Bikes designed for road use only. Could be any road-only bike, but typically means bikes optimized for speed / racing / club rides with drop handlebars, narrow tires and a crouched-forward rider position.
5
votes
5answers
1k views
Why would a manufacturer change chainring sizes drastically between years?
A friend was just showing me the 2010 Cervélo S2 specs, as well as the 2011 S2 specs, and the Ultegra line, at least, changes from a 53/39 chainring set in 2010 to a 50/34 set in 2011. This seems like ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Measuring stem clamp / handlebar diameter
I have a new-ish Bianchi Cortina hybrid that I'm trying to find suitable drop bars for, but I can't figure out the proper size to get. It seems like the bars mostly come in 25.4mm, 26mm and 31.8mm. ...
2
votes
1answer
887 views
Shimano 105 early- to mid-1990s SLR groupset on eBay worth it for 70s SuperCycle rebuild?
Is the below groupset a good value for this frame?
I picked up a vintage SuperCycle Medalist frame (I'm guessing 1970s) and am looking to make a comfortable but capable bike for commuting and ...
5
votes
4answers
721 views
Choosing lights for my bike
I recently bought a bike and I'm looking at getting some lights for riding at night. I live pretty well lit city so I would just want them to make me more visible to drivers. What kind of things ...
1
vote
1answer
329 views
Specialized Sirrus specs any ok?
I can get this bike for good price, bit I was wondering of the specs are "okay"?
And does anyone have any experience with it?
specs. sheet (image)
5
votes
5answers
5k views
What is the downside to me purchasing a road bike instead of a hybrid?
I'm about to move to a place closer to my work where I'll be able to ride to and from the office (9km ride each way).
I'm not super fit but I occasionally ride to work from where I'm living now ...
5
votes
1answer
671 views
Carbon 700c Wheels: What does 33/50/60/88 mm refer to?
I've been browsing 700c carbon rims on ebay, and noticed most are listed with the 33/50/60/88/etc mm in the title. What does this represent? It doesn't appear to be spoke/nipple holes.
...
5
votes
5answers
7k views
“Proper” cycling posture on a road bike with drop bars?
Sometimes I feel a little pain in my lower back after cycling (nothing too long, mainly cycling around London for general commuting...5-10Km). It could be due to a number of reasons (I have a bad back ...
9
votes
7answers
926 views
Best way to train in an area with many hills
I recently bought a bicycle, mostly for exercise and fun. I am not fat, but I am really out of shape, I get tired quickly and cannot stand very long rides.
I know riding a bike constantly will reduce ...
5
votes
3answers
16k views
How do I correctly set the angle of my drop bars
Are there any tricks to setting the correct angle for the drop bars on my road bike, when adjusting my handlebars in the stem?
Is it just a matter of personal preference or is there a general ...
2
votes
2answers
966 views
Picking a bike for a cyclist new to riding on the road?
I've gone a few years without riding at all, and I'm getting back into cycling to improve my fitness. I've typically ridden light mountain bike trails in the past. I want buy a new/second-hand road ...
4
votes
2answers
4k views
Why does my gear slip when going uphill / standing?
I have a road bike that I use to commute ~6 miles to work every day. Some of the portions of the ride are at a steep incline, and I've noticed that when I get up to stand on some of these hills, my ...
9
votes
2answers
266 views
Ladies and cycling
I just started cycling with a racebike. I still have some questions concerning ladies biking and personal health issues.
I do find very little information about ladies and biking. I kind of want to ...
3
votes
4answers
465 views
What are the possible upgrades for a 40-year-old Bottecchia 10 Speed?
I have a 40 year old Bottecchia (entry level model) that I took for ride yesterday after letting it sit for 20 years. Just inflated the tires and oiled the chain and off I went.
The tires and brake ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Are all skewers compatible with all bikes?
I'm switching from a 1999 Rock Hopper mountain bike to a new Jamis Aurora road bike. I want to move my cheapy security skewers over to the new bike, but they look a bit different from the skewers the ...
1
vote
2answers
683 views
Disc brake pads are loose in the calipers, is this a problem?
I recently bought a new commuting bike (Norco ccx3) which has mechanical disc brakes (Promax DSK-715 Road Mechanical Disc). Thus far I've been pretty happy with them.
