New bike is too easy to pedal - something not right?

pinkteapot

Out of curiosity, what bike did you have before?

I went from a mountain bike to a hybrid and was instantly 20% faster for about the same effort, so it was 'easier to pedal'.

Marco_Panettone

Mountain bike tyres (knobblies) increase rolling resistance. Hybrids tend to have slick or semi-slick tyres so will roll with less effort, hence the speed gain/effort-saving.

pinkteapot

Marco_Panettone wrote: »

Mountain bike tyres (knobblies) increase rolling resistance. Hybrids tend to have slick or semi-slick tyres so will roll with less effort, hence the speed gain/effort-saving.

My beloved hybrid has very different gearing to my old, cheap, nasty MTB, along with thinner, slicker tyres and bigger wheels. All of which = childish delight while riding it.

Have averaged 15mph on a 60 mile ride which I was chuffed with, considering I'm not particularly fit.

OP - in short, if it makes you happy while riding, it's a good bike.

mandragora_2

I spent all summer riding my old, heavy, knobbly tyred mountian bike on the cycle tracks in France. I came home back to my new, lovely, light, skinny wheeled hybrid bike and it felt like I was riding a toy, it was so easy. I timed myself on a route I used to cycle every day to improve fitness once I returned (2 minutes faster than I'd been doing before we went away!) and have used that as my baseline time to beat every other timed ride I've done since. My speeds have continued to improve steadily, as has my fitness. Cyclechat is a really nice, friendly forum you could register on to get some support and feedback to help you on your way!http://www.cyclechat.net/

Richard53

I had both a cheap/heavy Raleigh MTB and a Dawes Galaxy, and I can understand the OP completely. Riding the Galaxy after the Raleigh was like a different form of transport. Much, much easier and quicker without any extra effort. If the one that was stolen was an old clunker and the new one is ... well, new, that would explain the whole thing.


To follow from the Chris Boardman comment, something I saw recently: Money can't buy you happiness, but it can buy you a bicycle, which is pretty much the same thing.

HurdyGurdy

Thank you all - again - for replying.

My old bike was just that - an old bike. I bought it second hand from a Facebook seller. I can't even remember the make of it. I just fell in love with the look of it (and the *real* wicker basket on the front - shallow, or what )

I think, from what's been said by most posters, is that I have to realise it's just a much nicer bike than the old one, and it's MEANT to be easier to ride.

Whatever!! I am just loving it

mandragora_2

and THAT'S how you will end up fitter. You enjoy being on it, you make yourself a promise to ride it regularly, work out what that really means, and then keep that promise. For me, it's half an hour a day - not a massive amount, but I've managed to keep it up since buying my new bike, and my total mileage in the nine months I've had the bike is over 1,000 miles. My target for next year is 2,000 miles - ask a cyclist and that won't seem a lot to them, but to me, it'll be an achievement. It's one I think I can aim for though, and well into my fifties now, I feel fitter and healthier than I have done in years. Enjoy!