iPedal

Hello all. I've been lurking and enjoying these forums and decided to join. I'm a 67 year old man returning to the road with many questions, I'm sure. I now live in SoCal, so year- round riding is in my future. I was a casual roadie(Bianchi Eros, lots of hills) for many years back in Massachusetts. When my wife had 2 bad road accidents we went to mtn biking on rail trails and forest roads in New England. Now that we're in SoCal I find myself missing skinny tires and so just bought a Felt Z100. My goals are to increase fitness, gain greater aerobic capacity, and to lose some more weight (about 10 lbs.) I'm in no rush yet am committed to improve. I'm assuming that establishing a good base with long, moderately- paced rides might be the way to go. However, I'm open to all suggestions, advice, and perhaps a training regimen. Thanks for reading about me; this is a great forum.

rck

Welcome aboard iPedal. If you've been lurking for a bit you know all ready that we are the elite of bikeforums. Pics and pie are always appreciated.

Mort Canard

Welcome iPedal! If you have been lurking for a while, you have already seen some good discussions about establishing a good aerobic base. To get started I would concentrate on frequent rides at first over duration or distance. Find a reason to get on the bike often. Do long rides as you are able to work them into your schedule and your level of fitness. Of course you will want to reach for the brass ring and go fast. Everybody does eventually.

Good to have you!

qcpmsame 

Welcome to the 50+ gang's clubhouse. Glad you got the road bike bug again, SoCal should offer you lots of time to ride. You need to post a picture of the new Felt in the N+1 for 2012 thread so we can drool over it.

BTW, what kind of PIE will you be having after the rides you get to enjoy?

Bill

iPedal

Thanks guys, here's a pic: https://www.feltbicycles.com/Resource...2012_LARGE.jpg
On my second ride I had a flat! It was a defective tube near the valve. Oh well, it's going to be fun breaking it in and I've already several routes planned. My wife makes the absolute best cherry cream cheese pie with graham cracker crust! She's been spoiling me for nigh on to forty years. Thanks for the advice and I plan on getting out a lot.

Phil85207

Welcome to the forum, be safe and ride often.

DnvrFox

Welcome. BTW, there is a socal forum, I believe.

Colonoscopy?

Can you narrow socal a bit more? You might get some ride suggestions.

iPedal

Hi DnvrFox, I live in the South Bay area of LA.

Timtruro

Nice looking ride.....welcome to the 50+ group.

BlazingPedals

No, no! We want a picture of YOUR bike. That pic isn't even a pic of a real bike. There's no valve stems on the wheels and there's no tag ends on any of the brake or derailleur cables!

stapfam

They must have seen you coming with that bike--Fancy selling you a White bike. Although popular with some factions on this forum-You find yourself cleaning it more than riding it.

But looks good spec with sensible components to give a decent ride.

Just don't post a pic up against a white garage door. Blue is better.



White seemed to be the colour at the start of the year and although I did not want a white bike- it was the only one available. Doesn't seem to affect the ride so you may be lucky.

Welcome back- but ride the bike untill it gets a grey/dirty tinge to it to save your dignity.

digibud

I'm in the "heart rate monitor is invaluable" camp. Even after using one regularly for over a year I find it very useful to help me maintain a desired workout whether that's a steady aerobic workout or for throwing some HIT (high intensity) training in. It's not unusual for me to get tired and back off too far or feel good and push too much too early on a long ride so for me the HR monitor has been very useful and key to losing some 60lb so far. Pedaling a few miles has also helped. Welcome.

bruce19

I think you are on the right track. What I've found helpful is to concentrate on spinning and to take one day a week to ride a short distance as hard as I can. I'd make sure I had some base miles in before I got into my personal TT though. I went from spinning at a typical 60-70 rpms to 90-100 rpms and it has made a great difference.

CraigB

Not only that, there's no left crank arm or pedal, either.

NOS88

Welcome aboard. You realize that you need white shoes now?

Retro Grouch 

Only till the end of the month.

az_cyclist

Welcome to the forum, iPedal.

iPedal

Ok, some great replies here. I guess the first thing is to buy some spray paint, maybe red, and get busy on that white. Next up will be to ditch the glam shot of the bike; sheesh. I'm sure as hell not going to show you a picture of my new jersey! Anyway, since posting, I've been getting out most every day getting used to the bike doing hour rides. I'm wanting to work on frequency right now. Fortunately it's really nice around here so it's easy to stay motivated. Will be changing over from death traps to clipless soon and have ordered a maintenance stand. Thinking of using a chain bath with Simple Green. Dare I ask opinions about that? Thanks again everyone, I think.;>)

stapfam

Keeping the chain clean is one good idea- and I use a ParkTool chain cleaning device. Doesn't work any better than the cheap ones about but it is sturdier and easy to use. The cleaning fluid can be expensive so look for a sensible price one. I actually use Clothes detergent in water and it is cheaper as the wife buys it. After washing there is that magic substance called WD40--or anything similar to wash out the detergent and water and that final bit of grit that stays in the chain. Then finally don't forget the chain lube. WD is not good enough.

Hour rides are fine- but occasionally take a longer ride with a break in the middle. (Pie and Coffee) In the meantime you seem to be getting on OK as we haven't heard any moans about back- or wrist- or Butt ache.

Keep riding.

qcpmsame 

Stay away from Simple Greeen and using it on any aluminum parts. The FAA has to issue an AD about it and finding severe pitting on aluminum spars in wings back around 2001-2002. I worked around the rotary and fixed wing AIMD hangers at NAS Whiting Field and the A/P maintainers told me that BuAir maint, had told them to keep it out of the hangers. Any residue where aluminum surfaces are mated it will pit the aluminum badly. A multi-step rinsing sequence is necessary if it is used. I know a lot of people use it because its strength allows you to spray and rinse but that is just what causes the problem. A good mile dish washing liquid with warm water is the best I use, Pedro's and Muc-off are two good cleaners.

Best of luck with the ride. Have a ball riding it.

Bill

iPedal

Thanks for the heads up about Simple Green. I ordered the chain bath from Park and would like additional cleaner solution suggestion. Great forum, thanks everyone.

Phil85207

I say keep it white Don't listen to those guys, there just jealous. The white looks great and you have a great bike. Ride it like you stole it.

k7baixo

If that seat turns yellow, don't blame us.

kenmcchord

Here's a picture of my new jersey...


Welcome to the forum, this place is great! I assume you've got plenty of time to spend on the bike, that's good. I'm no one to be giving advice, but let me say this... Have fun, that's really the best part of riding these contraptions.

Again welcome.

iPedal

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I got the white on purpose just to piss off the insecure haters;>) Just kidding, it looks really good on the Felt with the graphics and I've had many other colors over the years. Yeah, fun's the thing and that's not hard here as there's so many options. I also have a mtn bike I still use as well. There are some great trails up here in the Santa Monica Mtns. Right now I'm wanting to lay down a good base of hours/miles to increase my fitness as I like to hike up in the Sierra. So many options and so much time now that I'm retired.