In the last couple of commutes, ...
1
vote
3answers
204 views
One vs Two Piece Axle?
After finding out my bike has a road rear (130 mm) & disc brakes, it's been difficult to source rear hubs. Cyclocross allows disc brakes, and more commuter/cx frames are appearing but all seem to ...
3
votes
3answers
761 views
What affordable rear brake can I get with nut/bolt rather than Allen Key?
I am looking for recommendations for a rear brake for a road brake. The problem is that I can see plenty of options for the newer 'Allen Key' style but not the older 'nut/bolt' style. I also want just ...
5
votes
2answers
3k views
Can I convert hybrid to mountain bike. Tyres and tubes?
I have a mountain bike looking frame with wheels that currently have road tyres. The bike is classified as a hybrid.
My tyres state: 28" x 1.6 (42-622)
The rim: ETRTO 622 x 18
I am having ...
16
votes
2answers
7k views
What height should drop handlebars be - relative to my saddle?
I've done most of my cycling with flat handle bars on a mountain bike. I'd like to start commuting to work though and am considering getting a road bike with drop handle bars.
The thing is though, I ...
4
votes
4answers
330 views
Building a road bike
I've seen a lot of answers here about building a fixie specifically, but I'm looking to build up a road bike. I currently have a Surly Pacer frame and fork, a Richie handlebar and stem, and that's ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
Road Shifters, Mountain Rear Derailleur?
I have a road/cyclocross/commuter frame that is currently spec'd with road components - all Shimano 105, with an Ultegra rear derailleur.
The cassette (10 spd) tops out at 27 teeth, and the rear ...
2
votes
1answer
390 views
Older road bike: squeaky crank?
I have an old Free Spirit road bike. It's in good shape and runs fine, but I started noticing that when I'm going uphill or pedaling in a high gear there is a squeaky sound coming from what seems to ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
How to get more tire clearance with caliper brakes?
I've discovered the brakes on my Bike Friday Tikit don't allow for enough clearance to run Schwalbe Marathon tires. The bike - a folding bike with 16" rims - ships with Kojak treadless tires. It looks ...
7
votes
4answers
505 views
Wheel rigidity, is it noticeable and should I care about it?
I have a friend who shopped for Aero wheels recently and I heard a lot of talk about how this wheel was more rigid than that wheel and so on.
While I understand that a more rigid wheel should have ...
5
votes
2answers
821 views
What is the purpose of the 'tire guide' screws on shimano brakes
On Shimano Ultegra and Dura-ace brake calipers there are round-head slot screws in the lower section of the brake pad holder. In the BR-6600 spare parts catalogues they are labeled as 'tire guide' ...
8
votes
3answers
300 views
Why should I not coast while training (even after intervals)?
A comment in this answer about building up stamina for a commute says not to coast, even after intervals.
Why not? How is coasting different from light pedaling with minimal load (which I'm assuming ...
1
vote
3answers
404 views
Storage or bag on road bike
I am looking for a bag to attach to my road bike that I can attach quickly without having a rack on my bike.
I saw one a few weeks ago (on someones bike) that attached to the seat post and extended ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
How to select an inexpensive road bike for a heavier rider?
I want to start riding a bike from home to work so I need to buy a bike. I don't want to spend a lot on the bike and also I'm not interested in bikes that Target and Walmart sells. I want something ...
1
vote
2answers
340 views
What is this simulator like device called?
The following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I13wJyUZL_4 has a man limp to a bike (a Pinarello) leaning against a wall, climb on to it and ride the bike for a good minute to a minute and a half, ...
12
votes
4answers
2k views
Why am I slow on flat surfaces?
I've been riding about 300 miles a week for the last 2 years. I'm not riding in races, just riding with friends. I always ride 60+ miles (95+ km), and I'm in excellent shape. I have a low end road ...
13
votes
3answers
852 views
Is there something particularly wrong with exclusively riding a mountain bike in a city setting?
I live in Davis, and I ride bikes simply for commuting around the university and around town. My last bike is a hand-me-down from my sister's friend over 6 years ago; it's pretty much on it's last ...
12
votes
7answers
2k views
How should I approach hills?
