EatMyDust

My hybrid bike was stolen this winter, so I managed to get enough money and bought an entry-level road bike. Then I found these forums and after reading several threads, I am somewhat disappointed in road bicycling people.
Mainly, on your comments on beginner riders. I am a college student, and it was pretty hard for me to come up with $1000 to get a bike. Now what I see? I should not use stock pedals, because they make me look like a noob. Same goes for the stock rims and triple cranks. I will upgrade eventually I am sure, but for now I am pretty satisfied with the stock bike.
I just hope that in my local area not all the riders are “pros”, and I won’t have to worry about them laughing behind my back.

big john

You just have to filter through all that stuff and find the good. There are plenty of roadies who will accept you no matter what you ride. In my club (LA area) ther are riders of all levels on all sorts of bikes and everyone finds people to ride with, unless they are total jerks.

FarHorizon

Hi EatMyDust!

Your post should have been titled - Road Cycling "Community?" Unfortunately, roadies are the snootiest, shallowist, and most cult-like of all bicyclists. The thing you need to learn is to ignore them laughing behind your back - just make sure they stay behind you on the bike!

Don't worry about what anybody says about your $1K road bike - just enjoy the ride! Eventually, you may want (and be able to afford) a better bike, but until then, enjoy what you've got. Keep in mind, also, that your $1K road bike of today is probably a more reliable, lighter, and better-handling machine than many that cost far more in the past (technology marches on...).

Besides, it ISN'T the bike that's important, it's the RIDER! What makes for a fast ride is the engine, not the chassis. The road cycling forum on BF isn't a healthy place - especially if you're a new rider.

In any case, welcome to the sport and ENJOY the ride!

daytonian

This coming from an all Campy guy. Something about the pot calling.....

FarHorizon

I buy at yard sales - what I get is what I get cheaply!

EventServices

Wow, FarHorizon. That's quite a line. Shallow and cult-like?

I think you're painting things with a pretty wide brush there.

EatMyDust, I would simply suggest you find someone you trust locally to bring you along at a pace you're more comfortable with. Get in at whatever level you like. Take what faceless strangers tell you in text with a grain of salt.
Go ride.

daytonian

I rode a TT around some of the fastest guys in Dayton this morning and you'll never find a nicer more approachable bunch. Just my .02

ranger5oh

I ride a triple... and who cares? Lets be honest about components... ride the ones you have til they break, or the money is really burning a hole in your pocket. Im not really sure the advantage to riding a double, other than the weight savings, which is negligible. There is always someone with more, with better, and with cooler stuff than you have. Just make sure your will is stronger and your legs last longer. We all know that guy with the best, newest equipment on the football field isnt always the best player, and more often than not, he is the newest crappiest guy out there..... dont let appearances be the judge of your character.

Anyway, enjoy your bike! It will end up being your passion, be prepared!

VeganRider

"FarHorizon" is right on with it all dude. In the club I ride with it's about 65% snob; they seem to have a larger income and social status, or so it would appear. During breaks I can see a division of among us (I'm in the 35% ). Know how to beat it? YOU just have to be a better rider, period. Ride 'em into the ground if you can.

matagi

Eat My Dust - like any group, the road bike community has a wide spectrum of individuals from arrogant a$$holes who look down on anyone who hasn't spent several thousand dollars on their bike to laid back types who ride bikes built up from assorted bits of metal they found in the back of the shed.

You will meet all sorts of people when out riding, unfortunately it is the arrogant ones who tend to stick in the mind.

