First commute on road bike.

Sounds like you are not dissappointed with your new
purchase. You'll get used to the new position given time.

Quoted message said:

Soon got sick of hand position on the bars, seemed a lot
of weight on the hands, something that will limit long
distance rides and I can't put the bars any higher to
reduce load.

That's the thing that anmoys me a bit about my drop bars.
The cheapo gloves I got from Lidl help a lot tho - the hard
padding on the heel of the hand spreads the weight a bit. On
the plus side ebery time there's a head wind you forgive the
drop bars all their faults :-)

Simon Mason said:

Since I was on 0800 -1600 today and it was sunny, decided
to take the new road bike to work. I had to take a
different route than when I use my hybrid as I was obsessed
with avoiding glass and the off roads paths I use are
covered with the stuff. Riding position took some getting
used to as did the Campy Ergo levers.

Spent most of the time staring at the road surface on the
lookout for glass as I am used to puncture proof tyres such
as the Schwalbe Marathon Plus and these were 21 mm
Vredestein Ricotta cheese, or whatever.

Seemed a lot of people wanted to take me on, commuters on
MTBs with knobbles on and roadies. Couldn't see 'em off as
I wasn't confident on the bike re gears and handling and I
was on my way to work and didn't want to arrive early -
well that's my excuse.

Good news was that the docks road had been completely
renewed and the tarmac was very smooth and fast, bad news
was there are 20% HGVs on that road and I had to negotiate
four very fast roundabouts that usually avoid by using a
converted railway line.

Soon got sick of hand position on the bars, seemed a lot of
weight on the hands, something that will limit long
distance rides and I can't put the bars any higher to
reduce load.

Depending on how high the bars are to begin with[and you
could always get an adjustable stem for that bike anyway],
you might want to consider 'aero bars' to resolve that
problem. I got a pair for my tourer[if I can call it that]
and wouldn't be without them. Numb hands are not my idea of
an enjoyable time.

garryb

Quoted message said:

Still, didn't get a flat even though the back tyre nearly
got a snake bite - those tyres bottom out easily compared
to a 36 mm tyre and once I'd decided to relax and stop
worrying it started to become enjoyable.

There seemed to be a buzzing around the bottom bracket when
spinning fast which is worrying. Once I've got used to it I
think I'll commute on it all summer long, excepting rain as
I'm not putting guards on it.

Simon Mason said:

Soon got sick of hand position on the bars, seemed a lot
of weight on the hands, something that will limit long
distance rides and I can't put the bars any higher to
reduce load.

I've got to be honest, I think the bike is far too small for
you. I'm the same height and ride a 60cm road bike. I hope
you'll manage to get comfortable on it somehow, or perhaps
eventually swap it for a larger one without loosing too much
money. Good luck anyway.

~PB

Simon Mason said:

Still, didn't get a flat even though the back tyre nearly
got a snake bite - those tyres bottom out easily compared
to a 36 mm tyre

Shouldn't get anywhere near to bottoming out if they're
pumped up properly, even on terribly bumpy roads. I think in
this case you should pump rear tyre to the max pressure
stated on the sidewall, using a track pump with a gauge,
then try lower pressures in future if ride feels too harsh.

Quoted message said:

There seemed to be a buzzing around the bottom bracket
when spinning fast which is worrying.

If nothing is rubbing, it could just be the natural noise of
the chain on chainring amplified by the frame, which might
happen to be much louder than what you're used to on other
bikes. I can't get over how loud the transmission is on my
road bike is. The exact same stuff was hardly audible on my
previous frame. Trivial things like bottle cages or cables
can often cause alarming buzzes and clicks as well.

~PB

Sorry I didn't combine all these replies but I keep thinking
of more points....

Simon Mason said:

Soon got sick of hand position on the bars, seemed a lot
of weight on the hands, something that will limit long
distance rides and I can't put the bars any higher to
reduce load.

If sticking with the frame, it's gotta be worth doing
something about the bar height. Judging from the pics, the
position might be okay for some wickedly fast short rides or
time trialing (if stem reach is long enough that is). Forks
with a longer steerer and a different stem might do the job
for longer distances.

~PB

"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sorry I didn't combine all these replies but I keep
thinking of more points....

Simon Mason said:

Soon got sick of hand position on the bars, seemed a lot
of weight on the hands, something that will limit long
distance rides and I can't put the bars any higher to
reduce load.

