Thread: Wot's yer ride?

As of today I have a 2010 Giant Defy 1

After spending nearly 4 hours at the local bike shop I had to come straight home, put the bike in its own bedroom (the wife just doesn't understand...) and head off to a friend's lunch. So the christening ride will be tomorrow.

I've had a mountain bike with skinny tires up until now, so I will have to get used to the bent-over riding position (haven't riden a road bike for 15 years or so), and the SPD shoes with cleats should only take a small time to get used to.

Tomorrow..... my bum will be sore.

Nathan.

Originally Posted by I_wanna_Shed

As of today I have a 2010 Giant Defy 1

and the SPD shoes with cleats should only take a small time to get used to.


Nathan.

Be aware: you are alloted 3 falls from a stationary position after realising you are in cleats. After that they call you 'old'.

Will meet up on the road some time Nathan.

Graham

Originally Posted by Carry Pine

Be aware: you are alloted 3 falls from a stationary position after realising you are in cleats. After that they call you 'old'.

Will meet up on the road some time Nathan.

Graham

Definately will go for a ride once I bring my fitness up! I did 20km on Sunday (my first ride since a 60km stint at Christmas) and I was stuffed. My neighbours frequent from home to Mittagong and back so my aim is to get to that level soon.

I'll have to strap a milk crate onto the fron so I can bring down some timber for you.

Nathan.

Nathan,

You won't be coming 'down' to see me- and you will find that out. The ride from Bowral to picton (old hwy) is quite pleasant and each time my average speed has been better. But have not tried the round trip or doing it Picton to bowral.
If you ever do the big ride you can come to 'church' with me. That's the McGee's cycling store! Well you need to go there each week to get recharged and their collection plate works well (for them).
A friend at work has done up an old bike and it looks just beautiful. It's orange but it's not a triton.
i looked up your bike on the net and those tyres (Vittoria Zaffiro) are quite good. I upgraded mine to Continentals but the rubbish on the roads cuts the rear one to shreds. It's got nothing to do with the 90kg that sits on that wheel though.
Once you get used to it, you will probably go for thinner tyres. It's amazing how much friction there is on the road.
If you have a set ride, perhaps 15kms or so, time yourself and see how you improve over time. You will be amazed. Hope you got some lights. The flashing one on the front is great and the long one at the back that can not only flash but have lights going up and down is good too. usually your bike seller will give you a discount because you bought the bike there. If not get your stuff on the net.
Bet you can't guess what my latest obsession is?
Anyway, hope to see you some time,

Graham

Fabulous, just bloody fabulous. I have two passions, wood working and cycling. I am amazed to find a cycling section in the forum, thank you to the forum gods.

Over the years I have amassed a great collection of tools. I have spent my hard earned, on the best...no kids...no wife..(she left and I miss her)...just me, the tools and the bikes. So I have a few...bikes that is and a damn lot of tools.

But hell, I live in Western Vic (red gum country), flat, very pretty, horrid winds sometimes, 85 km to the coast, 80 to the mountains, 120 to SA, a cyclists paradise. Pop down to Port Fairy for a swim and lunch, and pedal like hell to get home.

Sadly I'm not as young as I used to be...I bought a power feeder... but also turned all my bikes into flat bars. Two pics of my favourites, both running Ultegra SL, full road bikes altered to be just a bit more comfortable, both carbon bikes. I hope you approve.

One is a Specialized S Works Roubaix, the other, Melbourne Bikes does a full carbon road bike , well specked, this is it, a pleasure to ride.

There you have it. Visitors always welcome, for a cycle or time in the workshop, feel free to call. AA 0419348083

hi aastin,
Nice couple of bikes! How have you found the carbon fibre frame to ride on the road,as I am led to believe they are softer,as far as shock goes?

I love the full carbon frame, very light, incredibly responsive but one needs to be more careful. A crash on a carbon can write the bike off, whereas that might only bend an alloy bike.

