Some highs and lows of a first season on the road.....

degsy_103

As a newcomer, and as we head into the dark days of winter, I thought I would share some thoughts on my road experience to date.

Many, many more highs than lows, but here are a few of each……

Highs

1 : Buying a bike - ok, so only a low end Trek, but I love that bike. It has made a 40yo very happy ( and I didn’t post any ‘ What bike ?’ questions!!) In fact, I am buying a second hand Giant TCR, to use as my winter bike, and keeping my Sora clad Trek for ‘good’. Makes no sense, but just the way it is.
2 : 1500 miles so far – aiming for 2000 by year end ( since April when I got the bike). Amazing. Last year I thought I was a hero when doing 10 miles on my MTB. Quickly moved up from 20 to 30 and now 50 plus miles as a significant run.
3 : Riding in a group – Fantastic, the miles fly by
4 : My first ‘team pursuit’ – During a pee stop at a recent sportive, came out to find the group had left me. Would never have got back on the pack until 3 riders, who had also been dropped, came up behind me. What followed was my favourite 4 miles of the year, as we worked back to the pack. Felt like BW, and could not have been happier if you gave me Olympic Gold.
5 : Keeping up with the fast boys – out on my first 80 mile charity run, looked around after 20 miles to discover that we had dropped my usual cycling buddies – I was with the big boys! Nothing for it but to get the head down and go for it until refreshment stop at about 45 miles. Didn’t work much at the front, but did hang in.


Lows

1: Chavs – cannot believe how many prats there are around willing to offer their opinion on your riding/ clothing etc. Disgraced myself last week when I hurled a tirade at one 4x4 driver who had offer his considerable insight into my riding. Chased him, like I was ever going to catch him, but the red mist had descended.
2 : Chaffing – Having arrived a little late for a club run, quickly jumped on the bike and headed out without properly adjusting shorts and their contents. Note to self : take 10 seconds to make said adjustments.
3 : Clipless moments – first one was on my second club run, we were gathering in the car park waiting for the off and right in front of everyone I topple. Very embarrassed. Everyone, but everyone, came up and told me that they have all been there. Second was at a set of traffic lights, right in front of a car full of chavs – they enjoyed it so much that they actually doubled back at the next roundabout just to show their appreciation.
4 : The Knock – Have experienced this once this year, I will do everything in my power to avoid in the future – possibly the worst I have felt in the past 10 years.
5 : Experienced cyclists not obeying basic traffic laws - too many turning left on red, ignoring temporary tarffic lights at road works etc. If we expect consideration, we should show it.



I am reluctant to set myself any targets for next year – I want cycling to remain a pleasure rather than a chore. But deep down, deep deep down, I want to try a TT – just to say that I have done it.

STEFANOS4784

:? Didn't you already post this :?:

degsy_103

Yeah, don't know how that happened !?!

gtitim

Definitely give the TT a go, its incredibly painful. You'll love it.

DavidBelcher

gtitim wrote:

Definitely give the TT a go, its incredibly painful. You'll love it.

Start small and work your way up. A 10-mile one isn't too painful, and damned good fun all the same.

David

Bengdogg

Whats the knock?

Jez mon

Knock, polite name for the BONK

it's running out of energy, really, really badly. You more or less can't go above 12mph, your legs feel empty and you want to stop by the roadside and eat so, so much.

unclemalc

Jez mon wrote:

Knock, polite name for the BONK

it's running out of energy, really, really badly. You more or less can't go above 12mph, your legs feel empty and you want to stop by the roadside and eat so, so much.

To be avoided. :shock: You start to get tunnel vision and maybe see stars and you CANNOT keep going. All you want to do is lie down on that nice piece of verge and eat a box of Kit-Kats...
Its almost a rites-of-passge thing: you have to have done it to appreciate it.
But try not to.

Parsnip49

DavidBelcher wrote:

gtitim wrote:

Definitely give the TT a go, its incredibly painful. You'll love it.

Start small and work your way up. A 10-mile one isn't too painful, and damned good fun all the same.

David

If your doing it right a 10 mile TT should hurt like hell. If you can celebrate and savor the finish, you havent went nearly hard enough.

Crossing the line should be a brief stop on the way to dismounting in a heap and trying not to vomit down your skinsuit.

