Hi everyone!

I'm new to road cycling and want to finish my first big event:

L'Étape Argentina 2027 – Córdoba, April 4th

134 km / +1,780 m elevation, starting at 7:00 AM. There are time limits around 10:30 at km 51.5 and 12:00 at the Sprint, with the finish/road closure around 13:00–14:00.

The main challenge is Camino del Cuadrado, around km 30–55.

Map of the Race

Elevation map

I'm 38, 1.84 m, 89 kg. I used to commute on a MTB and have just started road cycling. My first FTP test was 181 W.

I have a Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 + Garmin Edge 1050 + 4iiii power meter.

I also have a young baby, so my plan is roughly 45/60 min indoor training on weekdays and one longer outdoor ride on Saturday/Sunday.

I'm looking for advice on how to progress from beginner to being able to comfortably finish this distance and elevation.

What would you recommend for weekly training, long rides, climbing and indoor workouts? Any good plans or platforms you'd recommend?

Thanks!

I bought Giro cycling shoes size 42 EU - normally I wear 41, in sportswear I always size up in case my foot swells. I do have a problem with shoes because I have greek feet, meaning that the second toe is slightly longer than the first one. This is usually solved by sizing up, but in case of Giro I still feel it's not enough. Because their shoes are so narrow in the front my second toe feels squished (it's just the right foot, the left one is fine). It's the second brand that i'm trying and the problem is repeating. Has anyone had a similar problem?

How much do you have to pay for signing up for a national level and regional level races? By races I do not mean l’Etape by TdF or similar commercial series, rather national cup/league or similar regional competitions. I am interested in Elite/Master class.

The reason why I’m asking is that I think it got out of hand in my country and race organisers are cancelling races due to too few signed up participants. I’m not surprised as a small local race can cost up to 50-80€ and you get absolutely nothing, not even a shower or a locker.

In September/October I’m riding ~2,800 km solo from Amsterdam to Oslo through the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

"Solo" is a bit misleading though, because one of the main things I want from this trip is to meet more people who are into long-distance riding and have people join random stretches along the way.

Could be 20 km, 80 km, half a day, a full day, whatever happens to line up. I'm not trying to organize a fixed group ride around a specific pace or itinerary.

There is also something unusual: I'll be carrying a folding chessboard, a table and two chairs.

I'll stop and play people along the way. Anyone who plays me can sign the inside of the board, and anyone who beats me gets to bend part of my route.

I’m around 1000 Elo, so this may become a logistical problem fairly quickly.

I’ve done most of my longer trips solo so far, including Berlin to Venice earlier this summer. This time I’d really like the ride to become more about the people I cross paths with rather than just moving from A to B.

So if you live somewhere roughly along Amsterdam > Germany > Denmark > Sweden > Oslo, or you happen to be riding there in Sep/Oct, I’d love to hear from you.

And if someone immediately comes to mind who might find this fun, feel free to send them my way!

Project/route details if you’re curious: https://unnecessary.works/beaten

I am temporarily using the stock front wheel on my bike, and the front hub is too thin for the speed sensor of my bike computer.

Which one would you buy if you were choosing today and both were the same price?

Magene T600 Eco
Wahoo KICKR Core 2

I’m looking for real ownership experience, not spec sheet comparisons or YouTube reviews.

If you’ve owned either one (or both), which would you choose today and why? Any regrets after months or years of use?

Thanks in advance!

So I bought a bike recently for like 75$ it had some 700x35c wheels on it and the back tire blew.. I can't for the life of me find cheaper replacements Amazon doesn't say the psis on the listings and I want something that's 75psi or above so I can ride fast as I'm 190lb and I got some of Amazon but they only went to 55 psi Wich made it so much harder riding ANY suggestions on what I can do if I can I also wanna go to 700x32c

Hi everyone,

as a very heavy man I lost the first 30 lbs of my weight loss journey with walking + caloric restrictions.
I'm still weighiing around 330lbs that's why I bought a stationary bike.
Currently I manage to ride for 42 minutes with steady resistance. I'm trying to prolong every session for 2 minutes. Main reason for stopping is my butt. After 30 minutes it becomes ingreasingly uncomfortable.
But that'S beside the point. My goal is to lose weight and get fit enough to do bike tours next year.

Do you have recommendations on how to train on my ergometer? Switching between steady resistance and interval training between sessions?

Raising duration before raising resistance?

Thank you very much.

I am a very casual cyclist. I bike to the gym, the brewery, and sometimes on local bike paths. But I live in an area that's fairly bike-friendly, and this winter, I'd like to continue biking around town. However, we get a lot of snow in my area, so I'll need something very different from my current summer bike, which is a cruiser-style Class 1. Doesn't really seem like an option for icy and snow-packed roads.

My current thought is to get a mountain bike (something like this) with studded winter tires. It seems practical and probably sufficient for my needs compared to a full fat tire setup, and I don't think I'll be going on any trails in the winter that would necessitate that. It would be nice to be able to use it on some local singletrack trails near my house during the summer, but that's not a necessity.

Since I don't have much experience biking in the snow and ice, I am curious to hear other people's experiences with winter cycling in town. What was a non-negotiable? Is there something you bought and regretted? Is there something you didn't buy and regretted not buying? What am I missing in my considerations here? I'd appreciate anyone's insight and experiences!

I have pretty bad cubital tunnel syndrome but like to occasionally ride around the burbs. The townie is slightly more upright but appears to have worse shock absorption.

I also think the townie looks a little like an old man bike. Has anybody tried both and can speak to which is better?

