Aahzz

Hiya Folks, I'm Aahzz. Used to hang out around these parts a little bit, but have been away for several years. Fell off the fitness/exercise wagon a couple years ago. Been heavier all my life, but when my Dad passed away in 09 I found a lot of comfort in food, and shot up to an all-time high of 374 over the holiday season this year - which gave me the gift of diabetes. So, now I have to fix it. Down to 357 from giving up alcohol, and watching the food, and now need to get active again. Bought some kettlebells, and am dusting off the bikes. I have 2 available, neither of which are perfect for me, but will do for now as I don't have available cash for something new. Will be taking the Giant Sedona ST out this evening to see if it truly doesn't shift well, or if it's my technique 0 I just remember having lots of difficulty with the front derailleur, even after LBS adjustments. Tomorrow I'll be taking the Giant Rincon out, to see if I can get along with the mountain bike geometry on local roads - bought it to try mountain biking, discovered I hate the trails.

So, after that, will be deciding which, if either, I'm keeping...may sell both to try and get something more suited to my style, may keep one and sell the other to fund a tune-up, new helmet, and accessories. Either way, it seems like several of you here are on the same journey of getting from way too big to appropriate size, so I figure I'll chime in and we can keep each other company.

jleiwig

Welcome!....back! Whichever bike is in the better shape and fits you best is the bike I would keep. And as you suggested, use the procedes from selling the other bike to fix up your main bike.

Neil_B

Welcome back!

natbla

Great to see another re-joiner back in the pack. I've returned myself after a 2yrish of minimal to no riding. Just start slowly and work back into it. The riding will come back to you pretty quick. You might be able to flip both bikes into 1 hybrid/road bike that better fits your needs. But get ut and ride for a month first.

Aahzz

Back from the first ride, and all sorts of winded - but had a blast. The Sedona is a pretty darn comfy bike. My issue starting out is that I live at the bottom of a noticeable hill, and I'm starting at a pretty high intensity because of it. I think I'm going to start out by walking up the hill, and starting from the top on a flatter section, and get warmed up better.

I do need to get a tune up, or adjust the front derailleur - shifting was generally smooth, but I did force the chain off the front by over-aggressively trying to downshift when I underestimated the hill.

I may try the Rincon tomorrow, but I do like the more upright position on the Sedona, so I may just stick with it.

Arvadaman

Before you give up on either bike, I would suggest that you make sure your brush up on your shifting technique, lube your chain, and check the adjustment of your derailleurs.

It would be a shame to get rid of one or two perfectly goods bikes due to an easily fixable mechanical problem.

Aahzz

I'm not getting rid of either one due to mechanical issues - more fit and riding style. I think I'm probably going to keep the Sedona for this season, and sell the Rincon to finance the maintenance on the Sedona. By next spring, I'll probably want to upgrade. Both are definitely perfectly good bikes.

Wogster

Okay, when money is tight for bicycle maintenance, then learning a couple of DIY items, can save a bundle, especially with shifting adjustments. First site down along the cage, is it square with the gear it is over, if it's not, then loosen the clamp slightly and square it up. Use a tape measure and measure if your not sure.

There are 3 components to shifter adjustment, upper limit, lower limit and cable tension. Generally shifting down slackens the cable, shifting up tightens the cable, we shall assume this is the case. There are two limit screws, one for the low side, one for the high side, they may be marked low and high, if they are not, you need to test it. Shift to the lowest gear, turn the inner screw 1 full turn, does the cage move, if not, turn that screw back and turn the other one, now turn it back. Now with something or someone holding the rear wheel off the ground, gently turn the pedals, turn the screw, toward the larger gear, until the chain starts to complain, then turn it the other way until the chain starts to complain, now turn it back 1/2 turn. Shift to the highest gear, and turn the other screw toward the smaller gear until the chain starts to complain, then turn it the other way, until it starts to complain, then turn back 1/2 turn. Shift back to the lowest gear, you can put the wheel back on the ground and stop pedalling. Measure the distance from the seat tube to the cage and remember that number.

Check to see if the cable is too slack, if you can pull it more then 1/2 inch before the cage moves, it's too loose. Look on the derailleur you will see a screw that the cable goes through, with a knurled part, this is a barrel adjuster, if you turn it, you will see that it gets longer and shorter, this affects the cable length as well, turn it to it's shortest position, then back off 1/2 turn. Look on the shifter for another barrel adjuster, if it has one, position it the same, shortest position then back off 1/2 turn. There is another screw that holds the cable near the end, loosen this one off, and pull the cable to remove the excess slack, it does not need to be tight, just so that when you pull the cable, the cage moves right away, but not so tight that the cage is kept from moving it's full range. Measure from the seat tube to the cage, is the measurement the same, if it's greater then the cable is too tight. Now shift to the middle gear, lift the rear wheel and pedal a little, if it makes noise, turn the barrel adjuster on the derailleur a quarter turn, toward longer, this should quiet it down.

Rear derailleurs are dealt with in much the same way, note, if you go through the gears and it's quiet in some and not others, for example you have 8 and it's quiet in 1,4,5,8 but not in the others, the hanger may be bent, and this should be checked by a shop. When shifting, remember rear shifting is on the slack side of the chain, front shifting is on the tense side of the chain, you should always ease up on the pedals when front shifting, anticipate the shift. Tough to do when your on an uphill, but if you do it enough, you will remember how.

B.Alive

Welcome back!!! Always good to see people come back... kind of reminds me of how great it is here.

Aahzz

Thanks for the welcomes

Yesterday at lunch I went over to my LBS, as it's not far from my office. Test road the Giant Cypress DX. My immediate reaction to it was "Where have you been all my life!!". That is the feel I want out of a bike. Confortable riding position, trigger shifters, smooth ride - I are in love. Now I just need to raise the cash.....

Aahzz

w00t!! The Rincon just sold...putting the Cypress on layaway tomorrow....