Tips/critique for a new rider

[WhisperingWasp]

defblade said:

I'm not a wheel expert... but that looks nasty. Hard to say if it's cause or result though... Have you taken the tyre and tube off to check the inside surfaces of the wheel - valve hole, protruding spokes, etc?
I can true a wheel, but to me that doesn't look like anything I'd even try to take out... I have a nasty feeling it'll be new wheel time ... but happy to be corrected!
(And I would probably post on here first asking if is is fixable, anyway )
The bodger in me wants to gently bend it back straight with mole grips, but even my budget-conscious wallet is saying wheels aren't that expensive compared to the results of high speed wheel failure.

Thanks for the info. I have checked all of them things you mention but I am no expert so I would say there is certainly nothing obvious but I could well be missing something.

Sounds like you think the wheel could be buckled? This seems plausible given some of the noises it’s made lately going over bumps! Question is how to avoid? I obviously avoid big potholes and cracks and stuff but even doing this this has happened.

[WhisperingWasp]

Indeed I think addey has nailed it. On reflection, what I am doing is seating the tyre at the valve last rather than first. As such I am seating it around the valve when the tyre is at its most taut, using the tyre levers by this point.

I imagine I am leaving myself the least possible margin for error doing this. Or to put it another way it sounds like I’m doing it completely arse about face!

Thank you all for the advice.

[WhisperingWasp]

deeen said:

es, I always do the bit by the valve first (although I know others don't). I then push the tyre on evenly both sides so the last bit is opposite the valve. Then push the valve up into the tyre and pinch the beads inside the rim as described above. Then check valve is perpendicular. Then work from the valve down both sides stretching the tyre around the wheel until I get to the last bit, which I roll on without tyre levers.

Ok maybe that's just me, but hope it helps! I've missed out the bits about what I do with the inner tube to avoid pinches.

That’s the exact technique I will do today. I just hope the inner tube isn’t damaged as it is my last one.

[WhisperingWasp]

Thanks to all the latest advice the bike is good as gold again. Cracked the 17mph barrier this evening which shocked me when I got home as it felt quite leisurely due to traffic.

Edited by WhisperingWasp on Tuesday 21st June 23:17

Edited by WhisperingWasp on Tuesday 21st June 23:18

[WhisperingWasp]

Siao said:

Hi WhisperingWasp, have you sorted all the posture issues and pains? I just found this thread and I haven't had the time to go through all the 6 pages, but I would recommend a bike fitting if you have £150 or so to spend. Best bike related money I've ever spent. Fixed all the pains and improved my pedal stroke and general fitness. Something to think about possibly. As for the seat, you need to find the right one for you, there's no exact science for this to my knowledge!

Hope this helps a bit!

Hi Siao. Sorry I missed this.

So yeah all my pains have gone it seems. I think a few people early in the thread said something like “your body gets used to it” and I would say maybe 10 rides in my a**e pain completely vanished. Stretches where I would previously wince or stand up for some relief I seemed to glide over.

My hands (pins n needles) continued for a couple more weeks and it is only now, replying to this, that I’ve realised that has gone too. Again, my body is probably getting used to the position/pressures and to a lesser degree I suppose as I lose weight I have less weight through my hands…?

A bike fit is probably something I would save for when I get a nice bike. Whilst I am sure it is money well spent it would amount to about half what I paid for the bike in the first place!

[WhisperingWasp]

Trying to get out as regularly as possible.

[WhisperingWasp]

[WhisperingWasp]

Guys quick question… my gear change doesn’t feel very slick. It is fine going up the gears but going down I often have to feather the lever or go down twice then back up one again. It sometimes seems to be “between” gears if that makes sense.

The worst bit is when I am stood up out of the saddle and it slips down a gear (or into the gear it should be in more likely) which is a bit unsettling.

Does this sound like something a service would cure or is it the nature of lower end gear (Shimano Tiagra for reference).

Cheers.

[WhisperingWasp]

tertius said:

okgo said:

Its almost never jockey wheels and almost always a stretched chain/worn cassette if its an older bike. But if its a new bike then it could just be the settling in of the cables (they stretch a bit) and reindexing is required - which as said above is easy and many videos out there.

