Road Cycling

[bobthewaco]

Anyone here also into road cycling?

Just picked up a new Surly Steamroller single-speed.

What do you ride?

__________________ http://www.twospoke.com/forum/...2217/

[r34 gtr]

Oooh! Me!!

I love me some road cycling, which I prepare for by going mountain biking. Road biking helps me work on my spin, and mountain biking helps me work on taking blows to the head.

I ride a 2003 Quattro Assi, SC7000 scandium aluminum.

Its got a Look HSC carbon fork, Chris King headset and rear hub, full Dura-Ace setup (triple in front, 9 out back), Kestrel EMF Pro carbon bars, Easton carbon seat post, and a Fi'zik seat.

Its not the lightest thing on the road, but not by much. I dust cars on this thing.

not the best picture, but you get the idea:

[BusyBadger]

I used to ride like fiend but haven't ridden in years now. I've probably owned a good 20 or so good bikes and a handful (maybe 5) quality bikes. My two favouritess: 1) Cannondale CAAD 3 (with Team Saeco paint) 2) Croll track bike (only steel bike I've really LOVED)

The only bike I still own is the Cannondale (its currently hooked up to a Tacx trainer in a spare room but hasn't been ridden for years.

If only there were a decent velodrome around.

[srellim234]

I used to ride centuries and stuff on a Bridgestone touring bike. Now I just cruise slowly for fun and fitness around here. And slowly at that, usually only about 12-14mph for about 20 miles a couple of times a week. I also walk 5 miles three times a week on a hilly fire road near here..

I'm currently riding a pretty heavy Diamondback hybrid. I don't particular care for it but the wife and kids gave it to me as a birthday gift and told me I'd gotten too fat. The truth hurts.

Yes, the weight is slowly coming off.

[r34 gtr]

^ That sounds great. I wish I managed to get that much activity in every day. I walk to class and whatnot, but it isn't the same. No "pioneering" aspect.

[Razi]

I have a 70's Schwinn Varsity, one of the heaviest "lightweight" bikes of it's time.It has changed since I've bought it, biggest change being the fixed gear conversion. A fun bicycle to ride, my friend and I did about 20 miles of riding and we will do it again.Before:After:

You might want to use a smaller cog in the rear for your Steamroller for a better ratio, you probably top out your speed fairly quickly with the ratio that comes stock with the Steamroller.
Modified by Razi at 5:13 PM 11/24/2009

[Big_Joe]

Although I just recently started it I am into road cycling heavy. I currently ride a Jamis Ventura Sport. It was my first "major" bike purchase. I am actually looking to do my first century ride this spring/summer for the Livestrong Foundation in Philly. I am always curious to meet people who possibly live near me to go for rides on occasion!

[srellim234]

Do any of you ever check out cycling routes online? I use bikely.com from time to time; it's very comprehensive with routes and maps all over the world.

http://www.bikely.com/

I'm wondering if you have any other favorite sites for scouting routes that I cold use here in the southern California / Inland Empire area.

[Looneybomber]

Do any of you ever check out cycling routes online? I use bikely.com from time to time; it's very comprehensive with routes and maps all over the world.

http://www.bikely.com/

I'm wondering if you have any other favorite sites for scouting routes that I cold use here in the southern California / Inland Empire area.

When starting my triathlon training (which was short lived due to family reasons), this site was a great source of info, including bike routes.http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/At the top there's a "routes" icon you click. You then search for what you want and it gives you routes people have made with their GPS, including elevation.

[93coupe]

I want to get into this so bad but don't have the money to shell out for a nice bike right now. Any suggestions on reasonably priced bikes? I am 6'4" 185lbs and do NOT want fixed gear.

I am also looking for suggestions on mountain bikes for Michele and I.

[Red coupe]

I want to get into this so bad but don't have the money to shell out for a nice bike right now. Any suggestions on reasonably priced bikes? I am 6'4" 185lbs and do NOT want fixed gear.

I am also looking for suggestions on mountain bikes for Michele and I.

Used you can get into a pretty decent road bike for $300.
Mountain bikes probably cheaper and a lot easier.

Its hard digging through CL, as fixies are so f*** trendy that everyone buys them, then realizes that not only do they have no gears but they can't stop pedaling, then they sell them...

I just found out that you can advanced search on CL like most search engines, so you can remove terms from the search with a "-"

So when you search, set your max price range (helps to throw a min in there too so you don't get so many random accessories) and put -fixie

I have been looking for a road bike lately, since I started biking to school everyday (its close enough that bike is significantly quicker then car) I have gotten into it a bit more and am tired of how f*** heavy the hybrid (like a luxury mount bike made for road) I have now is.

So what I have been doing is looking at CL every day for
Road - fixie
$225 - $350

Road bikes will be faster, and more efficient which is nice if you want to ride distance, climb hills or go fast... but they can be pretty uncomfortable, especially at first, they can ride fairly harsh and don't like hitting pot holes (slightly bent, but fixable wheels)
Mountain bikes will be a lot more durable, but suspension (especially rear) will compress as you ride meaning your putting energy into compressing a spring rather then push yourself forward. Also heavier.
Hybrids are like in between, and usually have a more "comfortable"/upright sitting position. Probably your best bet if your going to do minimal offroad, but also are not going to try and go as fast as you can all the time.

