Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Help Entry Level

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Help Entry Level

Old 06-08-10, 06:18 PM
  #1  
Specialized Secteur Sport
Thread Starter
 
EDDIE1963's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 143

Bikes: Specialized Secteur Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Help Entry Level

I purchase a Specialized Sirrus a month ago my first bike from a LBS and founded out quickly that Bike can not hang with the road bikes in my riding club. I am going to sale the sirrus and purchase a new Road Bike. Need subjections on Entry level for under $800.00. I have looked at the following.

Specialized Allez $740.00

Trek 1.1 $649.00

Raleigh Sport $625.00

Any more would be welcome. Not planning on purchasing another bike for some years after Road Bike purchase.
EDDIE1963 is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 06:20 PM
  #2  
Should Be More Popular
 
datlas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 42,957

Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22513 Post(s)
Liked 8,843 Times in 4,113 Posts
Cough up a bit more and get a CAAD 9...

Also, I don't think you will see much of a difference in speed between what you have and an $800 bike. Seriously.
datlas is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 06:20 PM
  #3  
Shut up legs
 
NathanC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,625

Bikes: Merckx

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Why won't they let you 'hang' with them on your Sirrus?
NathanC is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 06:23 PM
  #4  
'09 Synapse Carbon 3
 
lpolliard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Posts: 727

Bikes: '09 Synapse Carbon 3, R5000, R2000

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
It's not the bike...just ask Lance.
lpolliard is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 06:52 PM
  #5  
for affordable housing
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 329
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The components on your bike aren't the best, but they aren't keeping you from going fast. If you really want to burn some money, do a drop bar conversion, but it isn't necessary. Just ride.
4000Miles is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 06:58 PM
  #6  
Bike Junkie
 
roccobike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times in 27 Posts
Eddie, since you asked, I think the Specialized Allez is the best buy from that group. I briefly owned an Allez Sport and was really impressed with the ride. I'm assuming you are referring to an Allez model with Sora level brifters, not the model with downtube shifters.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
roccobike is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 07:03 PM
  #7  
SuperGimp
 
TrojanHorse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Whittier, CA
Posts: 13,346

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 147 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1106 Post(s)
Liked 64 Times in 47 Posts
"purchased bike a month ago" &. "can't hang with local club"

Can't... quite... put my finger on it. Yes, a bike upgrade is in order.

TrojanHorse is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 07:12 PM
  #8  
Specialized Secteur Sport
Thread Starter
 
EDDIE1963's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 143

Bikes: Specialized Secteur Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Boy you guys are funny!!! My speeds are 14 to 16 MPH LOL... and 25 MPH down hills but those Road Bikes are killing me and I am in the C group of the club LOL..
EDDIE1963 is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 07:16 PM
  #9  
Specialized Secteur Sport
Thread Starter
 
EDDIE1963's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 143

Bikes: Specialized Secteur Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
"Hang" is Southern United States term meaning I was fast enough LOL...
EDDIE1963 is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 07:17 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CT
Posts: 72
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
ride on your own and build up your fitness, the bike is not the problem
Buegie is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 07:17 PM
  #11  
Specialized Secteur Sport
Thread Starter
 
EDDIE1963's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 143

Bikes: Specialized Secteur Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by NathanC
Why won't they let you 'hang' with them on your Sirrus?
"Hang" is Southern United States term meaning I wasn"t fast enough LOL...
EDDIE1963 is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 07:21 PM
  #12  
Specialized Secteur Sport
Thread Starter
 
EDDIE1963's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 143

Bikes: Specialized Secteur Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Buegie
ride on your own and build up your fitness, the bike is not the problem
So it me not the bike? Because I have done three 25 mile rides with the beginners group and it hard keeping up with those bike.
EDDIE1963 is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 07:22 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138

Bikes: 2 many

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1266 Post(s)
Liked 323 Times in 169 Posts
Did you mean your first bike, or the first from a Bike Shop? How long have you been riding? What do you do for training? How old are you?
2manybikes is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 07:27 PM
  #14  
Specialized Secteur Sport
Thread Starter
 
EDDIE1963's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 143

Bikes: Specialized Secteur Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 2manybikes
Did you mean your first bike, or the first from a Bike Shop? How long have you been riding? What do you do for training? How old are you?
1. first Bike from Bike Shop not Department store

