First Road Bike!

WisePranker
WisePranker Posts: 823
edited March 2011 in Road beginners
I've just ordered my first road bike, a Boardman Comp, having been more of a mountain biker and I'm looking for advice.

Are there any accessories that I should be getting for the new bike?
I've ordered some clipless pedals and will be looking for some shoes to go with them but is there anything else I need?

Comments

  • Peddle Up!
    Peddle Up! Posts: 2,040
    Enjoy the riding first, the toys will surely follow. :D
    Purveyor of "up" :)
  • navrig
    navrig Posts: 1,352
    You'll need all the usual stuff associated with MTBs:

    bag for multi tool, spare tubes, puncture repair kit, bottle cage, bottle, pump, personal masseure for your backside.
  • Bar Shaker
    Bar Shaker Posts: 2,313
    I've fitted drinks holders, a computer (the Boardman one, has cadence and altitude - is excellent), some XTR SPD pedals and some GP4000S tyres.

    The tyres are very puncture resistant so I don't carry tubes or a pump. You will need a track pump, if you don't have one.
    Boardman Elite SLR 9.2S
    Boardman FS Pro
  • nochekmate
    nochekmate Posts: 3,460
    Bar Shaker wrote:
    I've fitted drinks holders, a computer (the Boardman one, has cadence and altitude - is excellent), some XTR SPD pedals and some GP4000S tyres.

    The tyres are very puncture resistant so I don't carry tubes or a pump. You will need a track pump, if you don't have one.

    OMG It's all going to end in tears at some stage - that and a long walk home (unless of course you are getting in your mileage on the circuit below) :lol:

    velodrome.jpg
  • walsht1105
    walsht1105 Posts: 120
    Bar Shaker wrote:
    I
    The tyres are very puncture resistant so I don't carry tubes or a pump. You will need a track pump, if you don't have one.

    Get spare inner tubes a multitool and a pump to take on all long rides, a puncture is always a possibility no matter how good your tyres are or how attentive you are to road surface etc etc.

    You don't want to ride 30miles from home get a puncture - have no mobile phone signal and face slowly rolling/walking back for the sake of paying for and carrying a few essentials
  • Philby
    Philby Posts: 328
    GP4000S tyres.

    The tyres are very puncture resistant so I don't carry tubes or a pump. You will need a track pump, if you don't have one.

    My mate had two p********s in one ride with GP4000S tyres.

    You really are tempting fate.

    I assume you have appropriate clothing like bib tights / shorts with a chamois. You might want to invest in some chamois cream to keep your undercarriage from becoming sore - Assos or Udderly Smooth are both good.

    Also stick a pair of latex gloves in the saddle bag - great for keeping your hands clean and oil free in the event of a mechanical.
  • Lillywhite
    Lillywhite Posts: 742
    Bar Shaker wrote:

    The tyres are very puncture resistant so I don't carry tubes or a pump.

    You'll learn the hard way. :shock:
  • Peddle Up!
    Peddle Up! Posts: 2,040
    Seriously, all good advice above, especially the need to plan for punchures. :wink:

    I would add a small amount of cash to my saddle bag in case you find yourself in need of a snack or drink on a longer ride.
    Purveyor of "up" :)
  • WisePranker
    WisePranker Posts: 823
    Right then, it looks like I'm gonna be heading out to buy a couple of spare tubes and a pump/cylinders!

    I've already got some Endura padded shorts that I wear on the mountain bike so they should do for now. I'm in two minds as to whether to fit clipless pedals straight off or to go for some pedals with clips and straps to start off with until I get used to the bike. Any suggestions on that?

    Next thing is going to be trying to find some decent routes from home so I think it's time for a look at Google maps!
  • paulbox
    paulbox Posts: 1,203
    Make sure you get a road specific pump, mtb ones are designed to shift large volumes at low pressure, road ones are smaller volumes at high pressures.

    Bottle and cage if you usually use a camelbak on your mtb.

    Personally I feel a bit vulnerable on the road after mtb'ing for years so I bought a high-vis jacket (cheapish Adidas job from Sportdirect) and some very bright led lights which I use during the day.

    Re pedals, if you're used to using SPD's I'd just go with them on your road bike. Then you can use your existing mtb shoes.
    Bar Shaker wrote:
    The tyres are very puncture resistant so I don't carry tubes or a pump. You will need a track pump, if you don't have one.
    Radio rental mate... :shock:
    XC: Giant Anthem X
    Fun: Yeti SB66
    Road: Litespeed C1, Cannondale Supersix Evo, Cervelo R5
    Trainer: Bianchi via Nirone
    Hack: GT hardtail with Schwalbe City Jets
  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    Bar Shaker wrote:
    I've fitted drinks holders,

    Considering your username I am picturing something very different from the traditional bottle cage.

