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OK so my brother just bought me a bike, and the last time I rode a bike I was about 10 and it was on the pavement so I am feeling a little nervous about going out and actually having to ride on the road with big four wheeled monsters all around me sweat

I was just wondering if any experienced riders can give me little tips to stop me looking like such a noob on the road.

tips on how to secure my bike, items I should definitely own, things I should look out for while riding etc....

Any helpful sites would be nice too

Thanks to anyone who helps me out

Originally posted by Piggle Humsy
OK so my brother just bought me a bike, and the last time I rode a bike I was about 10 and it was on the pavement so I am feeling a little nervous about going out and actually having to ride on the road with big four wheeled monsters all around me sweat

I was just wondering if any experienced riders can give me little tips to stop me looking like such a noob on the road.

tips on how to secure my bike, items I should definitely own, things I should look out for while riding etc....

Any helpful sites would be nice too

Thanks to anyone who helps me out

Definitely use a back light, if not a front one, if you ride at night. Helmet if you're expecting to come off. Other than that, it's just a matter of experience. Stay near the kerb when in the road, assume no one sees you, watch out for overtaking cars.

Securing your bike: depends if you have wheels that are bolted on, or quick release. If they're quick release, you need to lock them as well.

Either use two D shaped locks, or one and a cable for the wheels. Make sure you actually lock the bike to something decent (preferably a bike rack), and make sure you put the lock THROUGH the frame. So many people put the lock round the wheel, or seatpost, and the bike isn't actually locked up.

wow thanks, that is some really good advice, especially the last bit

I was worried about locking it up, as I've never done it before.

Everything said above, but also, you don't have to ride it down the M25.

If you're just buying it for leisure, you needn't go to any large roads.

-AC

I'm buying it to get in shape, and I'm pretty sure bicycles aren't allowed on the M25 anyways...

but yes I will be sticking to local small roads, and designated riding areas where i can.

Nothing said above, but also, which bike is it?

Pro-Bike.

-AC

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
Nothing said above, but also, which bike is it?

I didn't have a clue so I looked it up online...

Apollo XC.26 Womens Off Roader

Here is a pic

Are the wheels quick-release? I can't see properly there.

That is to say, do you remove them with a spanner, or can you just move a lever and take them off?

No, They are bolted on.

I've been reading up about bikes so I know what quick release means now

In that case, just buy a good D-lock. Lock it between the middle of the frame and whatever you want to lock it to.

Kryptonite make very good ones.

ok, Thanks for the help thumbup

cycling is for people who are too lazy to walk..

Walking is for people who are too lazy to cycle.

if god wanted us to cycle he would of given us wheels, u swine

Originally posted by Deano
if god wanted us to cycle he would of given us wheels, u swine

If God didn't want us to cycle he wouldn't have invented bikes.

You cun

Originally posted by Deano
cycling is for people who are too lazy to walk..

Then I am admittedly too lazy to walk somewhere in heat when I can ride, get there faster, enjoy the view more casually and have a breeze.

Cycling is actually better for you.

-AC

i was only joking with yall!

i love cycling. i cycle to work and back every day. people whp travel short distances in cars tho..thats pretty lazy

I bet you go to work by plane.

-AC

i go to work on a barracuda

Do you work on an oil rig?

why would you ask such a terrible thing?

Just wondered where else you could work and travel on a barracuda.

its the name of my bike

See, I thought it was a fish of that name, and not a bike of that make.

That's where the confusion existed.

It is too late to get back on topic?

leftright

Nah. Although it would have helped if you had said something on topic.

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
See, I thought it was a fish of that name, and not a bike of that make.

That's where the confusion existed.

i understand. i deliberated said i ride a barracude in the hope of confusing. the mission was a success , now i can leave..

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
Nah. Although it would have helped if you had said something on topic.

Good point....

um.. so bikes.. mine has 2 wheels and pedals...
and a little bell that goes ding ding ding...

leftright

So what do you guys usually wear while cycling?

I don't want to wear the cycling lycra stuff.. no2

what else does it have on this magnificant machine?

Originally posted by Deano
what else does it have on this magnificant machine?

um gears... and reflectors... and handlebars...

I've just come back from my first proper (ish) bike ride...
Meaning I went further than just up and down the road...
and I am in a state of disrepair faint
I knew I was unfit but man I never realised how unfit until just now...
I feel like I'm dying!

Hopefully if I do that every night it will soon start to feel easier...
of course I did punish myself at first as I had it on the hardest gear without realising for a while...

by the way.. can someone explain gears to me.. properly... I get the basic gist but would like a little more info on them...

This is the first bike I've owned which had gears so I've no clue really, and the booklet it came with mentioned nothing..
It goes up to 3 on the left and 6 on the right..

Thanks

Originally posted by Piggle Humsy
um gears... and reflectors... and handlebars...

I've just come back from my first proper (ish) bike ride...
Meaning I went further than just up and down the road...
and I am in a state of disrepair faint
I knew I was unfit but man I never realised how unfit until just now...
I feel like I'm dying!

