getting started.....

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paulw1969

paulw1969

Ridley rider
Location
Long Eaton, Notts.
mangid said:
I got on the bike several years ago now, quite overweight and very unfit, 1-2 miles was all I could do at the start, and it took a while for my hamstrings (I think) to get used to the work, coming down stairs was interesting ...


As I recall it took several weeks to build the distance and frequency up, just go with what feels right, I soon ended up wanting to go further and further.

Stiffer soled shoes are another thing to consider once you do build the distance up, I used to ride in trainers then moved to Shimano MTB type shoes and they were quite a lot more comfortable.

--
Dan
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Yes, going to wait until i get comfortable with the bike and some distance then i will look at going clipless/proper shoes......in regards to stairs.......i think i will be lucky to be able to walk in a straight line to start with ^_^
 
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paulw1969

paulw1969

Ridley rider
Location
Long Eaton, Notts.
DCLane said:
Yep - did that too until I went below 12.5 stone. Now I don't care ^_^ since the comments I get are worth it. This year's the first time I've been wolf-whistled since I was 18. Although once was outside a gay bar :blush:
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its going to take a while before i get that kind of attention^_^
 
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paulw1969

paulw1969

Ridley rider
Location
Long Eaton, Notts.
welshwheels said:
hi a good investment for you would be to get your lbs to fit the giant mudguards to your defy it will make the experience a lot nicer on a wet day and the giant guards are good quality and the frame is drilled to take them :smile:http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-avail-specific-mudguards-black?zenid=4fa8325a2ea2c9bd3b77dab92249dad9[/quote]

Hi,
yes i enquired about them whilst in the shop, he said they do make a diference, he also added that the frame has been tweaked adding a little more clearance so there is more choice as to which guards can be fitted. i also managed to get a discount on the price so guards may be an option before anything else......mind you lights are top of the list at the minute.
Do you have a Defy 2 and if so what is your verdict??
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Chris-H

Chris-H

Über Member
Location
Bedford
Hiya Paul,welcome to the forum mate,theres some excellent advice been offered here and all i'll add is get the mudguards fitted BEFORE you go out in the wet and whatever route you choose......enjoy your bike :thumbsup:
 
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welshwheels

Well-Known Member
Location
llanelli
no i have a defy 3 which is the same frame and fork as yours i like it i use it for commuting in the summer and audax / day rides up to 150 km i have upgraded the rear wheel now your bike has bettter components as standard than mine so i think you have made a good choice really comfortable on day long rides and when you push it on the decents you get the rewards back in smiles^_^ i was a bit wary as this was my first proper road bike in 10 years an i weigh 16 stone ! i recommended the mud guards as i tried race blade type guards before and the clearance was tight!! the giant guards are more expensive but they have a cutout where they pass through the brake caliper giving you more clearance
 
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paulw1969

paulw1969

Ridley rider
Location
Long Eaton, Notts.
welshwheels said:
no i have a defy 3 which is the same frame and fork as yours i like it i use it for commuting in the summer and audax / day rides up to 150 km i have upgraded the rear wheel now your bike has bettter components as standard than mine so i think you have made a good choice really comfortable on day long rides and when you push it on the decents you get the rewards back in smiles^_^ i was a bit wary as this was my first proper road bike in 10 years an i weigh 16 stone ! i recommended the mud guards as i tried race blade type guards before and the clearance was tight!! the giant guards are more expensive but they have a cutout where they pass through the brake caliper giving you more clearance
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thanks for that. I did look seriously at the Defy 3 as the 2 was even more over my budget......but i thought the Tiagra and bottom bracket were worth the extra dosh in the end asit would of cost at least three times the difference to upgrade in the future. The Defy frame seems to be highly regarded, bike radar have just done another review, i can always upgrade/tweak things if required at a much later date.
 
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welshwheels

Well-Known Member
Location
llanelli
spot on i have the 2010 model and what i like is the riding position is great it is not racy at all (head down ass up). last year i did over 3000 miles on mine apart from the rear wheel and the left hand side bottom bracket started clicking but it had a re grease and re torqu and it has been fine i am still running sora on mine and as i say no real problems my plan was to upgrade things as they wore out apart from a chain and cassette everything is still ok and i did go through a set of brake blocks on a hilly 110k audax on pathetic gravel strewn roads in the rain
 
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paulw1969

paulw1969

Ridley rider
Location
Long Eaton, Notts.
welshwheels said:
spot on i have the 2010 model and what i like is the riding position is great it is not racy at all (head down ass up). last year i did over 3000 miles on mine apart from the rear wheel and the left hand side bottom bracket started clicking but it had a re grease and re torqu and it has been fine i am still running sora on mine and as i say no real problems my plan was to upgrade things as they wore out apart from a chain and cassette everything is still ok and i did go through a set of brake blocks on a hilly 110k audax on pathetic gravel strewn roads in the rain
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sounds like these bikes are up to the job to me! I was speaking to a guy who came in the shop whilst i was there, he had the 2010 3 and he also had nothing but good things to say (his son had a 2) he also mentioned he like the less racier riding position. Thanks for the info.
 
PaulSB

PaulSB

Squire
Location
Chorley, Lancashire
paulw1969 said:
The comment about padded shorts, went looking at some of those today....the wife just gave me one of those looks.........as if to say..........you wont look good in them!! i'll see.
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IMO quality shorts are the most important piece of kit you can buy after the bike itself. I always buy Assos bibshorts which are ridiculously expensive but very comfortable and hard wearing (one pair lasted seven years).

The advantages of bib shorts are no waist band to cut in or roll down during riding, things are "held in the right place!" and should one have a slight paunch this is smoothed out nicely.
 
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paulw1969

paulw1969

Ridley rider
Location
Long Eaton, Notts.
PaulSB said:
IMO quality shorts are the most important piece of kit you can buy after the bike itself. I always buy Assos bibshorts which are ridiculously expensive but very comfortable and hard wearing (one pair lasted seven years).

The advantages of bib shorts are no waist band to cut in or roll down during riding, things are "held in the right place!" and should one have a slight paunch this is smoothed out nicely.
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checked these out..whoa pricey. But i get where you are coming from in regard to the comfort factor. In my case however dont think slight paunch think............... beer belly (and i dont drink)....beached whale.....the wrestler big daddy .....i think you get the idea.:smile:
 
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paulw1969

paulw1969

Ridley rider
Location
Long Eaton, Notts.
well, i took the plunge today and bought some shorts and full length tights from decathalon, didn't think it was a good idea to spend too much on these items at the moment as no doubt the weight loss i will experience will be so rapid i will need smaller sizes within two months..:laugh:.....I suppose i don't look too bad in them...............the wife didn't laugh that long!
Just got to sort out a lock and some lights now and i should be sorted.....but that will be a different post.

 
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