    Cocktails anybody???









    As for your second paragraph????? Wow!
  • ohara227
    ohara227 Posts: 225
    At first when I got mine, I got all new stuff ie bottles etc but to be honest ride it and as Peddle up said the toys will follow. I did buy a new road helmet though and got a Cate-eye V3 on order as I want to be able to take note of performance etc.

    Have fun!

    Forgot to add - dont use the clip pedals until you had some practice if like me your used to MTB. The brakes and the feeling every bump does keep you alert!
    'The hills are alive with the sounds of panting'

    Rides:

    MTB - Giant 2008 Trance X2
    Road - Giant 2010 Defy 2
    Hybrid - Giant Escape 2011 City 2
  • weedy1
    weedy1 Posts: 143
    WisePranker wrote:
    I'm in two minds as to whether to fit clipless pedals straight off or to go for some pedals with clips and straps to start off with until I get used to the bike. Any suggestions on that?

    If you're not going clipless right off just fit normal flats with clips/straps on. Boardman comps used to come with road quill pedals that for me were a nightmare to get along with.
  • WisePranker
    WisePranker Posts: 823
    weedy1 wrote:
    WisePranker wrote:
    I'm in two minds as to whether to fit clipless pedals straight off or to go for some pedals with clips and straps to start off with until I get used to the bike. Any suggestions on that?

    If you're not going clipless right off just fit normal flats with clips/straps on. Boardman comps used to come with road quill pedals that for me were a nightmare to get along with.

    I've just double checked the Halfords website and it appears that it does come with pedals after all. I was going by the photo's which show it without pedals fitted.

    I'm probably going to go with fitting the Cateye computer that I had on my MTB but I'm not sure if it's worth bothering as I tend to use a Garmin Forerunner 110 which appears to be more accurate.

    I'm going to have to pop into Halfords tomorrow and see if they can reserve the bike for me as I've been told today that it could take up to a fortnight for the voucher to turn up from work for me to buy the bike with :(
    There was me hoping that they would be a little faster than that!
  • Fenred
    Fenred Posts: 428
    Picked my road comp up last week...Awesome machine for the money! Just swapped pedals out for some old mtb spd's I had laying around.

    As PaulBox says, you will def feel a little exposed and vulnerable :x

    Only immediate upgrade I'd recommend would be some Koolstop Salmon brake pads..

    Enjoy!!
  • Butterd2
    Butterd2 Posts: 937
    As others have said, if you are used to SPD's from MTBing stick with them. I just fitted a pair or XTR spuds to my CR-1 and have yet to find any reason to switch to SPD-SL's. (But several not to).
    Scott CR-1 (FCN 4)
    Pace RC200 FG Conversion (FCN 5)
    Giant Trance X

    My collection of Cols
  • WisePranker
    WisePranker Posts: 823
    Right, I've got the bike sorted and I pick it up this weekend.
    The pedals and shoes are sorted, I've got some Specialized shoes and a couple of pairs of Shimano pedals for the two bikes.
    Next thing to sort out is some shorts!

    I currently wear Endura baggy shorts on the mountain bike and from reading up it seems that it might be a good idea to get some decent bib shorts.
    I've been looking at Wiggle's own dhb shorts:

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-earnley-cycling-bib-shorts/

    Or possibly the Sportful team shorts:

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sportful-team-s ... hort-2010/

    Would it be worth paying the extra for the Sportful shorts or not?
    Also, will I look like a muppet wearing team replica shorts?
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    Comfort First with shorts, I feel. I use Giordana Tenax Carbon. They are really, really comfortable.
    - - - - - - - - - -
    On Strava.{/url}
  • One Man And His Bike
    One Man And His Bike Posts: 661
    WisePranker wrote:
    Right then, it looks like I'm gonna be heading out to buy a couple of spare tubes and a pump/cylinders!

    Google shopping is your friend, as is online shopping for bike bits as it's much cheaper than LBS/Halfords. More cash saved means more toys bought.
    http://www.onemanandhisbike.co.uk
  • WisePranker
    WisePranker Posts: 823
    I picked up the bike today at last :)

    Due to some screw-ups by different Halfords stores, two of them sold the bikes I'd reserved, they couldn't get me the 2010 bike that I wanted. As a result the store manger decided that due to the inconvenience they'd give me the 2011 bike for the same price as the 2010 sale bike :D:D

    Now I just need to get out and ride the thing!

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