New to road bikes

nboothby94
nboothby94 Posts: 7
edited April 2013 in Road beginners
Hello,

Got into road bikes because of my friend however shortly after purchasing my road bike he moved away so I no longer get to cycle with him, I am here today to ask for some tips for starting to build up endurance from a bigginers level, I have a very nice road bike and it would be a shame to not use it to it's full potential.

I am 18 and therefore should be full of energy but I find I vary, I have done very few long rides on my bike but I can feel almost dead after some 6 or 7 mile rides whereas after my very few longer rides (sorta 50 miles) I can feel like I can do i again, I know I need to learn to pace myself and to ride with decent technique but I am unsure what is classed as that for both.

I am currently riding a full carbon bike with shimano Ultegra (st 6700) so I have no excuse to be slow so any tips would be greatly appriciated.

Regards,

Nathan

Comments

  • simonhead
    simonhead Posts: 1,399
    edited April 2013
    Nathan,

    Congratulations and welcome. You sound in better shape than me and I am sure you will have no problems building up your distances and speed. Try and find a local group, if you say where you are from I am sure someone can point you in the right direction. Cycling with others is a great way to learn and you will pick it up a lot more quickly.

    Regards

    Simon
    Life isnt like a box of chocolates, its like a bag of pic n mix.
  • shadow4532
    shadow4532 Posts: 133
    the best advice i can offer is to join your local club. and to just keep getting the miles in you will soon learn how to pace yourself. and remember it never gets easier you just go faster. :D
    GIANT PROPEL SL1 for racing and posing
    TREK 2.5 training and commuting
    GIANT REVEL 1 LTD for when it gets all snowy
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    Welcome! Firstly what bike you got and if you don't show pictures, it doesn't exist! :) (No, I mean it).

    Secondly the best way is to keep riding. Thats it really. Just get out there and enjoy the cycling and rack up mile after mile after mile. The endurance will soon come. Your body is no where near its peak yet so you may find it a little tough but it will only be stronger for it. Get out and hit some hills and practice those.

    Thirdly, its not the bike that makes you go faster, its your legs. ;)
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
    Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
  • nboothby94
    nboothby94 Posts: 7
    Hi guys,

    Thanks for the responses! I am currently looking for a club to join and I am in the Guildford area so if anyone knows any decent ones near the Guildford area send links/emails my way please, Currently googling for some. I do think a club would help me a lot and have been contemplating it for some time as although I have done a reasonable amount of mileage on my bike (1000-1500 over 9 or so months) this has always been in the format of short and sweet rides (Never over 30 minutes apart from the odd 2 or 3).

    I shall keep looking!

    Thanks Again,

    Nathan
  • nboothby94
    nboothby94 Posts: 7
    As requested here is my bike:
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pin ... e-ec032173

    It's a pinnacle evaporite three and mine is attached!
    bike.jpg

    Just thought I'd add that I actually paid for all of this myself! took me 8 months to save but I did it!! :D
  • dnwhite88
    dnwhite88 Posts: 285
    http://www.vcgh.co.uk/ these guys might be of interest to you, I just moved back to Guildford area myself and was thinking of joining them
    "It never gets easier, you just go faster"
  • nboothby94
    nboothby94 Posts: 7
    dnwhite88 wrote:
    http://www.vcgh.co.uk/ these guys might be of interest to you, I just moved back to Guildford area myself and was thinking of joining them

    I emailed one of the guys there to see about trying a ride or two with them hopefully ill get a response soon :)
  • chrisvanderkaap
    chrisvanderkaap Posts: 323
    nboothby94 wrote:
    As requested here is my bike:
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pin ... e-ec032173

    It's a pinnacle evaporite three and mine is attached!
    bike.jpg

    Just thought I'd add that I actually paid for all of this myself! took me 8 months to save but I did it!! :D

    if you don't mind me asking, what are those 'contraptions' on your bike?

    All the best!
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    Looks like an air horn...
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
    Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
  • nboothby94
    nboothby94 Posts: 7
    Yup indeed air horn for commuting (louder than most small cars) and then standard stuff saddle bag computer lights nothing more exciting :P but yeah delta airzound great little thing to grab attention for the dangerous drivers.
  • MattyyP
    MattyyP Posts: 142
    I can imagine that air horn get's a few funny looks... lol! When you go to the club ride, expect to have a bit of banter for that :P Very nice bike though!
    Specialized Secteur Sport 2011
    B'Twin Rockrider 8 XC
    B'Twin Rockrider 9.1
  • nboothby94
    nboothby94 Posts: 7
    MattyyP wrote:
    I can imagine that air horn get's a few funny looks... lol! When you go to the club ride, expect to have a bit of banter for that :P Very nice bike though!

    Oh it does especially when people jump because of it, Well it is detachable, which I was thinking of doing If I went club cycling (Free up the extra bottle holder), And thank you, I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to my old £150 hybrid hahaha. Set a hole in my wallet for the rest of my life :P

Categories