Road Cycling - New bike, Knees & Shifting

As some of you know (or maybe not) I was given a custom frame a couple of weeks ago and was getting some information on building it up (It'a a FinnPeak frame), a few people in this forum helped me out alot and after going from web site, to stores (no help and rude) back to web site, then measuring, and pricing, something happened today that was just lucky :p

On the offchance I went to a bike store (a tiny place, out of the way) just to look & drool and meet the owner who was the nicest person I have met in the retail industry, he was very interested in what I had to say about my frame and did not say anything bad about it and gave me great info & prices. While I was looking around I saw a Lemond in the corner and have noticed people in this forum saying how good they are, I took a closer look and asked the salesman about it, he said he had gotten it in for a guy who had changed his mind and was selling it cheap ($500)

I took a closer look and it was a 2003 Nevada City with a triple on it, he said it was their entry model and did I want to try it. I have had no luck with bikes because my inside leg is 29" but my torso is long and guess what :thumbup: It fit me perfect (about 1-1 1/2 of space from my crotch :eek: )

So, I took it for a ride and it is AWESOME :D I know its not the best or even has the best components on it but its a start right :)
and for $500 I dont think I can complain :beer:

So I pick it up next week and just before I take it for a major spin I have 2 questions:-

1-I want to make sure I dont mess it up with sloppy/wrong shifting, I have never rode a triple and I am not sure if I'm in a low gear can I shift to a bigger ring ?

2-I want to look after my knees, any advice ?

Sorry I went on and on but I'm kinda excited at getting my first non used, actual fit me, good quality bike. I will upgrade the components later, thanks to everone in this forum, you have helped me alot :beer:

Hi,
1) Nice when it finally happens, ain't it?
2)yes, just ride it a few times, shifting up and down is very easy and you will find yourself shifitng without thinking about it in no time
3)Knees-
a) fast feet (as opposed to shoving the pedals around)
b) deal with problems when they start to bother you, not when they are agony
c) during the winter, keep your vastus medialis strong (do a search here for my vastus medialus posts, I often misspell it as vastus medialus)

i agree about the shifting, it should be fine. I have come to the conclusion that its hard to mess up the shifters or any of the drivetrain (I'm a clutz so i have tested this :)).

As far as messing up shifting, the only thing you might want to be careful of is dumping to a small chainring when you're already severely crossed in a big-big combo and loaded. If you can, ease up on the pedals before dropping the front or shift the rear to get a less deflected chainline before shifting the front. This will greatly reduce your chances of throwing the chain. Dropping a chain while under load going up a steep hill may not necessarily ruin your shifting but it might chip a bit of paint off and score the bottom bracket area a tad if you constantly do it. Worse is that it may have desastrous results for your particular ride at the time (read: crash) especially if you're off the saddle trying to power your way up.

Congrats.

You need to just get out and ride.