Starting Cycling

[neenaw]

I've recently been attempting to get a bit fitter by going to the gym 2 or 3 times a week and starting running again. When I'm at the gym I've started to use the exercise bikes more and more and am staring to enjoy it.

As I had to take the car in today to get some work done, I decided that it would be a perfect time to dust down my bike and use it to get home from the garage. The bike is a Pinnacle 3.0 MTB that's a couple of years old and done next to no miles.

As I'm planning on using it a bit more for some exercise, mostly on the roads, would it be worth changing the tyres from the current Continental Explorers to something aimed more at road use?
Also, what pressures should I be running in the tyres?

[anonymous-user]

go to a spinning class rather than just using the exercise bikes as spinning is a more complete mode of training.

road based tyres do make a big difference, i would start running them at around 50 psi and go from there

[neenaw]

Cheers for that.
I can't get to the spinning classes due to my shifts at work, instead I just head to the gym as and when I can. When I'm using the bikes I try to use the programmes like the intervals and the hillclimbs but that's about it!

[esuuv]

Road tyres on an MTB do make a big difference, i'd run them as hard as you can (the sidewall will tell you) - have been riding mine for weeks without bothering to pump them up - in a fit of madness last night I got them back up to 5 bar, what a difference cycling in this morning.

[BliarOut]

I run up to 120 PSI in my tyres... They do explode quite noisily occasionally though 100PSI should be fine for day to day use.

[Pete Franklin]

surely if the aim is to get fit then running them at a lower pressure would be more appropriate. infact why not use the widest most inefficient tyres you can find too?

[angusc43]

Pete Franklin said:

surely if the aim is to get fit then running them at a lower pressure would be more appropriate. infact why not use the widest most inefficient tyres you can find too?

I run 2 inch wide Conti's at 60psi as (a) I like the bump absorbtion and (b) I like some resistance on my 7.5 mile commute (as Pete points out) to increase the workout.

Edited by angusc43 on Thursday 24th June 17:49

[neenaw]

I've just been out on the bike to pick up the car and it seems ok with 50psi in the tyres

Any suggestions for road biased tyres for the bike?

[paddy27]

neenaw said:

I've just been out on the bike to pick up the car and it seems ok with 50psi in the tyres

Any suggestions for road biased tyres for the bike?

I've just gotten some of these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Schwalbe_Maratho...

for my MTB now that I've started using it more on roads and I've no complaints so far.

[Rob13]

I've just ordered a set of Schwalbe City Jets off eBay at £20 for the pair. They get decent reviews and are puncture resistant.

[Rob13]

I've just ordered a set of Schwalbe City Jets off eBay at £20 for the pair. They get decent reviews and are puncture resistant.

[angusc43]

I got these in 26 x 1.90. V expensive but good for what I do (100% London). Smooth, fast and quiet (for fatties). One year puncture guarantee. I like the reflective sidewall as I am a year round commuter.


http://www.evanscycles.com/products/continental/to...

[exgtt]

Cant add to the good advice above, but would it be feasable for you to cycle to work and back? Ideal time of year to start - best decition ive made this year, highly recommended!!

Come into work now wide awake, the ride home de-stresses me. Love filtering through traffic, love not paying parking, love being the underdog on the highway, Love it when a racing whippits slip past me and i try in vein to keep up.

It's brilliant!

Edited by exgtt on Tuesday 29th June 15:42

[Daveyraveygravey]

exgtt said:

Cant add to the good advice above, but would it be feasable for you to cycle to work and back? Ideal time of year to start - best decition ive made this year, highly recommended!!

Come into work now wide awake, the ride home de-stresses me. Love filtering through traffic, love not paying parking, love being the underdog on the highway, Love it when a racing whippits slip past me and i try in vein to keep up.

It's brilliant!

Edited by exgtt on Tuesday 29th June 15:42

This to me is why riding on the road is so good! And when you get a bit fitter and maintain higher speeds for longer, over-taking slow moving cars in traffic light queues is even better!

[pdV6]

Word of warning re: high pressures.

Whilst higher is generally better for road use, bear in mind that MTB rims won't necessarily be rated for as high a pressure as road rims, so bunging 120psi in (even if the [it]tyre[/i] is rated for that) could be asking for trouble.

Most average MTB rims probably top out around the 60-70psi mark...