New and Full of Questions

[Kalidurga]

Gearing on a bike can be analagous to gearing on a car, with a few minor differences. This might make more sense to folks with manual transmission, but here goes:

Easier gears are for starting out or riding through difficult terrain (uphill, through mud, gravel, etc).

Higher gears are for moving at speed, but here's where the difference comes in-- In your car, once you get into high gear you stay there, unless you reduce speed. On your bike, higher gears are used to apply more power to your pedaling, enabling you to sprint, or for pedaling super-easy terrain (like going downhill). Your middle gears are the ones you'll most likely use for maintaining a consistent and comfortable cadence/speed on neutral terrain.

I hope that makes as much sense here as it does in my head

[kimikaw]

This seems like a good place for me to jump into the thread (or I guess the forum - reading you guys has been a godsend!). Also a new rider. Currently riding a 25 year old Schwinn Mesa Runner 10 speed - a somewhat upright commuter/hybrid type bike. LBS calls it one of the first "city bikes". I'm a 49year old female. 5'8" tall.

Totally hooked on cycling. Doing 16-25 mile rides three or so times a week. I'd like to go further, go faster. Most of my riding has been on the roads around my house - very rolling, hilly terrain. On these rides use most of those ten speeds, stay mostly in the upper range, but there's some hills that put me down into the low, low gears. Last Sunday I did my longest ride to date - 29 miles, solo on a trail (Glacial Drumlin in WI) with some photo stops, took me just over 2hrs to ride it. Relatively flat trail. Rode probably 2/3 of the ride in the highest gear, had a very, very short section in maybe 6th, remainder in 9th gear.

My typical average speed in this bike's 10th gear on flat ground is 14-15mph. On the areas with a slight incline in ninth gear I was more like 12-13mph. At one point I was passed by a guy on a true road bike. The competitor in me was really bugged by being passed, so I tried to keep up. He was riding in the 18mph range. I was able to stay with him, but I could see he was pedaling at a slower cadence than me, I really had to push to stay there. (Know now we were in an area of a slight decline). And there is no way I could have gone any faster. Also, on downhills, in 10th, I just spin at any speed above 22-23mph....tho' gravity alone on some of the hills around me takes me up to 26-28mph.

So my questions...

How do you judge your cadence. I see suggestions of 60rpm, 80 rpm. How do you know that is how fast you are pedaling? I'm starting to develop a feel for a consistent pedaling cadence and using my limited gear set to maintain that....but again, am I going 40rpm, 60 or 100, not a clue.

One thing I know for sure, time for a new bike. A more serious one.

Wavering back and forth on women's versus men's. LBS closest to my house really pushing me to men's bike (in their case a Trek 7.5fx). Based on looking at me and my height, but no true fitting. I suspect it is more of a what we keep in stock versus what I need. Sure, I'm on bit taller than average for a women, but I have long legs, short torso, what feels like short arms... A female riding colleague of my hubby is suggesting either Specialized Vita or Dolce (and a different LBS). Based on my reading leaning more and more to them. Planning on doing some testing this weekend.

So, any thoughts on getting a hybrid/flat bar style like the Vita vs. a more road style like the Dolce. My initial thought was to stick with the more upright hybrid shape, but now thinking as quickly as I got into this, as much as I enjoy, maybe a true road shape is where I should head - keeping my oldie but goodie upright if I need to add a basket and run to the store/farmer's market/etc.

Kim

[Kalidurga]

How do you judge your cadence. I see suggestions of 60rpm, 80 rpm. How do you know that is how fast you are pedaling? I'm starting to develop a feel for a consistent pedaling cadence and using my limited gear set to maintain that....but again, am I going 40rpm, 60 or 100, not a clue.

Get a cycling computer that attaches to your bike and includes a reading for cadence.

[kimikaw]

Get a cycling computer that attaches to your bike and includes a reading for cadence.

Well, duh, of course. My little entry level one only shows mph and distance. Guess need to upgrade that when I upgrade the bike, huh?

Funny the more I learn, the more I realize how much I need to learn

[Kalidurga]

Funny the more I learn, the more I realize how much I need to learn

I'd say that applies to pretty much all of life in general.

[sarahspins]

Wavering back and forth on women's versus men's. LBS closest to my house really pushing me to men's bike (in their case a Trek 7.5fx). Based on looking at me and my height, but no true fitting. I suspect it is more of a what we keep in stock versus what I need.

Maybe, maybe not.. I tried out both WSD models and men's models, and I ended up with a Men's 7.2fx. The geometry is really very similar in the fx line for the comparable sizes... for some bikes the only major difference between the men's and women's version is the paint.

I did change out my bars about 2 months after getting my bike (to 490mm Soma Sparrows) mainly to give me a more comfortable hand position, as well as the ability to move my hands on the bars to find a more comfortable spot/angle if I wanted to... I am really happy with the change, and it was inexpensive ($45ish, including bar tape) since I didn't need to swap out any components, just the bars.

That said, I know now that if I had just gone with a road bike when I was shopping I would have been happier - but I just wasn't sure what I wanted when I was shopping, nor was I sure about spending a lot at the time. Now I have a MUCH better idea of what I want and what I want to spend when I upgrade (will probably be a while still), and I'll definitely be keeping my 7.2fx

[kimikaw]

That said, I know now that if I had just gone with a road bike when I was shopping I would have been happier - but I just wasn't sure what I wanted when I was shopping, nor was I sure about spending a lot at the time. Now I have a MUCH better idea of what I want and what I want to spend when I upgrade (will probably be a while still), and I'll definitely be keeping my 7.2fx

I've seen similar thoughts from several people across a couple of forums. I suspect that will happen regardless of how expensive of a hybrid I buy, so seriously leaning towards Dolce as a road bike from the start.

