oahu750s

Hello all,
I am fairly new convert to the cycling scene. I started riding a lot last year after having some back issues, 19 years in the Army will do that to you The family and I bought cheap mountain bikes, plus a trailer, at Toy-R-Us so we could ride around the neighborhood. I started riding more and more and have been doing 50-70 miles a week; I decided to buy a road bike because I have set a goal to ride a century in September. After much searching, looking at the normal beginner bikes: Trek 1000, Giant OCR3, Specialized Alez, etc. I went to a bike shop yesterday looking at a 2006 OCR3, really liked it, and when the guy said they were on sale for $390 I said sold. Anyway, went for my first ride last night and felt like I was going to get a speeding ticket compared to my 30+ pound mountain bike. I am really looking forward to going on some longer rides. I am a little paranoid about damaging the rims riding on the bumpy roads around here. Anybody have any problems damaging their rims? I am talking strict road work, up and down sidewalks and such. I am sure you will see me around asking a bunch of newbie questions (after searching the forums).

Ride safe,
Chuck

cuski

Sprocket Man

Hey, another Oahu person - welcome!

I've made rims go out of true from riding on bumpy roads. Not too badly out of true, but enough to create an irritating brake pad rub. It happens, but it's less likely to happen if you don't weigh much and you maneuver around the larger potholes. Don't let it worry you too much, though. I've have a wheelset that I've ridden about 7,500 miles on so far, and it's still going strong. Just do your best to mitigate any potential for damage and you should be fine.

biffstephens

Welcome!!!

StupidlyBrave 

Stay off the sidewalks if you can. Pedestrians need a place to walk ;-)

G60

wow man, $360 that's a good deal.

blindvelcro

Hooaa another vet. Congrats on the bike. Dont ride on the sidewalk, you can really do some damage to your rims going off the curbs. Just normal bumpy roads shouldnt damage the rims too much. Just keep an eye for a wobble after you ride, and take it in to get it trued. How much do you weigh? What rims came on the bike?

JonnyV

Welcome! Glad to have ya. wow, 19 years...they wouldn't keep you for that last year for full pension and all the goodies? Anyway, I've been riding a 2002 OCR3 for 5 years now and have no complaints. Original wheels (sorry, I just can't afford lighter ones) and they've held up just fine, even with all 205lbs. of me. Good luck and have fun.

oahu750s

Thanks for all the replies! I should have said 19 and counting, will retire at 22. First, just to clarify, I am not riding on sidewalks that are made just for walkers. A lot of the sidewalks in my area are double wide made for bikes and pedestrians. Plus, have you seen all of the pedestrians getting ran over on Oahu? I am 5'10" tall and weigh 210, so I am not exactly a light rider. The tires appear to be 700 X 26C, hopefully that is the right number. For now I am running 90 psi in the tires, will experiment with pressure to see what works best.

Thanks again,
Chuck

P.S. Pictures coming soon

SSIndyRider

The rim concern is a common worry for MTB riders. That plus concerns of popping the tubes or them being unsteady due to the narrowness. None are problems in general riding. I've ridden mine on crushed gravel paths (700x25 wheels) with no adverse affect. My wife felt the way you did when I put her on a Fuji road bike - so almost peed at the speed she was riding. If you're nervous about the toeclips that came with it, take them off for a while until you're used to the bike and feel fully comfortable, then you can either put them back on or consider clipless pedals. Don't feel pressured to get clipless just because its the "right way to ride". Whatever gets you comfortably riding is the right way. I used toeclips for years and just switched to clipless this year.

TomMc1

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service to our country.

I have an OCR too and really enjoy it.

ridethecliche

Wow!

I wish deals like that were to be found in these parts!
Enjoy riding! Hopefully I'll be able to hop in on the fun soon enough!

the beef

$390 - amazing deal! Ride it like you stole it!

ridethecliche

Haha, well put.

I think it actually applies here though, that is a friggin steal!

entukay

awesome deal, thats less than a lot of used bikes in the same price range.

recursive

If you damage the wheels through normal riding, which I would find improbable, then you need some different wheels anyway. But I really doubt whether that's an issue. How much do you weigh?

oahu750s

I weigh right at 210 and am probably just being paranoid about the tires. Since this is my first road bike since high school, I had a Puch (sp?), I am still adjusting to riding this style. And I do feal like I stole it.

SDRider

You'll learn how to make yourself light for a brief moment when you run over some of the unavoidable things we all encounter on the road. As for worrying about your wheels, I wouldn't. If you damage them it's the perfect excuse to upgrade! Wheels are pretty stout though, keep your tires properly inflated (100psi or so) and you should be fine. Invest in a decent floor pump, one with a gauge, and check your pressures before each ride. You can't tell if a tire is properly inflated by feel.

If you keep riding at least 100 miles a week you should be able to do a century by September easily. Try to get in a few 50+ mile rides in the couple months before the ride and you'll do fine. I'd try to make your first century a fairly flat one though.

Stardust

Hi there,

I have switched to road bike after my MTB got trashed by unsucessful bike theives a year ago. Now I am on a Specialized Allez Sport Double 2006. I still remember the thrill I got the first evening I rode it back home from work, coz I had the bike delivered to me at my office. It was just amazing, the speed, the quick response you get from steering and accelaration.

OCR was one of the bikes I considered when I was looking for a replacement for my trahsed MTB, I just couldn't find one near me. I got mine after so many people recomending Allez Sport and I happened to find a shop selling them at a end-of-season sales.

For me the stock wheels are actually very well built, I have a couple of minor crashes arround town and the wheels are still in ture. One of my concerns now is not the potholes it is the large cracks between the slabs on the pavements. I nearly got myself thrown off the bike when my wheels perfectly logued in the crack.