What I've Learned
 

Bought my first road bike last year. This year was my first year riding regularly and with intent. It also has taught me some things that other newbies might find interesting to consider. Who knows, maybe even others will benefit?

>"Better" as defined in road cycling is mostly a matter of small weight differences and much larger prices. Little or no performance difference in the hands of all but the most competitive racers. Even then it is questionable whether it is the rider or the bike that made the difference.
>Most of what is published about bicycles is snake oil designed to lubricate the exchange of money from me to them.
>Cycling has its' share of snotty snobs. Best handled by giving them a tissue and suggesting they blow their nose.
>Cycling has more than its' share of really nice people who are fun to be around and to learn from.
>Don't sweat the small stuff; whether that be crank length, seat height, gearing, or, especially, bike weight.
>There really is such a thing as riding too much.
>Bike jerseys and spandex bike pants are actually useful even if they look and feel weird.
>If an age peer asks about your cycling beware an adverse reaction when you tell him you rode 40 miles that day. Especially if he is round and puffing after a trip to the buffet. Tell him anyway. You may temporarily lose a friend but save a life.
>Learn to find places to urinate (pee to the rest of us). It is amazing how hard it is in some places to find a place without risking law enforcement action.
>Riding on the road with cars is safer than riding on MUPs.
>No matter how good it looks don't get sucked into mountain bike trail riding unless you like having body parts in casts (the plural is deliberate).

Most of all for a person who started this cycling thing when over 70 it has been a very mind altering experience and to be recommended to all.

Hi L65 -

I'm sure you may suffer some slings and arrows for some of the more "blasphemous" statements made. You won't, however, suffer them from me. From a guy that got into cycling last year and just bought his first "proper" road bike, it was good to read these.

Cheers!

Each one of those things is exactly correct, except the "Don't sweat the small stuff" point. Your point about bike weight is correct (a pound off the belly is way cheaper than a pound off the bike, and has approximately the same effect), but things like gearing and seat height can make a big difference.

I agree with everything except the part about Mountain Biking. Mountain Biking is absolutely, positvely more fun than road biking :)

Personally, I think I have a better bike than you.

Chuckle, chuckle... not really, and I really don't care.

In just one year you have learn't a lot. So now get N+1 in an MTB and learn how to bounce.

Every thing you say is right but some may not agree.


Edit
I started on mountain biking and only went road 4 years ago. But I still occasionally get out on the MTB. I know it is a different discipline but Mountain biking is not easy. Once you master staying upright- the fitness required is different. I do XC and that is on the South Downs. A ridge that runs for 100 miles and a max of 800 ft climbing in one spell in our region. But those mile long climbs at 12 to 15% give you a work out that cannot be done on road bikes unless you climb a mountain. That is about the nearest I can put it to- the clue is in the name---Mountain biking-- but the fitness you get in climbing those hills is unbelievable. Get to the top of a hill with lungs bursting and quads screaming and you soon learn how unfit you are

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=184444 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=184445 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=184446

So don't give up on mountain biking- Just look at it as cross training for the few slopes you get on the road

For a person who "for a person who started this cycling thing when over 70", I think you're spot on with your lessons learned. Age-related physical issues can bring different perspectives and priorities - especially related to healing from injuries. Hell, at "just 54" I don't bounce back like I did just a decade ago.

So, enjoy the non-MTB riding and keep up that great tongue-in-cheek/wry perspective. It was an enjoyable post to read.

Latitude65 and dreamweaver2 are wise men. Another over 70 and noobie cyclist here. I'm enjoying the riding plenty and enjoying the ability to go longer distances as fitness improves but I'm very aware that my body does not bounce back like it used to.

>"Better" as defined in road cycling is mostly a matter of small weight differences and much larger prices. Little or no performance difference in the hands of all but the most competitive racers. Even then it is questionable whether it is the rider or the bike that made the difference.<

Largely true, but don't forget the bling factor. If you got it, flaunt it.

>Most of what is published about bicycles is snake oil designed to lubricate the exchange of money from me to them.<

Universally true for absolutely everything, not just bikes. You're just figuring this out at 70?

