Road Cycling - New Bike questions...

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : New Bike questions...

ttocs
08-12-04, 10:08 PM
Finally got my new road bike after at lot of searching, and being a mountain biker on the road for too long:

Specialized Allez Comp Cr-Mo double.

After setup, and a quick ride, I have a couple of questions.

First, I purchased a new light set for this bike and the front light doesn’t fit the bars. The bars are the stock “Specialized Pro, racing drop, 31.8mm diameter” and the light is a Planet Bike BRT SPOT. The bracket isn’t big enough to wrap around the bar. Is there a different light that I should buy, or do I modify this one? I don’t mind getting a different one if they are made specifically to fit this type of bar. I thought of running a small wire tie through the screw holes to hold it on if I have to, but I would rather just get the right light.

Second. I noticed on my ride that it seemed a little easier to keep my cadence up on my mountain bike on the flats. Am I just riding on too small of a cog? I’m sure that the there’s a big difference riding a 53 up front instead of a 42, but I didn’t expect it to be that much. Not that the mountain bike was faster, I just don’t know where I should be starting in the gears. Maybe more practice….

Thanks in advance.

Stubacca
08-12-04, 10:14 PM
I rarely use the big ring (53) on the flats. I ride a double, so mostly just use the smaller 39 tooth ring on the flats. My guess is you're just trying to push too big of a gear. When you ride a mountain bike on the road, you tend to be at the upper end of the gearing. On a road bike you'll use more of the gearing range on a ride. Typically with a double ride on the 39 tooth ring on the flats and climbing, and use the 53 when pushing faster on the flats and down hills.
countryrider
08-12-04, 10:18 PM
You are probably just riding on too small of a rear cog. The front cogs are larger, but the rear cogs are smaller as well. So, in essence you're creating a much greater difference if you're on the largest front and smallest rear cog than you ever could have dreamed of on your mountain bike. A 53/13 could be a bit difficult to keep a cadence on if you're not used to it.