If sticking with the frame, it's gotta be worth doing
something about the bar height. Judging from the pics, the
position might be okay for some wickedly fast short rides
or time trialing (if stem reach is long enough that is).
Forks with a longer steerer and a different stem might do
the job for longer distances.

Thanks for all the advice - I'll persevere with it for a
while, like the other chap said, I might get used to it.
About the frame size, it is a fair bit smaller than the
hybrid, but I note that a lot of road bikes are compact now
anyway and you tailor it to your size by adjusting the seat
height and bars, so didn't think it was *that* much of a
factor, the frame size.

I shall have to get a better pump though, the one I've got
now won't get enough air in to stop the things hitting the
rim. Other than that it's a very nice ride, except I'm
having to get used to not being able to go off road.
Cheers, Simon M.

"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Simon Mason said:

Soon got sick of hand position on the bars, seemed a lot
of weight on the hands, something that will limit long
distance rides and I can't put the bars any higher to
reduce load.

I've got to be honest, I think the bike is far too small
for you. I'm the same height and ride a 60cm road bike.

I agree, I'm afraid. It would probably be about right for
little old me at slightly under 5' 7''.

--
Dave...

Simon Mason said:

"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de...

Quoted message said:

Sorry I didn't combine all these replies but I keep
thinking of more points....

Simon Mason said:

Soon got sick of hand position on the bars, seemed a lot
of weight on the hands, something that will limit long
distance rides and I can't put the bars any higher to
reduce load.

If sticking with the frame, it's gotta be worth doing
something about the bar height. Judging from the pics, the
position might be okay for some wickedly fast short rides
or time trialing (if stem reach is long enough that is).
Forks with a longer steerer and a different stem might do
the job for longer distances.

Thanks for all the advice - I'll persevere with it for a
while, like the other chap said, I might get used to it.
About the frame size, it is a fair bit smaller than the
hybrid, but I note that a lot of road bikes are compact
now anyway and you tailor it to your size by adjusting
the seat height and bars, so didn't think it was *that*
much of a factor, the frame size.

I shall have to get a better pump though, the one I've got
now won't get enough air in to stop the things hitting the
rim. Other than that it's a very nice ride, except I'm
having to get used to not being able to go off road.
Cheers, Simon M.

I'm no expert (by a long way) but I would have thought that
a small frame would have a small top tube as well, so the
bars would be a lot closer to you than normal - something
you can't really adjust for with stem/seat height.

Velvet

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

Quoted message said:

Simon Mason wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm no expert (by a long way) but I would have thought
that a small frame would have a small top tube as
well, so the bars would be a lot closer to you than
normal - something you can't really adjust for with
stem/seat height.

Velvet

garryb (above) mentioned aero bars as a way around
that problem.

Simon

Simon Mason said:

"Velvet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:vaT8c.3431$7N5.30936134@news-
text.cableinet.net...

Quoted message said:

Simon Mason wrote:

Quoted message said:

I'm no expert (by a long way) but I would have thought
that a small frame would have a small top tube as
well, so the bars would be a lot closer to you than
normal - something you can't really adjust for with
stem/seat height.

Velvet

garryb (above) mentioned aero bars as a way around that
problem.

Simon

Ah, now I meant to reply to that post... what are aero bars,
and how are they different to normal drops (assuming they're
still drops)?

Velvet

"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

garryb (above) mentioned aero bars as a way around that
problem.

A recent discovery of mine with regard to this problem was
to try holding the vertical part of the drops. I find that
it keeps the wrists straight and stops you from locking your
arms which does reduce the discomfort (At least on short
journeys, I haven't tried it over distance yet).

The other possibility is to move up onto the top of the
bars. For long straights it's very comfortable (Although not
as aero!) and you can very quickly get down to the drops if
you need to. In fact, moving around the bars can be a good
thing anyway. On my compact Giant I tend to ride a lot on
the brake hoods as a half-way position to the drops.

Try adjusting the angle of the bars themselves, flipping the
stem (Assuming it's not already angled up) or getting a
shorter / higher stem.

Have you tried sprinting hard yet. You should find that
you'll be very quick off at the lights! ;-)

Jon

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-
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Velvet said:

Ah, now I meant to reply to that post... what are aero
bars, and how are they different to normal drops (assuming
they're still drops)?

Velvet

They're the 'horns' you see on triathlon and time trial
bikes that position the hands close to the centre line of
the bike and make it more aerodynamic.

To me it seems rather strange to suggest fitting these to
any bike in order to improve its fit - particularly if it's
going to be used for commuting.

