Road Cycling · Public discussion

Newbie ?'s

Started by Joseph Shark · · Last activity · 26 posts · 1,527 views

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Road Cycling
Published
28 August 2003
Last activity
3 September 2003
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Joseph Shark
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  1. Hello Folks,

    New rider here(sort of). I have been riding bikes on and off since a young kid, but nothing serious.
    I just bought an old vitus in decent condition, had it tuned up. It is a nice light ride, best bike
    I can afford right now. Unfortunately it is a bit on the small side for me 52cm; I am 6'0 tall. It's
    not terribly uncomfortable, but definately could be better. I like getting on a bike and speeding
    like a mad man. I guess right now my rides are not that long maybe on average of 10 miles, but they
    include some huge hills, and like I said I really push all the way. I don't ride as much as would
    like because I can't(work constraints..etc).

    I was wondering what type of competitive riding is out there(bicycling only)? What types of bikes
    are normally used for each respective race type? I don't know wether or not I would do good in a
    competition of some sort, but would like to start getting some ideas. Thanks for reading.

  2. Sounds like crits are about all I would recemmend for the type of miles that you are doing and even
    then they are all going to be a fair bit over 10 miles... It sounds like some longer rides at less
    of a break neck speed would be worth your while so you can establish a better base. I say this as
    someone who is just getting back on the bike myself after a few (too many) years away. I have only
    just started doing some speed work but have been building from 30, 50, 80, 110km rides to get my
    legs back over the last couple of months

    I am aiming at hitting the local crit races at the end of the year here (West Australia).

    I am sure others here will disagree... but thats the good thing about these groups I guess.

    "Joseph Shark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Hello Folks,

    New rider here(sort of). I have been riding bikes on and off since a young kid, but nothing
    serious. I just bought an old vitus in decent condition, had it tuned up. It is a nice light ride,
    best bike I can afford right


    now.

    Quoted message said:

    Unfortunately it is a bit on the small side for me 52cm; I am 6'0 tall.


    It's

    Quoted message said:

    not terribly uncomfortable, but definately could be better. I like getting on a bike and speeding
    like a mad man. I guess right now my rides are not that long maybe on average of 10 miles, but
    they include


    some

    Quoted message said:

    huge hills, and like I said I really push all the way. I don't ride as


    much

    Quoted message said:

    as would like because I can't(work constraints..etc).

    I was wondering what type of competitive riding is out there(bicycling only)? What types of bikes
    are normally used for each respective race


    type?

    Quoted message said:

    I don't know wether or not I would do good in a competition of some sort, but would like to start
    getting some ideas. Thanks for reading.

  3. "Joseph Shark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Hello Folks,

    . I just bought an old vitus in decent condition,

    Quoted message said:

    had it tuned up. It is a nice light ride, best bike I can afford right


    now.

    Quoted message said:

    Unfortunately it is a bit on the small side for me 52cm; I am 6'0 tall.

    You need a much larger frame. At your height, you need at least a 56cm frame in that model and
    likely a 58 will fit better. Solve that problem ASAP.

    Have fun.

  4. "Joseph Shark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Thanks for reading.

    If this post is indicative of your future contributions, please thank us for reading those too.
    Anyone who does will deserve it.

  5. Kurgan Gringioni said:

    "Joseph Shark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Thanks for reading.

    If this post is indicative of your future contributions, please thank us for reading those too.
    Anyone who does will deserve it.

    Don't worry Joseph, this guy's reply is totally indicative of his own contributions, so just
    ignore him.

    &roo

  6. Joseph, Like you I have only been going a few weeks. I've learnt heaps from some of the threads and now my riding/training is a bit more structured. I've had a couple of races over 42km and times have improved. Every ride is a revelation as I get fitter and faster.

    My new bike is a 60cm frame (I'm about same height as you - 183 cm). Yuo must be incredibly uncomfortable on such a small frame. Can you straighten your legs out?

    My advice is go to a good bike store and get someone to fit you properly. Buy a new bike or a good second hand one that is a good fit. You'll feel much more motivated to stick at it and will probably enjoy your riding more because you'll be more comfortable.

    Good riding.

