best kids road bike image
Q. Me and my bf bought mountain bikes from Walmart. (Mongoose) I used to be in a biking club about 11 years ago but that was on a road bike, and my skills apparently have declined greatly. I couldn't make it up a faiir sized hill at all and I want to know if I should get a better bike and until then, what gear should I be in to make it up the hill. I feel discouraged right now.
Answer
Welcome back to cycling. Don't feel too bad, after 11 years, even for those of us who ride all the time our skill have probably diminished, we just don't notice as much until some 18y old kid on a old Schwinn Paramont blows by your fancy-smancy carbon-fiber rig... well that is a story for another day.
I'm just going to go ahead and assume you know all about shifting and big gears/little gears etc and skip right to some thoughts.
A mountain bike from Walmart is probably a gosh-awful heavy bestie to pedal up anything. There is little you can do about that right now. If you are used to road bikes the first time you clip into a mountain bike and encounter a big hill the instinct is to power up it like on the road. However, if you are on dirt or single-track on the mountain bike this really is the wrong approach and it is best to stay in the saddle and choose a very easy gear and patiently spin your way up the grade. The keeps your rear wheel from slipping in the dirt. Don't be afraid of the triple chain ring and drop to the smallest ring before the grade so you are not shifting rings on the hill, but concentrate on spinning through on the very small gears of the mountain bike (that is what they are there for after all!).
Welcome back to cycling. Don't feel too bad, after 11 years, even for those of us who ride all the time our skill have probably diminished, we just don't notice as much until some 18y old kid on a old Schwinn Paramont blows by your fancy-smancy carbon-fiber rig... well that is a story for another day.
I'm just going to go ahead and assume you know all about shifting and big gears/little gears etc and skip right to some thoughts.
A mountain bike from Walmart is probably a gosh-awful heavy bestie to pedal up anything. There is little you can do about that right now. If you are used to road bikes the first time you clip into a mountain bike and encounter a big hill the instinct is to power up it like on the road. However, if you are on dirt or single-track on the mountain bike this really is the wrong approach and it is best to stay in the saddle and choose a very easy gear and patiently spin your way up the grade. The keeps your rear wheel from slipping in the dirt. Don't be afraid of the triple chain ring and drop to the smallest ring before the grade so you are not shifting rings on the hill, but concentrate on spinning through on the very small gears of the mountain bike (that is what they are there for after all!).
What do you recommend for a beginning road biker?
Lillian Ch
So I just found out my college has a cycling team. I've never competitively biked nor even own a road bike. I ride my cheap mountain bike to and from work frequently. However, I really want to join the team. What bike do you recommend for a beginner that isn't too expensive... as I am a college kid. I've been looking at craigslist at some old peugeots..
Answer
If you are going to become competitive you need atleast 105 components when its shimano. If its SRAM then you should go with atleast SRAM Rival Components. I am talking about shifters and derailleurs. You need something that shifts on command. Anything like Sora components will not shift on command and they will make you lose valuable momentum and time while the peloton starts moving away. I suggest spending atleast $1,100 for your first road bike. I think that is the lowest price you can get a decent road bike nowadays. My first road bike was $1,100. It had Shimano 105 components and I was willing to spend the extra because the other bike I was considering which had the Shimano Tiagras did not shift so well. I just purchased a nice bike. The money you spend on your bike is worth the investment considering the amount of time you will spend with it. You get to be outdoors as well.
I am not sure what could be a good bike for a female. Make sure you get the bike that is the right size for you. Dont end up getting suckered into buying a bike that is slightly too big or slightly too small at a local bike shop because they are trying to get rid of that bike to make room for new inventory. Some bike shops will do that to you.
I recently looked at a Kona Zing. Thought it was a good bike for the price. Its roughly $1,100 and it has components that are found on bikes that normally cost $1,800.
If you are going to become competitive you need atleast 105 components when its shimano. If its SRAM then you should go with atleast SRAM Rival Components. I am talking about shifters and derailleurs. You need something that shifts on command. Anything like Sora components will not shift on command and they will make you lose valuable momentum and time while the peloton starts moving away. I suggest spending atleast $1,100 for your first road bike. I think that is the lowest price you can get a decent road bike nowadays. My first road bike was $1,100. It had Shimano 105 components and I was willing to spend the extra because the other bike I was considering which had the Shimano Tiagras did not shift so well. I just purchased a nice bike. The money you spend on your bike is worth the investment considering the amount of time you will spend with it. You get to be outdoors as well.
I am not sure what could be a good bike for a female. Make sure you get the bike that is the right size for you. Dont end up getting suckered into buying a bike that is slightly too big or slightly too small at a local bike shop because they are trying to get rid of that bike to make room for new inventory. Some bike shops will do that to you.
I recently looked at a Kona Zing. Thought it was a good bike for the price. Its roughly $1,100 and it has components that are found on bikes that normally cost $1,800.
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