--
Michael MacClancy Random putdown - "They never open their
mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge."
- Thomas Brackett Reed www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk

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

Quoted message said:

Ah, now I meant to reply to that post... what are aero
bars, and how are they different to normal drops (assuming
they're still drops)?

Velvet

Go to Google.com, type in "aero bars" and click on "images"
and then "Google search" and lo and behold :-) Simon M.

"Jon Senior" <jon_AT_restlesslemon.co.uk> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

A recent discovery of mine with regard to this problem was
to try holding the vertical part of the drops. I find that
it keeps the wrists straight

and

Quoted message said:

stops you from locking your arms which does reduce the
discomfort (At

least

Quoted message said:

on short journeys, I haven't tried it over distance yet).

I've tried various positions Jon and find that on the
vertical part of the drops my hands tend to go backwards,
ie palms facing way from each other. Don't know why.

Quoted message said:

The other possibility is to move up onto the top of the
bars. For long straights it's very comfortable (Although
not as aero!) and you can very quickly get down to the
drops if you need to. In fact, moving around the bars can
be a good thing anyway. On my compact Giant I tend to
ride a lot

on

Quoted message said:

the brake hoods as a half-way position to the drops.

On top of the bars is where I feel most pressure as it
turns out. I haven't gone down on the drops much yet as I
was on my first commute and wanted to get used to things
first. When I get a bit more confidence I can have an extra
15 minutes in bed :-)

Quoted message said:

Try adjusting the angle of the bars themselves, flipping
the stem

(Assuming

Quoted message said:

it's not already angled up) or getting a shorter /
higher stem.

Yes, I'll tinker around a bit and see what works.

Quoted message said:

Have you tried sprinting hard yet. You should find that
you'll be very

quick

Quoted message said:

off at the lights! ;-)

Yes, once you get used to the Ergo shifters it's like
wotsit of a stick, especially since I've got 25 000 miles
on a 42 lb hybrid in my legs, heart and lungs :-) On a
newly laid fast A road you can actually feel it instantly
shifting forward with each pedal stroke -whereas on the
hybrid I suppose the frame irons that feeling out.

Simon M.

"Michael MacClancy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Velvet said:

Ah, now I meant to reply to that post... what are aero
bars, and how are they different to normal drops
(assuming they're still drops)?

Velvet

They're the 'horns' you see on triathlon and time trial
bikes that

position

Quoted message said:

the hands close to the centre line of the bike and make it
more aerodynamic.

To me it seems rather strange to suggest fitting these to
any bike in

order

Quoted message said:

to improve its fit - particularly if it's going to be used
for commuting.

It's not really for commuting, I find no problem doing only
12 miles, it's when I want to do 100 or more that it might
be useful to have somewhere to park my hands to relieve the
pressure by stretching out.

Simon M.

Simon Mason said:

"Velvet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news😄DT8c.3448$6Z5.31067187@news-
text.cableinet.net...

Quoted message said:

Ah, now I meant to reply to that post... what are aero
bars, and how are they different to normal drops (assuming
they're still drops)?

Velvet

Go to Google.com, type in "aero bars" and click on
"images" and then "Google search" and lo and behold :-)
Simon M.

Pffft. It was far too early in the morning for me to be
thinking of sensible ways to find out :-P

Velvet

"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Still, didn't get a flat even though the back tyre nearly
got a snake bite - those tyres bottom out easily compared
to a 36 mm tyre and once I'd decided to relax and stop
worrying it started to become enjoyable.

What pressure are you running in your tyres? I don't think
you should be bottoming ot...

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden] Edgware.

"Jon Senior" <jon_AT_restlesslemon.co.uk> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

The point with the compact frames was to reduce frame
weight, by taking advantage of the MTB long seat posts and
stems and making a small frame.

Not really. The point of compact frames is to reduce costs
for the manufacturer by allowing them to produce a smaller
range of frame sizes. The weight saving is an illusion as
the extra seat post weighs as much as the missing tubes.

Quoted message said:

There is a lot of adjustment possible with them and
they do tend to be smaller than a standard frame for a
given rider.

There is a lot of adjustment, it's true. Simon will probably
be able to get the bike to fit him by experimenting with
long seat posts and stems (I hope so anyway) but I still
think he would have been better off with a larger frame in
the first place. I don't think compact frames really have
any advantages for tall riders. They can benefit very short
riders, however, by offering a greater standover clearance.

--
Dave...