It's not the bike... it's the rider
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 612
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 99 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
It's not the bike... it's the rider
Today I made a move, solve my trek 7200 hybrid and bought a road bike, a brand new Allez Elite 2010.
Bike, pedals, shoes, helmet and $1300 later I went to my first ride. Nothing new the same 12 miles/45 minutes route that I used to ride every morning on my trek 7200. After the ride I checked the chronometer and I noticed I whopping 43 minutes.
My dream bike gave me an increased average speed of 0.5MPH, little back pain and a damn sore butt for only $1300.
I know... it's not the bike, it's the rider. but the point is, don't expect to become an Alberto Contador just because you bought the most expensive bike in the store.
Tomorrow I will go out to with some Allen keys and try to get a better fit.
Bike, pedals, shoes, helmet and $1300 later I went to my first ride. Nothing new the same 12 miles/45 minutes route that I used to ride every morning on my trek 7200. After the ride I checked the chronometer and I noticed I whopping 43 minutes.
My dream bike gave me an increased average speed of 0.5MPH, little back pain and a damn sore butt for only $1300.
I know... it's not the bike, it's the rider. but the point is, don't expect to become an Alberto Contador just because you bought the most expensive bike in the store.
Tomorrow I will go out to with some Allen keys and try to get a better fit.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 1,875
Bikes: Cervelo RS, Specialized Stumpy, Schwinn 974
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It's the rider for max speed. When you get older, and can afford nicely designed bikes with great components, you appreciate them, even though you are not so fast anymore.
#4
"Chooch"
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Prairieville, Louisiana
Posts: 1,659
Bikes: Late 1990s Ciocc Titan
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Today I made a move, solve my trek 7200 hybrid and bought a road bike, a brand new Allez Elite 2010.
Bike, pedals, shoes, helmet and $1300 later I went to my first ride. Nothing new the same 12 miles/45 minutes route that I used to ride every morning on my trek 7200. After the ride I checked the chronometer and I noticed I whopping 43 minutes.
My dream bike gave me an increased average speed of 0.5MPH, little back pain and a damn sore butt for only $1300.
I know... it's not the bike, it's the rider. but the point is, don't expect to become an Alberto Contador just because you bought the most expensive bike in the store.
Tomorrow I will go out to with some Allen keys and try to get a better fit.
Bike, pedals, shoes, helmet and $1300 later I went to my first ride. Nothing new the same 12 miles/45 minutes route that I used to ride every morning on my trek 7200. After the ride I checked the chronometer and I noticed I whopping 43 minutes.
My dream bike gave me an increased average speed of 0.5MPH, little back pain and a damn sore butt for only $1300.
I know... it's not the bike, it's the rider. but the point is, don't expect to become an Alberto Contador just because you bought the most expensive bike in the store.
Tomorrow I will go out to with some Allen keys and try to get a better fit.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 612
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 99 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
it's just a self wake up.. I have been planning and researching and dreaming about the road bike since the day I bought by 7200. And when I finanly did it I realize that I ve spent all this money and for today it have been more problems then benefits... the ride is much more harsh, I felt every concrete block junction or imperfection in the road...
I know that I have an excellent bike now I'm just not up to it yet. I hope I can make it fit better to get rid of the sore butt and back pain. The LBS have offered a professional fit for $50 bucks but I was afraid of the final bill since he said he had already adjusted everything he could and from there on he would need to start replacing components to get it fit. Since I had already stretched by budged I decided to wait until next month
I know that I have an excellent bike now I'm just not up to it yet. I hope I can make it fit better to get rid of the sore butt and back pain. The LBS have offered a professional fit for $50 bucks but I was afraid of the final bill since he said he had already adjusted everything he could and from there on he would need to start replacing components to get it fit. Since I had already stretched by budged I decided to wait until next month
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: fogtown...san francisco
Posts: 2,276
Bikes: Ron Cooper, Time VXSR, rock lobster, rock lobster, serotta, ritchey, kestrel, paramount
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
saving 2 minutes on a 12 mile route is pretty good, if you were in a race and finished 2 minutes faster than the next guy, you win! suck it up and ride!
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orange, CA
Posts: 2,201
Bikes: Roubaix / Shiv
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
How fast is your 45min ride? Maybe the speed is too low for the new riding position to help much with aerodynamics?
#9
Full Member
12 mi in 45 minutes is 16 MPH. A .5 MPH gain isn't bad, but you may find that improves when you get the fit dialed in.
Perhaps the harsher ride is changing the way you ride over cracks and bumps? I went from a harsh riding bike to one not so harsh, and now ride at least 1 MPH faster over rough pavement. The harshness of the ride isn't going to change much even if the fit improves, although maybe you could try reducing the tire pressure and/or moving to a slightly larger tire to compensate for it.
Perhaps the harsher ride is changing the way you ride over cracks and bumps? I went from a harsh riding bike to one not so harsh, and now ride at least 1 MPH faster over rough pavement. The harshness of the ride isn't going to change much even if the fit improves, although maybe you could try reducing the tire pressure and/or moving to a slightly larger tire to compensate for it.
