Got my new bike!
10-30-09, 02:02 PM
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Got my new bike!
Got a jamis ventura sport yesterday! Only got to ride it in the bike store parking lot, and for about 15 minutes when I got home though.. Should be able to ride it some more tomorrow!
One thing I was surprised to find out though, is that I could go much much further on the beach cruiser than I can on this thing. Cadence is not my friend right now! Where I've been riding is a lot of rolling hills, so I can pedal then get a short break then pedal some more. Boy its hard to lift these fat legs nonstop on different gearing!
I'll try to get a picture eventually!
One thing I was surprised to find out though, is that I could go much much further on the beach cruiser than I can on this thing. Cadence is not my friend right now! Where I've been riding is a lot of rolling hills, so I can pedal then get a short break then pedal some more. Boy its hard to lift these fat legs nonstop on different gearing!
I'll try to get a picture eventually!
10-30-09, 04:23 PM
#2
I am the Snail~!
Congrats on the new Bike! I too am on the Ka-Ka list for not posting a photo - so you are not alone - FYI - I read somewhere we can get extra style points if we submit the photo of the new Machine against a "White garage door" - thought I'd add that!
I hope you fall madly in love with your new Bicycle!
I hope you fall madly in love with your new Bicycle!
11-01-09, 04:47 AM
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Glad to see that you found a good quality bike.
I think once you get the hang of the gears you will be moving along quite well.
You just need to figure out what gear you need to be in and when. You will also
have to learn to anticipate changing gears to deal with the terrain ahead.
Good luck and hope to hear about you successes soon.
I think once you get the hang of the gears you will be moving along quite well.
You just need to figure out what gear you need to be in and when. You will also
have to learn to anticipate changing gears to deal with the terrain ahead.
Good luck and hope to hear about you successes soon.
11-01-09, 09:21 AM
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Congratulations!
As a newbie who went through a long adjustment process to my road bike, I can assure you if you stick with it, you will be pleased! For a long while I thought "maybe I'm just not young enough, slim enough or in shape enough to ride one of these things" I think one of the only reasons I stuck with it was because I had sold my old bike and couldn't afford to buy another one!
I am still not to the point of thinking about clipless (tried that one too soon
), but these are some of the things I found that helped me so far...
I found a safe place to ride and would just click through the different gears until I figured them out. I learned not to put too much of my weight on my hands and to not lock out my elbows. I had to consciously think about using my core muscles to maintain my position. It was hard but you will get stronger and your hands and elbows will thank you!
I also had to take some time to get used to having the seat at the proper height... I felt vulnerable with it 'way up there' at first so I started lower and raised it slowly as I adjusted. I'm pretty much at the right height now and it makes it way easier to pedal.
I also found that the bike shorts with the pad are my friend! I usually wear mine under some other shorts or capris. If you wear long pants, be sure to secure your right pant leg so it doesn't get caught up in the chain.
Give yourself time to adjust and you will be having a blast on your new bike in no time!
Lastly, does your bike look like this one?
As a newbie who went through a long adjustment process to my road bike, I can assure you if you stick with it, you will be pleased! For a long while I thought "maybe I'm just not young enough, slim enough or in shape enough to ride one of these things" I think one of the only reasons I stuck with it was because I had sold my old bike and couldn't afford to buy another one!
I am still not to the point of thinking about clipless (tried that one too soon
), but these are some of the things I found that helped me so far...I found a safe place to ride and would just click through the different gears until I figured them out. I learned not to put too much of my weight on my hands and to not lock out my elbows. I had to consciously think about using my core muscles to maintain my position. It was hard but you will get stronger and your hands and elbows will thank you!
I also had to take some time to get used to having the seat at the proper height... I felt vulnerable with it 'way up there' at first so I started lower and raised it slowly as I adjusted. I'm pretty much at the right height now and it makes it way easier to pedal.
I also found that the bike shorts with the pad are my friend! I usually wear mine under some other shorts or capris. If you wear long pants, be sure to secure your right pant leg so it doesn't get caught up in the chain.
Give yourself time to adjust and you will be having a blast on your new bike in no time!
Lastly, does your bike look like this one?
11-01-09, 12:16 PM
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Thanks for the support everyone!
Haha, I'll have to remember that for when I dig out my camera.
One of my biggest concerns was how my butt was going to feel with such a small seat, but surprisingly, it doesnt hurt that bad at all. I found if I adjust every mile or two it doesnt even hurt as much as the beach cruiser seat I was using!
And yep, that pic looks exactly like mine.
Im getting 'better' at the gears.. Although I tend to stay in the largest gear up front(granny? full outer?) and the 3 smallest ones in the back depending on the hill. My legs just cant take the high cadence yet, even if i dont have to push as hard. they prefer to push a harder gear slower! But I'm working on conditioning them! Went for a 5 mile ride on saturday, was great. This thing halls butt! I could go about twice as far on the beach cruiser, but I coasted a lot, and I can tell im getting a much better workout with the roadbike because im not just using gravity for the downhills.
- FYI - I read somewhere we can get extra style points if we submit the photo of the new Machine against a "White garage door" - thought I'd add that!
I also found that the bike shorts with the pad are my friend!
And yep, that pic looks exactly like mine.
Im getting 'better' at the gears.. Although I tend to stay in the largest gear up front(granny? full outer?) and the 3 smallest ones in the back depending on the hill. My legs just cant take the high cadence yet, even if i dont have to push as hard. they prefer to push a harder gear slower! But I'm working on conditioning them! Went for a 5 mile ride on saturday, was great. This thing halls butt! I could go about twice as far on the beach cruiser, but I coasted a lot, and I can tell im getting a much better workout with the roadbike because im not just using gravity for the downhills.
