Road Cycling - My bike is ready to go....*pics*

Remember I told everyone that I ordered my bike? Well it is finally ready to go. I went out on her maiden voyage just a while ago. I almost busted my ass getting used to unclipping out of the Look A5.1 pedals. I've never used clips before.

I hope everyone likes it. It is amazingly light. The only thing that bothers me is how loose the steering is on it.....does anyone know how to tighten it up?


http://teamse7en.com/pics/bike1.jpg
http://teamse7en.com/pics/bike2.jpg

Great Looking bike you got there!

The only thing that bothers me is how loose the steering is on it.....does anyone know how to tighten it up?


Not sure what you mean by loose steering. As long as the headset is adjusted correctly there is nothing to to loosen or tighten about the steering. Try applying the front brake and pushing the bike forward or backward. If you hear/feel a clunk then the headset needs adjustment.

As long as that is not the case it is likely just getting used to the geometry. Is this your first road bike? Road bikes certainly handle differently than mountain bikes and take some getting used to.

-s

Yea, this is my first road bike. It just feels really "wobbly". I guess it's just getting used to the feeling.

nice bike... but lose the reflectors ASAP ;)

those wheel reflectors are awful looking, is this your first road bike?

sorry, i see the first road bike question is answered already.

Those bike are sold through supergo?

LOL, I would like to give myself a chance at living. So for now, the reflectors stay. The guru at my bike shop told me that people would give me $hit about it. He said dont' worry about it.....LOL

I got this bike form a private seller.

Back to my original question, are all road bikes wobbly? Maybe it's because I'm used to riding on a fat tire instead of this skinny race tire.

my road bike felt very odd for the first few rides, now it feels like i am drving a porsche

As someone already said, I'm not sure what you mean by "wobbly". Compared to a fatter tire bike they certainly steer quite a bit easier and turn a lot sharper, but if you can actually feel the front end of the bike moving around (such as the post from the forks floating around inside the head set) you've got some problems.

I do both off-road and on-road riding and, like me, you've probably noticed there is a huge difference between the way the bikes feel. The road bike you have is probably sub 17 pounds or so as compared to a Mountain bike that probably weighs ten pounds or so more.

Scattante's are sold through Supergo and they could probably answer any questions you have about your bike. http://www.supergo.com/contactus.cfm


24 inches of snow for us here in the N.E. Humbug! :mad:

They are like a Supergo only brand right?

I don't know how else to describe it. It feels like with no effort at all I can turn the wheel. Maybe it's just greased really well so it is such a smooth turn. I'm used to putting a lot of effort into turning my mountain bike. It just feels really sensitive to steer. I feel more like I'm using my energy to hold it straight instead of using my effort to turn.

I got the bike from a private seller in Cali.

thats normal, i believe that has to do something with geometry. What is it running? 105 or Ultegra?

Did you get fitted for this bike ?

It looks like a 52 cm .... you can always raise
the handlebars slightly, which is something I would
do, considering your seat post is really high.

Don't listen to those asking you to remove the reflectors ...
as they are one of the few things that can make you visible
to the car driving around you, in the dark, and thus,
can save your life many times over!

In fact, you may want to consider getting a small battery powered
intermittent light, on a neck chain, when traveling at night ...

Basic safety ....plus the helmet, if there are no bike paths in
your area.

They are like a Supergo only brand right?
Yes, Scattante are a Supergo only brand.

I have only been riding for a few months now, and I remember the same feeling. I was terrified to move my hands too much because the steering is so responsive. Careful going for the water bottles!

Did you get fitted for this bike ?

It looks like a 52 cm .... you can always raise
the handlebars slightly, which is something I would
do, considering your seat post is really high.

Don't listen to those asking you to remove the reflectors ...
as they are one of the few things that can make you visible
to the car driving around you, in the dark, and thus,
can save your life many times over!

In fact, you may want to consider getting a small battery powered
intermittent light, on a neck chain, when traveling at night ...

Basic safety ....plus the helmet, if there are no bike paths in
your area.


HAHAHAHA, it's a 62cm frame. I'm 6'4", so I need a big frame and that's why the seat is so high.

I do have a battery powered headlamp and taillamp that flashes. Yes, I have the USA edition Rudy Project helmet.

Sweet bike dude! Now get off the computer and go riding!

Congratulations, nice-looking bike! :)

It sure is purty!

Hey good looking bike, don't sweat the reflectors. If you actually ride at night it certainly can't hurt to have them in addition to your lights. Saddle height to bar height for someone as tall as you looks just fine. I would bet you will even raise your saddle a bit higher once you get more acquainted to the bike. WRT the wobbly feel, I would bet it has a lot to do with bike geometry, light weight, skinny tires and nimbleness compared to your fat tire bike. Get some miles on it and it will feel second nature. Enjoy

John

yeah ok.. so lemme qualify my statement.... lose the reflectors if you plan on using the bike only during daylight hours... they significantly throw off the balance of the wheels, meaning some (ok, so a very small amount) of your pedaling effort is being wasted wobbling your lopsided wheel. if i really need to ride at night, then i do it on my trainer in my basement.

otherwise, if you seriously do plan on riding at night, then the reflectors are not enough... you'll need to get a headlamp and a taillight...

EDIT: haha.. ok so i read your post... looks like you did get the headlamp and taillight... well ok then... keep the reflectors :)

RE: the steering...

