New to biking and just bought a 2005 Dolce

[JessicaM23]

Hello there!

I just bought a used 05 Dolce road bike, and the lady didn't have a manual, and I cannot find anything online on how to work this thing. Well, mostly the gears. I took it out for a ride after I got it home, and tried playing with the gears, but I cannot figure out how they work. She did tell me that the Left silver goes with the right black one and vice versa, but other then that I'm stumped! Help please!

Also, they have the clip petals, but I think I want to buy regular ones. Any recommendations?

It seems like this is going to be a really great bike. I bought it to do a 25 mike ride in October!

Thanks for reading!

Jessica:D

[Owlie]

Ooh, nice bike! I test-rode a new Dolce and really liked it. (We'd like pictures if you care to share! ;) )

Anyway, I don't know if there was an SRAM-equipped version in 2005 (there should be something on there that will tell you what the shifters are). The principle is the same, though:

Left hand (when you're on the bike) takes care of the front half of the drivetrain, ie, which of the two or three chainrings you're in. The big outer lever makes it harder (bigger chain ring(s), good for going really fast, but potentially harder on your knees). The smaller lever (black) located under that will shift the chain to the smaller, easier chainring(s)--for helping you get up hills, or just cruising.
Your right hand takes care of the back half, and you'll probably be using this more. It's reversed--pressing the outer lever makes it easier by shifting you to a larger cog. The inner lever makes it harder.

ETA: If your bike came with the weird Shimano Sora-type shifters (the kind with the trigger lever on the inside of the hoods), that replaces that small lever for each. Just press those. Pretty intuitive.

To use either set of shift levers, just press them in toward the stem. So you nudge your left (front) shifters to the right, and your right (rear) to the left. It takes a certain amount of practice to get the touch just right, especially trying to shift into the big chain ring if you have a triple. You need to press firmly and decisively. (Edit: I should have my directions right. My bike came with the trigger shifter levers I just described, and my spatial reasoning skills aren't great.)

Re: Pedals. I prefer metal platforms to the plastic ones because the plastic ones have no grip. If you've got a bike shop you like, go ask them. I'd consider seeing if you can get a set with toe cages and straps. You can always take the straps and cages off. Just remember where the screws are! The other option is to see if you can get a pair of BMX pedals, which have pins for better grip. They'll chew up your leg, though, if you're not careful. (No personal experience with this, but I know of others...)

Hope that helps!

[JessicaM23]

Thanks for the info. Its all over my head right now, but I think once I get out there more I will get the hang of it and learn what exactly you are talking about :D

I tried to attach a picture, but not sure if it worked! (ETA: It did! There she is!)

ETA another question...So using the left gear makes it harder, and the right easier?

[Owlie]

Ooh, pretty blue and silver. It looks like you have the same "trigger" set-up that I do.

For the rear set of gears, smaller gears (the ones further from the body of the bike) make it harder. These are good for going really fast. Pushing that "trigger" shifter on the inside of the right brake hood will shift the chain onto a smaller gear than the one you started in. If you ride with your hands on the hoods (the spot where you're in easy reach of the brakes), just press it with your thumb. To make it easier, you shift to larger gears (closer to the body of the bike). For that, the right brake lever (silver) actually acts as your shifter. Push the brake lever toward the center of the bars. Tada!

For the front (chainrings), smaller (closer to the frame) is easier. Press the thumb-trigger thing on the inside of the left hood to get there. Larger chainrings are harder (again, good for going fast). Push the silver lever in toward the center to shift.
(Unless its previous owner had it set up very strangely...If that's the case, you could probably take it to a bike shop and have them switch the shifter cables around so that it's a normal set-up.)

Find an empty parking lot and just play around with the gears a little.

[Nick]

Welcome, that is a lovely bike. I'm sure you'll have a blast -- I feel like I'm in a second childhood now that I rediscovered the joys of biking.

[sjane]

To make it easier, you shift to larger gears (closer to the body of the bike). For that, the right brake lever (silver) actually acts as your shifter. Push the brake lever toward the center of the bars. Tada!

When I first got my bike, I would say to myself left (pushing the right brake lever left) is for lower (easier gear) to help remember.

[JessicaM23]

Ooh, pretty blue and silver. It looks like you have the same "trigger" set-up that I do.

For the rear set of gears, smaller gears (the ones further from the body of the bike) make it harder. These are good for going really fast. Pushing that "trigger" shifter on the inside of the right brake hood will shift the chain onto a smaller gear than the one you started in. If you ride with your hands on the hoods (the spot where you're in easy reach of the brakes), just press it with your thumb. To make it easier, you shift to larger gears (closer to the body of the bike). For that, the right brake lever (silver) actually acts as your shifter. Push the brake lever toward the center of the bars. Tada!

For the front (chainrings), smaller (closer to the frame) is easier. Press the thumb-trigger thing on the inside of the left hood to get there. Larger chainrings are harder (again, good for going fast). Push the silver lever in toward the center to shift.
(Unless its previous owner had it set up very strangely...If that's the case, you could probably take it to a bike shop and have them switch the shifter cables around so that it's a normal set-up.)

Find an empty parking lot and just play around with the gears a little.

Thanks so much! That helps a lot! I did ride around yesterday trying to mess around with it, but now that I know what it all does, I think I will get the hang of it!

I am so excited to start biking! I just need to go get safety gear and I will be on my way to longer rides.

Thank you for the warm welcome :)