Newbie and nervous

boogi11

Hi all, well I did it, about two years later than all my friends but I now own a bike http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bia ... e-ec031957
I hope I have made a good choice, I had it sized and it felt lovely, got the shoes, new helmet, water bottle. Just need to fall off now! Any tips, I hope this is the answer to shedding a stone in weight.
P.s. is this bike any good

rpd_steve

You can never go wrong with a Bianchi with Campagnolo on the side...

For the money its a cracking bike, and even the bottom of the range gear is very very good these days. And you have a great frame there which is worthy of a groupo upgrade is a few years time if the need/want for new shiny things takes you!

The only advise Id give is:
-Never leave home without a flat kit, phone and cab money
-Learn how to change a tube easily in the comfort of your front room rather than on the side of the road when you get 1 shot
-Join a club! There are all sorts of clubs out there from all abilities to elite race, go along, meet some friends and you will find you learn quickly, enjoy it more and there will be plenty of like minded people looking to loose weight too.

Enjoy!

boogi11

Thanks, I can't wait for it to arrive, biggest surprise was how expensive proper cycle shoes are, cheapest I could find in a shop for fitting was 70 for specialised

Peddle Up!

boogi11 wrote:

...it felt lovely

That's all you need. Enjoy your rides.

Wirral_paul

boogi11 wrote:

Just need to fall off now! Any tips,

Yep - do it somewhere quiet where nobody is watching.......especially not in front of a car full of ladies at the traffic lights. This is never good for the ego!

Enjoy the bike - as said, a Biannchi with Campag cant be bad. Everyone knows that Campag is the best!!

boogi11

Cheers guys, my heart told me to buy a giant defy 1, the guy in the shop even said it was a. Better bike because spares would be easier to find than with the bianchi, but the bianchi looked so good in the celesta colours,so my heart won. I understand all the basics of group sets but can find little info on what is good and bad. My mate rides 50 miles a day, so I'm hoping he will teach me the ropes

Anonymous

Its much better than my bike, but I've just ordered the same one but in the black colour scheme, which im regretting now.

Get out and enjoy it, you'll be eating up the miles in no time.

blackhands

boogi11 wrote:

Cheers guys, my heart told me to buy a giant defy 1, the guy in the shop even said it was a. Better bike because spares would be easier to find than with the bianchi, but the bianchi looked so good in the celesta colours,so my heart won. I understand all the basics of group sets but can find little info on what is good and bad. My mate rides 50 miles a day, so I'm hoping he will teach me the ropes

I can't believe that spares would be easier for the Giant - both use components from big manufacturers and are easily to find/replace. Mind you if you buy from Evans don't expect the best advice.

Now you have the bike and shoes (£70 is not expensive and Specialized are good for wider feet) get yourself some decent bibshorts. DHB (from Wiggle) and Gore Bikewear are good. Go for bibshorts rather than just shorts which tend to bunch around your waist: cheap shorts are a waste of time, as they can be uncomfortable and not give the best level of padding. Also get a decent pair of trackmitts - again DHB are good value.

You need decent gear if you are going to go out with your mate on 50 milers (which incidentally is nothing - I did over 100 yesterday and I'm almost 70).

boogi11

Are bib shorts the padded ones? I think I have got some of wiggle, stood at the top of the stairs and the wife nearly wet herself laughing

Herbsman

Have you tried pedaling harder?

thegodplato

Herbsman wrote:

Have you tried pedaling harder?

If this is all you can say then don't say anything having said the same thing on my post.

Congrats on getting the same bike as me. It will take a bit of time to get the miles up and padded shorts are a must. I've had my Bianchi for 2 months now and at first did around 25miles without padded shorts. God, my arse was sore. Now I have some and its much further but I do combine it with some Udderley Smooth cream which seems to help as well. Everyone is different but it seems fine for me.
I got up to 50 miles within 3 weeks but that was on mainly flat-ish roads and have now just done 68 miles yesterday on my own with just over 4000 feet of climbing. It was hard and could have done with my riding buddy but he was on holiday.
Just do what you can!

v2p

The bianchi's are simply beautiful bikes *drools*

g00se

boogi11 wrote:

Cheers guys, my heart told me to buy a giant defy 1, the guy in the shop even said it was a. Better bike because spares would be easier to find than with the bianchi, but the bianchi looked so good in the celesta colours,so my heart won. I understand all the basics of group sets but can find little info on what is good and bad. My mate rides 50 miles a day, so I'm hoping he will teach me the ropes

Campag spares can be a little harder to find compared to Shimano (on the Giant) if you're going to Halfords and the like - just find a decent LBS that stocks Campag and you'll be sorted.

The bike's lovely by the way...

rick_chasey

Welcome.

A good choice for a bike. People will think you're know what you're talking about on that .

I remember getting a little nervous the first time I stood over my first road bike. Exciting times ahead for you my friend! Enjoy it!

(and don't get disheartened when you come off your first go feeling like the bike's given you a kicking. These things demand tough riding. You'll soon get used to it, and get used to the world flying past at a faster rate )

slowondefy2

A lovely looking bike! I hope you enjoy getting a few hundred miles done on it ASAP.

Herbsman wrote:

Have you tried pedaling harder?

You're useless. Have you tried shutting up?

boogi11

20miles today on mtb, i want my new bike, where is my voucher.