    And the "know it all" can go and get st*ffed.😠

  7. Thanks for the info will look into crits. I will try and slow down, and go further 🙂

  8. Quoted message said:

    You need a much larger frame. At your height, you need at least a 56cm


    frame

    Quoted message said:

    in that model and likely a 58 will fit better. Solve that problem ASAP.

    Have fun.


    I know I have been told this a few times already. I can not afford a new bike this year, I will have
    to wait till next.

  9. Quoted message said:

    My new bike is a 60cm frame (I'm about same height as you - 183 cm). Yuo must be incredibly
    uncomfortable on such a small frame. Can you straighten your legs out?


    Yes I can straighten my legs out, if I ride seated up no hands 🙂

    Quoted message said:

    My advice is go to a good bike store and get someone to fit you properly. Buy a new bike or a good
    second hand one that is a good fit. You'll feel much more motivated to stick at it and will
    probably enjoy your riding more because you'll be more comfortable.


    Thanks for the advice, I will use it. Just have to wait till next year before I can get another
    bike. Will keep reading this NG, very informative.

    Quoted message said:

    Good riding.

    And the "know it all" can go and get st*ffed.😠

    --

    Quoted message said:

    --------------------------<


    Posted via cyclingforums.com cyclingforums.comcyclingforums.com

  10. "Spider1977" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Joseph, Like you I have only been going a few weeks.

    <newbie [censored] snipped>

    Goddamm.

    The TdF is over and instead of Dumbass Newbs posting about racing, we have Dumbass Newbs posting
    about bike choices.

    Welcome, Fred. I look forward to flaming you.

  11. "Joseph Shark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    I know

    You apparently do not know the urgency. I would look at trying to trade your bike for one that fits
    even if you end up with a frame you consider lower quality. This should be your highest priority.

  12. "Joseph Shark" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:vMn3b.14847$jY2.3283 @newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net:

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    You need a much larger frame. At your height, you need at least a 56cm


    frame

    Quoted message said:

    in that model and likely a 58 will fit better. Solve that problem ASAP.

    Have fun.


    I know I have been told this a few times already. I can not afford a new bike this year, I will
    have to wait till next.

    Sell yours on eBay... buy a new/used one on eBay. Its almost like trading in one used car for
    another 'cept its bikes 😉 Seriously, you're probably doing yourself more harm than good riding a
    bike that is *that* much too small for you.

    - Boyd S.

  13. "Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Welcome, Fred. I look forward to flaming you.

    That's what flaming a-holes do, I guess.

    Quoted message said:

    If this post is indicative of your future contributions, please thank us


    for reading those too. Anyone who does will deserve it.

    Just out of curiousity, what contributions to your ongoing quest for knowledge did you think you
    were going to get from a message with the subject line "Newbie"? You are either even stupider than
    you sound or a troll.

  14. "Les Doerfler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    "Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Welcome, Fred. I look forward to flaming you.

    That's what flaming a-holes do, I guess.

    Quoted message said:

    If this post is indicative of your future contributions, please thank us


    for reading those too. Anyone who does will deserve it.

    Just out of curiousity, what contributions to your ongoing quest for knowledge did you think you
    were going to get from a message with the subject line "Newbie"?

    Dumbass -

    Few things on usenet are more fun than getting into it with Newbies.

    Welcome, Fred. I look forward to flaming you.

  15. "Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    "Les Doerfler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    "Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Welcome, Fred. I look forward to flaming you.

    That's what flaming a-holes do, I guess.

    Quoted message said:

    If this post is indicative of your future contributions, please thank


    us

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    for reading those too. Anyone who does will deserve it.

    Just out of curiousity, what contributions to your ongoing quest for knowledge did you think you
    were going to get from a message with the subject line "Newbie"?

    Dumbass -

    Few things on usenet are more fun than getting into it with Newbies.

    Welcome, Fred. I look forward to flaming you.

    The appellation "Newbie" is, a priori, obnoxious and deserving of abuse. What is most obnoxious
    about most Newbie questions is that they can usually be answered by reading a book, either bought or
    on loan from a library. I can understand Patriot Act fear, but bicycle related topics probably
    aren't high on Asscroft's agenda.

