New road bike after 25 years: what soreness is normal?

[tiva]

18 miles this morning, in the wind, on hills! I forgot to check exactly what time I left, but I was out about an hour and a half. For the first time, I rode in the drops while descending, and geared up (down?) enough so that I could keep pedaling on the descents, which made going back up the hills a lot easier. And of course I realized that my earlier description of the turns was exactly backwards--I have instinctively kept my outer leg down, not the inner leg.

Another question: some of our local farm roads are torn up for spring repairs, so they have gravel down instead of the usual pavement. For these short stretches (less than 1/4 mile) do you usually get off and walk, or do you ride through them? They're smooth enough so that it's not painful, but I don't want to damage the bike.

[oz rider]

Another question: some of our local farm roads are torn up for spring repairs, so they have gravel down instead of the usual pavement. For these short stretches (less than 1/4 mile) do you usually get off and walk, or do you ride through them? They're smooth enough so that it's not painful, but I don't want to damage the bike.

Glad it's all working out.

For the gravel patches, I'd ride. I just don't understand why anyone would walk when you can roll, hehe. Just try to keep your tyre pressures up (see the side of the tyre for the recommended range) to reduce the chance of a pinch flat on biggish rocks or potholes, and slow down til you're comfortable. And one day when you're spinning lightly, try a slightly harder gear for a short distance to note the difference in bike handling.

[Catrin]

Glad it's all working out.

For the gravel patches, I'd ride. I just don't understand why anyone would walk when you can roll, hehe. Just try to keep your tyre pressures up (see the side of the tyre for the recommended range) to reduce the chance of a pinch flat on biggish rocks or potholes, and slow down til you're comfortable. And one day when you're spinning lightly, try a slightly harder gear for a short distance to note the difference in bike handling.

I have been walking such patches myself - so it is safe to ride over the rocks with my road tires? I figured that I've been overly cautious but wasn't sure that it was smart to ride over them...

[oz rider]

I have been walking such patches myself - so it is safe to ride over the rocks with my road tires? I figured that I've been overly cautious but wasn't sure that it was smart to ride over them...

I wouldn't ride over rocks on road tyres. One, rocks are unstable and uneven so you could upset your steering and fall. Loose pebbles/sticks on bitumen are the same; I avoid them. Secondly, hitting a rock with road tyres can cause pinch flats. But if it's smooth enough to be comfortable as in tiva's example (so assuming it's not deep/loose gravel), I would ride rather than walk - and clean the drivetrain of grit afterwards.