You are probably right and if I recall the OP correctly this is an old bike where the front derailleur doesn’t work at all. So probably a full service with new chain, cassette and cables is called for …

You recall correctly! I have no idea how old the bike is tbh; I bought it secondhand in 2016 but I don’t know how old it was at the time. Also don’t know if it has ever been serviced - certainly not while I’ve had it but then it hasn’t really been used until now.

How much would that work cost do you think?

Note that I am seeking an answer that justifies me getting a new bike instead

[WhisperingWasp]

Just watched a YT video. It does indeed look easy. Will tackle later. Cheers.

[WhisperingWasp]

Did my “long” ride yesterday. Slower average pace but there are some tough sections and it was quite windy. Good to get out though.

[WhisperingWasp]

Gears indexed - thanks for the pointer.

I seemed to get it changing smoothly then when riding up and down the road it didn’t seem quite as good but I guess this is because the weight of you on the bike affects it. Some fine tuning probably required but will see what it is like this evening.

[WhisperingWasp]

IJWS15 said:

i'm four or five years ahead of you and I have had a similar problem on mine, At the weekend I cleaned and lubed the chain and put a little more tension in the cable (cable adjuster) and it is fine again. The gear cables do stretch a little over time.

Unfortunately chain maintenance is an ongoing chore, if you don't do it the chain wears quickly and if you don't catch the chain in time it change the shape of the teeth on the cassette etc.

Yeah I do lube the chain and when I went out in the wet I was conscious to rinse the bike down and get it dry to avoid rust.

I went out yesterday evening and it was a lot better - perfect even - going down the gears but not as good going up. Guess I have over-adjusted it a bit. I did a bit of fine-tuning when I got back and will see what it is like on my next ride which will probably be Friday now.

[WhisperingWasp]

Last night’s ride. First time with no PRs and I’m no longer seeing the continual improvement anymore and seem to have plateaued a bit.

Edited by WhisperingWasp on Wednesday 29th June 20:46

[WhisperingWasp]

okgo said:

At risk of pointing you back to my first post — people that do the same thing each ride get good at…. Yes you guessed it, that same thing

Some hard. Some slow. Some long. Some with all 3. Some rest. You’ll get better doing that.

Good advice. I'll do an alternative route tomorrow that I do far less often. It is not very hilly which should mean I can do a nice fast ride.

[WhisperingWasp]

Missed updating this on Friday.

[WhisperingWasp]

And a long ride today which I managed to do at 17mph average. Felt really good today.

[WhisperingWasp]

okgo said:

If you have the time go and ride 50-60 miles on a Sunday. 30 mins more doesn’t make a long ride really. You’ll see real adaptions from being able to stick a 3 hour ride in on a Sunday if you can.

Tbf I should have said "my" long ride rather than a long ride as in it is the longest variation of my route. But yeah I appreciate 30mins more than Friday and 20mins more than my normal route isn't that much longer.

I will have to do a big one. Perhaps, for now, I'll just go round the same route twice in a row.

I'm boring I know!

[WhisperingWasp]

lrdisco said:

Don’t wear Lycra. There’s no need and you will look like nob.
Don’t wear cycling team gear. See above.
Don’t shave your legs. See above and completely ridiculous.
Don’t ride with others and claim your in the peloton. Your not.
Don’t ride 2/3/4 abreast. You’ll be a nob if you do.
Remember you will break far easier than a car. So give way. It may not be the law but it’s common sense.

I ride on my own and to your last point I would like to think I am pretty cautious. I am wanting to get into shape for my wedding and coming off/having an accident is no good to me for many reasons!

It's funny actually, I nicked a little Garmin computer thing off the missus's bike which she no longer uses. I used it twice then stopped as I found knowing my average speed - and then knowing if I was on for a PB or not - I was taking some risks that I shouldn't. I'm back to riding with my phone in a bag and no idea of my time until I finish. I prefer it that way.

Not sure if it is classed as lycra (it's not skin-tight) but I do wear proper cycling gear.

[WhisperingWasp]

deeen said:

To the OP, well done on your progress! Have you looked into social rides with local cycling clubs, etc?

Thanks. I haven't really considered that at all to be honest. It's not that I'm not interested in it as such, just that I haven't even given it any thought. Is it something you'd recommend? What do you get out of it?