My first road bike-initial thoughts

Ringo 68

I have been away on holiday for a couple of weeks and was planning to buy when I got back but a quick look on Halfords web site I noticed they had a 10% off deal on Boardmans that ended on wednesday. Unable to resist I ordered a Road Comp for £719 (large-55cm).

I got home early saturday and, totally jet lagged, went straight to the shop to pick it up. I have been riding a 20" hybrid for the last 3 years and when the bike was wheeled out my first thought was "omg, it is too big" but after quick sit on it, it didn't feel too bad.

Got the bike home and checked it out. The build quality was fine so well done to Halfords for that. I know sometimes they have got bad press but my bike was perfectly put together. I took the pedal clips off but I will have to wait to add clipless pedals and get proper riding shoes as I am totally skint after my holiday. Desperate to try it out, I looked out of the window and it was pouring down so I decided to wait for better weather.

I have just taken it out for a 20 mile run and I have got to say, what a great bike. So much easier to ride and quicker than my hybrid. There is a hill on my route that I flew down but I was thinking "I don't fancy going back up that on the way home" but on the way back I didn't realise that I had gone back up it until I reached the top. It didn't seem like a big hill at all on the Boardman. I would have really struggled on my hybrid.

I can't wait to get fitter and do some longer, harder rides. Why did I leave it so long to get a good road bike?

RowCycle

Good to hear you're happy with your first road bike

mouth

Welcome to the club my friend. Next week you can tel us about your new lycra outfit that you will inevitably buy. And the week after that we will advise you on the upgrade you're not sure about.

You'd better hope you've got shallow pockets and long arms in this hobby my friend.

Ringo 68

Mouth wrote:

Welcome to the club my friend. Next week you can tel us about your new lycra outfit that you will inevitably buy. And the week after that we will advise you on the upgrade you're not sure about.

You'd better hope you've got shallow pockets and long arms in this hobby my friend.

Already got the lycra, though my missus laughed so much I had to put a pair of baggies over the top before I went out :oops:

I don't know about shallow pockets, empty pockets more like. But yes, I already have a list of bike parts/gadgets that I NEED to turn me into the next Candel Evans.

cyberknight

Glad you like it

I recently got a 2011 road comp on C2W , works out at £550 .

Fantastic bike and compared to my commuter it accelerates and climbs brilliantly.

nochekmate

Ringo 68 wrote:

Mouth wrote:

I don't know about shallow pockets, empty pockets more like. But yes, I already have a list of bike parts/gadgets that I NEED to turn me into the next Candel Evans.

Is that Cadel's brother?

cyberknight

nochekmate wrote:

Ringo 68 wrote:

Mouth wrote:

I don't know about shallow pockets, empty pockets more like. But yes, I already have a list of bike parts/gadgets that I NEED to turn me into the next Candel Evans.

Is that Cadel's brother?

PMSL

Just noticed your from south derbyshire too, hello from a another one (Swadlincote )

graham.

cyberknight wrote:

Just noticed your from south derbyshire too, hello from a another one (Swadlincote )

And another....Littleover.
Graham.

cyberknight

Graham. wrote:

cyberknight wrote:

Just noticed your from south derbyshire too, hello from a another one (Swadlincote )

And another....Littleover.
Graham.

I work at that big car factory up the road , my commute is from home through bretby, repton willington.

Kerguelen

I got the same bike a couple of weeks ago... but for some reason mine has a cheaper front mech (MicroShift something) and tyres (Vittoria Zaffiro) than the official spec.

Just a case of running out of the proper bits at the factory, or is someone swiping the proper bits for themselves?

Ringo 68

Kerguelen wrote:

I got the same bike a couple of weeks ago... but for some reason mine has a cheaper front mech (MicroShift something) and tyres (Vittoria Zaffiro) than the official spec.

Just a case of running out of the proper bits at the factory, or is someone swiping the proper bits for themselves?

Mine has the same front mech and wheels as yours so I guess the spec must have changed.

nochekmate

A Repton man myself - often out with South Pennine CC or Mercia CC.

Kerguelen

Ringo 68 wrote:

Mine has the same front mech and wheels as yours so I guess the spec must have changed.

Thanks Ringo, good to know there's nothing more than a bit of cost-cutting going on. Do you think there's any point in upgrading the tyres yet?

The Spiderman

Road bikes are great aren`t they? I still love my mtb aswell though,but there is a time and place for both.

Ringo 68

Kerguelen wrote:

Ringo 68 wrote:

Mine has the same front mech and wheels as yours so I guess the spec must have changed.

Thanks Ringo, good to know there's nothing more than a bit of cost-cutting going on. Do you think there's any point in upgrading the tyres yet?

I am going to stick with the tyres at the moment. I am new to this lark and anything is better than the chunky tyres on my hybrid so I will give it a while and try and resist any upgrades for the time being.

Mmmmmm, maybe in the spring though.

cyberknight

nochekmate wrote:

A Repton man myself - often out with South Pennine CC or Mercia CC.

I go out with merica CC on a sunday as well ,only the NSFG atm but i am looking to move up the the chain gang .