new to road bikes some advice

markhopley

Hi people
For a while I've been trying to rack up the miles on a full suspension mtb with road tyre's but as uve probably guessed its hard going. I'm big into running. Mainly half marathon distance. But due to dreaded illnesses and annoyingly ongoing treatment/therapy got reactive arthritis an my running is suffering where as riding is good. I'm upto 30 miles on a longer ridemainly undulating to big ass hills. Country roads. And I ride to an from work regardless the weather.
My aim is to swap my running to road cycling an I get kinda obsessive lol.
My dilema is bike choice or choices. Work has the bike to work scheme an I've picked out a cinelli experience veloce which with the schemes discount and wiggles discount puts the bike at a ridiculous price around £420. Its a great looking bike and has fantastic reviews.
My next dilema is a full carbon pinarello f4:13 in my size with full shimano dur ace 7800.k swiss wheels on hope hubs. Second hand built 2 years ago with new parts by a well known specialists road bike shop to the tune of over £3.5k. And ridden twice and a load of accessories computer. Toolkit. Pump etc. Its immaculate.
Now due to my obsessive tenancies im in a dilema. The bike to work scheme way is costing me nothing
An I won't feel it. An I'd already in my mind set aside an amount of money to buy a bike outright. So do I bite the bullet and have both or buy the pinarello which I love and will be in theory my keeper.
My aim is to get fitter and build my main rides upto 50 miles. With maybe 2 longer rides a month.
Hope you can help
Thanks mark

xcMuttley

Pinarello would be one hell of a first bike, but not something you want to be riding in the next few months. If you have the money i would bite the bullet and get both. If you dont have the money then i would say buy the cheaper option as it wont hurt your pocket so much when it gets abused through winter!

markhopley

Bought the pinarello an its a thing of beauty truely. Its immaculate. However I took it out today and lol did struggle. Its been set up with a 12-23 rear dur ace cassette. On a non compact dur ace chain set. An I struggled to keep it spinning. I did just shy of 20 miles. It was easier doing 35 on my full suspension mountain bike. Had numb toes and hands. Although it was smooth and not so harsh as id thought. As I said I run an cycle. But struggled today.
Looking at a 11-28 cassette and new chain as it's got a short rear mech. So I'm limited. Any ideas guys.
I do love the bike and its literally like brand new.
Thanks guys
Mark

xcMuttley

Drop into a lower gear and spin between 80-90 pedal revs a minute. But if the hills round you are huge then the new gear set up would help, if you really are struggling and arent racing or planning to take descents at full tilt i wouldn't bother with the 11-28 and get a 12-30 instead, do you really need top end speed over climbing efficiency?

Numb toes and hands could be due to incorrect seating position, meaning your seatpost is too high or too low or your cleats arent set up correctly, or you are stretching too far to reach the bars all simple fixes. Adjust the seatpost so your legs are still slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Your cleats should ideally be underneath the ball of your foot and facing straight forward. If this still hasnt worked try moving the seat forward on its rails for a slightly more upright position or change to a smaller stem. Only other thing i can think from personal experience is badly fitting shoes making your feet numb, as well as poorly padded/fitting gloves?
Hope this helps a bit

markhopley

Thanks mutley. Appreciate your help. Yes my numbest foot feels all wrong like my heels into the bike too far.
Believe me I struggled lol. Did nt much come up to the bigger front ring.
Yes a local shop said I wouldn't get a 30 on the back due to the short mech. An yes theres mostly big ass hills every where I ride.
Like you commented earlier I'm gonna go for the cinelli too as my winter bike. That s advertised as a fantastic climber due to it combo. By the time summers here the 28-11 will be ok. Seems extravagant but I won't feel the cost of the cinelli due to the bike to work scheme an its all said an done £425 for a £1300 plus 2013. Bike. My aim is 50 plus milers by the summer.
Thanks again. Lol road bikes feel very alien. The guy gave me the shimano shoes. Good fit. but very steep from tbe ball to front. There carbon race shoes. worn 4 times. I normally wear diadora an have some coming. I ll hopefully be ok mate
Thanks mark

markhopley

Lol actually i m all for improving but it s not the end of the wod first time out being harsh. It was 18.46 miles. In 1hr 8 mins on a very hilly course and I purposely slowed as I had a good 3 miles of mud an cows shit to contend with. Lol