Road Cycling - Newbie Questons

Hi I'm in highschool and new to the fourm. Here is a little backround I just got my first road bike in August. I'm on a budget (that whole being in highschool thing) so I got the low end Univega (forgot the name). I got some clipless pedles (welgo don't know the lvl) with some diadora shoes. I also got a vetta computer with caidence. Thats enough of that now onto my questons.

1. I have the shorts and jersey but not the gloves. Do they really make that much of a diffrence? If so should I get the cheap $10-$15 ones or the more expensive ones.

2. I want to spin at 96 rpm but always end up around 105. Is that to fast of a caidence?

3. Also I got a trariner because it was a cheap way to get huge amounts of improvment over the winter. The problem is I just can't stand to be on it more than 30 mins is there anything I can do to make it more bearible???

Thats all for now and thanks in advance.
-Matt-

Welcome to the forums :) Good gloves can take alot of the road buzz out of the ride, i cant stand riding without gloves now. I wouldnt worry about your high caidence, however, may i ask why you are targeting 96? I dont know what you can do to make a trainer more fun, have you thought about purchasing thoes training videos? May improve your workout as well.

Hi!!

I get my gloves on the internet from Nashbar.com or Performance.com. I happen to find (different than most) that too much gel in the glove makes my hands hurt (I am big and have BIG hands, and the gel is just more mass), so I go with a Specialized Crossroads glove without much gel which costs me $6-$8 or thereabouts on sale. Last time they had a good sale on these I bought four pair. Watch the closeouts. In fact, I just checked and they are on sale for $4.99 right now. I REALLY like these gloves

[URL=http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=89&subcategory=1043&brand=&sku=3429&storetype=&estoreid=]

Trainer - I have your same problem. How about 2 30 minute sessions per day - am and pm or something like that?

Cadence. What in the world is so great about 96 rpm?? Each person has a natural cadence. 105 is VERY fast, but apparently is just fine for you. One time a person on a forum reported his cadence at 120. It was funny when we discovered that he was counting each half stroke as a full rpm, and his true cadence was 60!!

Thanks for your post. Because of it I discovered that my favorite riding gloves were on sale for $4.99, and I ordered another four pair. Can't have too many gloves!! :)

Hey thanks so far for the info. I will deffinatly check out those gloves. I'm not sure why a saw 96 as the magic number. I think maybe it is because I have done a very little reading and that poped up as a high but good caidence.

thanks again
-Matt-

I always wear gloves, but I know a whole lot of people who don't. I't s personal taste thing. Buy a cheap pair to start and if you like the feel, get something better. I personally like the Specialized BG gloves... but that's me.

As for the cadence... 90-100 is a good cadence to shoot for. If you're spinning at 105, you can probably shift-up and go a bit faster on a slower cadence. My own pedalling is usually around 100.

In my opinion about the only thing gloves do is protect your palms should you experience a sudden flying dismount. I agree with Denver, go thin and go cheap.
With a limited threshold on the trainer work on all out intensity. You'll get the most good out of the time. Or, continue to ride outside. Its been warm enough around here this winter that you can. Once they start throwing salt though its time to quit.

Thanks blwyn for the advice. So far I have been trying to get outside as much as possible and I think I might go this afternoon dispite the rain. Unfortunatly by the time I get home from school I only have an hour of riding time before it gets dark. But I'll take what I can get.

Thanks Again
-Matt-


P.S. I need to put together a saddle bag and just woundering what is best to put in it?

I am surprised that no one has mentioned nerve damage prevention yet as a reason for gloves. It takes a long time to recover from it, so just as a preventive measure, they are worth a look.

But in addition, I find them essential for warmth in the colder temps (such as the +2C we rode in today). I have been developing osteoarthritis over the past couple of years, and gloves help immensely. They keep my hands warmer, which keeps the discomfort down.

Probably not an issue for someone in high school. ;)

Cheers...Gary

LOL, Thats what I thought too the other day when I went out without gloves. Needless to say after that I'm atleast wearing some kind of winter glove if it be for cycling or not.

-Matt-

Be very careful about fastening your gloves. I developed hand numbness right after getting my first pair of gloves- no coincidence. The numbness went away when I stopped fastening the wrist strap. That strap crosses your wrist right over your ulnar nerve.

The saddle bag with a few tools is an excellent idea. In mine I have a tire patch kit, very small Cook Bros. tire pump (good enough to put in enough pressure to get to a gas station), adapter for Presta valve tires, spoke wrench, a foldable allen key wrench kit, a small roll of tape, $0.50 (should I ever need a phone), and a laminated ID card. A small multi-purpose tool would be a good idea if starting a new kit.

My kit includes:

Spare tube
C02 inflator with two cartridges
Very small Topeak multi-tool
Presta adapter for Schrader pumps
Roll of electrical tape
Tiny first aid kit [a couple of bandages, dressings, etc.]

On thing I'd suggest adding to the saddle bag is an old sock. I wrap my spare tube in one. It's useful for keeping your hands relatively clean when dealing with a dropped chain, wiping ones hands in general, and for running around the inside of a tire looking for snags when fixing a flat.