>Cycling has its' share of snotty snobs. Best handled by giving them a tissue and suggesting they blow their nose.<

If you can't beat em, join em. There's no reason you can't be a snotty snob too.

>Cycling has more than its' share of really nice people who are fun to be around and to learn from.<

Are you referring to all those ignorant dilettantes?

>Don't sweat the small stuff; whether that be crank length, seat height, gearing, or, especially, bike weight.<

If you ride a lot, small things like seat height and gearing get big. Crank length and bike weight not so much...IMO

>There really is such a thing as riding too much.<

True. But the more you train, the more you can ride and you start running out of time before endurance.

>Bike jerseys and spandex bike pants are actually useful even if they look and feel weird.<

WTF? It think they look and feel grand!

>If an age peer asks about your cycling beware an adverse reaction when you tell him you rode 40 miles that day. Especially if he is round and puffing after a trip to the buffet. Tell him anyway. You may temporarily lose a friend but save a life.<

In these cases I kind of find it embarrassing and try to down play it.

>Learn to find places to urinate (pee to the rest of us). It is amazing how hard it is in some places to find a place without risking law enforcement action.<

On rides of 2-3 hrs I find I generally don't have to pee if I'm riding reasonably hard as sweating takes care of it.

>Riding on the road with cars is safer than riding on MUPs.<

Unless the MUPs are basically deserted, riding on them doesn't really count as riding, IMO.

>No matter how good it looks don't get sucked into mountain bike trail riding unless you like having body parts in casts (the plural is deliberate).<

Of course there are a lot of variables here, the main ones being the difficulty of the terrain and the amount of risks you take. It's up to the rider as to how dangerous this is.

IMO.

Hmm, I find that bike shorts and jerseys feel fine. "Looks funny" is purely subjective.

Yep, cycling has it's share of "Snotty snobs". But every sport does. I've heard about the way some grown men act on the golf course. And speaking of clothes that "look funny"....

Riding at night can really help reduce the problem of finding a place when nature calls.

Everything the OP says is true - for him - today. One thing I have learned through decades of cycling is that my perceptions and opinions about these "universal truths" change over time depending on my physical, financial, family and social situation.

+1
Weight is important if you enjoy climbing and acceleration. Rider weight is most important. Rotational weight would be next in importance such as wheels.

If you enjoy riding over 13 mph, aerodynamics is important. Road cycling position is much more aerodynamic than an upright position. Reducing width can be better than reducing height.

Since it's your first year and it looks like you only have one bike I think you'll change your mind about this eventually. The reason you might want more expensive shifters or derailleurs, for example, isn't because of the small weight differences but because they work more precisely than less expensive ones. And I'm not saying that will make you faster or better in some way, but because a precisely functioning machine can be satisfying in its own right, and a top of the line shifter/derailleur combo is better in that regard than lower level components.

Keep enjoying...

Replies are a lot more civilized than what I expected. Not a lot of vitriol. A minimum of snake oil. A maximum of humor. Great!!

To elaborate on a couple of points: Yes, I now own two road bikes. Both are carbon frame bikes. One is Shimano 105 and the other is Ultegra. I really enjoy both of them. Which one is smoother and more fun has more to do with the mechanic that made the last adjustment than anything else. I still haven't solved the seat thing so neither is very pain free on longer rides, which for me are rather short, ranging from the mid-20s to mid-60s miles.

Yep, mountain biking is fun. But, all the guys I see doing it and who are "mature" seem to end up having at least one body part in a cast sometime during our short cycling season.

I've tried cycling at night. But, it was too cold and the meese got in the way. (Meese is plural of moose?) Besides, frost bite of THAT body part is not a nice thing.

Hardly.

All good learnings for just a year :)

Hopefully I'll start some new hobby at 70 that teaches me something. Inspiring in that regard.

Speaking of 70 and bouncing back from an injury, it does get pretty rough. I'll have to look up pain management on Google I guess.
As far as mountain biking, we use to race motorcycles (motocross) for a while and I really don't have any desire to start BMX riding.
It hurts to much and is very expensive. Anyhow I agree with pretty much of what you said.