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Newbie advice
My wife bought me a cheap MTB last year.
And I'm loving it. I put some semi-slicks on and am doing some commuting, 40-50km fitness rides on weekends, did the 'Gong ride and am pulling the kids to school on a shadow rider etc. Now I want to take my cycling up a notch and don't quite know how. I probably cannot afford a new bike for a while but would like to do some group rides, maybe get into some gentle racing, learn a bit more about the equipment that can improve my experience and give me more reason to get fit etc. Where should I start? Over to you - let the wisdom of the crowd be my guide! Simon. |
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#2
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Newbie advice
On Apr 18, 1:09 pm, Simon Sharwood wrote:
My wife bought me a cheap MTB last year. And I'm loving it. I put some semi-slicks on and am doing some commuting, 40-50km fitness rides on weekends, did the 'Gong ride and am pulling the kids to school on a shadow rider etc. Now I want to take my cycling up a notch and don't quite know how. I probably cannot afford a new bike for a while but would like to do some group rides, maybe get into some gentle racing, learn a bit more about the equipment that can improve my experience and give me more reason to get fit etc. Where should I start? Over to you - let the wisdom of the crowd be my guide! Simon. Dunno about wisdom, but anyway... What's up a notch? Decide what you want to achieve - this should help you determine the type of bike you want/need. No point buying a roadie if you want to hammer dirt. No point buying a mtb exclusively for road use. Decide your budget. Examine ebay, the Trading Post, various forums and see what you can get that comes within budget. Re-evaluate budget... ;^) Ride some similar models (join a club?). Re-evaluate what you want/ need. Re-evaluate budget. ;^) Tony F |
#3
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Newbie advice
What's up a notch?
I'm thinking road. Simon |
#4
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Newbie advice
Simon Sharwood wrote:
What's up a notch? I'm thinking road. Simon Where are you located Simon? Check out your local cycling clubs (either road or MTB??) to see if they have any skills programs or regular bunch rides for you to come along to. If you're seriously thinking road then I would suggest a road bike or at least slicks and drops for your MTB. Flat bars don't go well in a tight bunch. -- Bean "I've got a bike You can ride it if you like It's got a basket A bell that rings And things to make it look good I'd give it to you if I could But I borrowed it" Pink Floyd Remove "yourfinger" before replying |
#5
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Newbie advice
Where are you located Simon? Check out your local cycling clubs (either road or MTB??) to see if they have any skills programs or regular bunch rides for you to come along to. If you're seriously thinking road then I would suggest a road bike or at least slicks and drops for your MTB. Flat bars don't go well in a tight bunch. Err ... slicks? Drops? Flat bars? I really am very new to this! Simon. |
#6
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Newbie advice
In aus.bicycle on 17 Apr 2007 22:01:01 -0700
Simon Sharwood wrote: Where are you located Simon? Check out your local cycling clubs (either road or MTB??) to see if they have any skills programs or regular bunch rides for you to come along to. If you're seriously thinking road then I would suggest a road bike or at least slicks and drops for your MTB. Flat bars don't go well in a tight bunch. Err ... slicks? Drops? Flat bars? I really am very new to this! Slicks are faster tyres. Your normal MTB has treaded wide low pressure tyres - good for sand or gravel and bad surface, bad for speed. So if you want to do fast type riding you would need higher pressure tyres with not much tread. You can get them for cheap to try at www.torpedo7.com.au check in the MTB section under tyres. (Even if you don't go racing, you will find high pressure slicks get you to work much faster!) Drops are the curvy bars you see on racing type bikes. They are narrow, and change how you sit and how you control the bike. In "bunches", which are the really close together groups you see racer types in, you need to be careful about getting tangled with others, so the bike and rider have to be narrow and well controlled. Flat bars are the widish bars that MTBs have - they give good control and are comfortable, but are too wide and also lead to elbows out some. The bunch needs everyone to be predictable and move the same way, so prefers everyone to be sitting and moving in the same way. Pretty much if you want to do anything close to road racing (rather than just ride in a group without trying to get close together to take advantage of the aerodynamics of being "on someone's wheel" meaning they cut the wind for you) then you have to have a bike that's more like a road race bike. Best is to get one for the purpose - light and properly set up. You'll find the MTB a bit of a handicap for anything serious. That said, best you can do is find a club, turn up, talk to people. Once you find one you feel happy in then you can chat about what is needed and look at people's bikes. Then you can decide if you get a different bike (and what kind) or if you just mess about with yours. Zebee |
#7
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Simon Sharwood Wrote: Err ... slicks? Drops? Flat bars? I really am very new to this! Hi there Simon, May we introduce you to the wit and wisdom of Mr Sheldon Brown: http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html Enjoy your stay. -- cfsmtb |
#8
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Newbie advice
Zebee Johnstone wrote:
In aus.bicycle on 17 Apr 2007 22:01:01 -0700 Simon Sharwood wrote: Where are you located Simon? Check out your local cycling clubs (either road or MTB??) to see if they have any skills programs or regular bunch rides for you to come along to. If you're seriously thinking road then I would suggest a road bike or at least slicks and drops for your MTB. Flat bars don't go well in a tight bunch. Err ... slicks? Drops? Flat bars? :-) Sorry Simon, I couldn't b bothered writing what Zebee has provided, hence the lingo. Many clubs will have programs to help invite new road cyclists into the fold. They are your best first port of call. If you can't identify the clubs then go to your LBS (local bike shop) and ask them... likely some of the people who work there are members. The LBS might also have useful suggestions for the right bike for you or what you can do with the one you have. Be mindful, if you seriously get into road cycling you might end up with an expensive habit! :-) -- Bean Remove "yourfinger" before replying |
#9
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Newbie advice
On Apr 18, 3:32 pm, Bean Long wrote:
Be mindful, if you seriously get into road cycling you might end up with an expensive habit! :-) hehe - back to my original points - re-evaluate your budget! Tony F who finds mtbing can be an expensive habit, and better go order that new derailleur now... |
#10
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Newbie advice
On Apr 19, 9:27 am, thefathippy wrote:
On Apr 18, 3:32 pm, Bean Long wrote: Be mindful, if you seriously get into road cycling you might end up with an expensive habit! :-) hehe - back to my original points - re-evaluate your budget! Tony F who finds mtbing can be an expensive habit, and better go order that new derailleur now... I hit a wombat last night in westerfolds park (actually, it hit me, three(!) times ... third time it took my front wheel out from under me), and my rarely used MTB now needs a new front wheel |
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