New to Cycling

Derekhenno

Hi, I'm getting a racing bike at the weekend to try get my fitness levels up. Its a Castello Monza, has anyone any review on this bike and also any tips for a beginner,
Cheers

elnino23

Buy Padded shorts!!!!

Derekhenno

Have them ordered! You a cyclist?

elnino23

Only just! had my bike just over a month bought for same reason as your self wanted a new training method that was interesting rather than banging my head off the wall in a gym. loving it so far, very addictive. went out the first two rides with out padded shorts! ouch!! hence my advice

Derekhenno

Thanks a million, can I ask how long a cycle did you go for at the beginning? And how often did you go out on the bike?

josealdo

Derekhenno wrote: »

Hi, I'm getting a racing bike at the weekend to try get my fitness levels up. Its a Castello Monza, has anyone any review on this bike and also any tips for a beginner,
Cheers

#1 Join a local club . Plenty of good friendly advise availble there .

#2 Go out every week for 10 weeks . don't miss any week , you will see great difference in fitness and you will enjoy spins more .

#3 also sign up NOW for sportive's . wicklow 200 , tour de cure , cycle against suicide , sean kelly tour . mount leinster .

#4 enjoy it . it's great fun .

elnino23

First day i literally just went out for 30 mins on the flat to get used to clip in pedals and gears etc, takes some getting used to especially the way the gear shift up and down is opposite on either side very different to conventional bike. then second time i went out for 30km and built the km's till 60km on a sportive. i've not been having that much time lately but trying for twice a week till the nights get lighter. where about's in the country are you?

josealdo

WHERE DO YOU LIVE ?

Derekhenno

Galway

Derekhenno

...'pedals and gears etc, takes some getting used to especially the way the gear shift up and down is opposite on either side very different to conventional bike.'

Shows how much i know, Is the smallest cog the lowest gear?

josealdo

Waterford .

Derekhenno

Cheers for the advise, bit far for a spin just yet!

josealdo

lowest gear is the easiest to cycle
the lowest gear would be the small gear on the front chainset and the biggest gear on the rear cassette .

you'll get the hang of it . youtube cycle tips and you'll learn loads .

join local sportive group . about 40 euro a year but well well worth it . thats the best advise , they will help you and guide you . and rememeber get out 10 weeks in a row and you'll be super bike fit . your getting into cycling at the right time of year too . good luck mate .

elnino23

Derekhenno wrote: »

...'pedals and gears etc, takes some getting used to especially the way the gear shift up and down is opposite on either side very different to conventional bike.'

Shows how much i know, Is the smallest cog the lowest gear?

you'll see what I mean by that when the bike comes the levers to change work opposite on either side, im not qualified enough to explain without sounding stupid!

Derekhenno

Fair Play Figs666, wil let you know how i get on

josealdo

Galway bay cycling club run a beginner group on sundays

Below are the planned routes for the coming weeks, leaving Kingfisher, NUIG @ 9:00. Two groups head off at this time, the shorter route will be 55-70km @ approx. 25kph.

JUST DO IT MAN

Derekhenno

I'm sure I'll work it out, looking forward to getting it, planning on taking it out on saturday, if not tmoro when I get it! I want to do atleast twice a week on it, will keep u posted

Brad768

Just start small, 15km,20km,25km etc. As figs said, 2 clubs leave at the same time on Sundays. So when you feel ready, drop down to us! Joined West Coast Wheelers around a month ago and it's proberbley one of the best things I've done for my cycling. I use it as a motivation tool, everyone else has made the effort to go out, so I have to as well

Roger Hassenforder

buy a track pump and keep the tyres rock hard (~9bar) before each ride.
bring spare tube and tyre levers and drink.
download Strava and seek out hills

it might be a bit early in the season to worry about sock height,but you need to be aware of protocols


and dont salute anyone
and enjoy it!

Derekhenno

Thats great, thanks, give me a couple of weeks and I might just get back to you on joining up with ye

Derekhenno

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

buy a track pump and keep the tyres rock hard (~9bar) before each ride.
bring spare tube and tyre levers and drink.
download Strava and seek out hills

it might be a bit early in the season to worry about sock height,but you need to be aware of protocols


and dont salute anyone
and enjoy it!

Roger, thanks for the advice, I read the protocols, Mother of God, sure I only wanted to go for a nice cycle, its fierce serious!! Interesting but serious!