My saddlebag contains:

Chain tool
Topeak folding allen keys/screwdriver set
'leatherman' type foldind knife, pliers etc.
Small first aid kit
A couple of zip-ties
Two or three glueless patches
Three tyre levers
Spare inner tube
A couple of pairs of latex gloves
A rather battered snickers bar that's been in the bag since I bought it and is probably inedible by now :D

With gloves - I now use cheap fingerless gloves (fluoroscent yellow/white fade for dawn/dusk visibility). I've got some winter gloves on order (my fingers are starting to get a little cold) with reflective strip for signaling at night. Before I used gloves I was developing even thicker callouses than I get with gloves.

Richard

Welcome to the Forums, and to answer some of your ?'s here go my opinions:

1. I agree with most everyone regarding the gloves. Get em, you'll be happier you did. Your hands won't hurt as much. I wanted to also add, they're good to have to wipe your tires as you ride. Down here there is always a lot of debris on the road, I regularly will "rub" down my front tire while riding. You can do the back tire as well, but it's a litte scary. **Use extreme caution when doing this!

2. Ditto, don't worry about your cadence, 105 is great!

3. I put my trainer in front of a TV and watch mountain bike videos. It distracts me and keeps me from getting too bored.

4. Seat Wedge Contents:
- Spare Tube(s) depending on planned length of ride!
- Pedro's Mini Tool
- Patch Kit
- Presta Valve Adapter
- Photo I.D.
- Dollar Bill (folded up bill makes an excelent sidewall patch)
- Two quarters
- Spoke wrench
- Anything I encounter that the above can't fix I use the change to call for a ride!

BTW. I have black duct tape that I take a strip and put a couple of wraps around my seatpost. 1. it makes the low height limit on the post. 2. Duct tape can fix almost anything 3. I have a black seatpost, so it nearly blends in and hard to see.

I also still use a frame mounted pump, not a mini and not CO2.

Hope this helps!
L8R

Thanks a bunch for the sugestons for the saddle bag, especially the sock I never would of thought of that. For the gloves I am getting a pair of cheap ones to see how they work, but they deffinatly seem like they will be worth while. Thanks Again
-Matt-

I have another queston. Its about clipless pedals and when reading about them I have been hearing a lot about float, and was woundering what exactly it is. Thanks a bunch.
-Matt-

"Float" refers to how much rotational play your cleats have in the pedals. The greater the amount of float, the more you can rotate [yaw] your foot while clipped-in. A pedal with no flat would hold your foot firmly, with no rotation [a bit like a ski binding], a pedal with infinite [360 degrees] float, like the Speedplay X pedals let you turn your feet all over while clipped in.

Thanks for clearing that one up for me. (I'm glad I didn't get the speedplays I was thinking of, I would of killed myself)
-Matt-

Some people like the Speedplays actually. The advantage of float is that, with your foot able to rotate, you can relieve stress on your knees. I find Speedplays a little like pedalling on ice, but you apparently get used to it. I prefer the more positive feel of Look pedals. They don'r have as much float, but they have enough for me. YMMV.

Gloves are vital. If you take a spill and take the skin off your hands, thay take ages to heal, and you have to get your best friend/partner/mom to .... you get the picture.

Fingerless in summer, full length in winter.
If you go out on a ride at dusk, take a rear blinky LED and a front lamp . Blinkies are OK at dusk in an emergency, but full-on headlamps are better. You also need a lamp to repair a puncture with, because they always blow when its dark and wet.


For winter riding, wrap up well, dont be macho, wear leggings and windproofs. Always wear clean shorts when you start a ride. High cadence riding is good, esp in winter, when it keeps your legs warmer.

Gloves- Can keep your palms from rubbing off in a crash, besides the comfort inssue

High RPM- Good for you- Develop it! Speed comes from spinning fast not pushing hard. I work on my spin every spring, I make sure I can spin at least, 160 rpm/bike- 200rpm/ergometer, Why?, your spin erodes during the year and being able to spin very fast improves your efficientcy by making your muscles "fire better" and smoothing your technique, and improves your sprint. Armstrong has a "fast" spin! ( I can't hold the 160 rpm, I just make sure I can do it) Many national teams REQUIRE their riders to be able to spin OVER 300 rpm.
You will find your best RPM and it will keep rising to optimum, if you work on it.

If you push hard without spinning fast, and keeping your hamstrings developed you WILL end up in the hospital eventually.

Ride Smart

Gloves- Can keep your palms from rubbing off in a crash, besides the comfort issue.

High RPM- Good for you!- Develop it! Speed comes from spinning fast not pushing hard. I work on my spin every spring, I make sure I can spin at least, 160 rpm/bike- 200rpm/ergometer, Why?, your spin erodes during the year and being able to spin very fast improves your efficientcy by making your muscles "fire better" and smoothing your technique, and improves your sprint. Armstrong has a "fast" spin! ( I can't hold the 160 rpm, I just make sure I can do it) Many national teams REQUIRE their riders to be able to spin OVER 300 rpm.
You will find your best RPM and it will keep rising to optimum, if you work on it.

If you push hard without spinning fast, and keeping your hamstrings developed you WILL end up in the hospital eventually.

Keep your knees covered under 60-65 degrees, if the air feels cool on your arms then cover your knees/legs, you'll greatly reduce the chances of developing tendonitis and other injuries

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