General Cycling Discussion - Are my legs getting weak?

Hi All,

I got my new bike last week but have noticed that my legs are getting fatigued really quicky.

On the old bike I could make it home in 15 mins, now takes me 20 and my legs hurt a lot more.

Is this just to do with different gears, or different tyres (old bike had fairly shallow tread where the new one has proper knobbly ones) I've adjusted the seat properly so I dont think its that.

Anyone got any suggestions


Andy

P.S. Have inflated the tyres a bit more as a friend said that might have something to do with it, but I've not had chance to go out and test it again yet.

could it be that your position on the new bike is different
and you're using muscles differently?
what type of bike did you have and what is the new bike?
I can't see how tyres being more inflated would cause
increased fatigue, in theory the higher pressure should
have less rolling resistance.

Marty

The old bike was a mountain bike frame, so is this one the only difference being the old one was steel where this one is alloy (and oversize)

see pic below;

http://www.raleigh.co.uk/bikes/bikepics/43154-6.jpg


Oh, and it seems that the crossbar is angled back ever so slightly, where the old one was parallel to the ground

Andy

The extra mechanical drag from the off road tires will affect your pace considerably.

I agree with Sam the tread is likely the problem.

Joe

if you are commuting, maybe throw some slicks on it? i noticed a HUGE difference when i went from mtb to slicks on my bike.

Thanks for all your comments, I've had a look on a website that I bought some bits from before. As a bit of a newbie when it comes to bikes I'm not sure which tyre to go for, would someone mind having a look at these two and letting me know which might be best??

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/v2_product_detail.asp?ProdID=5300003751

or

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/v2_product_detail.asp?ProdID=5300005087

But.... if neither are really suitable, here's the page with the tyres on:

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/v2_product_list.asp?CategoryName=Tyres%20-%20MTB%20Road&Cat=cycling

Maybe someone would be kind enough to help me out as I'm a little confused by all the choices :confused:


Andy

P.S. Anyone know of any online guides on how to remove the rear wheel (see I told you I was new to all this!!)

i realized this too when i bought my first 21 speed bike with different gear ratios.

first, i adjusted it and then it took me a week or three to get used to em

Originally posted by Andyblackett
Hi All,

I got my new bike last week but have noticed that my legs are getting fatigued really quicky.

On the old bike I could make it home in 15 mins, now takes me 20 and my legs hurt a lot more.

Is this just to do with different gears, or different tyres (old bike had fairly shallow tread where the new one has proper knobbly ones) I've adjusted the seat properly so I dont think its that.

Anyone got any suggestions


Andy

P.S. Have inflated the tyres a bit more as a friend said that might have something to do with it, but I've not had chance to go out and test it again yet.

How do the gear ratios compare from the old to the new?:confused:

I, too noticed a BIG change when I swapped out my stock knobbies for slicks. I picked up about 2-3 miles an hour and my cadence has really risen.

I run my slicks at 90-95 lbs air pressure (they're rated for 100) while the old knobbies were rated for 60 and I ran them at 65.

One of the things I do before every ride is check air pressure and pump my tires. Riding on soft tires sucks.

If you are mainly road riding, get slicks.

Invest in a good floor pump WITH gauge--Keep the tire pressure up where it should be--it makes a big difference.