sti & spd-sl newbie

[Moda]

Have never used STI gear levers or spd-sl pedals.

Got an 8 mile trip between the bike shop and home which will happen about mid afternoon through central London.

Am thinking of buying a cheap 'normal' pedal to get me home.

How easy are STI 6700 gear levers to use for a complete beginner. Can't find a YouTube how to video on this =8O
Cheers

 

[vickster]

Is that 105 gearing? If so, very easy, especially as in London you are highly unlikely to need more than about 5 gears on the back and the big ring on the front You tube or Google is your friend as to how to use

SPD-SL for 8 miles when never used, I would consider flats and they practice clipping in the lounge. If not, get the shop to set them on the lowest, easiest tension and ask them to put the bike on the turbo so you can practice

What concerns me most is you are buying what is likely a costly bike without a testride!

 

[musa]

Whereabouts in London are you? If your further in south ie sutton then I'd say pop into thr shop and i can help u out

 

[Moda]

O.K flat pedals it!

Have spent the last 20 minutes or so on YouTube but can't find anything practical. Google throws up Wiki but that's only really diagrams.

Did have a test ride but was a bit worried about crashing or hitting something while trying to work out the shifters so stayed in 1 gear.

Not sure what you mean by 105 gearing but was asked if I wanted compact or standard gearing and was advised to go for compact which I did.

 

[vickster]

Ah, you in Sutton Pearsons Musa? I thought Sheen...will pop by and say hey!

 

[Moda]

Whereabouts in London are you? If your further in south ie sutton then I'd say pop into thr shop and i can help u out

Waterloo to Ally Pally

 

[vickster]

O.K flat pedals it!

Have spent the last 20 minutes or so on YouTube but can't find anything practical. Google throws up Wiki but that's only really diagrams.

Did have a test ride but was a bit worried about crashing or hitting something while trying to work out the shifters so stayed in 1 gear.

Not sure what you mean by 105 gearing but was asked if I wanted compact or standard gearing and was advised to go for compact which I did.

What bike is it?

Ok - right hand, on Tiagra, 105 (and perhaps 2013 Sora), you shift to a smaller ring when on the big cog at the front by pushing the black lever to the left - this will make add resistance to the pedalling

To shift to the bigger cogs and make it easier to pedal, push the whole brake lever to the left. You need to pedal all the while doing this. I didn't think you'll need the little ring unless going into hilly N London!

Who are you buying from, as frankly they should be explaining all this to you!

 

[vickster]

OK, it's hilly around Ally Pally -you will need the small ring - on right shifter, the small black lever will shift you from big ring to small and the brake lever, small ring back to big

If buying in Waterloo, assume it's Evans. Get them to explain

Go now while it's early as they won't be as busy as later

 

[Kies]

Ask them to loan you some cheap 2nd hand flats for the ride home. I rode my bike home from Windsor to Uxbridge and the guys put me on a turbo to practice clipping in and out before they let me out the door!
Central London at lunchtime on a Sunday is NOT the place to have your maiden clipless voyage!!!!!

 

[Moda]

Thanks for advice much appreciated....

The bike is a Moda Calore which has had the SRAM Apex swapped out for Shimano Ultegra. All my cycling mates seem to be fully paid up members of the "I hate double tap" club and ended up scaring me enough to have it swapped. Yes, the bike is expensive BUT my last bike (bar end shifters) lasted for 17 years before being nicked and never gave me any hassle. Have known others with cheaper bikes having "issues" with reliability etc. I fully intend to commute day in day out regardless of the weather and long weekend cycle tours.

Will definitely be seeking advice in store just wanted to tap the collective wisdom of this forum for practical advice.

 

[musa]

Ah, you in Sutton Pearsons Musa? I thought Sheen...will pop by and say hey!

I'm in Sutton. I live in Purley Way now.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Thanks for advice much appreciated....

The bike is a Moda Calore which has had the SRAM Apex swapped out for Shimano Ultegra. All my cycling mates seem to be fully paid up members of the "I hate double tap" club and ended up scaring me enough to have it swapped. Yes, the bike is expensive BUT my last bike (bar end shifters) lasted for 17 years before being nicked and never gave me any hassle. Have known others with cheaper bikes having "issues" with reliability etc. I fully intend to commute day in day out regardless of the weather and long weekend cycle tours.

Will definitely be seeking advice in store just wanted to tap the collective wisdom of this forum for practical advice.

Having been used to downtube shifters 40 years back and then more recently Rapidfire MTB shifters I found that these new fangled rifters are straightforward to use.

They did take me a while before they became 'intuitive' but even now I still feel that MTB style shifters are more positive and have a more natural to me anyway shifting operation ie thumb/forefinger as opposed to a push/swipe action.

Your dealer will be able to advise and you should get home ok although you might find the shifters a tad frustrating at first.

 

[musa]

I used to work in waterloo station in one well known Japanese cuisine

Ideally find an independent lbs. Evans at times are clueless not all of them but sure. If you do venture out try brixton cycles they used to be in my local until i moved out. Fantastic bunch of people

If your setup is wrong venture to sutton and ill help you out with that.

 

[Moda]

Hey thanks for the offer Musa will bear it in mind if I'm down your way.

Will check out Brixton Cycles as Brixton happens to be the location of our favourite pizza joint Franco Manca.... epic!

 

[musa]

Kool pal

Yeah try that. Service is good.