New bike help!

rev_henry

mystra wrote: »

yeah i sometimes feel like it is too small... i have the saddle high enough so that i have to lean to one side to put feet down and the tyres are always at the right pressure... but i'm quite oddly proportioned... i've got really short legs (i buy short length jeans etc) BUT my top half is quite tall ( if i'm sitting at a table with someone who would be taller than me standing, i look the same height!) so i don't know if that contributes to me feeling like the bikes a bit small

Maybe you should try raising the handlebars then?
Try changing the tyres for slicks as I did on my bike, but maybe wait till spring as the man in the shop said.
Do look again at the cycle to work scheme. My dad's got a £500 Giant bike on it and he pays about £20/25 a month for a year I think. My understanding was that it comes out of your pre tax income and there's no VAT to pay on it so effectively you save a LOT.
And get yourself a decent lock - preferably with Sold Secure GOLD rating. Last time I looked there was one on Amazon for about £22. Could also consider asking the landlord if he'll let you fit a permanent mounting point of some sort to the building, onto which to lock your bike.

custardy

rev_henry wrote: »

Maybe you should try raising the handlebars then?
Try changing the tyres for slicks as I did on my bike, but maybe wait till spring as the man in the shop said.
Do look again at the cycle to work scheme. My dad's got a £500 Giant bike on it and he pays about £20/25 a month for a year I think. My understanding was that it comes out of your pre tax income and there's no VAT to pay on it so effectively you save a LOT.
And get yourself a decent lock - preferably with Sold Secure GOLD rating. Last time I looked there was one on Amazon for about £22. Could also consider asking the landlord if he'll let you fit a permanent mounting point of some sort to the building, onto which to lock your bike.

the scheme has changed.its not such a good deal now

mystra

custardy wrote: »

the scheme has changed.its not such a good deal now

that's what i've been hearing too...i'm definitely put off

mystra

rev_henry wrote: »

Maybe you should try raising the handlebars then?
Try changing the tyres for slicks as I did on my bike, but maybe wait till spring as the man in the shop said.
Do look again at the cycle to work scheme. My dad's got a £500 Giant bike on it and he pays about £20/25 a month for a year I think. My understanding was that it comes out of your pre tax income and there's no VAT to pay on it so effectively you save a LOT.
And get yourself a decent lock - preferably with Sold Secure GOLD rating. Last time I looked there was one on Amazon for about £22. Could also consider asking the landlord if he'll let you fit a permanent mounting point of some sort to the building, onto which to lock your bike.

i was thinking of asking if we could have some sort of mounting in the main hall way, but i can't see it happening - i think there's only me and maybe one person with a folding bike out of 12 flats so they wouldn't see it as worthwhile. Plus the main door is glass and the panels around it are glass... you can see straight in and lots of idiots like to not shut the door properly..it would just be a target. The building management left a note on someones bike once because they locked it to the banister (not in the way) saying it voids the insurance of the building.

Might try the handlebars tho didn't think that would make any difference so i'll try that - cheers!

thescouselander

mystra wrote: »

thanks for those tips, i always keep my tyres at the right pressure (invested in a foot pump - much easier and it has a dial displaying the actual pressure on) though you can certainly tell performance-wise when they need doing!

i did have my saddle too low for a few months but someone at work told me that gem of advice so now its high enough for me to have to lean over a little to put one leg down (or onto the kerb - always handy!) it did help but i really am still struggling...i think in general i just hate the thing now lol

i did try a slightly lighter one in decathlon the other day..i know it was just a ride round the shop but it felt better. i can see you're reasoning but i'm doing all the above and i'm fed up of getting into work feeling like my legs are made of jelly lol i am hopelessly unfit, i'll admit that - maybe someone more fit would have less trouble...but it's really killing me every morning. i'm asthmatic and until i started cycling i hardly ever used my inhaler... now i have to use it every morning at least. i'm 5 ft 4 and 10 stone... so i aren't overweight or anything either..just generally useless at activity lol :rotfl:

How are you with the gears? I know the bike is heavy but its only a 3 mile ride so it should be manageable - I suspect you're not getting the most out of the bike for some reason.

mystra

thescouselander wrote: »

