Newbie needig help and advice

shooter560
shooter560 Posts: 74
Its been 20+ years since I last rode a bike, back then I was into TT's and the odd road race, unfortunately since then I started the evil smoking (which I'm now quitting so not all bad), being mid 40's I also know I'm most lightly not going to get super fast time, but nothing is set in stone :lol:

I have now got myself a Specialized racer, Tacx I-Magic and associated bits a bobs, but have a few odd ball questions that hopefully some can answer, unfortunately my questions are not in any order.

On the tacx, how tight should the roller be against the rear tyre, I don't want to do damage to the turbo tyre but I've also noticed that the tyre screeches when the VR goes up a hill.

I've seen the David Lloyd mega challenge, now I know I wouldn't be able to do the Mega one, but there is a mini version, could I get in shape in time to enter this without coming home in last place, sorry the competitive side of me. Would I really need to go to a triple ring or compact chainset to do this?

Are their any online training guides that I could use that could give me some guidance as to what I should be looking to do etc. bearing in mind that Norfolk isn't well known for its hills, although I do know of several that I used to ride years ago that can be leg killers.

Norwich/Norfolk cycle clubs, any suggestions? I'd like to get back to doing some road races, TT's and some distance rides, oh and to get a lot fitter than I am.

Thanks in advance

Comments

  • shooter560 wrote:
    Its been 20+ years since I last rode a bike, back then I was into TT's and the odd road race, unfortunately since then I started the evil smoking (which I'm now quitting so not all bad), being mid 40's I also know I'm most lightly not going to get super fast time, but nothing is set in stone :lol:

    I have now got myself a Specialized racer, Tacx I-Magic and associated bits a bobs, but have a few odd ball questions that hopefully some can answer, unfortunately my questions are not in any order.

    On the tacx, how tight should the roller be against the rear tyre, I don't want to do damage to the turbo tyre but I've also noticed that the tyre screeches when the VR goes up a hill.

    Set the tyre against the turbo much harder, no screeching!

    I've seen the David Lloyd mega challenge, now I know I wouldn't be able to do the Mega one, but there is a mini version, could I get in shape in time to enter this without coming home in last place, sorry the competitive side of me. Would I really need to go to a triple ring or compact chainset to do this?

    possibly same gearing at the bottom end, so depends on what on your bike: dont waste money! check on sheldon brown's site (for gear ratios)

    Are their any online training guides that I could use that could give me some guidance as to what I should be looking to do etc. bearing in mind that Norfolk isn't well known for its hills, although I do know of several that I used to ride years ago that can be leg killers.

    Ride like f*ck from now until the evnt. There is no other way, so stop searching.

    Norwich/Norfolk cycle clubs, any suggestions? I'd like to get back to doing some road races, TT's and some distance rides, oh and to get a lot fitter than I am.

    Thanks in advance

    welcome to the club of returnables. Aint easy mate but good luck!
  • Ride like f*ck from now until the evnt.
    So what zone does that fall in? :lol:
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    on the imagic, you can adjust the tension of tyre against the roller - underneath the roller there is a screw that you can turn just with your hand. You can then calibrate the roller - it's somewhere down in one of the menus (setup or something along those lines). You need to ride at 19mph for as long as it tells you, stop pedalling wait until the wheel has stopped turning and then it calculates some factor which, I assume, takes into account the pressure against the roller etc.

    I wasn't too keen at first but I'm loving the turbo now. When you're going up mountains and having to get out of the seat, sweating cobs, thighs burning - it's great.

    When I started cycling earlier this year, someone gave me a link to easycycling webpage. http://www.easycycling.com/index.htm
    It just gives some basic info, which may get you started as it did for me. Unfortunately, I just tried the link and it's not coming up so not sure if it's a temporary problem or not.
    I then went on to buy many, many books. Still reading them, still learning.