Want to get into ROAD CYCLING Where to Start????

[reesestewww]

For years I've been exercising indoors on my elliptical and treadmill. 5 days a week 30-45 minutes a day. I'm ready for a change of scenery. Running on the road real causes pain on my knees unlike the treadmill with the shock absorbers. But, i dont want to run outside anyways i do enough of that on the treadmill. Lets add a new event, road cycling. Where do i start??

Before i walk into a store and have them anwser my questions with a bias to the product they sell I thought i should start with no-biased opinions. A couple questions that first come to mind. Sizing? How do i properly size a bike for my height and weight? What NOT to get? There are plenty of things ppl will say to get, but what are the things to stay away from? Are there clubs to join to help ppl who want to start into this hobby? And of course the bike? Can i find something nice for a newbie in the $500-$1000 range? How about a used bike? What are the things to look for when purchasing used?

Thanks Riders!
Reese

[mikeferg75]

First things first...

Size. Find a small locally owned bike shop. They usually don't have much as far as selection, but you want to find one that does "pro bike fits", It usually takes a hour or so, and will require you showing up with bike shorts and shoes, they but you on a adjustable bike, and go to town on every thinkable measurement and angle.

Pay the 100 or so bucks it's gonna take to do this bike fit, if cycling is something you see yourself doing for a while it will pay off in the long run.

If they have bikes in your price range, then great, they will usually deduct the bike fit fee from the cost, if not, take the measurements and go shopping. I say this only because most places that have a pro do the fit, don't really sell 1k bikes.

On the subject of the 1k bike, my advice is that 1k just get's you in the door when it comes to new. I think both Felt and Specialized offer the best selection in that price point.

Ferg

[look 171]

You basically buy a bike and go riding and you will find that riding outside is a lot of fun unlike riding a stationary trainer.

Sizing is harder to explain over the net. How tall are you? Nowadays most of the road frames have a sloping top tube and they come in 3-4 sizes. On a traditional road frame, the "rough" rule of thumb is that it you stand over the bike and you should be able to lift the bike no more then 2".

I would buy a use bike and a new set of wheels. On use bikes the wheels are ususlly beat to death. For sport riding, a new thousand dollar bike should be fine. Just get a saddle to your liking. Don't get caught up into light and fast bits. It will break your pocket book and it not necessary. Like we say and do in racing back in the old days, take a crap and its like taking 5 lbs off your bike.

Jeff

[look 171]

I don't think you need a pro bike fit. That is usually fit for racing. When you are racing, you are not comfy. Save your $100. Joint a local club, not a racing club, and go riding. There are many thing you will learn riding with people. Learn to draft, or wheel suck, and stay off your brakes. If you really get into it, then talk to people about racing fitment. Handle bar set low, almost sitting on your balls. Do get a pair of good shorts. I like bibs. If you plan to walk to walk, get Mountain bike shoes.

[mikeferg75]

I didn't say get a racing bike fit... Much has changed, they will "fit" you depending on how you plan on riding.

I still say it's money well spent, I pass many many riders on my way to work each day, who are way off on saddle height, bike size ect.

Your lower back and knees will thank you.

Ferg

[Dantilla]

+1 on getting fitted properly.

I borrowed my brother-in-laws bike for a while, and wondered why I tired so quickly. I got a bike properly fitted, and I can easily ride twice as far with no fatigue. They seemed like they had a similar riding position, but obviously they did not.

One other thing- If you want a $500-1000 bike, do not even sit on a $3-4000 bike. You don't want to know what you're missing.

Buy one at the top of your price range, and have it fitted properly.

I bought a Bianchi from a local bike shop. The guys there are fanatical about riding, and spent quite a bit of time figuring out what bike is best for me, and then fitting it properly.

My bike is several years old now, so I have no recommendations for current bikes.

[tcar]

This should help for a start.

http://flybikeshop.com/page.cfm?pageID=56

Don't go overboard (Trek Madone) on the bike yet; see if you like it.

I've bought a couple used bikes on craigslist (make sure they fit) from guys that thought they'd really get into it. Two years later, they've ridden it less than a dozen times.

[71T Targa]

First; you need to get the spandex:

[sammyg2]

Find a real bike shop that isn't all yuppied out and find a decent, reasonably priced bike. you can ride just as fast for $350 as you can for $1000.

Then, go riding wearing a T shirt and shorts. Then pass a whole bunch of those spandex-wearing wanna-be posers, and laugh your butt off as you do. Get em to try and chase you and watch as they nearly pass out from exhaustion after a 300 yard sprint.
That's good fun. Especially when I do it on my $225 hybrid half-cruiser/half mountain bike

Did you know that if you're careful you can put 90 psi in those hybrid tires? Really cuts down on the rolling resistance.

[RPKESQ]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Find a real bike shop that isn't all yuppied out and find a decent, reasonably priced bike. you can ride just as fast for $350 as you can for $1000.

Then, go riding wearing a T shirt and shorts. Then pass a whole bunch of those spandex-wearing wanna-be posers, and laugh your butt off as you do. Get em to try and chase you and watch as they nearly pass out from exhaustion after a 300 yard sprint.
That's good fun. Especially when I do it on my $225 hybrid half-cruiser/half mountain bike

Did you know that if you're careful you can put 90 psi in those hybrid tires? Really cuts down on the rolling resistance.

Let's compare apples to apples, shall we?

Many of my friends wear spandex and compete in professional races, still think you could pass them?

I use tires rated and inflated to 220 lbs/sq.in. on my racing road bike, much less rolling resisitance than those wimpy fat toy tires your using.

