Hybrid Bicycles - New guy here with a few questions?

Hey friends,

First, let me say that I just started riding this month for the first time ever after a pretty serious knee injury that kept me out of the gym/running. But, for the most part I have to say I enjoy riding alot more than any other outdoor activity I have ever tried. I'm definatley hooked now! With that being said, I researched a few bikes and ended up buying a Trek 7100. I didnt want to spend a couple thousand on a bike and me not end up enjoy riding as much as I do, but I still love the bike. My questions are....

1. What are some of the best modifications to do to the bike for added performance? i.e. - grips, fenders, pedals?

2. I bought a Sigma computer (bad move) and the instructions it came with were as useless as anything I have ever seen! The manual it came with gave my size tire (700 x 35c) a 2205 mm circumference. I did a roll-out test myself and came out with 2159. I put 2159 in my computer, but as I looked around at all other brands of cyclometers every company has differenct mm circumference measurements for the same size tire. Why is that? is a 700 x 35c tire not the same size for other companys? Just curious.

Thanks in advance for reading this novel, and hope to be on this site ALOT more given that I am totally hooked on biking now!

Thanks

Better tyres - Marathon Supremes or Sport Contacts, probably 35 or 38mm width. (Faster, better turning and braking.)

Kool Stop Salmon brake pads (Better braking especially in the wet.)

BMX platform pedals - the ones with the pins to grip your shoes. (Better power transfer so you'll go faster.)

:welcome:welcome:welcome.

I'm new too but welcome. I think you'll find some helpful people here. Enjoy your bike!

I bought a Trek 7000 so welcome to the Trekkies too.

Schwalbe Delta Cruisers are also great tires. They don't make the 32mm in creme. It would look awesome against a black frame!

I like platform pedals. The MKS Grip King delivers foot support. No one has made a wide clipless platform pedal yet.

And welcome to the forum!

The manual it came with gave my size tire (700 x 35c) a 2205 mm circumference. I did a roll-out test myself and came out with 2159. I put 2159 in my computer, but as I looked around at all other brands of cyclometers every company has differenct mm circumference measurements for the same size tire. Why is that? is a 700 x 35c tire not the same size for other companys? Just curious.
There are differences in sizes between "same sized" tires between companies. One reason (supposedly) is that it allows the manufacturer to claim a lighter weight. Knubby tires should also have a larger diameter than slick tires.

You should also do your measurement more than once. Three's a good number to use. If you get numbers that are close, you can average them. If one is way off, you can drop it and measure again.

(The Sigma computers are well-liked.)

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If you have knee problems, you might want to be careful not to use too high a gear (fairly common for people starting out). Generally speaking, you should be pedalling at no slower than 60 RPM (as a rough starting point). If you can't turn the pedals at that RPM (called "cadence"), use a lower gear. If your legs are moving too fast (more than is comfortable), shift to a higher gear. Note that it's possible that 60 RPM will seem too fast for you. It's OK if you have to work up to that but it's a good target for somebody starting out. (You don't have to be neurotic about it being "exactly" 60 RPM.)

Probably the best bet for increasing your performance is to ride with other people (who can push you a little)!