Funny, three months ago I was thinking a $300 full upright, step through "commuter" bike. Not so much anymore. As I've ridden more and more, I've not only changed the types of bike I am considering, inched my budget up. I've learned more, have a better sense to what I need. (well, inched may be an understatement ...started at $300, went to $500 and now is in the $800-900 range). I just don't want to spend $400-500 now and by next June or July be thinking, damn, now I want a new bike.

Of course, I have hard core biker friends trying to push me even higher. I think this range should be fine for quite a while....esp. because I still will have to go down the whole gear path...shoes, tool kits, better computer, , tubes, under seat gear bag for those tubes, tools.....the list goes on and on.

[aeiea]

Funny, three months ago I was thinking a $300 full upright, step through "commuter" bike. Not so much anymore. As I've ridden more and more, I've not only changed the types of bike I am considering, inched my budget up. I've learned more, have a better sense to what I need. (well, inched may be an understatement ...started at $300, went to $500 and now is in the $800-900 range). I just don't want to spend $400-500 now and by next June or July be thinking, damn, now I want a new bike.

Of course, I have hard core biker friends trying to push me even higher. I think this range should be fine for quite a while....esp. because I still will have to go down the whole gear path...shoes, tool kits, better computer, , tubes, under seat gear bag for those tubes, tools.....the list goes on and on.

Any reason to not go road bike?

Yeah... I was thinking "Oh, I'll spend $600 on a new bike; it'll be awesome!" My intent was to get a hybrid touring bike. Did some research... talked to my friends (most of whom were Bianchi fanatics)... and $1800 later...

Whatever, I'm in love!!!!

But if I had more time (ok, patience), and if I were taller, I would have stalked craigslist for a good used road bike first.

Actually... nah...

[kimikaw]

Any reason to not go road bike?

I'm guessing that's a rhetorical question, but yeah, the reason is I'm a little afraid of them. The skinny tires are a huge change from what I have...worried they'll be squirrley and that at 49 I'm getting too old to be that hunched over. First LBS, the one close to home that was trying to get me in the men's Trek more or less told me that. Like seeing this:

you can get fit to a road bike so that you ride it in a more upright touring style - you don't have to be all leaned over.

Also a bit of am I still too big (I'm 65lbs and a bout a year into a journey to go from sedentary, obese to fit and lose 100lbs, still have 35lbs to goal. I'm currently 185 at 5'8"). Maybe a bit of still imagining myself big, big, too big for a road bike.

But having said that, I suspect just testing one will change that. A friend suggested if I'm really worried about a 23 tire, to ask the LBS if the wheel will accomodate a 32 (or 30) and have that swapped out up front.

So....first goal find a LBS I like trust, and does real fittings. Not just have me stand over, and say, yep that's the one. (at the time I had work clothes and 2 1/2- 3" heels on). Been getting lots of good hints in the fitting thread. Really glad to have found you guys. Thanks for the answers!

[Cataboo]

If you're worried about weight - maybe consider like a steel touring/road bike... A surly pacer or one of the other surlys (crosscheck?). Something that you can put fatter tires on. And when you get more comfortable you can switch it to narrow tires if you want.

jamis aurora's another.

[sarahspins]

I still will have to go down the whole gear path...shoes, tool kits, better computer, , tubes, under seat gear bag for those tubes, tools.....the list goes on and on.

Yes, it is a slippery slope!

The reason I say I'll be keeping my hybrid is so that DH can ride it if he wants to (with a couple of adjustments he fits my bike - he's only a tiny bit taller than me, and I have longer legs, or we probably wouldn't be able to pull that one off), plus I'd like to have it for relaxed rides with the kids.. so I don't regret the purchase

However, for riding on my own, or with a group, I definitely want a road bike, I'm just not sure when that will happen.

Like you though, when I got the thought in my head last may "I think I want a bike" I thought I'd spend about $250 or so.. then I decided to google bike fit and opened up a can of worms! My budget immediately doubled and I had all these visions of all the other "goodies" I would need. I've probably spent just as much on gear at this point as I did on my bike... but it's been slow, I didn't do it all at once. I started with a helmet (a Giro Skyla - $40), a decent pair of shorts, and ONE jersey. Soon after I added a saddle bag (with some tools) another pair of shorts, and two more jerseys. I bought a $15 bike computer at walmart so I could see how far/fast I was going and to keep track of the time (I don't wear a watch). Then I bought a sugoi jacket because it was on sale, even though I didn't need it (still haven't used it, but I have it, so that's one less thing to worry about as the weather gets cooler) After 5 months I'm finally moving up to clipless pedals and shoes (bought the pedals, still waiting to get shoes this weekend).

Next on my list is a better computer (I really want HR and cadence), and then maybe some knickers or pants as the weather gets cooler.

[Cataboo]

Kimikaw - it does sound like you'd be happier with a road bike, but you can get fit to a road bike so that you ride it in a more upright touring style - you don't have to be all leaned over. It also does sound like your body type would benefit from a WSD...

But go out & test ride some bikes to see what you like.