I switched from an mtb to a roadie and felt the same way. it just takes some getting used to. Also, remember that narower the bars, the quicker you turn. One inch of hand movement result in a larger sweep of the wheel on shorter bars. This could be the case. most of the replied about "geometry" would have either addressed this or the difference in how you're on the bike. Also remember that you're not trying to scrap knobbies across the road anymore too... :)

FLY02,

Nice looking bike! I am looking at the Scattante CFR myself. It has the same wheels and I have been a bit concerned since I weigh 200lbs. You are a big guy. Are you in the 200lb range? PLEASE let me know if the wheels stay true or if you break any spokes.

I see you are in Charleston. I am from Myrtle Beach. I love Chas. I wish I could find some work there. :( I am living in CA for now. (but I love Pasadena too :p )

steering:

it will feel wobly, or is seems the bike moves too much? This is normal if you're used to the wide handlebars and upright position of an MTB.

The wheelbase is also shorter, so you'll feel the bike react to even small movements of your body and irregularities in the road surface.. This is not bad, in fact it is a good thing..

yeah ok.. so lemme qualify my statement.... lose the reflectors if you plan on using the bike only during daylight hours... they significantly throw off the balance of the wheels, meaning some (ok, so a very small amount) of your pedaling effort is being wasted wobbling your lopsided wheel.


he could always flip one of the reflectors around, so there's one on one side and one on the other. i really don't think reflectors are going to unbalance a bike any more than say, a cycling computer and/or the sensor and cable that go with it. not to mention putting your cell phone in a side pocket. we're talking grams and we're talking hardly any distance from the centerline, so the torque is miniscule.

Did you get fitted for this bike ?

It looks like a 52 cm .... you can always raise
the handlebars slightly, which is something I would
do, considering your seat post is really high.

Don't listen to those asking you to remove the reflectors ...
as they are one of the few things that can make you visible
to the car driving around you, in the dark, and thus,
can save your life many times over!

In fact, you may want to consider getting a small battery powered
intermittent light, on a neck chain, when traveling at night ...

Basic safety ....plus the helmet, if there are no bike paths in
your area.

it looks like a compact frame and more like a 57cm frame. if you're going to keep the reflectors on the wheel, move the front recflector directly opposite the stem (like the rear).

If you really want to be seen, use the blinking lights.

it looks like a compact frame and more like a 57cm frame.


For the last time fella's it's a 62 cm frame!!!!

he could always flip one of the reflectors around, so there's one on one side and one on the other. i really don't think reflectors are going to unbalance a bike any more than say, a cycling computer and/or the sensor and cable that go with it. not to mention putting your cell phone in a side pocket. we're talking grams and we're talking hardly any distance from the centerline, so the torque is miniscule.

Wheel rims should be balanced so they spin freely. Even with the lightest weight addition because of it's positioning on the wheel, it will throw out the balance to a large degree. Counterbalancing a wheel is a precise art, just ask engine blueprinters.

Don't take this to mean I think you should remove them. I would probably rip them off in the day though.

For the last time fella's it's a 62 cm frame!!!!

It looks like a 61.5

I dunno seems big, im 6'4 and my frame is a 58cm...fits great but then i didnt fit myself, the guys at the LBS did so whatever

It looks like a 61.5

LOL, funny. Very funny. Everyone's a comedian.

I dunno seems big, im 6'4 and my frame is a 58cm...fits great but then i didnt fit myself, the guys at the LBS did so whatever

You must have a long torso. I have superlong legs.

he could always flip one of the reflectors around, so there's one on one side and one on the other. i really don't think reflectors are going to unbalance a bike any more than say, a cycling computer and/or the sensor and cable that go with it. not to mention putting your cell phone in a side pocket. we're talking grams and we're talking hardly any distance from the centerline, so the torque is miniscule.

one person a while back posted how he thought something was wrong w/ his bike... cuz his bike was shaking like crazy on high speed descents.... he later discovered that it was just because of the reflectors.

A reflector has a LOT more mass than a spoke magnet... especially the kind on his bike, on those low-spoke count wheels. also, the reflectors are practically at the rim... you couldn't be any further from the center (the hub). And especially on lightweight wheels like those on a bike, a small mass will make a large difference.

and finally, we're talking about ROTATIONAL balance... not left-right balance... i agree, that will hardly make a difference at all.

here we go, i found it!


This may sound really dumb.. but it is what solved my high speed shimmy problem-

I have a 2002 LeMond Tourmalet (just bought it about 2 months ago..). When i would hit around 40mph, it would shake so bad, it almost threw me off the bike. What did it turn out to be?? The reflectors on the wheels.. I didnt even think about it, but a friend ripped them off for me, and I gave it another go- no shimmy at all. Of course this was after I had taken it into the clueless LBS 3 times (who fed me BS that my frame wasnt designed to go over 35mph.. riiiight), tested some built up demo wheels from another, competent LBS (which also fixed the problem), and had bought new wheels, but hey- my Ksyrium Elite's are MUCH better then the clunky things that came stock, so I'm not too disappointed.. ;)

-BlueDevil

one person a while back posted how he thought something was wrong w/ his bike... cuz his bike was shaking like crazy on high speed descents.... he later discovered that it was just because of the reflectors.

A reflector has a LOT more mass than a spoke magnet... especially the kind on his bike, on those low-spoke count wheels. also, the reflectors are practically at the rim... you couldn't be any further from the center (the hub). And especially on lightweight wheels like those on a bike, a small mass will make a large difference.

and finally, we're talking about ROTATIONAL balance... not left-right balance... i agree, that will hardly make a difference at all.

fair enough. i retract my earlier statement. off with the reflectors!