Having just put some proper road pedals on my Supersix, what a difference! Looking forward to some long rides this summer.
I have almost completed the roadie fashion process.
Just leg shaving to go 
Bike Forum
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Road bikes are ACE!
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Posted 1 year ago #
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Grade 1 buzz cut, much less effort, similar result.
Shaved my legs last summer, and while its 'better' it's in the same league as a king headset, not quantifiable and probably not real. Only this time it needed more maintenance.
Posted 1 year ago # -
hi sue..yeah was out riding yesterday on the 'Dolce'.. found a big steep hill to fly down quite a long steep hill at that, and getting used to the drop handlebars is quite hard and just about reaching the brakes (so much different to MTB riding.
trying to get used to the gear shifting too (thats alot different than my MTB too -im aslow learner with these roadie gear shifting systems (lol) ah well only my second ride so far so hopefully will get the hang of it too.. got a bit of neck ache yesterday flying down th steep hill...different riding position too (with drop handlebars...hope i master it soon Posted 1 year ago # -
oh ps : i got my first 'hello' from another roadie yesterday (that was nice :wink:.....they not all too bad then....
Posted 1 year ago # -
Even the pros were pushing up the final climb of the Pais Vasco (Tour of Basque Country) yesterday. Mental stuff.
The commentary team on Eurosport reckoned that the pros were walking the top of that climb because there'd been an incident (chain off or something) which had caused them to stall and it was quicker to run over the top than try and restart a 39x25 on that gradient.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Been mountain biking since 1988 and by 2009 I was getting stale; fed up with the messing around, the constant stops, the mud and worn out components, coming home filthy and the fact that every ride seemed to end in the pub... then I got a road bike and I have hardly touched the MTB since. My biggest regret is that I didn't mix road and MTB from the start because I'm twice as fit now and would have done a lot better in races and Polaris events if I'd been this fit. There's nothing as exhilarating as being in a small chain gang, riding your nuts off, doing "through and off" and scaring yourself to death. My obsession with cycling has been reborn. I'm beginning to understand the skill and subtlety of road riding and I'm amazed at how my horizons have expanded - if you'd told me four years ago that I would be cycling 50 to 100 miles for fun I'd have laughed at you. Now my cycling world is not just my valley and local fells but way beyond them and into the next county as well. I love it. Still enjoy the MTB but that's just for the craic with mates.
Posted 1 year ago # -
This thread is killing me - really want a road bike but no means for one at the moment
If only work would do C2W i could get myself a nice road bike to make my commute a more pleasant and faster experience.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I thought C2W wasnt the big deal it used to be. With the final payment now a chunk of its value are you not better off getting a discount up front on the bike?
I got 15% off mine without too much hastle
Posted 1 year ago # -
elaine anne, mrs blobby is considering a dolce. Our LBS is getting one in. Which one did you get? How you getting on with it? What size did you get? Any photos?
Posted 1 year ago # -
fed up with the messing around, the constant stops
Those two are optional
Elaine-anne - if you can't reach the brakes well on the drops, you can fettle the position of bars and levers to help with this. It can be a a bit of a game though.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I was wondering this as well. Have the levers (Tiagra) got a reach adjustment screw like on MTB brakes? Mine are just a little too far out tbh
Posted 1 year ago # -
No, and it's frigging annoying! I asked about this and apparently only Dura Ace has it!
You can I think get little rubber bumpers to stick in them though to do the same thing - I think.
Best thing to do is move them down around the bars a bit - it'll make it much easier on the drops but might make it hard to reach on the hoods. You could also try rotating the bars themselves, either as well as or instead of the above.
It's a fine art!
Posted 1 year ago # -
There's nothing as exhilarating as being in a small chain gang, riding your nuts off, doing "through and off" and scaring yourself to death
Depends on the MTB group. Go out with some similalry fit MTB'ers and you'll be introduced to a whole new world of pain! On a road bike you can dig in a bit more, push a bit further into the oxygen debt and keep up. On a MTB you try the same and just hit a tree!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Specialized made a product called 'Slim shims' I think which would slot in between the lever and the hood to adjust reach, don't know if they're any better than the shimano equivalent. My 6600 Ultegra shifters seem to have the little screw at the base, hadn't noticed until today.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Drafting is a skill seldom used in MTB riding as wind resistance is not usually significant, except perhaps on races or trailquest events where you're temporarily on tarmac.
Posted 1 year ago # -
No, and it's frigging annoying! I asked about this and apparently only Dura Ace has it!
You can I think get little rubber bumpers to stick in them though to do the same thing - I think.
the new 105 certain has the ability to adjust the reach with shims, don't think previous versions do though
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hmmm, i got some plastic things attached to my bike which looked like shims of some sort. I had absolutely no idea what they were for so will check that out. As i said mine are tiagra
Posted 1 year ago # -
Drafting is a skill seldom used in MTB riding
Yes - on the Gorrick 100 I did a lot of it was flat fire-road, but no-one bunched up. I tucked in behind fast people and got a free ride on these sections
Posted 1 year ago # -
Tip on roady etiquette - dont express climbing in feet and distance in km as people will see through you quicker than they can ask 'what do you use to shave your legs?'
it looks like you are trying to big yourself up - and noone would want to do that would they?
