Finally took the plunge - now what?

sludd

After a month or so of pissing about trying to decide on my first road bike, I finally bought one - Colnago Arte with dura ace groupset.

My question now is:

What steps should I take before riding it for the first time. I need to fit pedals (Look Keo classic clipless - feeling nervous about toppling over at traffic lights), saddle, front wheel and handlebars.

Where should I grease, oil and so on......and any other precautions I should take

bobtbuilder

Re: the pedals:

The unspoken rule is that you will fall three times. Personally it's been twice, but I'm waiting for the third.

Try to take the bike somewhere quiet and pretty traffic free. Industrial estate at weekend / Superstore car park after closing time / quiet lane and practice clipping in & out. The Keo's are pretty easy to get the hang of. Once you get used to them, try on busier roads. Keep an eye out for places you may have to stop (junctions, traffic lights, etc.) and prepare yourself to unclip. Maybe even unclip as you approach if it makes you feel safer. Cars braking quickly can be a problem (e.g. car thought it could get out of a T-junction but suddenly decoded not to) so don't get too close to them.

Not sure how much you've ridden before or where, but in traffic, don't be afraid to take the primary position (near centre of left lane). It makes cars think twice before overtaking, and riding close to the kerb gives you nowhere to go if someone is too close.

STEFANOS4784

Just ride the blooming thing

bice

get used to it with ordinary pedals, with toe clips. I rode my bike from Spittalfields shop through central London to Wandsworth for first time, with SPDs. I should have kept the ordinary pedals on. Actually I didn't fall, but I rember being absurdly anxious.

morrisje

Get some bike cleaner degreaser and spray it all over after a ride. Hose off and luve the chain with a decent oil.

The bike goes faster if you keep it clean. Well, it feels faster

slowlanejane

I've got had my first ride with cleats, my LBS guy taught me how to clip in / out and told me to practise in fromt of the telly for 30mins a day to get used to the feel & be able to do it without looking down. Cant say I've quite managed it yet, but felt confident enought to go to a vleodrome & ride first time. It was great, much easier clipping in & out when riding the bike v stationary practising. Have no qualms about riding on roads now. Your greatest fall risk on the road is your lack of confidence, not the cleat. Practise first away from traffic.

Headhuunter

Wow! You started with a seriously fancy bike!

skyd0g

After you feel more confident with the pedals, make your first 'outings' fairly short loops from your house. That way, you're not stranded miles away from home if you need to adjust/tighten something etc. (You can always repeat/reverse the route, if you're not yet tired).

When you start to venture further, make sure you have a basic multitool, pump, spare tube/s and your mobile. Enjoy!

skyd0g

Oh, make sure you know how to operate the brakes (just in case you need them in a hurry) and that they work okay.
<edit> In case you didn't already know, the majority of your stopping power comes from the front brake (right lever). Get used to using this as your primary stopper.
...if you grab an armful of your rear brake, this will only serve to skid the rear wheel & reduce your overall control of the bike (and wear the rear tyre).
For maximum stopping power, use both brakes (about 70/30ish front to rear, proportionally).

hopper1

Look at the Park Tools site, there's plenty of help on there...

Buckled_Rims

Headhuunter wrote:

Wow! You started with a seriously fancy bike!

It's up to Sludd what he wants to buy for his first road bike, but I'm like you surprised he's spend a fair amount. It's like having a Ferrari being your first car.

Mind you, if he doesn't get on with it, someone's going to have a good bargain on ebay

CiB

Buckled_Rims wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

Wow! You started with a seriously fancy bike!

It's up to Sludd what he wants to buy for his first road bike, but I'm like you surprised he's spend a fair amount. It's like having a Ferrari being your first car.

Mind you, if he doesn't get on with it, someone's going to have a good bargain on ebay

What's the point of buying a crap bike? You're a beginner for a few weeks, maybe a couple of months, then you know what you're doing and want the best you can stretch to. You'll own this bike for 3 - 3½ years then will upgrade anyway. Why would would you want to buy a bottom of the range bike to get you though the first few weeks, only to spend the remainder of that 3½ years wishing you'd got something better? You're going to buy a decent bike one day. Buy it now and enjoy it. Buy cheap, buy twice is my motto.