I've been biking to work 2-3 times/week this summer and I enjoy it for the most part. My big problem is that my ride is mostly downhill on the way in to work and mostly uphill on the way home. These ...
6
votes
3answers
7k views
Difference between road pedals and MTB pedals
I am interested in buying some pedals I can clip into for my bike. I currently ride a mountain bike/hybrid but I ma looking to get a road bike next year some time.
What are the differences between ...
0
votes
1answer
114 views
Does anyone know of a list of city roads with bad pavement ( NYC )
Is there a list/site out there that contains roads and pavement conditions?
I ride a road bike and some NYC roads are really beaten up, while some maintain reasonably smooth pavement. It would be ...
1
vote
4answers
290 views
New pump - Topeak |Pocket Shock
I bought this new pump, but i think I made a mistake.
I need it for my road bikes, with presta valves. I don't understand how I connect the pump to the presta.
Is it even possible? do I need an ...
10
votes
5answers
1k views
Looking for a first race worthy road bike - What should I look for?
I am a runner and have been getting into biking just to add some additional flavor to my workout schedule and racing. I am wondering what I should look for when purchasing a new road bike.
Is the ...
15
votes
2answers
2k views
What is a “road” bike? Don't they all ride on a road?
Trying to learn about bicycles. I have heard the term "road" bike a lot. What is the difference between a "road" bike and a regular bike?
20
votes
7answers
2k views
How long should a road tyre hold its pressure?
How long should a road tyre be able to maintain a pressure of around 100psi, and what factors are likely to reduce this time?
Background:
My tyre pressures are consistently dropping to around 60psi ...
4
votes
1answer
3k views
How do I stop my brake from sticking?
The rear brake (calliper) on my road bike sticks. When I pull the brake it pulls down but only half springs back and there's then slack in the leavers. This is causing rubbing on the rim.
It's a ...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I tell a bike is safe after a crash?
I was recently in an accident where a car pulled out on me. I hit the car around the front wheel and me and the bike went over the bonnet and landed on the road, the other side of the car. I was ...
2
votes
1answer
471 views
Switch front and rear tire for distributing wear [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Should I change both tires when I need to change one?
On my road bike, my rear tire has much more wear as my front tire (reported by others on this site as well).
...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
How do you adjust the set-up of road bike brakes for women with small hands
My girlfriend has recently bought her first road bike. While the frame size is pretty much spot on and comfortable for her, she finds that the brakes are difficult to use and she ends up with pain in ...
3
votes
6answers
726 views
Finding a road bike for 5'2'' girlfriend
Last year I bought myself a used (although almost never ridden) road bike from around 1985. I love the bike. It is reasonably light and I love the diamond geometry.
My girlfriend wants to get a ...
4
votes
4answers
954 views
Why aren't sportive' 'bikes popular outside the UK?
I recently bought a 'sportive' bike, i.e. very much like a road bike but with a taller head tube to give a slightly more upright, more relaxed, less 'heads-down' riding position, and a triple chainset ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
Can mountain biking shoes be used with road bikes? What are the pros and cons?
Is there anything wrong with wearing mountain biking shoes (SPD) with a road bike? I find that it makes sense because you can still walk around with them on but you still have the ability to clip in ...
6
votes
11answers
5k views
What is considered the maximum safe downhill speed on a road bike?
I've heard between 30-40mph, but I am pretty sure I have hit 45 and felt safe and in solid control of my bike. If you look down and see you are above XXmph, you decide it is time to put on the ...
3
votes
2answers
709 views
How do I evaluate the quality of a road bike?
I am specifically looking at a Fuji Finest Womans road bike - 51cm. I am not sure what year it is. The ad description says:
Women's specific geometry, 51 cm
Shimano Sora, Ritchey stem, ...
17
votes
7answers
7k views
Am I too heavy for my road bike tires?
I am wondering if bike tires have a weight limit. I have to admit, I am a large guy at 6'3" 250lb (190 cm, 113,5 kg), and I have always had issues with my road bike's tires getting pinch flats. I ...
1
vote
1answer
949 views
Riding from Los Angeles to San Francisco [closed]
Anyone ridden from LA to SF? (or SF to LA?) Just curious about the best routes, places to stay along the way etc.
Cheers!
