I've bought my first road bike

[Garlick]

After doing more and more road miles on my MTB I decided to swap for road tyres to make things easier....and it sort of worked. I love the way it looks on road tyres, but still I found it too tiring to cover any decent distances.

So, today I bought a Giant Defy......



It's sooo light (compared to what I'm used to anyway), and I can't believe how much faster and further I can go. In fact, it's changed everything and I am now looking forward to riding much further. I was overtaking other bikes and completed my 10 mile lap in about 10 mins less than usual, not bad for my first ride.

I treated myself to a new lid, and a florescent jacket too as I can see plenty of night rides ahead.

One ride in and I love it

[Garlick]

Shoes next, I agree.

I've signed up to join the Haymarket team in the London to Brighton too

[Rouleur]

Welcome to the slippery slope. I'll give it 12 months before you're trying to justify spending £1k+ on a new bike. They're much faster you know

[hondafanatic]

Urgh...another one lost to the dark side...you'll be talking about 'gear inches' before you know it and riding two abreast (although if you lose some weight it won't be so obvious).

Remember to stock up on...



And...



So you can look like this...






NB/ This is all in jest and not to be taken remotely seriously.

[rhinochopig]

Don't forget your MTB roots. A helmet SHOULD have a peak, and ideally you should ride in baggies. Your aim should then be to pass anyone you see wearing lycra with a casual morning mate. If you can do this whilst wearing a suit and trouser clips even better.

[mikee boy]

Yep, the step from MTB to road is a lot bigger then people think before they get one. I try to ride hard and fast to end a ride knackered, because it's really easy to just cruise along at 18mph putting very little effort into it.

Give it a couple of weekd on the new bike and you won't want to get on the heavy MTB again!

[Ash-man]

well done,been riding both for good while..one realy helps improve the other in my oppinion..long rides 60 miles or more will provide you with stamina for 20-30 miles off road..also find peddalling in low gears at high cadence on my mtb improves my peddalling capabilties out on road..can get off to some great sprints..ride both and enjoy..you best off buying long bibs,padded is my preference ,and some over shoes.ready to get out in all weather then..

[Garlick]

Agree that you need to work harder to feel the effect. My usual ride is normally enough, but it's now and I need to find a new route.

I went out this afternoon and was not happy with the gears as it went down a gear unasked more than once, so it's back at the dealers. Rather than get them to rush the fix (they were about to close) I left it with them and I get it back tomorrow evening.

A shame, but I still love it.

[mikee boy]

Adjusting gears is really simple, there are tutorials on YouTube. It's worth knowing in case it happens when you are away.

Forgot to mention, hill climbs are a great way to keep the power levels up and stop you from cheating by backing off. Start from a known point and see how far you can get flat out in 3 minutes. Mark this point. Coast down, have a short recovery and do the same again and compare your performance. This is also a great way to compare your fitness over a period of time (and do it on a MTB too to see how much difference it makes).

[Stuart]

Nice work Paul. Team PH training ride the morning after BTaP then?!

[okgo]

Good to hear that the difference is sizeable, it really is surprising how the weights differ, my fairly decent spec Rockhopper disc feels light, as in you can easily lift it out with one arm, but to my surprise I get on the scales with the bike and I see 250 lbs! I drop the bike and I weigh 221. All the road bikes I am looking at range between 17-18 lbs. So almost half the weight.

Looking forward to being able to blitz Richmond park two or three times at the weekend

[Parsnip]

Garlick said:

I went out this afternoon and was not happy with the gears as it went down a gear unasked more than once, so it's back at the dealers. Rather than get them to rush the fix (they were about to close) I left it with them and I get it back tomorrow evening.

Could just be the cables stretching if it is a new bike - will need minor fiddling to get it right.

[Garlick]

Parsnip said:

Garlick said:

I went out this afternoon and was not happy with the gears as it went down a gear unasked more than once, so it's back at the dealers. Rather than get them to rush the fix (they were about to close) I left it with them and I get it back tomorrow evening.

Could just be the cables stretching if it is a new bike - will need minor fiddling to get it right.

Well the dealer has two stores in my town and I passed one as I was out on a ride so I popped in and mentioned the gear issue, they had a look at it and sent me on my way. By the time I had reached the other branch as I headed home it was stuck on the smallest main cog and wouldn't move anywhere else so I left it with them.

I guess I should have fixed it myself but after spending £500 with them less than 24 hours earlier I thought I would make it their problem. Hopefully it is just a cable issue.

[Garlick]

Over 28 mph last night. That's almost as fast as a chav moped

I do like road bikes, good times.

[okgo]

Garlick said:

Over 28 mph last night. That's almost as fast as a chav moped

I do like road bikes, good times.

On the flat?

[Garlick]

okgo said:

Garlick said:

Over 28 mph last night. That's almost as fast as a chav moped

I do like road bikes, good times.

On the flat?

Yep.

with a slight downhill.......


That's not the point I am averaging just under 20mph over the last 18 miles and I wouldn't have been anywhere near that on the MTB.

[okgo]

Pretty good going there..

guys on bikeradar.com were saying any average above 17/18 is pretty good going!

But some of them were averaging those speeds over quite serious terrain.. I guess SW london is somewhat more forgiving

What route are you doing btw to get to 18 miles?

[Garlick]

I do a simple road route that comprises leaving Putney, through Wandsworth over into Battersea over Battersea bridge back through Chelsea and Fulham then back into Putney over Putney Bridge - 9 miles in total.

That's my evening route and have done it on two separate evenings giving me an 18.8 mph average over the 18 miles.

[okgo]

Sounds fairly pleasant, what kind of time do you do this? Is the traffic OK?

[Garlick]

Usually about 19.30ish. Traffic is fairly busy through Wandsworth but fine after that, and most of the route has a cycle lane too.