starting back into cycling

[starthms]

Hey all,

just joined so i though id drop eveying a line to say hey.

iam getting back in to cycling from a a good few years off. i have at the mo mtb hard tial with full supenion which iam findng a pain as iam not really in to down hill anymore wanting a road bike but want to show myself that iam comited to cycling before spending lots of money on a new bike.

anyone out there have any idea how i can make me mtb easyer for road use.

 

[trustysteed]

welcome!

get thinner non-knobbly tyres for your MTB, 35's!

i did that a few months ago, it's so much easier.

 

[addictfreak]

Welcome

If you are able to lock out the suspension front and rear that will certainly help.

Also thinner slick tyres. Other than that im not sure if theres anymore can be done.

 

[starthms]

hey thanks for the welcome and the ideas, will look into the tyres.
that is my main problem withthe bike is the front suspension cant really ride it standing up going up hills shocks take all the power out. there a guide or somewhere i can go to show me how to lock out the shocks.

 

[Medic6666]

Slicks are great if you are just road riding...I found that once I had slicks on I realised that I still did a lot of river paths and the sort. In the end I went for something like these

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Continental_Double_Fighter_II_MTB_Tyre/5360018714/

They are ok on the road and still allow you to off road as well. Not good off road if muddy, but then you can put your old knobbly ones back on for that ride ;0)

 

[addictfreak]

Not sure what kind of forks you have, mine have adjustment on top of the right hand fork so I can adjust or lock out. Not all forks are able to do this.

I would type in the name of your fork in google (or similar) and search for instruction manuals.

 

[Globalti]

If you go for narrow smooth tyres it's worth buying a track pump to get a good pressure.

 

[HJ]

hey thanks for the welcome and the ideas, will look into the tyres.
that is my main problem withthe bike is the front suspension cant really ride it standing up going up hills shocks take all the power out. there a guide or somewhere i can go to show me how to lock out the shocks.

Depends on your forks, a lot of the suspension forks on cheap mtbs can't be locked out...

 

[starthms]

i found out that me supension is Suntour cant find a model number any where on the bike.
thinking about going for these tyres http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Continental_Town_And_Country_Semi_Slick_Tyre/5300002816/

oh yeah sorry forgot to say what make me bike is its an apollo xc.26

 

[HJ]

Aye they'll be faster...

 

[smeg]

I've got an Apollo XC26S too which has front suspension forks, and no you can't lock them, not that you need to they don't do a lot anyway except add extra weight to the bike. Have you had lots of trouble with your gears and front disc brake being completely useless? I've replaced lots of parts on mine so it's actually now quite a decent bike, replaced that crap Artek/Zoom disc brake with one that actually works (Shimano 416), replaced the crap unresponsive and skippy Shimano Tourney rear derailleur with a nice smooth shifting Deore amongst other parts which I have replaced, has a horrible saddle too so that came off as well. Today I took off the gripshifters and replaced them with Acera trigger shifters/brake levers, new handlebar grips... Bike looks well posh now - I've been busy

You'll instantly notice how much easier to pedal it is, smoother ride and quicker when you replace those horrible knobbly tyres with slicks, I've put Michelin City Tyres 26" x 1.8" on mine (got them cheap off eBay) and haven't had a puncture since - I had one in less than a week using the soft knobblies that came with it. In hindsight I'd have gone for a slightly thinner 1.5. If you put slicks on I'd be careful in the wet (esp. cornering) though they can be a bit slippy, and even more fun if there's ice on the roads.

 

[starthms]

lol i though it just wasnt set up right. that i had to do a bit of fiddleing with it. i dont have a lot of tech knowlege on the bike front.
well i guess i got what i payed for it only £150 thinking just put new tyres on it and save me pennes for a new road bike. if any one does have any ideas on how to inprove the gears and ride all will be acpetted and very much thankful for