Road Cycling - Brand New Road Biker

I just bought a new road bike a Felt F80 (which I am very happy with). I have been on several rides around New York City (Central Park and Riverside Park), generally 10 - 20 miles. I am getting used to road bikes, and having fun, but I am finding that my technique and strategies are perhaps not proper. For example I am never certain when to be in what gear, how hard should I be working, etc. I also have no concept of how far I should be going on rides and what a good training program should entail (how often etc). Is there any resources out there for the beginning rider explaining the really obvious stuff like what I mentioned above?

My second question is how much of a differnce do pedal clips make? I am currently riding with cages. Are clips like a night and day difference?

Sorry if these seem like silly questions. Any comments appreciated.

For the pedals, I am assuming you are using clips and straps which wrap around your foot versus the popular clipless pedals in which the cleat on your shoe locks into the pedal. The clipless pedals ARE a night and day difference. I will never trust clips and straps because the are unpredictable to get out of if tightened correctly. You have to wiggle your foot out. Clipless pedals have a small learning curve, but are predictable for getting in and out of...not to mention a more efficient set up. Of course the clipless pedals do require a shoe purchase as well.

Keep riding.

As far as being in the proper gear, maybe a small computer would help you keep the proper cadence. Just choose your gears to try and keep you cadence somewhere near 80.

I also like heart rate monitors. I try to keep my heart rate above 70% of my max predicted.

I started road biking about 6 weeks back, with a goal of achieving an effortless 25mi ride by this week; started with about 30 a week, and progressively increased it every week. The one thing that helped was a computer, as mentioned before. I maintain a log of mileage, time, avg speed, top speed and notes on punctures, wind, route taken etc. Nothing elaborate, but you sure can see progress in a bar chart in Excel, which is quite motivating! Cadence is the next parameter that plan to work on, now that i feel i have a smooth pedal stroke/driving style. The trick is to go gently at first till you feel comfortable with the bike and the traffic etc, though your impulse might dictate a faster ramp up of mileage. This makes the work out enjoyable and injury-free, IMHO.

Clipless pedals - a lot of experts will chime in. I plan on graduating from the toe clips to clipless in the next coupple of weeks, as the benefits seems to clearly outweigh the hassles of the initial learning curve.

For the pedals, I am assuming you are using clips and straps which wrap around your foot versus the popular clipless pedals in which the cleat on your shoe locks into the pedal. The clipless pedals ARE a night and day difference. I will never trust clips and straps because the are unpredictable to get out of if tightened correctly. You have to wiggle your foot out. Clipless pedals have a small learning curve, but are predictable for getting in and out of...not to mention a more efficient set up. Of course the clipless pedals do require a shoe purchase as well.

Keep riding.


Thanks for the note. Will probably go to clips in the near future.

As far as being in the proper gear, maybe a small computer would help you keep the proper cadence. Just choose your gears to try and keep you cadence somewhere near 80.

I also like heart rate monitors. I try to keep my heart rate above 70% of my max predicted.

I will look into a computer. I think this may be a good idea. Thanks for the note.

Clipless pedals make a tremendous difference. Search for other threads on this topic. Other than that, I'd get a cyclometer, preferably one with cadence. The two most important numbers you can see are cadence and then speed. If you want to preserve your joints, use spinning power, not mashing power, to move the bike. My comfortable range is 92-108 on flats depending on wind. Hill climbing cadence can reach low 90s (in 39-23, 39-25).

Best.

I started road biking about 6 weeks back, with a goal of achieving an effortless 25mi ride by this week; started with about 30 a week, and progressively increased it every week. The one thing that helped was a computer, as mentioned before. I maintain a log of mileage, time, avg speed, top speed and notes on punctures, wind, route taken etc. Nothing elaborate, but you sure can see progress in a bar chart in Excel, which is quite motivating! Cadence is the next parameter that plan to work on, now that i feel i have a smooth pedal stroke/driving style. The trick is to go gently at first till you feel comfortable with the bike and the traffic etc, though your impulse might dictate a faster ramp up of mileage. This makes the work out enjoyable and injury-free, IMHO.

Clipless pedals - a lot of experts will chime in. I plan on graduating from the toe clips to clipless in the next coupple of weeks, as the benefits seems to clearly outweigh the hassles of the initial learning curve.


Thanks. A couple of follow-ups (if you don't mind). First, you were doing about 30 miles a week. How are you breaking that down? How many days are you on the bike? Also, you and some others have mentioned computers. Which one did you buy?

Thanks. A couple of follow-ups (if you don't mind). First, you were doing about 30 miles a week. How are you breaking that down? How many days are you on the bike? Also, you and some others have mentioned computers. Which one did you buy?

I started off with about 10-12mi X3 times a week. Progressively increased it to about 17 and then to 20mi, thrice a week. Sometimes, do it 4 times a week. All early AM. Yesterday, i crossed the 25mi mark :D and felt pretty good at the end of it, though i was working from home. Tomorrow, I'll know if i can come to work and have a regular work day as well, after a 'long' ride!

Bike computer, i went with a Planet Bike, as it shows all of the key data in one screen, and works great. I plan to upgrade to something with cadence soon. Cateye seems to be a good one to go for. If i were to do it again, I'd pbly go full blast and get an integrated unit with cadence and wireless etc...but there are so many things to buy and so little money!