The advice to start cheap and slow is good advice. The comparision being pushed here is not accurate or helpful.

[HardDrive]

There are some fine machines on the road these days. There are good road bikes available for $1000. I would recommend buying used. As along as a bike has been cared for, they last. I bought my Specialized Roubaix off E-bay. It had been used as a demo bike at bike shows. Paid $1200 for a bike that was going for $1800 in stores.

Don't discount an older steel bike either. Hunt down an old Motobecane.

[look 171]

I agree, but for a hundred bucks??? save it for a good pair of bib shorts. I hope you know you don't need underware with those. Its frame size, stem length, then saddle height. If you are not going racing, then you should save a hundred bucks. If you race, you should know those dimension by experment.

Choose a frame that fits you, they should be able to help you with that. go to a good shop and not a little kid shop that will just sell you a bike.

With that bike (with both wheel flat on the ground, or level), you should be able to sit on the saddle and peaddle backwards with your heel on the pedals(not the ball of your foot) and get no rocking with your hips as you spin the pedals. To adj the saddle for and aft by putting both the ball of your feet on the pedals (cycling shoe would help) and run a vertical or plum line from the little bone on the outside of your leg (right behind your kneecap) to the ball of your foot or the spindle of the pedal. Fine a comfy position on your saddle and do this. Most guys (that race) like their saddle pointed upward a little to hole the rider up instead of using your shoulder or arm for that. You get tire real quick with the saddle pointed downward. I like to ride with the saddle back a little for a little more power.

For the stem length, you need to set up the above and run your arm from the tip of the saddle to the handle bar and it should touch. That's the stem length you need. Most bike come with a stem already, so... Stem height is important. Generally, if you put your hand on top of the bars, with arms straight, your handle bar should cover the front hub.You can raise and lower your stem to get that. Then go out and ride it for a couple of weeks, then fine tune it to your need. Don't forget, as you put in more miles, your body gets use to that position and you become stronger on the bike and adjustment will make a difference. Most adj should not be more then 1/4" unless is way off.

This is a general fitment used by many racing cyclist from the olds days. Many of it hasn't change. If any, very little. don't get caught up with flat back and aero position. Get out and spin.

Jeff

[look 171]

Originally Posted by RPKESQ

Let's compare apples to apples, shall we?

Many of my friends wear spandex and compete in professional races, still think you could pass them?

I use tires rated and inflated to 220 lbs/sq.in. on my racing road bike, much less rolling resisitance than those wimpy fat toy tires your using.

The advice to start cheap and slow is good advice. The comparision being pushed here is not accurate or helpful.

So, are they division one riders? French?

[look 171]

I really like Canndales. Its a Chevy Vette.

[Venetian]

Not hijacking I hope but are there any suggestions regarding getting "saddle sore". After about 30 miles my rear(hip bones) starts getting pretty sore. I wear the padded spandex and have the "grooved" saddle. This is a problem which limits my biking to relatively short distances.

How do long distance bikers overcome this?

[RPKESQ]

Originally Posted by look 171

So, are they division one riders? French?

Some are, some are not. I have French, American, German, British, Spanish, Italian and Belgium riders/racers for freinds. Some race professionally, some only at the club level (in the Alps!), and some just for personal satisfaction.

[look 171]

I like those rough Belguim boys from Flanders.

[red-beard]

How much money you want to spend?

Seriously, how much. Set a budget, and then we will help you get into for that price.

My bike setup started at $1200, and I expect I'm well over $3K in equipment now. Part of that was fixing my old bike to use as a backup and for commuting.

[JV911SYDNEY]

+1 on getting sized properly. a good bike shop will do this for you for free with the bike purchase

specialized and trek are goods brand at reasonable prices. $1000 will get you something nice.

probably get an "urban" style bike for comfort like this trek: http://www.trekbikes.com/au/en/bikes/2008/urban/

also ther are plenty of forums

[dd74]

1) Last night, I checked around online for frames. The only quality bicycles of any merit that were $350 or lower, were also outdated and in many cases, rusted shells. If you want to ride something like that, do so. But don't expect it to last long, be a safe machine, nor expect to find it parts when something breaks.

2) I don't know what a "yuppied" bicycle shop is, (or even if "yuppied" is a word), but by all means DO go to the local bike shop, and do so within the next month or two, because more often than not, the store will have very good deals on closeout models that haven't yet sold. A couple years ago, I bought a $2400 LeMond for $1200 in September.

3) Poor advice concerning the clothing. Many performance bicycles CAN NOT, be ridden with street clothes or standard shoes. If you do so, you will hurt yourself and/or have a very bad and embarrassing accident. Particularly in a pack ride, where you will be a danger to the other riders - even if they let you near them.

4) You won't pass anyone your first time out unless they're on a similar bike in similar clothing. In fact, don't even think about doing that, particularly when getting to know a new bicycle. Like any sport/activity, cycling is a slow-build to a level of desired fitness. I've seen seventy year old men climb canyons in the large chain ring and wind sprint for nearly a half-kilometer. Their advantage - they've been in the saddle for decades.

5) Most good road bike tires inflate to at least 120 psi. You'll need a special bicycle pump for that. Another cost, but well worth it.

Purchase a bike, but not a cheap bike. Get the proper clothing, shoes, gloves and helmet. Also buy the little Swiss Army knife-like tool set many shops sell. It will have the correct wrenches inside to adjust your seat and handlebars. Also, buy a good floor pump.

Start off slow and increase distances in small increments. The sport will hooks itself into you before you know it.