The Sh*te on a Bike Thread

Ok, my first month of bike training has been interesting, thought I'd post a few comments to see if other people have had similar encounters and to hope that I am not going mad.

Training has gone well and I've learned a number of things. Having the rear wheel try and overtake the front wheel is not a good place to be especially on a bend. Sliding round a junction on my ass while my back heads off in a different direction is equally not a good place to be. Trying to beat a PB on a certain route by trying to go round tight bends on a wet and windy day is just silly. I initially pumped my tyres up to 80 psi (on recommendation from a well intentioned friend) which left me repairing punctures almost every time I went out. I now put 115 psi in my tyres and am surprised each time I go out as I quite looked forward to a puncture for the 5 minute rest.

I obviously live in a weird part of the country as I always end up cycling into a head wind no matter which direction I am heading. I am now able to eat gels and bananas whilst cycling but must remember to look where I am going as it generally helps! All in all the cycle training is going well!

Lee-sterine - I think you must be in the same place as me as I always encounter headwinds too!

Puncture repairing is not a bad skill to have tho'

Gels on the go? Blimey, a pro. I have to stop, find one, tear the bit off, fold it up all the way liek a toothpaste tube and put it in the bin after. I rode witha goodly tail wind for the first time ever the other day, didn't half go.

I use 120psi. And red and black tyres. Touch ood, have only punctured once, in a tri, blew me wheel bearing too. 

It's a bit like the old joke that bikes are getting worse - 40 years ago mine used to fly up hills twice as fast as the modern ones.    

G, firstly the bike you borrowed is quite old I would suggest as its only got a 7 speed cassette.
Almost certainly its got a 53/39 or similar on it as the size of the front rings and your hybrid probably has a 42 big ring.

what Im getting at in essence is thatthe rodie you took out is geared completely differently to your hybrid.... Options?

Well firstly you could get a "compact" crankset on your new bike, You could even get a triple. Personally I find the chainlines run weird with triples, so would stick to a double. This uses a 50/34 chainwheels and will be closer to your hybrid setup on your current steed, and will give you more spinning gears using the 34 ring than a 39. Secondly you could change your cassette to a more mtb setup. You probably would find if you looked the biggest rear cog on the road bike was 25 or even 23 teeth whereas on your hybrid youve probably got a 27 tooth one.

In essence a proper roadbike will be faster and more efficient, as its stiffer in the right places and lighter. It will take a little getting used to, but it will be better. Either that or the tour guys should all be on hybrids, and the "king of the mountains" stage winners should be on Raleigh shoppers.

What it boils down to is the fact your hybrid has a small front ring and a big back one, hence spinning up hills, and the roadie didnt, but you can solve it. If you struggle on climbs get a compact, and if you still struggle throw a cassette with a 27 on there. Dont let gearing put you off getting the right tool for the job. Loads of people use compacts, its what works for you that matters

Thanks Bassy that helps a lot. Will find out about compact etc.

Popsider - I'd agree with you except I caned up our lane on Friday evening on the hybrid with no problem - didn't even make it to the first bend yesterday.............

Bassy is top bike bloke and knows his stuff. Can also probably achieve escape velocity on the big ring. So if you see something strange in orbit....

I have a compact. And I need it. At the moment....