 components and Shimano wheels, design focus towards comfort, and general good looks.

That's the colour I saw and thought, that looks amazing/bright. Good choice

 

[MaxInc]

20 mile pootle with our lass this morning, was very windy and got caught by a fantastic downpour that lasted a few minutes before it was brilliant sunshine again

Same here, managed to time it to perfection in the windiest of times and some light rain but then remembered #9 and #5 and pushed through it until exhaustion