Posted 1 year ago # -
mr Blobby : i got my bike from a good shop in Leeds... its a specialized Dolce' thats it...its got carbon forks with 'Zertz' inserts in the forks (something to do with being less ridgid on the roads
im only just 5ft and got the size 44cm frame no pics yet only my 3rd ride today got it last weekend... im buzzing off it ! lol oh hang on lets see if i can get a photo from a website :ah here it is : we put some money up front then paying 20 per month till its paid off....
i think its alot of bike for the money !!! really light bike too !!!!
i went for some silver welgo flat pedals cos im used to flat pedals and didnt want those clip in pedals...
yeah overall im well impressed with the bike... i got it to get some extra fitness in as im doing an MTB challenge in June so powering up on the road bike wi :wink:ll help.... only 3 rides into the bike and im hooked on it..lolhttp://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Dolce-Womens-2011-Road-Bike_37678.htm
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks for the feedback elaine, I'll pass that on to mrs blobby. I think it's between the dolce and the boardman right now.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Tip on roady etiquette - dont express climbing in feet and distance in km as people will see through you quicker than they can ask 'what do you use to shave your legs?'
I express climbing in metres and distance in miles, I don't think I'd ever accepted by proper roadies anyway due to my hairy legs, peaked helmet, normal spds and baggies. oh well.Posted 1 year ago # -
Just back from the first shorts & short sleeves road ride of the year. Some lovely climbs and great descents. I concur wholly with this thread. Yes road bikes are ace
Posted 1 year ago # -
+1 here - just in from first shorts ride. First half (and a bit) of the Fred Whitton. Flying down the passes was fun, but cramping thighs made Honister, newlands and Whinlatter painfull. In fact, I'll admit it - for the first time I had to rest up Honister (4 times!) and walked some of Newlands. The shame.
It'll be better on the day............won't it? Please re-assure mePosted 1 year ago # -
Back from a long troubled ride. Six hours with a failing rear wheel, just had them rebuilt and one started shedding spokes. good job I didn't get collected to ride the 'Double Dutch 200K' as planned.....slightly frazzled!
Got a club 100K Sunday, mostly road but with a few forrays along BWs and forest tracks as a homage to the PR. Just put road wheel/tyres on the crosser for that.
Posted 1 year ago # -
For me there's something special about cycling along an undulating country road near me and having the feeling of effortlessness which comes from being fit and on a road bike.
I get wind born summer smells to smell wildlife to see, and can take in the specialness of my situation without having to think about line choice or work against the drag of treaded tyres.
Road biking is great.
Tim
Posted 1 year ago # -
By being fit, I mean not totally unfit, rather than 'raodie fit', which is probably another level of fitness.
Posted 1 year ago # -
+1 here - just in from first shorts ride. First half (and a bit) of the Fred Whitton. Flying down the passes was fun, but cramping thighs made Honister, newlands and Whinlatter painfull. In fact, I'll admit it - for the first time I had to rest up Honister (4 times!) and walked some of Newlands. The shame.
It'll be better on the day............won't it? Please re-assure meWe did some of the latter half of the FW today (hardknott and wrynose) and the struggle - I'd say get a compact chainset. I remember laughing at the thought a while ago, but its nice being able to blast the climbs without having to tear your arms and legs out of there joints.
Had to wait for quite a while at the top of each for my brother, who was slowly grinding his way up on a 39/25.
Posted 1 year ago # -
was out on the road Friday evening
Far and away the best thing was the dozens of BBQs sparked up and wafting sossidgey smells all round the place
Posted 1 year ago # -
Gave myself a steel geared road bike for my birthday this week. A considerable contrast to the pugsley.
Road bikes are ace, in moderation.
Having said that I am riding a one speed crosser all the way to ssec. I might be sick of the road after that.Posted 1 year ago # -
picked up my first road bike this week at a bootsale nothing special just a carrera with a missing left shifter for £25 so riped the gears off fitted flat bars/bar ends,avid levers(adjustable leaver ratio)and some spd's and it flys so well cant wait to get commuting more.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Slowly getting addicted! Love the lack of hassle compared to the MTB always add 30 min to get to the trails plus sane back road bike out of the garage and gone! It's great in this weather much better than my rides to work in feb! Still must get faster and fitter!! Not to mention the whole new world of shiny kit...... Might get some carbon wheels and do a sportive.......Just for easyrider.....
Posted 1 year ago # -
See if Bontrager do some carbon stabilisers to go with them eh
Posted 1 year ago # -
Attempted to do a century yesterday, only ended up being 92 miles though. Rode from Rochdale to Southport and back - bit of a trip for fish and chips i admit!
I'm not a proper roadie though, Boardman flat-barred hybrid, spd pedals and shimano race shoes, mtb helmet and bar bag
Still, was a nice ride and i ate some lovely grub on the seafront.
Posted 1 year ago # -
How do you all find the transition to road and getting used to cars flying past rather than trees?
Posted 1 year ago #
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