Hopefully if I do that every night it will soon start to feel easier...
of course I did punish myself at first as I had it on the hardest gear without realising for a while...

by the way.. can someone explain gears to me.. properly... I get the basic gist but would like a little more info on them...

This is the first bike I've owned which had gears so I've no clue really, and the booklet it came with mentioned nothing..
It goes up to 3 on the left and 6 on the right..

Thanks

It's always hard at first, even if you're fit. You gradually get used to it though. In a few weeks you'll be able to ride miles without ever feeling tired.

You have 18 gears. On the left, you are selecting between 1-6, 7-12, and 13-18. The one on the right is for choosing which number between those ranges.

So 2 and 2 would be gear 8. Your best bet is to find a comfortable gear in 2 on the left, and then just move the right gears up or down, depending on whether you want to have an easier gear, or a harder one.

The lower the gear, the less pedalling resistance- so if you're going up a slope, change to an easy gear. If you want to go faster, change to a harder gear.

i always keep it in an high gear when going up an hill because i am hard.....

Yeah, I change to square wheels.

Oooo, I'm getting myseld a lovely mountain bike soon. It goes by the name of 'Giant NRS 3'. So nice, so pretty, so disc brakes, so full suspension, and so Shimano Deore. I'm excited. There are so many excellent trails around where I live...hehehehehe.

I change to just the wheel.

Originally posted by Ya Krunk'd Floo
Oooo, I'm getting myseld a lovely mountain bike soon. It goes by the name of 'Giant NRS 3'. So nice, so pretty, so disc brakes, so full suspension, and so Shimano Deore. I'm excited. There are so many excellent trails around where I live...hehehehehe.

Hahahahahahaha.

Well funny.

-AC

Originally posted by Ya Krunk'd Floo
Oooo, I'm getting myseld a lovely mountain bike soon. It goes by the name of 'Giant NRS 3'. So nice, so pretty, so disc brakes, so full suspension, and so Shimano Deore. I'm excited. There are so many excellent trails around where I live...hehehehehe.

I've got...104 Giants.

(One).

What name does your giant go by? '104'? '(One)'? 'Little Timmy'?

Do tell, dear boy. Do tell...

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
I've got...104 Giants.

(One).

See what I mean? Actually visualise that which I refer to.

-AC

Help me out here, AC. I'm sure his Giants are loaded, but I can't see how...

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
See what I mean? Actually visualise that which I refer to.

-AC

Would have been more accurate if you said 'that which I intend'.

You should have seen the first edit; he didn't even use 'that'.

It was amazing.

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
It's always hard at first, even if you're fit. You gradually get used to it though. In a few weeks you'll be able to ride miles without ever feeling tired.

You have 18 gears. On the left, you are selecting between 1-6, 7-12, and 13-18. The one on the right is for choosing which number between those ranges.

So 2 and 2 would be gear 8. Your best bet is to find a comfortable gear in 2 on the left, and then just move the right gears up or down, depending on whether you want to have an easier gear, or a harder one.

The lower the gear, the less pedalling resistance- so if you're going up a slope, change to an easy gear. If you want to go faster, change to a harder gear.

Thanks for the good advice, it makes alot more sense now

Originally posted by Deano
i always keep it in an high gear when going up an hill because i am hard.....
Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
Yeah, I change to square wheels.

hysterical

I also added a third part.

-AC

Drop it like it's hot.

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
I also added a third part.

-AC

Which I chose to ignore.

-PH

j/k I never noticed it before... I'll react now, just for you..

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
I change to just the wheel.

-AC

lolabove

That's right, I run game 'round these parts.

-AC

Just point at his criminally inept physicality and laugh. He enjoys the attention.

i once fell off my bike and broke me back in four different places...if you had what i had you woudnt of left the house.....i did leave the house...i broke it...near me arse

Originally posted by Deano
i once fell off my bike and broke me back in four different places...if you had what i had you woudnt of left the house.....i did leave the house...i broke it...near me arse

Be honest, Deano. That wasn't a bike you fell off, was it? You were 'riding' something though, weren't you?

...

Originally posted by Ya Krunk'd Floo
Be honest, Deano. That wasn't a bike you fell off, was it? You were 'riding' something though, weren't you?

...

Hahahaha.

He's implying something, I swear. I know what he's bloody like.

You watch.

your naughty minds i dunno tut.

that post above is from a film i saw recently. a bloody good film too!

''a room for romeo brass''

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
Hahahaha.

He's implying something, I swear. I know what he's bloody like.

You watch.

Damn it! I was trying to fly that one under your radar! You're as sharp as a tree!

(Deano, only read this bit: I wasn't implying anything. Honest.)

ok so seeing as my previous question went unnoticed I'll ask again....

what do you cyclists wear?
jeans... proper cycling gear... nothing but a fig leaf?? hmm

Originally posted by Piggle Humsy


ok so seeing as my previous question went unnoticed I'll ask again....

what do you cyclists wear?
jeans... proper cycling gear... nothing but a fig leaf?? hmm

Whatever you happen to be wearing...

Jeans are never a good idea. Nor a suit... or scuba diving gear.

And so on.