(or at least that is my understanding as a bike newb)

[Looneybomber]

Mountain bikes will be a lot more durable, but suspension (especially rear) will compress as you ride meaning your putting energy into compressing a spring rather then push yourself forward.

The rear suspension really only hurts you when cranking out of the saddle, like on steep hill climbs for example. However, you do get added traction gained over rough terrain at higher speeds. So it's a trade off. Personally, I raced hard tail and would love to have cruised/practiced on a full suspension, but I didn't have the money for that.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Mountain bikes probably cheaper and a lot easier.

Bingo. I have a KHS mountainbike (full suspension) that I use for both offroad and onroad riding. I swapped the ultra-aggressive mud/dirt tires for something with a better blend of onroad manners and offroad capability.
Grab a lightweight mountainbike, put the right tires on it, get a nice seat, and you're set for casual/weekend warrior road cycling.

As for rear suspension getting in the way, any bike worth paying for is going to have a quick-adjust rear shock and/or spring (many are adjustable by hand, no tools needed). But it should only really pose a significant problem if you've got it adjusted wrong in the first place.
But if you're doing MOSTLY road cycling, you probably want to avoid rear suspension simply because of the weight it adds.

[Comrade]

Bingo. I have a KHS mountainbike (full suspension) that I use for both offroad and onroad riding. I swapped the ultra-aggressive mud/dirt tires for something with a better blend of onroad manners and offroad capability.

What tires, might I ask, did you swap to? I'd like to make my Litespeed a little more street-able, but not lose too much of its trail-worthiness.


And to keep on topic, I also ride a Windsor singlespeed due to the simplicity of the bike (ex-20" rider). But, it's kind of out of commission at the moment. I'm currently looking for some riser/mountain bike bars and a 15t-16t freewheel (it was a fixed gear bike).

[MinisterofDOOM]

I'm running some CST copperheads:

[Red coupe]

FINALLY.

First pay check, so time to upgrade.

Went from this:

Specialized Expedition

to something a little more fitting:

An '05 Giant OCR 3

So much better then over weight (35 lbs ) luxury hybrid with twist shifters.

[TurboSauce]

my bike alone weighs 55 lbs ( mountian bike)
i weigh 163
so 218lbs and my max speed is 23-24 mph
my rear suspension is adjustable though :]
it can go from as stiff as if there was no suspension to so soft that when i pedal i bounce on the seat. LOL

[Red coupe]

my bike alone weighs 55 lbs ( mountian bike)

lol, got damn... I thought the expedition was heavy.

well at least you can probably drop off a 15 foot cliff with out hurting the thing

I haven't weighted the new bike yet, and I almost don't want to.
I know it isn't the lightest thing, but its pretty good... AL with CF front fork. At least for now it is a very light bike for me, definitely much more nimble the the old one

[TurboSauce]

Lol
After i got used to this bike
and got to max speed. i rode my dads road bike.
and got so scared I walked back home.

THat thing was so light weight! its like a 15 lbs bike!
the pedaling it took me to cruise on my mountain bike was like racing on the road bike. i was literally zooming in and out of corners.
i'm afraid to get on that and push how fast i actually could go.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I DESPISE twist-grip shifters. Always have. I'm pretty sure they were invented by some marketing guy at his desk, because anyone who actually rides looks at them and laughs.

[TurboSauce]

Hey my bike has them! >:(
so what if when i'm tired it is extremely difficult to swich gears
or if i haven't changed gears in a while it tends to stiffen up
or if i change gears to quickly the chain falls off
or if changing from 1-3 and vice versa if practically impossible.
i lost my point

[MinisterofDOOM]

or if i change gears to quickly the chain falls off

Sounds like your derailleur needs adjustment.

The biggest gripes I have with grip shifters is that you can accidentally shift when bouncing around on trails. #2 gripe is the exaggerated range of motion required for gear changes compared to rapid-fire finger shifters.

[David C]

I DESPISE twist-grip shifters. Always have. I'm pretty sure they were invented by some marketing guy at his desk, because anyone who actually rides looks at them and laughs.

Funny, there's actually a LOT of serious(more so than you or I) that ride nothing BUT twist shifters and wouldn't have it any other way. I personally use triggers, but a friend of mine hates triggers and loves his twisters. I wish I could get a feel for twist shifters though, they're lighter and cheaper.

[subhunter]

Road Cycling - What's not to like?

[jsturges18]

had a 2007 specialized tarmac comp(full carbon fiber road bike) and now have a mountin bike - niner air 9 with sram x.9 10speed and rockshow reba race fork.

[Looneybomber]

I've been eyeballing this 2010 Trek 1.2 on Craigslist. It's been on there a while so I'm sure the guy will take less than his asking price of $600.
http://topeka.craigslist.org/bik/2543259493.html

I'd really like to get it, but I'd rather have a good mt.bike.

[TurboSauce]