UPSB v3
Off-topic / Cycling
-
Date: Sat, May 8 2010 23:44:04
So pretty recently I haven't had much to do and I figured I'd try out some of my dad's old bikes (he raced a long time ago). Because he passed away before I was interested in this, I don't really know much about cycling. The only person I know that knows about this stuff is going into the Army.
So, UPSB, I'm just wondering if anyone here is into cycling and would help me out by telling me how to get into this kind of thing.
-
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 01:23:44
ask hoiboy
-
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 18:38:43
I don't think its that hard to get into if you have endurance but you could start by cycling longer and longer distances every day then work on speed thats how I got into it but its
relaxing, competitive,fun, and its a great way of exercising -
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 19:31:32
If you're gonna road bike.... you WILL need to get Lycra. Lycra shorts, lycra shirt, or just go all out lycra suite....
Now mountain biking, thats where the fun is! No lycra required either! -
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 21:01:01QUOTE (UEDan @ May 9 2010, 12:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>If you're gonna road bike.... you WILL need to get Lycra. Lycra shorts, lycra shirt, or just go all out lycra suite....
Now mountain biking, thats where the fun is! No lycra required either!
Yeah, I don't plan on wearing any of that gay spandex shit, yo. -
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 21:05:49
you might at least need the shorts but underneath regular shorts
-
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 21:10:07
u need to provide more details, is it mountain biking or what, cuz thats totally different and u cant do that everyday
if its cycling, u can join some team, its kinda fun to learn about the strategies in team cycling. each person has his own role (domestique), like the climbing specialist who has to push the tempo during uphills, then the sprinter is used at the end to win the race
also knowing when to stay in the peloton and benefit from drafting and when to break out of the pack -
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 21:29:03QUOTE (Zombo @ May 9 2010, 02:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>u need to provide more details, is it mountain biking or what, cuz thats totally different and u cant do that everyday
Aww c'mon... I can take my MTB(Mountain Bike) on paved roads and places I'd never take a road bike. Cyclocross doesn't count, they hike-a-bike everything except paved roads. Yeah I'm a little slower on the street but so much easier to go through the city with pot holes and curbs on a MTB.
But seriously, whats to know? It doesn't seem like you'll be doing anything competitive soon, just go out an ride what you have and see if you like it enough. Don't join a team right away, you'd most likely be slaughtered. -
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 21:33:25QUOTE (Zombo @ May 9 2010, 02:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>u need to provide more details, is it mountain biking or what, cuz thats totally different and u cant do that everyday
if its cycling, u can join some team, its kinda fun to learn about the strategies in team cycling. each person has his own role (domestique), like the climbing specialist who has to push the tempo during uphills, then the sprinter is used at the end to win the race
also knowing when to stay in the peloton and benefit from drafting and when to break out of the pack
Haha, I can't believe I didn't specify that. It's road biking. And I don't plan on getting competitive or anything. I just like riding. -
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 21:45:23
i dont like biking on the streets cuz u have to stop often, u lose momentum its annoying
better to find a park with bike trials and just bike there everyday, bring a timer, study the trails and find the right gears for each section -
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 21:54:46
LOL i'm not a roadie kid
cycling generally refers to road biking (spandex/Armstrong)
there are plenty of trails in the Bay Area. pop by your lbs and pick up a map (they're like 2 bucks).
you don't have to wear spandex, but wear something tighter, otherwise your pants flap up and guys going the other way get a nice peek at your boxers -
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 21:56:53
Well my brother just left for the military and left me his road bike to ride around. Idk its great exercise and when you finally drive nate it'll be a great way to save gas and whatnot. I love riding all over town and its good to find hills. Riding with music is much nice but just be careful riding around fields and stuff like that because goatheads and stuff will pop the road bike tires. Road bike tires are prone to popping so just be careful. dont ride in potholes either cuz the thin rims will get bent and all fucked up. Idk have fun with it its great exercise and try to find somebody to ride with just maybe a friend or something because having someone to keep pace with is always nice. Make sure your tires are like high PSI to because you will fly if they are and you can weave betweens cars and whatnot its mad fun.
edit: Sorry Hoiboy. Mine are at Like 85 psi with it maxed out at 90. Sorry
Oh and tighten up those handlebars its nothing like leaving your house without allan wrenchs and having your bars be extra loose by the time you get back. Dangerous too. -
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 21:58:42
oh btw, if its an old bike, get a tuneup before dragging it anywhere
a basic tuneup should cost you around 30 bucks, but you can do it yourself easily
make sure your shifters are working, drip oil down your wires through the rubber sleeve, replace your brake pads, make sure all 3 dérailleur screws are positioned just right, and grease your chain
if your dérailleur screws aren't right, bring it to your lbs. don't mess around with that stuff if you don't know what you're doing
@tylt: lol that's terrible advice about tires. make sure your psi is at the recommended level (toward the top end) and bring along a few spare inner tubes/patches when you ride -
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 22:41:35
Thanks for all the tips.
It's a rather new bike, my dad built it just before he passed away. My friend who's going into the army got it tuned up a few weeks ago, he says there's a part of the shifting mechanism missing, so I can't shift the larger gears.
Oh, and there's a really long trail along a canal that goes through my whole county, so there's plenty of places for me to go. -
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 22:52:22
picture of the bike?
also, can you take a picture of your shifters and gears? i wanna see whats missing
-
Date: Sun, May 9 2010 23:34:59QUOTE (hoiboy @ May 9 2010, 03:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>picture of the bike?
also, can you take a picture of your shifters and gears? i wanna see whats missing
I actually don't have access to a camera right now. The only thing I can identify is the body, which is a Giant OCR C2. -
Date: Mon, May 10 2010 00:46:19
unless you like it tight, i suggest you go moutain biking, it's more fun. Just find random hills, and run down them.
-
Date: Mon, May 10 2010 10:54:41
try bmx??
-
Date: Mon, May 10 2010 15:06:53
bmx, you have to find a park :/
its a hassle
@RoastBeef: that's called Downhill. Most MTB'ing is AM/XC.
i wouldn't reccommend downhill because its hard to drag a DH bike back up. those babies weigh in at 50 lbs -
Date: Tue, May 11 2010 05:25:28
Hoiboy: Hey can probably do Urban Downhill... considering hes in the hilly bay area and can take trollies and other crap as a shuttle =P
-
Date: Wed, May 26 2010 02:58:02
my bike would never take that kind of abuse
a horst isn't exactly built for that type of riding
and i would advise against urban downhilling on a road bike
just saying
-
Date: Wed, May 26 2010 08:35:15
hahah yeah ditto.
I'd probably die on my hardtail =P
And I completely forgot he had a Roadbiking, got completely caught up in talking about MTBing. HA!