#10
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 334 Times
in
206 Posts
Congratulations on purchasing an awesome new bike that enabled you to increase your overall average speed.
__________________
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,644 Times
in
6,053 Posts
I know that I have an excellent bike now I'm just not up to it yet. I hope I can make it fit better to get rid of the sore butt and back pain. The LBS have offered a professional fit for $50 bucks but I was afraid of the final bill since he said he had already adjusted everything he could and from there on he would need to start replacing components to get it fit. Since I had already stretched by budged I decided to wait until next month
If she's wearing 23s, get 25s, and ask someone at your LBS what pressure to run for your weight. Then inflate them to 90 % of that.
It's a combination of the bike and the rider. Nobody's going to ride the Tour de France on a fixie.
#13
Senior Member
$1300 sounds like it might be an aluminum frame. A carbon fiber bike and high end components do make a difference over steel or aluminum.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 306
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
it's just a self wake up.. I have been planning and researching and dreaming about the road bike since the day I bought by 7200. And when I finanly did it I realize that I ve spent all this money and for today it have been more problems then benefits... the ride is much more harsh, I felt every concrete block junction or imperfection in the road...
I know that I have an excellent bike now I'm just not up to it yet. I hope I can make it fit better to get rid of the sore butt and back pain. The LBS have offered a professional fit for $50 bucks but I was afraid of the final bill since he said he had already adjusted everything he could and from there on he would need to start replacing components to get it fit. Since I had already stretched by budged I decided to wait until next month
I know that I have an excellent bike now I'm just not up to it yet. I hope I can make it fit better to get rid of the sore butt and back pain. The LBS have offered a professional fit for $50 bucks but I was afraid of the final bill since he said he had already adjusted everything he could and from there on he would need to start replacing components to get it fit. Since I had already stretched by budged I decided to wait until next month
I've been riding road bikes for 3 months or so and I love the feeling of the road (even the bumps that knock your jowls out of shape), the agility and the snappy character of the frame. Then again I'm riding Reynolds/ishiwata and tubulars on both machines.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,807
Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,
Mentioned: 154 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2297 Post(s)
Liked 4,738 Times
in
1,719 Posts
Oh if it was as simple as that. My steel 1999 Schwinn Circuit is still proving to be faster for me than my 2010 carbon fiber trek. Proved again on a solo 1/2 century where I cranked out yet another PR on the old steel bike. Same 2 mph improvement I've seen on all my daily 20 mile same route rides. Significant decrease in time also. When I get the Trek back (fractured seat stay) I plan to try to match the fit of the Schwinn as much as possible to see if there is still a lot to be gained from the Trek. The Schwinn it a triple crank and the Trek is double so gearing probably makes a difference. Bontrager vs Mavic wheels may also figure in.
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 612
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 99 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I'm 28 and overweighted... you know... software engineers. I've inflated the tires to 120 PSI, which is close to the maximum rated on the tires and that's what I heard I should to so I don't destroy the wheels with my 250 pounds. I will get the fit done if minor adjustments don't do the trick.
for the bumps on the road, it's not that I can't take it... I'm just wonder on each of them : Oh ****.. did I get a flat tire? did destroyed my wheels? I guess it's more of a worry then a problem.
for the bumps on the road, it's not that I can't take it... I'm just wonder on each of them : Oh ****.. did I get a flat tire? did destroyed my wheels? I guess it's more of a worry then a problem.
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 612
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 99 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
And no, I don't want a madone, rouibax, campagnolo or any other higher end bikes. I don't aim to be a competitor or a professional competitor, the cost/ratio is not worth it.
I just want to enjoy daily 20-30 miles rides and doing it the it that I can, but without the sore butt.. I don't like to seat on donuts after a ride
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 1,648
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,644 Times
in
6,053 Posts
I'm 28 and overweighted... you know... software engineers. I've inflated the tires to 120 PSI, which is close to the maximum rated on the tires and that's what I heard I should to so I don't destroy the wheels with my 250 pounds. I will get the fit done if minor adjustments don't do the trick.
for the bumps on the road, it's not that I can't take it... I'm just wonder on each of them : Oh ****.. did I get a flat tire? did destroyed my wheels? I guess it's more of a worry then a problem.
for the bumps on the road, it's not that I can't take it... I'm just wonder on each of them : Oh ****.. did I get a flat tire? did destroyed my wheels? I guess it's more of a worry then a problem.
Your road bike probably has 23 mm tires. These need to be inflated more than wider tires ( 25 or 28 if your bike will take them ) do, and you need to run them at a higher PSI than many cyclists do. But not at 120. You probably shouldn't go below about 100, but it depends a lot on how you ride and what the pavement is like. If everything is average and your Allez has normal sized tires, about 110 PSI is where the ride quality starts to go to hell, so try a little below that.
If you've got a road pump, it's very easy to try any pressure you like, go a mile, and add more air if you need it.
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 612
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 99 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
on the route I went today there was 2 bridges and on each of them there was a gap of a little more then half inch. is this too much or is it fine for a road bike?
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 403
Bikes: 2007 Orbea Onix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts