I want to buy a bike

[hazy]

Any pics of you with your cycling shorts . You can put the bike in the picture too but it was really just you with the shorts on I wanted to see.

[Dugald]

I also investigated the miracles associated with being in the right gear, it seems to be a tricky one to get right, and is it normal for gears to be a little.... reluctant to change?

Most of my questions now are associated with how to look after it now i have it. How often do you oil it? What do you oil? What do you grease? How do you get all the mud off with the least effort!!??? What esentials should you carry with you? Oh and really how do you ride the thing properly?
Any mountain bikers on HG????

Sharon, sorry, I'm not a mountain biker (wish I had been!) but I was a cyclist and know a wee bit about bikes. Anyway here are some answers to your questions:

The problem with gear-changing is first of all, don't stop pedaling when you are changing gears as many first-time users do. Keep pedaling and "slide", or rotate, your gear change hand-grip slowly until you feel the chain has moved to a new cog. I'm assuming you don't have the very latest gears. Remember, the big cog on the back wheel is for going UP hills and the wee cog for going DOWN hills.

Oil your chain when it's dry. Just examine it visually, and if it looks dry put some oil on a rag and run the oily rag over the full length of the chain.

The only parts of a bike that I recall used grease were the cables (brakes, gears). I don't think you should be getting into this just yet. This is usually done during a major inspection/tune-up.

Mud? Well, this is part of the sport. If you have an aversion to mud, then ride on the roads and hard paths. Anyway, bikes should be kept clean and this just takes elbow-grease. Most mountain bikers I know would be disappointed if they arrived home with a clean bike.

Carry a bicycle pump and a puncture repair outfit;a small adjustable wrench; allen keys; some cash; a power bar for a long ride (always have some wee item of sustenance!).

[alzaman]

Cheers for the tips guys - i need all I can get as i know nothing apart from getting on it and pedalling, which doesnt come easily!

I had my first little mountain biking adventure today on one of the Carron Valley tracks (runway for those that might know it?) and it was both terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure, i rolled over most of the humps but did accidentally leave the ground at one point, which really felt scary and not something i want to repeat again quickly!!!!!!! maybe

Amazing how quickly you gather ALOT speed, and equally amazing that i didnt fall off!!!!!!! I also investigated the miracles associated with being in the right gear, it seems to be a tricky one to get right, and is it normal for gears to be a little.... reluctant to change?

Most of my questions now are associated with how to look after it now i have it. How often do you oil it? What do you oil? What do you grease? How do you get all the mud off with the least effort!!??? What esentials should you carry with you? Oh and really how do you ride the thing properly?

That was the most adrenaline ive felt in a long long time. Brilliant!

Any mountain bikers on HG????

I used to do a lot of MB riding, from placid cross country and "follow the canal" stuff .. to insanely fast and dangerous downhill

Gears are tricky to get used to first, because the front mech, the one at the pedals, or crank, usually has 3 rings on it, and the rear mech/sprocket usually has 6-7 rings on it .. so effectively giving you 18-21 speeds.

The low ring/granny ring ratio is used for steep terrain, and is useful for cross country and uphill stuff to give you control , rather than "taking a runny at it" style. It annoys me when i'm in the car and you see a mountain biker on a flat road, granny ring, pedalling like the clappers, and virtually going nowhere on it due to the gear he's in.

The medium ring i'd use mainly all the time, as it gives you more range for everyday use.

The top ring is useful for flat roads / terrain, and if you want to go, pardon the phrase as you're a lady, "balls out" down a hill or similar. It' a bit like driving, adjust the gear to your terrain and capabilities, and plan ahead so that you're not approaching a hill in "balls out" gear

To clean the gear cables i use nothing more than WD40 and a cloth, that'll clean and lube the cable. You can get lubes with wax etc in them, if you choose to do so, that'll coat the cables to protect them from our lovely weather. Also, when lubing the gear cables, be sure to go through the whole range of gears so you lube every inch of the cables.



Wax Lube

Same applies to the chain. You can get a multitude of degreasers and lubes for it, and gadgets you attach to the chain that wash and clean it while you hand pedal it. I'd recommend wax based lubes like the one in the picture above, because they're dry to the touch, and they don't leave an oil slick on your chain that makes you look like a grease monkey if you have to touch the chain.



Chain Scrubber

I'd also use WD40 on the front and rear mech springs. These keep the tension on the chain and the chain guide so it snaps the chain to the right cog when you change gear.