How are you with the gears? I know the bike is heavy but its only a 3 mile ride so it should be manageable - I suspect you're not getting the most out of the bike for some reason.

ok my technical understanding of gears is terrible so bear with me...

its a 21speed...on left side i just keep it on 3, on the right side i use 5-7 (7 is the hardest one on my bike) (4 on a windy day like to do had the wind blowing against me the whole way!) anything else just feels like pedals are going fast with me going nowhere if you get me!

it's probably just me, i am useless and unfit

thescouselander

mystra wrote: »

ok my technical understanding of gears is terrible so bear with me...

its a 21speed...on left side i just keep it on 3, on the right side i use 5-7 (7 is the hardest one on my bike) (4 on a windy day like to do had the wind blowing against me the whole way!) anything else just feels like pedals are going fast with me going nowhere if you get me!

it's probably just me, i am useless and unfit

I think its worth getting a but more up to speed (excuse the pun) with gearing - it will make life a lot easier.

I'm not sure what you mean by 3 on the left hand side but i assume the means the chain is on the big gear at the front (where your pedals are attached) - if this is the case you'll defiantly struggle on the hills. If you cant use the gears properly a new bike wont help much.

There are lots of videos on youtube explaining how to use your gears. Watch a few of those but in the mean time I suggest you set your gears to 2 on the left hand side (if only for the hill) and use the right hand leaver to find a comfortable gear.

On the hill, if it is steep, you will inevitably slow down - don't worry about that. Let the bike slow down an adjust the gears so that you are putting in the same effort as if you were on the flat. You're legs might feel like they're spinning quite fast but that might actually make it easier.

boyse7en

Sounds like you are not really using the gears to their best potential. I'm assuming that 3 on the left hand shifter selects the biggest chainring at the front, I don't use that chainring at all until I'm up to around 18-20mph, as it gives too slow a cadence (the speed your pedals go around - too slow makes it hard work to keep the momentum). The middle ring (position 2), then using the right shifter to select gears, will provide a more usable spread of gearing for 'normal' speed riding.

Secondly, even in winter, semi-slick tyres will give you more grip than knobblies on the road, not less (think of racing cars - they don't put tractor tyres on F1 cars to give more grip). Snow is the only on-road situation I can think of where knobblies would be the better option

mystra

thescouselander wrote: »

I think its worth getting a but more up to speed (excuse the pun) with gearing - it will make life a lot easier.

I'm not sure what you mean by 3 on the left hand side but i assume the means the chain is on the big gear at the front (where your pedals are attached) - if this is the case you'll defiantly struggle on the hills. If you cant use the gears properly a new bike wont help much.

There are lots of videos on youtube explaining how to use your gears. Watch a few of those but in the mean time I suggest you set your gears to 2 on the left hand side (if only for the hill) and use the right hand leaver to find a comfortable gear.

On the hill, if it is steep, you will inevitably slow down - don't worry about that. Let the bike slow down an adjust the gears so that you are putting in the same effort as if you were on the flat. You're legs might feel like they're spinning quite fast but that might actually make it easier.

thanks


well i've got a time before the Jan sales so time to take your advice and practice...then if its still not right its new bike time! Hopefully you're right - that'll save some pennies!

ikolpdog_2

Instead of buying another new bike that will have a compromise of components why not upgrade the one you have?

I would start by buying new (Lighter) wheels with good quality tyres and innertubes. Make sure they are assembled around high quality hubs. This single upgrade (if the right parts are chosen) will amase you with the new found responsiveness in your bike.

Next I would upgrade the crank set and bottom bracket, again if you buy quality components the weight reduction is quite noticeable.

As budget allows perhaps carbon fibre handlebars and set post, and as you say you are long in the body an extended handlebar stem.

If you do the upgrades yourself you will quickly learn to understand how your bike works and be able to carry out all your own future maintenance with ease.

Ultimately you aim to upgrade the frame, by this time you will fully understand your bike and requirements, so you may settle for a used and tatty looking frame to avoid attention from thiefs. Then again you may have a custom frame made.

Whichever way you go avoid suspension and disk brakes (for commuting), both add weight the suspension saps energy. Additionally they attract thieves!