Newbie advice please

[rjkc600]

Hi guys,

Ive recently started riding my front suspension MTB for fast road use, im a beginner and havent cycled for 12 years or so, but a pending london - southend ride means im now in full training.

Ive fitted city jet tyres, to make it easier, and its made a good improvement over the old nobbly tyres and ive acheived 33mph on them, with an average of 16 - 20mph.

My bike rides are getting longer, and im finding that my current bike is a little tough going up hills, i seem to be wasting a lot of energy doing so.


Now for some Questions:

1. Will a racer make life a lot easier? or are the gains small? Ive never ridden one.

2. My MTB has 24 gears. Ive seen racers with 10 gears, and some with 24. Can someone advise on the best choice for fast road use, and easy acceleration?

I think thats it for now.

Thanks in advance!

Roger.

 

[Sittingduck]

Road bike, for.... roads!
Does your MTB have suspension forks? If so is there a switch to lockout the suspension and make them rigid?

This will help with riding it on the road. You will get to Saarfend no problem on it but faster and easier on a road bike.

Cheers,
SD

 

[rjkc600]

hi SD,

My forks are adjustable, and i have them on the firmest setting, but i cant lock them rigid.

Are 'racers' unbearable over pot-holed roads etc? I also heard that the spokes need tuning very frequently?

Thanks again

 

[Sittingduck]

Sounds like my flatmate's bike (Specialized Hardrock) un-lockout-able... and he also rides about with them on the firmest setting. He commutes a 16 mile round trip daily on this setup (all road) and seems to like it.

You will need to pay more attention to potholes etc. on a road bike but it's not like they are made of tinfoil. Any bike will thank you for avoiding avoidable holes I think

I have recently converted from a hybrid to a road bike myself and enjoy the lighter machine and added speed. Avg commute to work in the morning has gone down from 22 mins to about 19 mins.

Maybe you can go into a bike shop and ask to test ride a couple of road bikes to see how they feel or perhaps try to borrow one for a couple of hours from a friend or colleague before investing? To be honest, I doubt you would be dissapointed but they do cost a lot of £'s I suppose.

Cheers,
SD

 

[rjkc600]

Thanks for that.

Ill try my local bike shops, i wasnt sure if bike shops did demo's or not, but i can ask.

Im really getting into cycling, and to use it for commuting id like to get something that is easier to maintain speed, hence a road bike.

Ill pop over to Cycles UK (my LBS) and check some out.

Cheers!

 

[Sittingduck]

Yup, all decent LBS' will let you take test rides. If they don't then I wouldn't want to buy a bike from 'em. I predict you will fall in love with one - so perhaps safer to leave the credit card with the big limit at home....?

 

[rjkc600]

ive allowed upto £500 for one.

Any recommendations for that price range? im 6ft3 so id need a big bike.

 

[Sittingduck]

Hmmm, this is the bit I like

If you can find it for a bit less or save up an extra 67 quid

Evans own brand Pinnacle might be worth a look - have heard they are decent

These are meant to be nice bikes - a bit bling for me but good quality I think for this price point

Ribble bikes are excellent value but might take a while and not like going into a shop and taking a test ride on

That'll do for starters...

 

[rjkc600]

i quite like the specialized one.

Ive also seen the Scott speedster S60 on evans cycles site. Looks nice. Not sure why the scott has 24 gears but the specialized says it has 9 gears?

So confusing.

 

[Sittingduck]

9 at the back & 3 chainrings.... 27 speed.
The Scott will be 3 rings 8 cogs = 24

For the record the "Spesh" Allez has a great rep. Others will hopefully be along shortly to confirm or deny my claims!


SD

 

[rjkc600]

i see. are the 24 gears the same as the 24 gears on my MTB? ir will they have differnt ratio's?

Im excited bout testing these bikes now.

 

[garrilla]

you may want to look at this most recent of threads for cheaper road bikes

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=34932

 

[Sittingduck]

i see. are the 24 gears the same as the 24 gears on my MTB? ir will they have differnt ratio's?

Im excited bout testing these bikes now.

The gearing will be higher on a road bike. I'd imagine that your current rear gears range from about 12 - 30 teeth on the cogs. The road bikes linked typically have cassettes going up to maybe 26 teeth on the largest sprocket. You will most likely still get up hills on them though and go faster on the flat / downhill

EDIT: the link posted above by garrilla is helpful I almost linked the Boardman but it's £145 over your *cough* Max budget... or IS IT?!

 

[rjkc600]

ok that makes sense.

So generally the road bikes are a little harder up hill, but faster on the straights?

I try not to use the largest sprockets on the rear cassette, like to punish myself as much as possible

 

[Sittingduck]

Hmmm, not sure if harder is really true because you don't use the large sprockets at the moment. Also the Spesh Allez is a triple so the smallest front ring and a mid-size rear sprocket will get you up most things.