You can get various niceities for cleaning your pride and joy. Muc Off is a good one, but there's nothing wrong with even car shampoo, or good old fairy liquid, and an old toothbrush to get grass and grit out from the unreachables.

A good set of allen keys and spare tubes are an essential, especially if you're going on long rides, as is a mini pump, and check the handelbar nuts, and the wheels quick release lugs / bolts are tight as well.

As with any exercise, make sure you take plenty of fluid, water bottle etc, buy a eater bottle cage if you don't have one .. and even use energy mixes like High5 which give you valuable carbs on the go.

Oh, and finally, when braking .. use the rear brake first, then the front .. or you'll look like a gymnast

Hope this helps, rather than confuses

================================================================================



Front Mech



Rear Mech

[Sharon]

Cheers guys - ther wax lube tip is particularly useful as my bike currently gets stuck in the back of my car - and less oil is defitely better!!

dugald - i am not worried about me getting mucky, quite frankly i like that!! it brings out the child in me - and really you dont feel like youve done anything without some dirt and bruising! Its just the cleaning of my new babies moving parts im considering.

So far its all been amazingly good fun....probably right up until the first time i fall off

[Sharon]

Sort of related, but after seeing a wee bit of the olympic cycling i have to declare that cyclists bums are one of lifes wonders!!!

[Josef]

Sort of related, too.

[Its_a_gamp]

Sort of related, but after seeing a wee bit of the olympic cycling i have to declare that cyclists bums are one of lifes wonders!!!

The six packs on the male swimmers are worth ogling at too!

[Sharon]

The mountain biking is going okay, but now I want to buy another bike and could use some advice again

I fancy trying a road bike, but am pretty (utterly) clueless, so to those who have a clue, does this look worth it?
Or any tips on what to look for would be appreciated - or even where to look for a second hand one! Not too many wee road bikes seem to show up.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0336885960



Yellow and Black Aluminium Frame and Forks

Shimano 7 speed Shifters and Brakes

Shimano 105 rear derailleur and Exage 400ex front

Miche 46/35 Crankset

Not in photo but includes Look Keo clipless pedals.

650 Araya wheels with Panaracer tyres.

46cm frame so suit anyone upto 5 foot in height.

[Dexter St. Clair]

46cm frame so suit anyone upto 5 foot in height.

Does this not rule you out or were you wearing these the last time I danced with you.



further observations about women's bike fit

bike fit for women

A bike that fits right is the key to comfortable riding. Thousands of words have been written in dozens of bike books on the subject of fit, but there are three factors nearly all cyclists agree on:

* The saddle should be high enough to allow you to extend the leg at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and low enough to allow you to dab a toe on the ground when you stop.
* If you straddle the bike's top tube (crossbar) with your feet flat on the ground, there should be fresh air between crotch and crossbar.
* Your hands should be able to reach the handlebars and brake levers comfortably without overstretching the arms.

[Dexter St. Clair]

Some more googling turned this up but visit some shops and get the feel of them.

Six of the best bikes for woman

Current prices

Trek Madone 5.0 Price: £1399.00

Cannondale Synapse Feminine £782.00

Orbea Diva TPB £1699

Specialized Ruby Comp Compact £1,250.00

Scott Contessa £439.45

[Dugald]

Glad to hear you are still interested in cycling Sharon; good for you! The information already provided by Dexter regarding frame size etc, is about the best you can get. All I would add is, use a bit of common sense as regards the standing astride the top tube: err, if at all, on the too-low side... riding a bike that one can't stretch properly does not help one grow taller, and it contributes to one falling on one's nose at a traffic light!

The equipment on the bike in the picture is a bit short of top-of-the-line stuff, but would be adequate for a beginner. I'd strongly advise going after a second-hand bike. The cost of a good new road bike these days is ridiculously high. Good luck!

[peter]

Not sayin you might have a big bum. But if you did this might be for you.

[BrigitDoon]

Yikes! Size of it...

...so why do they have it locked up?

Shall we try and nick it for a laugh?

[AutoSelect]

Thank you for sharing useful information.Even i have planned to buy a bike at cheap cost.can anyone share which bike is best to buy.




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[tombro]

Once again HG has shown itself a mine of useful information for an ex-pat who left Glasgow in 1960; and that's the way it should be !

Whilst I'm not looking to buy a bike at the price levels in Dexter's post (I'm not planning on entering the Tour de France) I'm looking to buy one that will help me to lose weight while indulging in some exercise over the summer months here in Australia.

I've already got the bike in mind and the information provided in the other posts of this particular forum have provided me with information on how to look after it. I also know that, if I need further help, it will be available here !

Tombro