Beginner questions

[chubbo]

Hi all

I'm a new member, and I would like to say that this is a great forum.

After approximately of 15 years without any cycling (I am 34 now), I have decided that I want to get back into it. Since I was not sure whether or not I will actually enjoy cycling again, I purchased a cheap barely used second-hand 2013 Trek 1.1 from a colleague.

Having cycled for the last 4 weekends, I am hooked! Now, when I have time to do so, I also try to do some cycling after work, on weekdays. So far, my trips are about 20-30km each, but soon I want to do a 50km one.

Anyways, I have a couple of questions:

1. Cycling in the rain. It is currently winter in the Southern Hemisphere, which means about 10-15C and rain. So far I could not convince myself to go cycling in the rain, mainly because I do not have any experience in maintaining bikes, so I am afraid it will be ruined without me taking care of it after every such trip.

Should I be worried about ruining my bike in the rain? What exactly do I need to do with the bike after coming back from a wet ride?​

2. Trek 1.1 is considered as the most basic of Trek's road bikes. Thus far I have been happy with it (I upgraded to SPD-SL pedals), but it is in human nature to wish for a better bike. However, I only have a vague idea of what a "better" bike would mean in practice. Would I feel a big difference between Trek 1.1 and some medium level bike (such as lower levels of Specialized Tarmac or Roubaix)?

Anyways, I will stick with my Trek 1.1 for at least a year before I consider buying anything else, but would be good to know regarding a potential upgrade path.​

Any other tips to a road cycling beginner?

Thanks in advance.

 

[raleighnut]

after a wet ride just hose (low pressure) it down and dry it off then clean and oil the chain (with a cloth and oil of your choice, search technical in this forum for the mickle method) Simples

 

[chubbo]

after a wet ride just hose (low pressure) it down and dry it off then clean and oil the chain (with a cloth and oil of your choice, search technical in this forum for the mickle method) Simples

Hi raleighnut and thanks for the response!

I should have clarified that I live in an apartment (love living in downtown ), and for this reason do not have access to a hose or proper outdoors area. Owing to the lack of space, I keep the bike at the secured car park in my office (next door to me), which again does not have access to a hose. Would just drying rain with a cloth be enough? Maybe I can take the bike to a manual car wash once a month for hosing...

 

[cyberknight]

Hi all

I'm a new member, and I would like to say that this is a great forum.

After approximately of 15 years without any cycling (I am 34 now), I have decided that I want to get back into it. Since I was not sure whether or not I will actually enjoy cycling again, I purchased a cheap barely used second-hand 2013 Trek 1.1 from a colleague.

Having cycled for the last 4 weekends, I am hooked! Now, when I have time to do so, I also try to do some cycling after work, on weekdays. So far, my trips are about 20-30km each, but soon I want to do a 50km one.

Anyways, I have a couple of questions:

1. Cycling in the rain. It is currently winter in the Southern Hemisphere, which means about 10-15C and rain. So far I could not convince myself to go cycling in the rain, mainly because I do not have any experience in maintaining bikes, so I am afraid it will be ruined without me taking care of it after every such trip.
WInter !! , take a good 15 degrees c off that temperature , commuted in - 12 c before now , your bike will not melt in the rain as long as you clean and lube regularly

Should I be worried about ruining my bike in the rain? What exactly do I need to do with the bike after coming back from a wet ride?​

2. Trek 1.1 is considered as the most basic of Trek's road bikes. Thus far I have been happy with it (I upgraded to SPD-SL pedals), but it is in human nature to wish for a better bike. However, I only have a vague idea of what a "better" bike would mean in practice. Would I feel a big difference between Trek 1.1 and some medium level bike (such as lower levels of Specialized Tarmac or Roubaix)?

Anyways, I will stick with my Trek 1.1 for at least a year before I consider buying anything else, but would be good to know regarding a potential upgrade path.
N+1 , you always need another bike !
As far as bikes go it really depends on what sort of riding you do, tarmac for all out speed or the roubaix for a little more comfort ?, nowt wrong with the 1.1 so if your bitten by the bug maybe look at a wheel upgrade first .​

Any other tips to a road cycling beginner?
Hills are your friend, embrace the pain
Thanks in advance.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Upgrading the bike will make things lighter, which can make riding easier and will upgrade the components (wheels, drivetrain, brakes). There's a trade off between doing some components yourself, and just replacing the whole bike with a better one.

Trek are a good make so I'd imagine the entry bike starts well designed. Looking around you can easily find the progression of parts through the range (so Shimano goes Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra etc...). General feeling is that 105 is the sweet spot on level vs price. Also as time goes by the tech trickles down the range, so this years 105's are better than those from five years ago.

Also consider that some components can move from bike to bike. So you could decide to upgrade wheels, a common route, but then move those across to your next bike.