You are riding a bike which is suited to your current circumstances - you should be proud of yourself, you managed to put enough money together to get yourself a bike and get back on the road. Keep putting the money together and upgrade your bike as your skills improve and you "outgrow" your current setup. Try not to get caught up in the BS - just because someone says you should only ride Record with carbon cranks doesn't mean it is so and just because you might be riding a road bike with MTB components (like I do ) doesn't make you a joke on the road.

daytonian

Sometimes a handshake is all you need to hang out with the other 65%, big money or not.

the beef

I've got a $800 road bike, and I really don't give a damn about anybody who considers themselves superior to me with their all-carbon Dura-Ace setups. I've got a triple as well - I don't really use the granny gear, but I have to admit it's saved me on a few tough rides when I was injured. I've also got platform/clipless pedals (platform on one side and clipless on the other). I may not be a true roadie, but in all I don't really care.. I can routinely average 18 mph on very long rides and have blazed by weight weenies in their Lance outfits often on hills. Get what suits you best. As for those guys with huge budgets (and possibly egos), ignore them, and then smoke em on the trails.

jjmolyet

To quote LA... It's not about the Bike

HWS

Where was this? How did it go?

High Fist Shin

Hey Dusty,

Answer me this: Why do you care what others think of you and your steed? Come to BF, ask questions and learn. In the meantime, ride your bike and learn about cycling. Here are two helpful websites for beginners:

https://sheldonbrown.com/articles.html
https://www.roadbikerider.com/

Go to roadbikerider.com and sign up for their free newsletter. There is tons of information for nubies in this weekly publication. When I wasn't riding, I spent a lot of my free time reading cycling articles from these sites and learning about the world's greatest sport.

And who gives a crap what others think. JUST RIDE! And enjoy.

By the way, welcome to Bikeforums.net

Dante

EatMyDust

I am not new to cycling though, just road cycling. I was on bicycle since I was 6. This is my first road bike. I took it for a test drive in park today (Prospect Park if someone interested). Thanks for the advices.

P.S.

Road bike is way faster than my previous bike, I can easily ride 5 times the distance I usually do and pretty much no one can pass me. And the LBS salesman said it would not make me go faster.

FarHorizon

I call'em as I see'em. Truth hurt?

daytonian

Fred's TT series in Casstown near Troy. It was windy but I did pretty good. I can PM you info if you want.

ME.Alex

eatmydust, you're not alone.

I dunno if it's because of the fact that this is a physical sport and machismo plays a large role. Also, since the industry is, like any industry, permeated with marketing bull****, you get a lot of materialistic snobbery as well. (IE, dura ace gives me fuller meatier erections, and your tektro brakes make you a girlyman.)

Generally, this is nothing like the computer and car forums I used to hang out at. People were much friendlier over there, by far. That being said, there are lots of nice guys here. Just ignore the gomer pyles of the bunch.

Also, if the roadie forum is pissing you off, hang out in the singlespeed and bike mechanics forums. people are much nicer in there, and hey, a road bike is almost a singlespeed, right?

CycleAloha

[QUOTE=ME.Alex]eatmydust, you're not alone.

(IE, dura ace gives me fuller meatier erections, and your tektro brakes make you a girlyman.)

"Oh no he didn't!!!!"

matagi

The Touring section is quite friendly too - and if you feel like really getting ripped apart, try the Car Free and the Training & Nutrition sections.

dta95b7r

^^^ Nobody should have to see the Training and Nutrition forum... Something about everyone looking for weight loss help and putting too much stock in supplements urks me. "How can I lose weight?" - don't eat **** and ride more. They should make that forum a tricycle forum or something maybe unicycle.

schumi

Good for you! As long as you have a good bike, you like riding it and enjoy your rides - that's really all that matters. Get a feel for the road bike, take the good advice here on BF to heart, and don't mind all the other comments. It's not like a more expensive bike makes entry-level riders any better.

Once you do your three centuries a week, you can always think about getting another frame.

Just my 0.02...

botto 

you and everyone else in the western world

so if you did your test ride in PP, does that make Brooklyn your 'local area'? If it is, then I've got some news for you - it's time to grow some thicker skin and stop whining, seeing as NYC riders/racers aren't exactly the shy and retiring type

catatonic

Ignore the pedal comments, as well as stock rims (well, unless the rims have problems staying true).

For double vs triple....application. Newbies, touring riders, and hill climbers should use triples. After a while, YOU decide if you actually need that third ring. That simple.