My First Road Ride Ever - Well worth the leap

Xommul

Hi Folks,

Ive ben on the forums for a few weeks finding out about road riding and learning everything i ca. I ordered my first road bike in May and it turned up this week. I went for a bike fit at Bike Lab in Richmond and today was the first day i was able to get out on my bike.

I was quite nervous but very eager. First new thing was clipping in. Wasnt as bad clipping in as i thought it would be. I can see with much practice it will be second nature. Clipping out is a synch its all about the timing and working out if you need to clip out when coming to junctions.

Gear changes with the sram force double taps are very smooth, on click for harder and two clicks for easier. The chan did pop off once when i was on a hil and went from big ring to smaller one. I then had a right mare trying to get going on a steep hill and clipping in but i managed it.

I tackled some mega hills and was suprised how well i got up them. Im used to MTB gears and they are so different on a road bike. The smallest road bike gear was easy to turn but got me up the hill quite quickly.

The bike is much stiffer and you can feel the bumps and every rut. Which in my area the roads are rubbish but I am amazed at how smooth the ride feels tho and the acceleration you get with a carbon bike.

I did 30 miles in 2 hours and there were some big hills in the chilterns. My bum feels a little sore and the lower back was aching but i was doing the back in the gym this morning.

Cant wait to get back out and enjoy it some more, i had a big smile the entire time, even when some old grandad in a merc pulled out from a side road and made me slow right down.

I have decided never to use a music player, i need to hear the road at all times.

To anyone else starting out, go for it, you will love it.

Xom

zexel

Xommul wrote:

Gear changes with the sram force double taps are very smooth, on click for harder and two clicks for easier. The chan did pop off once when i was on a hil and went from big ring to smaller one. I then had a right mare trying to get going on a steep hill and clipping in but i managed it.

Xom

Nice one.

Assuming it's all set up as it should be, I'm guessing you have a compact, sometimes however well set up they are this can happen. I've got a Deda Dog Fang to stop it happening.

Xommul

A dog Fang,

I see wiggle do them for 4 quid.

How does it work, and they have 3 sizes, hw do i know what size i need?