  16. Thank you Mr. Gringi for your time. I look forward kill filing you. Have fun flaming, if I ever post
    again, I will most certainly not see your response ;0) muah. What a waste of space. *personal note
    don't waste any more time replying to any other gringis out there*

    Quoted message said:

    Few things on usenet are more fun than getting into it with Newbies.

    Welcome, Fred. I look forward to flaming you.

  17. Quoted message said:

    What is most obnoxious about most Newbie questions is that they can


    usually

    Quoted message said:

    be answered by reading a book, either bought or on loan from a library.

    I was under the impression that the internet is a medium for learning? What are NG's for flaming ?
    :0) Thank You Sir, you and I both have wasted a few minutes of time writing useless dribble 🙂 I'll
    be sure to look out for your vastly superior pearls of wisdom from now on ;0)

  18. Joseph Shark said:

    Hello Folks,

    New rider here(sort of). I have been riding bikes on and off since a young kid, but nothing
    serious. I just bought an old vitus in decent condition, had it tuned up. It is a nice light ride,
    best bike I can afford right now. Unfortunately it is a bit on the small side for me 52cm; I am
    6'0 tall. It's not terribly uncomfortable, but definately could be better. I like getting on a
    bike and speeding like a mad man. I guess right now my rides are not that long maybe on average of
    10 miles, but they include some huge hills, and like I said I really push all the way. I don't
    ride as much as would like because I can't(work constraints..etc).

    I was wondering what type of competitive riding is out there(bicycling only)? What types of bikes
    are normally used for each respective race type? I don't know wether or not I would do good in a
    competition of some sort, but would like to start getting some ideas. Thanks for reading.


    The first bike I bought out of my own pocket was too small (can't remember actual size, but recall
    how my knees came up to my chest while sitting up and upper leg muscles hurt like hell after a 7
    mile ride. After getting a right-size bike a lot of that pain went away. Learning a few simple
    techniques like warming up, stretching and warming down help considerably.

    I frequently do 60+ KM rides and the first 8-10KM I do at a moderate tempo as this is warmup time.
    Generally the crummiest part of the ride when I'm cold and the whole physiology isn't in tune. A few
    rolling hills usually gets the heartrate up and everything falls into place for a few Ks of higher
    tempo before I tackle my favorite climbs, where the ride reallly begins. Going from cold to flat-out
    isn't a good plan. A few times I've gone on rides where there's only a few K's before serious
    sustained effort is called for and its the kind of pain that can seriously talk you out of future
    'good' rides because you don't want to suffer like that again.

    Best of luck.

  19. "B. Lafferty" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    The appellation "Newbie" is, a priori, obnoxious and deserving of abuse. What is most obnoxious
    about most Newbie questions is that they can


    usually

    Quoted message said:

    be answered by reading a book, either bought or on loan from a library.

    Or, even easier, Google.

    Quoted message said:

    I can understand Patriot Act fear, but bicycle related topics probably


    aren't

    Quoted message said:

    high on Asscroft's agenda.

    "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty
    or security"

    - Benjamin Franklin

  20. Joseph Shark said:

    I was under the impression that the internet is a medium for learning?

    Your impression is incorrect.

    Quoted message said:

    What are NG's for flaming ? :0)

    They're for amusement. Think of NG's as a neighborhood bar (or, depending on the social circles in
    which you move, perhaps a cocktail party). Do you go there as a medium for learning? Do you see
    anyone at the party being paid to answer your questions? You can learn a lot if you listen, and some
    of what you learn may actually be true and accurate though the odds are against it. Hmmm, yet
    another way in which NG's are like cocktail parties. Anyway, you will learn more if you start out by
    listening and by being entertaining than by displaying an attitude. Sometimes those who are new to
    NG's liken them to a private club. Perhaps elements of this can be true, but entry to the club is
    not restricted and the membership fee is quite low; membership is determined not by money or status
    but by information and entertainment value, though sometimes the most entertaining contributions are
    the least informative. People who ask questions outside of an existing conversational thread (i.e.,
    stand in the middle of the cocktail party and try to start a new conversation by asking a question
    to the room) usually contribute neither information nor entertainment value so the responses they
    receive depend entirely on the kindness of strangers.

    BTW, trade that bike for one that fits, dumbass.

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