Advice for a Rookie Road Biker?

[sonofchet]

I first posted this down in the fitness forum before I discovered this one.

I've been mountain biking for 15 years, but I never had any desire to get into road biking because it looked really boring to me. Over the last 5 years or so, most of my mountain biking buddies have slowly switched over to more of a road focus, but I have resisted. Well, I finally gave in and bought a road bike (nothing very special; just an aluminum frame with carbon fork and seat stays and 105 components throughout). Does anyone have any advice for someone who is completely new to the sport? I'm open for any recommendations that will help me maximize the efficiency of my training and my enjoyment. I'm not looking to race so much as use this as a fitness tool for my real loves which are backpacking and mountaineering; however, I'm certainly not against the idea of doing a big race like STP or LOTOJA one of these days/years.

What about equpment advice? For pedals, I went with the Speedplay Zeros because that's what a bunch of my friends use and I didn't know anything about other road pedals. On my mountain bike, I've been using eggbeaters for a few years and love them so I'm a little tempted to just set up my road bike with eggbeaters and then use my mountain shoes for both bikes. Would that be a bad idea? If so, why? I bought a pair of Sidis, but I could still take them back.

Thanks in advance.

[Archaea]

refer to my answer.

http://cougarguard.com/forum/showthr...076#post202076

In reality, we'll have several answers, but as a mountain biker, you'll kick ass in my experience.

Go with carbon fiber frame, good groupos, such as Shimano Dura Ace or the step down, Speed Plays, the best Sidis, a great jersey, a cheapo 100 buck helmet, some Oakley sunglasses, some great wheels for races. Get a time trial bike, and a crit bike and you'd be good to go.

Here are the wheels you should get for racing. I just picked up my set; they're literally in the car.

http://www.lewracing.com/wheels.html

Once you get serious, pick up a linskey frame.

[bluegoose]

It sounds like you have a pretty good set-up to get started with riding. Speedplay is a very personalized thing, as some people love them (waters), while others feel like they are on iceskates the whole time. A couple of my friends have switched back to LOOK pedals in recent years, just as a matter of personal preference. I've never tried them, so I can't say from personal experience. Try them out and see what you think. I rode MTB pedals on my road bike for a year and did just fine. But I do prefer my roadied pedals for several reasons.

As far as getting into the sport, base miles are important to any fitness program. This is not only for the muscles, but also for the old rumpus. A good pair of roadie shorts is also necessary if you plan to spend a fair amount of time on the bike.

From there, you can find any number of training programs and philosophies, depending on your time commitment and motivation. LOTOJA is a pretty ambitious undertaking, so it sounds like you are comitted. The best thing to do really is find a group to ride with. Its so much easier to get into a regular routine if you have 3 or 4 guys with similar goals as you.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by bluegoose

It sounds like you have a pretty good set-up to get started with riding. Speedplay is a very personalized thing, as some people love them (waters), while others feel like they are on iceskates the whole time. A couple of my friends have switched back to LOOK pedals in recent years, just as a matter of personal preference. I've never tried them, so I can't say from personal experience. Try them out and see what you think. I rode MTB pedals on my road bike for a year and did just fine. But I do prefer my roadied pedals for several reasons.

As far as getting into the sport, base miles are important to any fitness program. This is not only for the muscles, but also for the old rumpus. A good pair of roadie shorts is also necessary if you plan to spend a fair amount of time on the bike.

From there, you can find any number of training programs and philosophies, depending on your time commitment and motivation. LOTOJA is a pretty ambitious undertaking, so it sounds like you are comitted. The best thing to do really is find a group to ride with. Its so much easier to get into a regular routine if you have 3 or 4 guys with similar goals as you.

Goose, creekster, Viking and archaea and a few others are signing up for LOTOJA this year. You should sign up for it now and say what the heck. It's not that hard, if we old fat guys can do it. Goose is not fat but is a super athlete. Creekster is a sub five hour century guy. Viking invented the bike bra and is well renown in cycling circles and I am just a simple minded enthusiast. Goose's brother is also national class as a racer.

[creekster]

Bluie Goose gives you good advice but ignore the suggestion that Speedplays are anything but great. The being on ice feeling, which you might feel at first, comes from their almost undetectable connection system and their incredibel amount of float, which your knees will love. I also contend that thye acutally encourage better fomr, as if you hang your heel out too far (aznd you would be surprised how many poeple do this when they try to hammer) you will pop out of the pedal.

I really like my speedplays and prefer them to eggbeaters and spd and look, although to tell yout he truth, all of those are good.

Remeber, above all, it is not the bike, its the engine that matters.

[bluegoose]

Originally Posted by creekster

Bluie Goose

So nows its Bluie, eh? I've been called a lot of things in my day, but....

And I though Babs Gordon was bad with the name calling and mockery of my moniker.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by creekster

Bluie Goose gives you good advice but ignore the suggestion that Speedplays are anything but great. The being on ice feeling, which you might feel at first, comes from their almost undetectable connection system and their incredibel amount of float, which your knees will love. I also contend that thye acutally encourage better fomr, as if you hang your heel out too far (aznd you would be surprised how many poeple do this when they try to hammer) you will pop out of the pedal.

I really like my speedplays and prefer them to eggbeaters and spd and look, although to tell yout he truth, all of those are good.

Remeber, above all, it is not the bike, its the engine that matters.

Anybody who dislikes speedplays should be shot, that is all I have to say. Eggbeaters are for Mountain geeks. Looks are for Americans wanting to look and sound French, Monsier Bleu Geusse.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by bluegoose

So nows its Bluie, eh? I've been called a lot of things in my day, but....

And I though Babs Gordon was bad with the name calling and mockery of my moniker.

Yup, as in so long screwy, see you in St Louis.

[bYuPride]

If he's got Speedplay Zeros, it shouldn't feel like he's on ice skates because there's Zero play. I have the speedplay zeros as well and they've done just fine for me... i've never had or tried anything else either however..