Paul 8 posts since
Jan 4, 2008
3.
Re: First Timer for June 1, 2008 Tahoe Century Bike Ride Jan 6, 2008 10:21 AM
in response to:
ant1464
Good choice of bike. Some people report that the Dolce Elite front derailleur will require careful adjusment to ensure smooth shifting. All new bikes should be serviced after about 50 miles of riding because the new cables stretch a little bit and need to be tightened.
Sounds like the right kind of bike shop, too. Spending the time and effort to get a good bike fitting is an excellent idea.
Toe clips are a good choice to start with (well, and they are no extra charge!). However, if you can afford clip-in pedals and good stiff-soled cycling shoes, the investment will pay off by the time you get to Tahoe. Most people learn to clip in and out pretty quickly. If you have the opportunity to put the bike on a trainer for a few hours, you can get the knack without have the embarassing experience of forgetting to clip out as you slow coming up to your first stop sign and falling over at zero miles per hour. Kind of like a Monty Python skit! Usually, that first silly fall is all it takes to remember to clip out.
It is worth learning to use clip-in pedals because you can develop a more efficient pedaling style over time.
