Introductions - New road bike rider

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View Full Version : New road bike rider


castlerockmama
06-12-11, 01:51 PM
I just got my new Cilo road bike and I'm having a hard time climbing a hill. I can do it on my mountain bike pretty easy. What am I doing wrong?


10 Wheels
06-12-11, 01:54 PM
What gearing does the new bike have?

StephenH
06-12-11, 01:59 PM
Normally, mountain bikes have lower gearing than road bikes. If you're running out of gears on the low end, that's likely the issue. You can swap out cassettes and all to a certain extent, but you'd need to check with a good bike mechanic to see what the possibilities are. On a lower-end bike, that'd be pretty cheap, on a high-end bike, not so much.

There may also be some differences in your body position that make it work better on one bike than the other.

And, I'm assuming you're riding the same hills on each one so you're comparing apples to apples.


castlerockmama
06-12-11, 02:10 PM
10or 12 gears with a race socket and smaller socket.

castlerockmama
06-12-11, 02:13 PM
Yes I'm comparing apples to apples. This is a high end bike and will ask the guy who built it about swapping it out. Thanks for this idea.

GeoBigJon
06-12-11, 03:15 PM
Welcome to the forums! :beer: Congrats on the new bike.

castlerockmama
06-12-11, 03:24 PM
Thanks, I hope to learn a lot and it is nice to meet new people. I see a lot from Texas. My family lives in Tula, TX

castlerockmama
06-14-11, 07:46 AM
Thanks for all your help. I'm swapping out my cassette from a 28 tooth to a 32 or 34. I ask for the lowest so that I could if I ever wanted to sign up for the Ride the Rockies.

Grasschoppette
06-16-11, 05:09 PM
Welcome to BikeForums.

As has been said, MTB will have lower gearing especially when you factor in the smaller wheel diameter. Sounds like you've made some changes, you probably can only go to a 32t on the back but it will depend on the rear derailleur.

I'm guessing from your id that you are also female...once you hit the 40 post mark there is a hidden women's only forum here as well. You will need to PM one of the mods to gain access. I'm just about able to do so myself. :)

Honest Canadian
06-17-11, 09:22 AM
Welcome to Bike Forums, castlerockmama! :) Enjoy the ride! :thumb: