Complete novice...

[stoatsngroats]

I have the same subway as you,

I like your mudguards, what are they..?

 

[jonny jeez]

Hi, thanks for the welcome The charity ride is 125 miles over two days, although I'm undecided on whether to do both days or just one. I'd love to do the two but I'm not sure there's enough time to get my fitness where it needs to be.

24 miles is the most I've done so far and my plan is to do that once a week (lengthening it if i feel up to it) and do shorter rides on other days. I'm currently a very slow rider so need to improve my speed!

You are probably a lot closer to being ready than you think. 60 odd mikes a day is basically a days riding with two nice stops every 20 miles. So, ride for 90 mins, stop, then repeat once more . If its not too hilly then you can train your way up to that from your baseline of 24 miles. I'll let you into a secret, after a certain amount of miles its not the distance that is the challenge but the time spent in the saddle. An 11 hour day of riding poops me, regardless of the distance I've covered, I like to keep my riding days to under 8 hours, or else it gets weary.

 

[cyberknight]

I like your mudguards, what are they..?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/sks-beavertail-mudguard-set/rp-prod25804

 

[NJCR]

Tried the 16 inch carrera subway yesterday (they didn't have the 14 inch) and whilst it was a surprisingly good fit for my legs I found the reach to the handle bars a bit much. They've ordered the 14 inch for me to try but I can't get back until Friday now. Anyone more knowledgable than me know if it's likely that the 14 inch will work? I think I read somewhere the carrera subway's handlebars can't be adjusted? I know I can just wait until Friday when I'll find out for sure but I don't want to be excited about a weekend riding a new bike, only to be disappointed!

 

[stoatsngroats]

You could replace the bars with more swept back type, and add a riser to the steerer, which will bring the bars closer to you.. cost maybe £30, they should be able to do this for you too.

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

The 14 should be okay, probably have to raise the saddle a little more than the 16 but the reach should be correspondingly less. (Fingers crossed) Hope it all works out okay, keep us posted.

 

[cyberknight]

Looks like a standard changeable stem on it to me , easy + cheap enough to change if the reach is still an issue.

 

[NJCR]

Well I'm now the proud owner of the carrera subway! Picked it up this evening and took it for a spin round the park. It was pouring with rain so I couldn't ride it for long (not dressed for it) but I can already tell that it's so much easier to ride than my old bike. Did panic that the breaks weren't working because they were so smooth and quiet in comparison to what I was riding!
Just a quick question - because both the wheels are quick release, how best am I to chain it up? I have a d-lock and a chain but the chain is quite small...

 

[Garry A]

Woohoo! New bike
D lock frame and rear wheel to something and chain front wheel to frame or D lock to something and cable through wheels and onto D lock....I think.

 

[stoatsngroats]

^^^^^^ As @Garry A says... cable to lock the front wheel to the D-lock which should be through the rear triangle, locked to something immoveable,

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy it!

 

[cyberknight]

You can also get security skewers if your worried about someone stealing the wheels .

 

[NJCR]

Don't believe it...first ride out and I've broken it! Chain seems to be stuck between frame and the wheel that the pedal is on. Can't pull it out and the pedals won't turn Luckily it happened right near a train station but I'm gutted. Any advice on how to fix it?

 

[Garry A]

Give it a good hard tug

Carefully with the paintwork though.

It's probably the limit screw that needs adjusted to prevent the front derailer moving the chain too far and off the chainring.

 

[Saluki]

Don't believe it...first ride out and I've broken it! Chain seems to be stuck between frame and the wheel that the pedal is on. Can't pull it out and the pedals won't turn Luckily it happened right near a train station but I'm gutted. Any advice on how to fix it?

Nothing permanent. Just give it a good old pull. Pop back to Halfords and have them adjust the front mech screw to stop it happening again. Bike is not dead, honestly. It's an easy fix once you know how.

Welcome to CC by the way