Of course, you could just enjoy riding the bike and learning the basics of keeping it working right.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Hi raleighnut and thanks for the response!

I should have clarified that I live in an apartment (love living in downtown ), and for this reason do not have access to a hose or proper outdoors area. Owing to the lack of space, I keep the bike at the secured car park in my office (next door to me), which again does not have access to a hose. Would just drying rain with a cloth be enough? Maybe I can take the bike to a manual car wash once a month for hosing...

Bucket of water and a sponge/brush? Riding in the wet will mean you get road grit on the bike and in to the moving parts. If you oil the grit you make a grinding paste that will wear stuff faster. You need to wash off the grit, then oil the clean parts. With the chain. Oil it then use a cloth/kitchen towel to take off the excess, it wants to be lightly lubed, not dripping.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi and Chubbo.

The Mickle method for cleaning the chain as mentioned above is here: LINK. It's a good method as you only need some cloth and the oil of your choice. Just wiping the bike down after a wet ride will be okay as long as it gets cleaned at some point.

A bucket, sponge, car shampoo and an old toothbrush for the fiddly bits is a good combination for cleaning. No need to make it complicated.

Steer clear of power washers. Having recently been shown some examples of bearings damaged by these devices I'm not letting one near my bikes.

 

[chubbo]

Hi everyone, and thanks again for replies.

W00hoo and Phil - yes, I should have thought about a bucket! This should be not a problem. Also thanks for the chain cleaning advices.

Cyberknight - hehe, yes, NZ winters are quite mild. Also plenty of hills around, so no escaping them. Great feeling once manage to climb one of the harder ones (harder for the unfit me, obviously).

In terms of the bike, today I started wondering if the bike might be a bit big for me. As I said, I bought it from my colleague without proper fitting. I am 1.79m and of normal build, and the bike is size 58. One of the bike fitting videos I saw mentioned that when a person sits on the bike and looks down at the handlebars, the handlebars should ideally block the view of the front hub. I checked this today, and my handlebar is in front of the hub (I can see about 10-15cm in front of the hub). I just rode 22km after work and I started feeling discomfort in my shoulders / upper back after about 6 km.

This may be due to the lack of cycling practice, but if it continues, would a professional fitter be able to provide solution to the problem?

The fitting video I referred to above is here (and the specific advice starts at 2:46mins) -
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAl_5e7bIHk&index=7&list=FLQSGWCqSFMwhdHG6uMd_NCg

 

[chubbo]

To add to my last message, I see that my local Specialized shop does a comprehensive "Body Geometry Fit" - http://www.mtedencycles.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=28

Would something like that be able to help my comfort if the bike is a bit too big to start with, or would it only help to people with perfectly sized bikes? And is such comprehensive fit at all necessary in comparison to usual fitting?

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I'm about the same height and ride a 56cm, so you could be right. You might be able to alter things relatively cheaper by trying a shorter stem.

 

[Saluki]

I'm about the same height and ride a 56cm, so you could be right. You might be able to alter things relatively cheaper by trying a shorter stem.

I was going to suggest a shorter stem too. It's one of the first things that I do when I get a new bike.

@chubbo I clean my bike in the bath. Hubster doesn't seem to mind, or at least he's not whinged. I ride in the rain, in the sun, in the mud and all sorts. I find that showering my bike off in the bath with the shower hose on 'eco' so it's not jetting out, works wonders. I have big 'pipe cleaners' for getting in the fiddly bits, such as cleaning my cassette.
At the moment, my bike is grubby as I got home late last night, but I'll clean before we go out later.

Enjoy your riding. The Trek sounds a nice bike. I nearly bought one myself in 2011 but I got seduced by a great offer on a Giant Defy 2 instead. I still ride it, with its better wheels and I still love it.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

To add to my last message, I see that my local Specialized shop does a comprehensive "Body Geometry Fit" - http://www.mtedencycles.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=28

Would something like that be able to help my comfort if the bike is a bit too big to start with, or would it only help to people with perfectly sized bikes? And is such comprehensive fit at all necessary in comparison to usual fitting?

They might just tell you the size is too far out (depends on their level of integrity and if it is really) I've had one of these in the UK and the bike felt better after it, probably partially psychological as I now know it should be right. They check all the angles, will suggest new parts if needed (so be prepared to spend some more on top of the fit) but should leave you set up to get the most out of the cycling you want to do. It's not rocket science though, aside from the shimming they do to the shoes you could do most of it with a mate, a protractor and some research on the web.

Having said that, I'd look at having it done again if I changed bikes.

 

[GreigM]

If no hose then mickle and baby wipes

 

[raleighnut]

If you can stand flat footed over the crossbar/toptube without talking 2 octaves higher then its not too big. (standover clearance)
As for washing as others have said bucket or better still 20 litre plastic bottle with screw cap.