Russell160

By the way, which Trek have you been riding? Feedback? And which Giant have you got? Coiincidentally these are both bikes I am thinking about getting.

Leedsblue

Really good post. Your highs really outweigh your lows by a long way.

I have never done a TT but I might think about one next year - just a 10 though

degsy_103

Russell160

I bought the Trek 1.2 in April this year, thought I would start small to see if I enjoyed it - and I did. Great bike in my opinion, but never really ridden anything 'better' so difficult to know what I'm missing out on. Have lusted after a Madone the past few weeks, but I would find it difficult to justify the outlay - would it really make a huge difference, especially as I am only a 'social' cyclist.

Planning on buying a second hand Giant TCR, with full Shimano 105 kit ( bike is probably 10 years old, but hasn't been used for the 7-8 at least) - have ridden it briefly, and in all honesty, prefer my Trek, but could be because it wasn't set up for me correctly and therefore didin't feel as comfortable.

alfablue

I think the Trek 1.2 has a good frame, it is used on their £900 to £1000 (RRP) 1.9. If it suits you then probably all you would gain by buying the TCR is better components and maybe the ride won't suit you so much. Why not use the 1.2 a bit longer until you are ready to buy a substantially better bike. Until then maybe upgrade the wheels and tyres and the Sora shifters (which are probably the weakest part IMHO).

boybiker

DavidBelcher wrote:

gtitim wrote:

Definitely give the TT a go, its incredibly painful. You'll love it.

Start small and work your way up. A 10-mile one isn't too painful, and damned good fun all the same.

David

If its fun you are doing it wrong, time trials are not meant to be fun. :roll: :roll:

fuzzynavel

degsy_103 wrote:

Russell160

I bought the Trek 1.2 in April this year, thought I would start small to see if I enjoyed it - and I did. Great bike in my opinion, but never really ridden anything 'better' so difficult to know what I'm missing out on. Have lusted after a Madone the past few weeks, but I would find it difficult to justify the outlay - would it really make a huge difference, especially as I am only a 'social' cyclist.

Planning on buying a second hand Giant TCR, with full Shimano 105 kit ( bike is probably 10 years old, but hasn't been used for the 7-8 at least) - have ridden it briefly, and in all honesty, prefer my Trek, but could be because it wasn't set up for me correctly and therefore didin't feel as comfortable.

Can you not use the TCR for the winter and then shift the 105 kit to the Trek for the rest of the year?
I really don't know how much difference the better components would make. ?Is 10 year old 105 stuff actually better than newish Sora gear?

alfablue

fuzzynavel wrote:

degsy_103 wrote:

Russell160

I bought the Trek 1.2 in April this year, thought I would start small to see if I enjoyed it - and I did. Great bike in my opinion, but never really ridden anything 'better' so difficult to know what I'm missing out on. Have lusted after a Madone the past few weeks, but I would find it difficult to justify the outlay - would it really make a huge difference, especially as I am only a 'social' cyclist.

Planning on buying a second hand Giant TCR, with full Shimano 105 kit ( bike is probably 10 years old, but hasn't been used for the 7-8 at least) - have ridden it briefly, and in all honesty, prefer my Trek, but could be because it wasn't set up for me correctly and therefore didin't feel as comfortable.

Can you not use the TCR for the winter and then shift the 105 kit to the Trek for the rest of the year?
I really don't know how much difference the better components would make. ?Is 10 year old 105 stuff actually better than newish Sora gear?

The differences for most components wouldn't be that great IMHO, but the Sora shifters would definitely be improved upon, assuming the 105's weren't worn out. I have some 12 year old Shimano RSX shifters on my Audax bike and they still work perfectly despite maybe 12000 miles and a few tumbles where they have taken a hit.

I just don't like that pesky thumb lever on the Sora's.

degsy_103

Sora is all I know, so it is what I am comfortable with - I actually like the thumb change - again, because it is what I am used to.

I do agree though that todays Sora is the 105 of a fews years ago - trickle down technology

As for moving kit between bikes - believe me, I would probably end up with a trike, I'm pretty useless with a spanner.

DavidBelcher

degsy_103 wrote:

Sora is all I know, so it is what I am comfortable with - I actually like the thumb change - again, because it is what I am used to.

The thumb change was obviously designed with ergonomics in mind. I wonder where they got the idea from?

David