First Sportives

segster
segster Posts: 15
edited May 2012 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
Signed up for help 4 heroes Catterick ride in July 73 miles up an over Buttertubs pass but to name one of the many hills. Not done much hilly riding so also signed up for a few sportives on the way, including the Over't tops which should be fun!

Now my question is this. I dont have sportive or proper road bike, I have the Trek 7.5 FX Disc which is a flat bar, sort of road/hybride type bike. http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec023967

I have been advised to swap out the tyres, any advice - I actually like the tyres never had a puncture yet so was only going to swap like for like but move from 28 to 25s.

I have already swapped the original seat, it was so uncomfortable, and it now has a specialised Romin Pro on instead.

What else can I do to make the bike ride better and me more comfortable?

Will I be able to cope with these bars - would like to put bar ends on but you cant on these.

Any feedback, advice etc would be really appreciated.

Comments

  • turnerjohn
    turnerjohn Posts: 1,069
    super skinny tyres and bar ends will make a big difference. If your not worried on doing it quick then thats all you need; enjoy the scenary. If you want to test yourself against the clock a proper road bike (as well as loads of training) is the only way to go.
  • segster
    segster Posts: 15
    no just finishing the rides will be good enough and as long as I can do that without being last I am happy. In terms of tyres, from the current Bontrager Race All Weather Hardcase Tyre 700 x 28s what would you advise. My bike isnt light so I am more interested in being able to keep puncture free and achieve a fair degree of free rolling. I would rather add a few grams than have to keep fixing punctures.
  • turnerjohn
    turnerjohn Posts: 1,069
    width is for comfort and not puncture resistance. I'm running 25mm wide Schwable Marathons on my commuter bike and haven't yet punctured...their some of the best around. Wider tyres also offer more contact area and thus more of a chance of catching something. I wouldn't worry about punctures over the weight. I do 100mile sportives on my race tyres (Coni 4000s and Michelin PRO3's) and haven't had any punctures...the PRO3's are very tough surviving my "exit from London" training rides into the country with no issues as of yet (tempted fait now I know!). I've always found avoiding punctures is more to do with riding style; watching for potholes, avoiding glass, keeping away from the kerb etc. ride smooth and you wont have so many. Personally I'd go lighter wit puncture protection. Enjoy the ride !
  • segster
    segster Posts: 15
    Personally I'd go lighter wit puncture protection. Enjoy the ride ![/quote]

    Given that my bike is around the 11.5 kg mark I am not sure that saving a few grams on tyres will make much difference. If that is the case I really want to get combinaiton of the best rolling possible, comfort, great grip and a bit of puncture protection. Tyres I have now, see above, are great in terms of grip and not a puncture so far (maybe I am tempting fate now!!) I was going to buy the same again but in a 23 or 25 - what do people think? I am not sure if a light race tyre will make much difference on my Trek 7.5 fX at the weight it has.
  • Omar Little
    Omar Little Posts: 2,010
    Just stick with the tyres you have they are a road tyre with good puncture protection so its not like changing from knobblies to slicks - you will not notice a huge difference in speed changing from 28 to 25.

    Bar ends would be useful in terms of comfort to give your hands somewhere else to hold - why can't you put them on?

    A good pair of padded shorts will make a big difference for comfort too.
  • wallace_and_gromit
    wallace_and_gromit Posts: 3,638
    Heavy(ish) flat barred bikes are a sensible way to go when getting into sportives, I'd say. I did the Marmotte last year on my Boardman Hybrid, disk brakes and all! If you decide to not do any more, you've still got a very versatile bike rather than £2k of carbon gathering dust in the garage.

    I went for puncture guarded 23mm tyres (Bontrager R3plus) though I'd have got Conti GP4000s if there'd been any in stock. I had one puncture in several thousand km of training and sportives on these, even on some very dodgy road surfaces.

    Bar ends make a huge difference. The alternative hand position when cruising is essential over long distances, to spread the aches out across the upper body. I actually swapped the sleek Ritchie ones that the Boardman had for my old MTB bar-ends as they just felt more comfortable.

    Carbon road bikes are much nicer though, particularly when you've earnt one "the hard way" by a season on a hybrid.
  • Le Commentateur
    Le Commentateur Posts: 4,099
    Considering the weight of the bike I would check whether the gearing could be optimized - you might find a lower gear gets you over any comedy gradients in the latter part of the ride if by that point it's beyond the distance you normally ride.
    Un uomo solo al commando
  • kilo
    kilo Posts: 174
    What else can I do to make the bike ride better and me more comfortable?

    Comfort - Decent bib shorts, chamois cream, track mits, some training and bar ends. Cycling jersey with back pockets handy for carrying food in and flap less than big baggy t shirts. Ride better- Make sure you have good pressure in the tyres, lub'ed chain, gears that work properly, etc. Enjoy it.
  • segster
    segster Posts: 15
    Thanks for the replies folks. I have made a boob, the tyres on the bike are currently 700 x 32c so I will probably drop them down to a 25 if possible. I like the tyres I have so will probably get the same ones.
    In terms of bar ends it is not possible to fit normal ones as the current handle bar has a sqaushed section at the end to allow the spongy insert for the comfort grips that came with the bike so nothing to clamp onto. However I have spoken to trek and they have made a bar end specific for this (which I dont think they had last year when I bought the bike) so ordered a set of those.

    I have already done a fair bit of cycling so have the equipment in terms of shorts and cycle top etc. Not got bib shorts though, are they a lot better? Got Chris Boardman cycling shorts at moment. Did the Manchester to Blackpool twice last year, did 160 mile (over 3 days) ride from Scotland to Wigan last year on a mountain bike.

    Need to get the training going again, become lazy recently but thats easily sorted.

    Got a racing seat on the bike and shimano clipless pedals.

    Think thats me about sorted.

    Already got 2 bikes so cant justify another but as Wallace and Gromit says once I have a few long rides on this one then I might be changing.
  • segster
    segster Posts: 15
    Was going to get same tyres but in a smaller size but finally settled on these as they were a good price.

    http://bontrager.com/model/00443

    Also according to Bontrager figures there is a 155g saving per tyre from my current ones so 310g lighter bike!! Hope they give the grip in the wet.

    Any thoughts from anyone?

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