Icyseanfitz

those rules are carved in stone, we all have to obey them

Derekhenno

I'm not saying I wouldnt obey them, there's more there though than the GAA have for hurling!

pat25c

ive just gotin into cycling as well , is there any way to stop numness in your hands i ware gloves but is it just position?

Henlars67

pat25c wrote: »

ive just gotin into cycling as well , is there any way to stop numness in your hands i ware gloves but is it just position?

I suffered from that for a while after I started. Lowering the handlebars worked for me.

Brad768

pat25c wrote: »

ive just gotin into cycling as well , is there any way to stop numness in your hands i ware gloves but is it just position?

Numbness in the hand is Thoracic outlet syndrome. It's caused by nerves being compressed in the neck region as they pass from the neck to the arms. Stretching around your shoulders and neck prior to getting on your bike and while on your bike should reduce this as it will increase circulation

pat25c

thanks thats a great help , also iam doing the galway castlebar leg of the cycle against sucide , the most ive ever riden is 23 miles & i was done in @the end , am i being a bit unrealistic ?

pat25c

thanks thats a great help , also iam doing the galway castlebar leg of the cycle against sucide , the most ive ever riden is 23 miles & i was done in @the end , am i being a bit unrealistic ?

dfdream

Brad I agree 100%. That was driving me mad.
I was advised to do this stretch in 3 positions. Elbows at 90deg, 150 deg and 180deg (straight up). It made a big difference in neck, shoulders, hands, upper back...and got rid of lots of numbness..

Also key is a proper bike fit. Wasnt fully convinced on it effectiveness but got one done recently in Oranmore..
I was putting too much weight on my hands with bad position and also contributed to numbness. Now my seating position is 100% and there is 70% less weight going on my hands/handlebars...

Well worth the money... Maybe try that too...

Brad768 wrote: »

Numbness in the hand is Thoracic outlet syndrome. It's caused by nerves being compressed in the neck region as they pass from the neck to the arms. Stretching around your shoulders and neck prior to getting on your bike and while on your bike should reduce this as it will increase circulation

Derekhenno

pat25c wrote: »

thanks thats a great help , also iam doing the galway castlebar leg of the cycle against sucide , the most ive ever riden is 23 miles & i was done in @the end , am i being a bit unrealistic ?

I'm thinking of doing the 1st half of that cycle and will have no training at all done! Want to support the cause more than anything, how unrealistic am I being?

Derekhenno

Getting new bike tomorrow morn and was going to go on spin tomorrow at some stage...what ort of distance should I look at for first cycle, fitness not great

Henlars67

Derekhenno wrote: »

Getting new bike tomorrow morn and was going to go on spin tomorrow at some stage...what ort of distance should I look at for first cycle, fitness not great

15 or 20k for the first couple of spins.

You'll up your distance in no time though.

Brad768

pat25c wrote: »

thanks thats a great help , also iam doing the galway castlebar leg of the cycle against sucide , the most ive ever riden is 23 miles & i was done in @the end , am i being a bit unrealistic ?

When did you last do that distance? jumping from 37km to 80km is a significant jump. However, if you are able to find a similar group of people who are in the same boat it will be possible. Extremely hard, but possible. You'd want to go out this weekend and next and do maybe 50km this weekend and 60-70km or so next weekend. If you could manage 60km without being absolutely spent, you can do this. Plus the energy you'll save riding in a group will help you.

Derekhenno wrote: »

I'm thinking of doing the 1st half of that cycle and will have no training at all done! Want to support the cause more than anything, how unrealistic am I being?

I'd say go out this weekend and see how your 20-25km spin goes. Then see if you could do 30-35km next weekend. That means next weekend you would be doing a 40-45km spin, and hopefully the energy you save drafting the people around you means you are able to complete the extra bit to get you to 50km

Make sure you stay hydrated guys! Around 650ml an hour seems to be the recommended number.

pat25c

i last did that distance on the 10th also when i do cycle this song keeps going through my head http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=hgCqz3l33kU

Decos

So how is the new bike going Derek? Im thinking of getting one of those myself as i dont have a large budget at the moment... would be interested in how you are getting on with it.

Derekhenno

Decos, bike is great, nice and light, gear change is grand, any problem with it is more due tommy bad fitness levels!! I'm glad a didn't spend any more money on it as it does me fine