What gives?

B

bradmcnutt

Member
So I finally pulled the trigger on a road bike replacing the rigid gary fisher I've been riding for a few years. I was thinking that this upgrade would make me faster but if anything I seem to be going a tad bit slower. I'm thinking that it has something to do with the hills which are just kicking my tail. What I used to be able to clear in my big ring and 3rd gear on my GF I'm having to grind out in 1st gear of my small ring. It feels like I'm getting up the hill quick (not sure as I didn't have a cat eye on the GF), but after a handfull of these, my legs are feeling it.

Not to mention that I think I'm in pretty decent shape, but if I was ever to take off for a stretch, I think I'd have to hike-a-bike some of these climbs which just sounds really sad.

Any thoughts other then I need to get my ass in better shape?
 
bradmcnutt said:
Any thoughts other then I need to get my ass in better shape?
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Make sure your using a gear you can spin at a decent cadence (80-90 rpm).

Ride more.

Join a road biking club and go on some group rides. Pick a ride with a speed that works for you. You will find experienced roadies who will help you.

Most of all, have fun with it.
 
Yeah, the problem is that I run out of gears. :cry:

When I do, my cadence is in the low 60s. On the more moderate hills and the flats, I keep it in the low 80s. I'm guessing that the gear I was riding at on my GF was lower then my lowest gear on my new bike so I was able to keep my cadence in a better range so I wasn't wearing myself out and thus putting up a better overall average speed. That's just my guess as I have no other explanation.
 
It could all be in the gearing too. The small/big combo on my roadie is only 39/23 and don't forget the wheels are bigger on a a typical road bike.
 
bradmcnutt said:
Any thoughts other then I need to get my ass in better shape?
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Those gears are not the same. The same combo of chainring and cog on one bike doesn't mean squat on another bike.

A gear is measured in gear inches. It is the distance the wheel travels in one revolution of the crank. The viariables are the two gear rings being used and the circumference of the wheels/tires.

Road gears tend to be higher because you are going faster. MTB have those crazy low gears to help on rough steep terrain.

MTBers who converts to road cycling often get a good wake up call. Those roadie gears don't allow you to ride at walking speed. Looks like it is time to improve your power/fitness. Don't take that as an insult. Once you get used to your road bike, your rides on the MTB will see much easier. It is not a coincidence that the faster guys in the woods do all of their training on the road.
 
No offense taken. One of the reasons I started riding on the road was to up my fitness level so that I could have better rides in the woods. Now am I just delusional that I'm in better shape then some of these middle aged guys with big guts, or do they have some easier gearing; like a granny ring like I see my wife has on her trek?
 
bradmcnutt said:
Now am I just delusional that I'm in better shape then some of these middle aged guys with big guts, or do they have some easier gearing; like a granny ring like I see my wife has on her trek?
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Most likely delusional...... 😀

There are some really fast big dudes out there. You cant always judge a book by the cover.....
 
the road bike will whip you ass in to shape in no time, however, it does nothing for your gut.
 
Unless your diet is horrendous, how can that be? I mean if you get in a 2-3 hour ride, that's got to be a couple thousand calories burned right?
 
you will certainly shed so big weight the more time you put on the bike. but i wouldnt expect six pack abs from just riding your bike.
 
bradmcnutt said:
Unless your diet is horrendous, how can that be? I mean if you get in a 2-3 hour ride, that's got to be a couple thousand calories burned right?
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even though biking requires the abs to support you back, it doesn't give your abs a workout.
 
bradmcnutt said:
I mean if you get in a 2-3 hour ride, that's got to be a couple thousand calories burned right?
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How long is your 2-3 hour ride? How hard are you pushing yourself? You can go on a two hour allaire beginner ride, or a one hour hammer fest at six mile. One will net you a LOT more of a work out then another. Miles and time mean nothing unless you are pushing yourself.

When I first started riding the road, I noticed my cadence was super low. I would feel dead after 10ish miles, etc. Once I sped it up, I felt my legs get stronger and my lungs open up more. Without knowing how hard you push yourself, I would just up your cadence and see how that works.
 
pearl said:
How long is your 2-3 hour ride? How hard are you pushing yourself? You can go on a two hour allaire beginner ride, or a one hour hammer fest at six mile. One will net you a LOT more of a work out then another. Miles and time mean nothing unless you are pushing yourself.

When I first started riding the road, I noticed my cadence was super low. I would feel dead after 10ish miles, etc. Once I sped it up, I felt my legs get stronger and my lungs open up more. Without knowing how hard you push yourself, I would just up your cadence and see how that works.
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My first ride on the roadie was 2 hours on Monday for 34 miles. I wasn't happy at all with the average even though I was working very hard. I went for a shorter ride tonight and got in 24 miles in 1:15 so a much better average even though I was pushing just as hard as the ride on Monday. I felt overall I was generating a lot more power. I was in the 22-24 mph range on the flats and I was able to maintain a higher cadence on the climbs although I definitely still need some work. I'm not sure what caused the increase in performance. Maybe it took a ride to get used to the new bike. Maybe riding at 5am with just a bowl of oatmeal in the stomach is not the ideal riding conditions. Who knows. I'm just glad to put in a better performance tonight.
 
bradmcnutt said:
So I finally pulled the trigger on a road bike replacing the rigid gary fisher I've been riding for a few years. I was thinking that this upgrade would make me faster but if anything I seem to be going a tad bit slower.
Click to expand...

That's the downside of starting with a Fisher, nothing else will ever compare😉

-Jim.
 
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