First Road Bike

[chrisb1357]

Hi all,

After not being on a bike for over a year and a bit and putting on a little weight I have decided to ordered myself a Giant Defy 4 2015 Compact which will be my first road bike after having a hybrid before. Will get use to being on a road bike for a month then go clipless I think once I get use to being back on a bike.

Because I have not been on a bike for a while what sort of distances would you do in the first month or two. On my hybrid the other year i use to go out once or twice a week on a 10 mile ride then every so often a bit further.

 

[Mrs M]

Hello
I'd just get out on the new bike as often as you can.
Don't worry about distances or schedules, just keep riding and having fun.
Nice bike, sure you'll enjoy it

 

[gavroche]

Start the same with your new bike and see how you feel after a while.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Forget about mileage and measure your rides in time. Half hour, when that feels comfortable 1 hour, then 1.1/2, then two etc.

 

[chrisb1357]

Thanks for the advice. Think as you say just go out for 30 to 45min for first few weeks but a few times a week to get use to it again

 

[vickster]

Your bottom might thank you if you use padded shorts while it gets used to the saddle and riding

 

[GuyBoden]

Well done, keep pedalling and enjoy the ride.

 

[chrisb1357]

Have the shorts and tops, base layers, jackets etc already so I think you are right about shorts with pads LOL

Your bottom might thank you if you use padded shorts while it gets used to the saddle and riding

 

[chrisb1357]

Think I will be walking like John Wayne for a while after

 

[bikeman66]

Just ride as far as feels comfortable. If you go out intending to do half an hour and you are enjoying yourself then why turn back? Sure, you need to be aware of your own limits and not get stuck so far out that you struggle to get home, but you are the best person to make those kinds of judgments. If it feels good, do it!

I bought my first road bike for 30 years about 18 months ago, after spending most of the time in between on mountain bikes. Although I was fit enough, the first few rides I did on my new road bike were literally just a couple of miles, mainly because I found the handling so twitchy compared to what I had got used to. Once that was sorted I just started riding as far as I thought it would feel good for.

Enjoy the new bike matey. You'll love it, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much distance you'll be covering for the same effort you used on the hybrid.

 

[Montydog]

enjoy......padded shorts a must!!......even then I ended up swapping saddles as the one that came on my cannondale turned out to be a razor blade

 

[bikeman66]

enjoy......padded shorts a must!!......even then I ended up swapping saddles as the one that came on my cannondale turned out to be a razor blade

Sound advice about the shorts, for sure! Although I'd have to say that the saddle my Felt came with is (in my boney arsed opinion) the most comfortable I've known, even though most reviews of the bike seemed to highlight how uncomfortable it was!! Same could be said for my old MTB racing saddle. Bore a close resemblance to a razor blade, but I've sat on that thing for up to nine hours at a time doing Trailquest and Polaris MTB orienteering events. Conclusion is probably that I have an odd shaped arse I suppose!!

 

[Montydog]

@bikeman66 ......... your lucky!!.....the one that was on my cannondale is now being used in the kitchen......went back to the chap who I had my bike fit with and got a Prologo one that fitted my backside

 

[mjr]

padded shorts a must!!

No, they're not, but each to their own!