2 Riding for two months

3. Ride 12 to 15 miles three time a week, Spin class two time a week .

4. I am 46 years old.
EDDIE1963 is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 07:29 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2,235
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 353 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 92 Times in 67 Posts
It is probably your tires. Don't Sirrus come stock with 28's? I would buy a pair of slick 25's before dropping money on a bleh road bike. Keep saving until you can get yourself a better road bike and work on your fitness.
gus6464 is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 07:30 PM
  #16  
Specialized Secteur Sport
Thread Starter
 
EDDIE1963's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 143

Bikes: Specialized Secteur Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by gus6464
It is probably your tires. Don't Sirrus come stock with 28's? I would buy a pair of slick 25's before dropping money on a bleh road bike. Keep saving until you can get yourself a better road bike and work on your fitness.
Thanks. You guys have being very helpful.
EDDIE1963 is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 07:37 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2,235
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 353 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 92 Times in 67 Posts
Bigger tires have more resistance which kills your speed. Start out with some cheap ones like 25c Continental Ultra Race and see how it goes. I use some Vredestein Fiammante in 25c on my cyclocross bike for the pavement and they are great. They are kinda heavy but have superb grip and are $20 bucks a pop.
gus6464 is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 08:06 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138

Bikes: 2 many

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1266 Post(s)
Liked 323 Times in 169 Posts
Originally Posted by EDDIE1963
1. first Bike from Bike Shop not Department store

2 Riding for two months

3. Ride 12 to 15 miles three time a week, Spin class two time a week .

4. I am 46 years old.
That helps a lot. The advice about thiner tires is good. A good drop bar road bike will make a small difference. But the main thing is just time in the saddle. The spin class is good, but you need to do some big hills too. That will help your top speed a lot. Start asking the riders that you can't hang with about training and how long they have been riding. Unless you are really hammering 12 to 15 miles is a short ride. Ride really hard then take a rest day. When you train hard enough to really get stronger it takes two days for your muscles to repair themselves 100%. Ask the faster guys about training smarter not just riding more. You will probably discover most of them have been riding for years. Two months is a very short time. Have FUN!
2manybikes is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 08:10 PM
  #19  
Specialized Secteur Sport
Thread Starter
 
EDDIE1963's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 143

Bikes: Specialized Secteur Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 2manybikes
That helps a lot. The advice about thiner tires is good. A good drop bar road bike will make a small difference. But the main thing is just time in the saddle. The spin class is good, but you need to do some big hills too. That will help your top speed a lot. Start asking the riders that you can't hang with about training and how long they have been riding. Unless you are really hammering 12 to 15 miles is a short ride. Ride really hard then take a rest day. When you train hard enough to really get stronger it takes two days for your muscles to repair themselves 100%. Ask the faster guys about training smarter not just riding more. You will probably discover most of them have been riding for years. Two months is a very short time. Have FUN!
Thank you
EDDIE1963 is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 09:01 PM
  #20  
blah blah blah
 
milkbaby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Eddie, keep on riding... that will help the most! You will be slowed down a little sitting more upright with the flat bar bike, but in or at the back of the paceline it shouldn't be too bad as you'll still get the drafting effect of the riders in front of you. The more miles you put on your wheels, the more you'll end up being able to keep up! Keep on trucking and enjoy it!
milkbaby is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 09:10 PM
  #21  
Specialized Secteur Sport
Thread Starter
 
EDDIE1963's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 143

Bikes: Specialized Secteur Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by milkbaby
Eddie, keep on riding... that will help the most! You will be slowed down a little sitting more upright with the flat bar bike, but in or at the back of the paceline it shouldn't be too bad as you'll still get the drafting effect of the riders in front of you. The more miles you put on your wheels, the more you'll end up being able to keep up! Keep on trucking and enjoy it!
Thanks!!!
EDDIE1963 is offline  
Old 06-08-10, 10:31 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
helmut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 435
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Experiment with your cadence some. You might be mashing too hard, or spinning your power away. Maybe move some spacers around to get a more aero position, which will probably increase your power output some. I would try to work with what you have before dropping the dough. Unless money isn't tight, in which case, buy a new bike that will motivate you and give you placebo power.
helmut is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
YetAnotherUN
Hybrid Bicycles
2
05-31-14 08:11 AM
jaytxvo
Hybrid Bicycles
41
06-01-11 10:39 PM
Blink1974
General Cycling Discussion
15
10-23-10 08:45 PM
remiarcs
Hybrid Bicycles
17
07-20-10 10:26 AM
surgtech1956
General Cycling Discussion
9
01-20-10 11:02 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.