This is how bike shops work - they guide you away from the bike you want and sell you something you didn't really want, knowing that you'll come back next year and buy what you wanted in the first place. Result!! They've sold you two bikes instead of one. Sucker!!!!

Anyway, sort out the bare minimum of tools that you need to make adjustments - a 4.5mm & 6mm Allen Key probably, & a small posi screwdriver, that should do it. Add a bottle holder + bottle full of squash, fill your pockets with a puncture outfit, a bit of cash, a phone & a debit card, a banana and some malt loaf, and fit a mini pump. Set off on a 50 mile route. You'll learn more doing that than a hundred 'oooh careful, don't go too far, practice your unclipping, mind how yer go' rides. If it needs adjusting, do it, then carry on.

When you've done that, do it again on Sunday. Sorted.

skyd0g

Looking again at your original post, you may find this link useful http://www.bikedynamics.co.uk/guidelines.htm to get the bike set-up near correct.

Post back here if you need any further assistance & to let us know how you're doing.

CiB

Be aware that moving the saddle backwards or farwards a bit makes a huge difference to how you sit. Get the saddle height right, get the hoods angled how it suits you best, but don't be afraid to move the seat +/- an inch or more. It's night & day, chalk & cheese teritory.

Do the long ride tho. The bike is made for it. You'll get so much more out of it.

Buckled_Rims

ChrisInBicester wrote:

Buckled_Rims wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

Wow! You started with a seriously fancy bike!

It's up to Sludd what he wants to buy for his first road bike, but I'm like you surprised he's spend a fair amount. It's like having a Ferrari being your first car.

Mind you, if he doesn't get on with it, someone's going to have a good bargain on ebay

What's the point of buying a crap bike? You're a beginner for a few weeks, maybe a couple of months, then you know what you're doing and want the best you can stretch to. You'll own this bike for 3 - 3½ years then will upgrade anyway. Why would would you want to buy a bottom of the range bike to get you though the first few weeks, only to spend the remainder of that 3½ years wishing you'd got something better? You're going to buy a decent bike one day. Buy it now and enjoy it. Buy cheap, buy twice is my motto.

Oi, who said I suggested a crap bike? Read it again, mate. You just dissed a boat load of people who have Spesh Allez, Trek 1.2, Defys ...etc.

keyser_soze

Buckled_Rims wrote:

ChrisInBicester wrote:

Buckled_Rims wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

Wow! You started with a seriously fancy bike!

It's up to Sludd what he wants to buy for his first road bike, but I'm like you surprised he's spend a fair amount. It's like having a Ferrari being your first car.

Mind you, if he doesn't get on with it, someone's going to have a good bargain on ebay

What's the point of buying a crap bike? You're a beginner for a few weeks, maybe a couple of months, then you know what you're doing and want the best you can stretch to. You'll own this bike for 3 - 3½ years then will upgrade anyway. Why would would you want to buy a bottom of the range bike to get you though the first few weeks, only to spend the remainder of that 3½ years wishing you'd got something better? You're going to buy a decent bike one day. Buy it now and enjoy it. Buy cheap, buy twice is my motto.

Oi, who said I suggested a crap bike? Read it again, mate. You just dissed a boat load of people who have Spesh Allez, Trek 1.2, Defys ...etc.

Agreed - I have a spesh allez because I was in a v ery bad accident where I was hit by a bus - got a cheapeish bike because I didn;t know whether I would be able to ride again at all. I finally got my bike balls back but if I hadn't I would have been seriously annoyed to have spent 2k on a bike rather than what I did soend, and now this way I have a winter trainer. It makes complete sense to start at the bottom. When I upgrade in the summer it is not like I will regtret having 2 bikes, but I will feel glad that I have a winter ride sitting ready for me when the weather turns.