The Roubaix has things called zerts inserts in the frame and seat post, they certainly make for a smoother ride. Both bikes are great fun, I prefer the Specialized but only by a small margin.
If you look at retail values of the respective bikes, I couldn't say that the Specialized was 4 times better than the R1 but like wood working tools you do tend to get what you pay for and often the more expensive tools or bikes are so because they are better.

If you've never ridden a carbon bike, do yourself a favour and have a go, any good bike shop should let you have a trial. Go see Tony at Mebourne Bikes in High St Prahran, he'll let you try one. Happy cycling, cheers AA

aalstin,

I'm amazed you swapped the bars over. I bought a flat bar roadie about 2 years ago and all i got was mega vibrations and numbness in the fingers. The drop bars (another purchase) solved that but even on a social ride with my wife- the tingling comes back (in the hands). Bought the gel gloves and everything- didn't stop it.

Couldn't see any celeste colouring on either bike! (Bit of a Bianchi freak too)

Graham

Hi Grahame,
I noticed that you said you had tingling in your hands.The mits you bought,did they have the cushion in the area opposite the thumb,right near the outer part of your palm,because that is the area that needs the cushioning?

Gidday again, I went for flat bars coz I'm getting too old for drops BUT I turned full carbon road bikes into flat bar bikes.

All the flat bar road bikes that I have seen commercially available are actually running mountain bike gearing. which to me sort of defeated the purpose.

With the gloves, I bought the best, I read today on the Freedom Machine newsletter that set up is most important, technique is second, the bike itself is third.

I paid good money to have my bikes set up for me and I reckon it was well worth the money. My ride was difficult and uncomfortable before going for a bike fit, after, well I can ride all day now on either bike.

A PROPER bike fit is well worth what it costs, give this bloke a call or at least look at his site www.coach.com.au .bike.

Sorry, can't get into Bianchi, when I first returned to cycling, some tosser tried to run me off the road and that's what he was riding, sort of formed a mental block since then. A bit like a bad experience with a spindle moulder....you don't forget.

Happy cycling all , cheers AA

Actually although I swore of all bicycling years ago... I scored a bike the other week sorta came via a backpacker who tried to charge me $100 for it the week before but then had to leave an so I scored it for FREE!!... ah thank the good gods for backpackers I say!!

Anyway getting used to riding again has had its disasters and prangs aplenty! but I think Im gettin there again...

An old 26in racing bike circa 1960 or so... Malvern Star to boot!! Same bike I learnt to ride way back when I was a nipper!! We scored 2 bikes and while Josh was at school I tried them both out... the flat handled hig seated godzillion geared thing was a bloodletting monster so I gave that to Josh... he promptly swapped it for a BMX and I got the racer!

Goes well just have to work on the gears... mmm and the brakes... mmm and the seat which I reckon the nob before me musta been a bloke with 6ft legs to reach the bloody pedals or.... had some problems with his bum that meant he needed the seat jammed up there!! BUT I FIXED IT!!! Yep dropped it RIGHT TO THE FRAME!!! and it now goes goodoh! got one of them padded seat covers and alls good!

Actually very easy to ride very comfortable to get up to speed and stay there... stoppings a bit of a worry but hey theres always the bush!!

Well got sick of the heat,and jumped on my bike and went for a ride to-night at 8.15,and checked out all the Chrissy lights!Did close to 30ks,in a hour ten.Thought that was pretty good,and it felt quite relaxing,out in the night air.
I am now looking to get a new road bike.Hopefully a full carbon fibre frame and seat post.My current ride is 32yrs old,from when I used to race.Back then it was state of the art chromemolly ishuwata 019 tubing(something like that spelling)and was made tight like a track frame,but with a little more rake in the front fork for tight turns.

Foo,

Good luck with the Carbon Trading. Great to see the cyclists doing their bit for the environment. Well that's my justification anyway!

Getting something more comfortable I hope. (maybe in celeste?)

Graham

Originally Posted by Carry Pine

Foo,

Good luck with the Carbon Trading. Great to see the cyclists doing their bit for the environment. Well that's my justification anyway!

Getting something more comfortable I hope. (maybe in celeste?)

Graham

Do you reckon I will score points,with the greenies?