I just did 40 miles

[Jane Smart]

Thank you not much wiser though

 

[caz]

Well done Jane!

Simon thanks for that

Er what is SPD?

I should probably know by now reading most posts on here

SPD's means that your shoes (and therefore your feet) are attached to your pedals. It helps to give an even amount of power as you turn the pedal i.e. you push down, but can also pull up on each turn of the pedal. But it does mean you'll have a few "clipless moments" as you get used to them. I use SPD's and wouldn't cycle without them now.

 

[Davidc]

^^^ The clips you should have on your bike are a form of toe clip. They keep your foot in the right position on the pedal, and also allow you to pull the pedal up with your foot if you need to.

Some time ago someone decided to use the technology developed for skis to attach riders feet hard to their pedals. This uses a cleat, screwed to the shoe, which engages in a clasp mechanism on specially modified pedals (SPD are the Shimano version)

These are called clipless because you don't have toe clips on them.

I hate them!

 

[Davidc]

Should have added that they also make you fall off. Thats what clipless moments means

 

[Arch]

I manage without them (clipless), I have the moulded plastic toeclips without straps, and they are fine for me, they keep my feet on the pedals and give me just that bit more power....

Jane, that compliment from the restaurant guy is lovely. He's a good salesman!

I was looking at Foska tops once, at the Cycle Show in London. The salesman asked what I was thinking of getting and I said I knew which design, but was trying to decide between road (tight) and MTB (baggy). He looked me up and down, and said "I think you have the figure for road..."

I'd have bought anything off him, after that, if I'd had the money.

 

[Jane Smart]

Hey Arch that was a nice compliment too

I wear lycra even though it is a MTB as it is very comfortable. I had no idea there was tight and baggy for each I am learning though.

bought a MTB magazine today, it came with a free scarf thing that will be nice to put over my nose and mouth on places where the flies are really bad, I am a bit sick of swallowing them

 

[Arch]

Hey Arch that was a nice compliment too

I wear lycra even though it is a MTB as it is very comfortable. I had no idea there was tight and baggy for each I am learning though.

bought a MTB magazine today, it came with a free scarf thing that will be nice to put over my nose and mouth on places where the flies are really bad, I am a bit sick of swallowing them

Ah, a buff. Excellent things. Is it the thin jersey material type (IE not thick and warm)? You can do loads of things with them - use as bandanas, hairbands, hats etc. See:

http://www.buffwear.co.uk/pages/product-info/ways-to-wear.php

I think the tight/baggy thing is a matter of choice - people going for speed or long distance tend to go for tight just because it minimises wind resistance and flapping - I'm not sure, but the baggy style might even be to wear over body armour for full on MTBing - or it might just be more relaxed....It doesn't really matter (don't shout this too loud, but actually, a lot of the stuff people bang on about doesn't really matter. What matters is, are you enjoying yourself?) I have one loose cycling tee shirt, but tend to wear the tight stuff for day rides.

 

[Jane Smart]

That is just what it is Arch, a buff My son wants it, cheeky thing, but he is not getting it

I prefer lycra as when it rains, as most bike rides I have done it does, it dries quickly. And washes easy with no ironing

Oh the 40 miles I did, was on tarmac, I have been told that is nae sae bad on a mountain bike with nobbly tyres, which today, my LBS had to pump up as they were a bit soft. ( took the bike for it's early four week check up today, as things had come a bit loose )

My husband now has told me to shut up talking about bikes I am becomming a bore he said.

 

[Muddyfox]

Oh the 40 miles I did, was on tarmac, I have been told that is nae sae bad on a mountain bike with nobbly tyres, which today, my LBS had to pump up as they were a bit soft.

So just imagine what you could do on a skinny tyred road bike or Hybrid

Simon

 

[Jane Smart]

So just imagine what you could do on a skinny tyred road bike or Hybrid

Simon

I know I know

Birthday is in November

 

[Muddyfox]

Jane ... i used to mountain bike so when i decided to move over to cycling on the roads more i put some slick tyres on my Mountain Bike and noticed a big difference over the knobblys that were already on there so for not very much money (untill birthday arrives ) you could make a vast improvement to your bike by just switching tyres

Of course once you have the bug ... upgrading tyres will no longer be enough

This is what i ride now and it really is sooo much easier on the road

This post has inspired me to get out there and put in some longer rides

Simon

 

[HLaB]

Jane you'd be amazed in the short term the improvement you'd get on tarmac by locking out you're front suspension, fitting narrower slicker tyres and raising the saddle of you're mtb like spandex said in the other thread.

 

[Garz]

For god sake Jane just do it!

 

[Jane Smart]

Now I know how to change tyres, as my LBS showed me, I will buy a set of slicker tyres for days when I do more "road work" I say road work, but it is not really roads.

I need to put my saddle up today a bit more also, as it is now just that wee bitty low

Simon glad that my thread has inspired you.

Reallly looking forward to Sunday, hope that I don't let you all down and go too slow

 

[Arch]

Reallly looking forward to Sunday, hope that I don't let you all down and go too slow

Are you meeting up with a bunch of forummers? A tip from me. Take cake, or biscuits, or something like that, home made. The easiest way to their hearts...

I led a ride a while back, I say led, I had to shout turn instructions from the back most of the time, but everyone seemed to have a good time - I'd planned in a good cake stop mid morning, lunch, and a pub mid afternoon, and brought homemade tiffin.

Your slicker tyres will probably do fine for anything less than full on mud - if you usually use cycle tracks, even gravelly ones, they'll probably want to stay on most of the time. I manage all my riding on either skinny road tyres on my summer bike, which can handle a bit of gravel and bumpy stuff, if I'm careful, or on my winter bike's Schwalbe Big Apples, which are wider, but still pretty slick, and absorb all manner of lumps and bumps well. With a bit of care, skirting the edges of the worst puddles and things, you can get away without knobbles.

You better start choosing your birthday bike now though... So, all out road speed? Tourer?