Beginner Questions

[haye13]

Hi everyone,
I have been road cycling for about 9 months now and really enjoy it however I do have a few questions?

1. Currently for me it is winter and I have asthma so its unlikely i will be able to get out on my bike much (I'm getting rollers for Christmas cant wait ) Is there any way I can prepare for the next season?

2. Cycling shoes are the worth it?

3. How do I get into Road racing?

 

[night cycler]

Hi Haye13, and welcome to the cycle chat forum. What are the rollers that you are getting at xmas?

Someone will be along soon to advise about cycling shoes. Personally I`ve never seen any (except pictures online) . I use an old pair of trainers that are not even a decent brand, but are very comfortable-hi tec silver shadows (with holes in them now, and were a bit cold this evening due to the holes, during my little 4 mile circular ride).

Road racing-I would guess the first thing is to be of a high level of fitness and stamina. Again, hopefully someone that knows more than me will be along soon to advise. If you do a search of the threads on the forum there may be some info.

 

[haye13]

Hi Haye13, and welcome to the cycle chat forum. What are the rollers that you are getting at xmas?

Someone will be along soon to advise about cycling shoes. Personally I`ve never seen any (except pictures online) . I use an old pair of trainers that are not even a decent brand, but are very comfortable-hi tec silver shadows (with holes in them now, and were a bit cold this evening due to the holes, during my little 4 mile circular ride).

Road racing-I would guess the first thing is to be of a high level of fitness and stamina. Again, hopefully someone that knows more than me will be along soon to advise. If you do a search of the threads on the forum there may be some info.

Thanks for your reply. There tacx rollers that I'm getting

 

[RichardB]

Do you have a blue reliever inhaler (Ventolin etc)? When I was last commuting through the bad weather (a long time ago now) I used to get bad asthma and found that using the blue inhaler about 15 minutes and then 5 minutes before setting off helped. When I learned to take the first mile or two very easy (and I mean very easy, not really pushing at all) and then gradually increasing the effort, I didn't get any asthma. Perhaps a few wheezes, but nothing to stop me riding. On the positive side, I had asthma bad enough to restrict my life a lot, as it was exercise-induced, until I was about 35, but then it gradually went away and these days (62 last birthday) it really doesn't bother me at all. You may grow out of it too.

 

[night cycler]

Thanks for your reply. There tacx rollers that I'm getting

I`d never seen that sort of thing. Just did a search. I assume that these devices are tried & tested, but looking at them it`s easy to imagine that there would be sidewards pressure on the back wheel, but I guess that is not the case in reality.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...gclid=CPTX6IvjoskCFdU_GwodoKQB7Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

Does one of the roller components (in the photo) rub on the side of the bike tyre as well as the usual area of tyre contact running on the spindle?

 

[Sharky]

Just join a club and start by going on their club runs EVERY Sunday. If you can survive a winter of club runs, you'll be ready for the next step.

Good luck

 

[haye13]

Do you have a blue reliever inhaler (Ventolin etc)? When I was last commuting through the bad weather (a long time ago now) I used to get bad asthma and found that using the blue inhaler about 15 minutes and then 5 minutes before setting off helped. When I learned to take the first mile or two very easy (and I mean very easy, not really pushing at all) and then gradually increasing the effort, I didn't get any asthma. Perhaps a few wheezes, but nothing to stop me riding. On the positive side, I had asthma bad enough to restrict my life a lot, as it was exercise-induced, until I was about 35, but then it gradually went away and these days (62 last birthday) it really doesn't bother me at all. You may grow out of it too.

Thank You so much for your advice. Yes I've got a blue inhaler. You've actually given me hope that I can beat my asthma and get were I want to be

 

[haye13]

I`d never seen that sort of thing. Just did a search. I assume that these devices are tried & tested, but looking at them it`s easy to imagine that there would be sidewards pressure on the back wheel, but I guess that is not the case in reality.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...gclid=CPTX6IvjoskCFdU_GwodoKQB7Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

Does one of the roller components (in the photo) rub on the side of the bike tyre as well as the usual area of tyre contact running on the spindle?

think they just run on the normal point of contact

 

[haye13]

Just join a club and start by going on their club runs EVERY Sunday. If you can survive a winter of club runs, you'll be ready for the next step.

Good luck

Thanks I'm thinking about it

 

[Citius]

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/20131213-Get-into-road-racing-0/w?c=WA

 

[phantasmagoriana]

I`d never seen that sort of thing. Just did a search. I assume that these devices are tried & tested, but looking at them it`s easy to imagine that there would be sidewards pressure on the back wheel, but I guess that is not the case in reality.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...gclid=CPTX6IvjoskCFdU_GwodoKQB7Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

That's a turbo trainer - rollers are different in that the bike isn't attached in any way (balancing skills required!). Rollers look like this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...gclid=CJe8t-yPpMkCFQIYwwodz-8PKg&gclsrc=aw.ds

There's no sideways pressure on the rear tyre on a turbo trainer - just the usual contact point. They do wear tyres pretty quickly, though, so there are turbo-specific tyres available to avoid trashing decent road tyres.

 

[boydj]

Just join a club and start by going on their club runs EVERY Sunday. If you can survive a winter of club runs, you'll be ready for the next step.

Essential if you want to start racing. The best way to pick up the group riding skills required for racing is to ride with a club regularly. Racing will also require you to have a licence, which is a lot easier to obtain with a club. You could just enter sportives without joining a club, which many treat as races, but proper racing and time trialling really require you to be a club member. Closed club events are a good introduction to racing.

 

[RichardB]

Thank You so much for your advice. Yes I've got a blue inhaler. You've actually given me hope that I can beat my asthma and get were I want to be

Glad to help. I was at my worst on cold, dry mornings, but with a combination of the inhaler and a steady starting pace I never missed a day. Before I realised this, I would go at it like a bull at a gate from my front door, and was wheezing like a steam train within half a mile. I really suffered. But a gentle start (perhaps a mile) and then gradually building the pace, and I was pushing hard - and curiously doing a better overall time - by the time I got to work. With the right medication, you can live with it, and some people (like me) grow out of it. I was told this at 18 and I didn't believe it, but it was true. I wish you well. Asthma is a horrible condition.

 

[haye13]

Glad to help. I was at my worst on cold, dry mornings, but with a combination of the inhaler and a steady starting pace I never missed a day. Before I realised this, I would go at it like a bull at a gate from my front door, and was wheezing like a steam train within half a mile. I really suffered. But a gentle start (perhaps a mile) and then gradually building the pace, and I was pushing hard - and curiously doing a better overall time - by the time I got to work. With the right medication, you can live with it, and some people (like me) grow out of it. I was told this at 18 and I didn't believe it, but it was true. I wish you well. Asthma is a horrible condition.

I know what you mean about wheezing like a steam train haha. I've been told that I could grow out of my asthma but your right its a right nightmare

 

[Stigseviltwin]

If you mean the clip in pedals then as a fellow noob from may I'd say get them asap. I started on the flat pedals and waited about 2 months before I tried the clip ins and haven't looked back since. Seemed to be the part that got me from averaging 13-14 mph to 16-17 mph which I seem to still hold over 20-30 miles.

Like yourself I'm not in a club but I'll be joining one next year so I can get a bit of confidence to go racing. Did a tt this year even just having club gear would have made me feel a lot more at home rather than sticking out with the sky gear lol