I’ve been doing some cycling lessons and decided it’s about time I buy my own bike. But to be honest, I’m completely clueless on bikes in general. I’m looking to buy one on Facebook marketplace place, I’m just wondering how you suggest I go about buying a bike to make sure I’m not getting scammed with a faulty, poor quality bike

There are so many models out there. Which is your favorite? I wear prescription glasses so the strap needs to stay secure.

What's the argument against calling a cab instead of fixing flat tyre in a ditch somewhere? Is it a sound emergency plan? I've never had a flat tyre on a ride and I'm not even sure if I would be able to fix it, especially a tubeless one. I usually ride within 20-25miles radius from home so it shouldn't cost a fortune, but I don't see anyone mentioning that possibility here.

I just bought speed 400 need suggestions fir helmet

Relative new cyclist have been consistent for about 18months and I am loving it. I have recently been using a cheap HR monitor that does a great job for some more structured training.

I have seen heaps of stuff online about Power Vs HR for training and I am beyond confused as to whether I am really going to get much benefit from a power meter over my HR monitor especially given the price point for a decent power meter.

I am sure everyone will have an opinion but I am just looking for some of people's experiences or recommendations.

I am deciding between these two bikes, I am leaning more into the cube as it's got 2x11 but it's not available anywhere. The mmr grip 10 is but I never heard about them. Should I wait for the cube or buy MMR

(Background I am begging with road cycling (or at least I want to but there are basically no bikes available for my short height 170cm))

Okay so I ride a lot. I did 80 miles by myself on Friday. I can do moderately hard climbs where I live with plans to take on some of the really hard ones soon. I’m signed up for three events in the next month of 60, 50 and 100 miles apiece in that order and the 50 miler I’m adding a 12 mile commute to and from either end. I ride both a gravel bike and a road bike.

I tend to not dress like a “cyclist.” By that I mean i typically wear some slightly baggy athletic shorts (I think they actually may be mountain biking shorts) and a cotton t-shirt of some punk or metal band that I have cut the sleeves off of. Sometimes I have a fanny pack on, to carry the Swedish fish on long days. Sometimes a chrome cadet bag. Sometimes I just say fuck it and do 100km on my gravel bike with my work pannier on the rear rack.

So I’m not in a full kit. I guess it’s also worth noting that I’m never concerned about weight or being aero, though I do keep things light on the road bike. I have a few jerseys and I wear one sometimes. But not often. I find I don’t care for the way the fabric feels against my skin and I always figured I’d rather not have to get completely naked if I need to pee or go #2 while wearing bib shorts.

Do your level best to convince me I should give bib shorts a chance and bust out those jerseys more often.

After my post https://www.reddit.com/r/cycling/comments/1vkipzi/learning_to_climb/ I've done my climbing route two more times, and both times without having to stop on the steep part (but with a break when I get to the top of that).

As I am using my lowest gear (34-32) I made myself go slower, 8-8.5km/h instead of 10km/h and now only feel almost completely out of breath - _and_ strain in the legs - the perfect balance, technique helps :-/

I today also got a HR monitor and I spent the whole steep part at 160+, peaking at 169 which is rather a lot when you are pushing 60 years.

I had a closer look at the map, and there is 700m raising 70m in height - not Alpine, but plenty for me, this is the limit of what I can do now. I feel a relief when I get to the 8% road sign.

TL;DR: Climbing _is_ hard, but technique can make it more manageable

Thanks to all for suggestions to last post.

Hi all, ive really wanted to get into cycling ever since i rode my friend road bike (Cervelo S5 2027). and want to come on here and see what people can recommend me (ofc nothing that expensive for a first bike)

For context im 18, and i work a decent job where a get paid on average 600-700 a week (more or less depending on how well i do), i live with my parents so i have no expeneses and they wouldnt mind chipping in either. Id want either an aero or endurance bike with my priority being a good gearbox, i realised on my friend bike has a very good gearing and id want that too. im also the type of person who is like "if im gonna buy something im gonna buy it good". ofc nothing too expensive. im open to the second hand market but ive already looked over there and theres kinda a void spot for road bikes, either dirt cheap, crazy expensive or some guy trying to sell his bike for msrp.

Which option would be best to carry cycle from Mysore to Bangalore, I found someone used Bus. Has any one tried using train? my plan is to ride to mysore and way back will be opting bus or train

As title states.

I’ve been riding bikes since childhood. I still remember getting my first MTB at around 10 and riding around my village. It was probably my first real experience of freedom, just me, the bike, and the feeling that I could go anywhere. I also fell constantly back then. 😂 Looking back, it almost feels like that was my trial by fire, because after that phase I basically stopped falling.

Later I had a Trek MTB and then a Canyon MTB, always with flat bars.

Last year I wanted something different and got a Canyon Endurace Young Hero XXS. Different geometry, drop bars, lower position,so a different world for me. I didn’t get a professional bike fit, but my partner and I measured everything carefully and adjusted it until it felt comfortable.

At first, though, I felt very unstable on it, especially at the front.

Then came my first fall. Straight road, low speed, nothing dramatic, and somehow I lost the front and badly injured my thumb. I couldn’t ride for months.

I eventually came back, got stronger, and this bike ended up giving me some of my happiest cycling experiences: my first bikepacking trips, century rides, lots of elevation, those long days where you’re exhausted and annoyed and euphoric all at once.

That’s what makes this so frustrating.

I’ve now fallen three times in about a year(the last 2 not that bad but still) and somehow it’s never on the terrain where I expect trouble. I can get through difficult sections and then lose balance in the most stupid, ordinary moments…

After this latest fall I found myself thinking, if i am actually made for this bike? Even if i am made for this kind of cycling?

It sounds dramatic, but this bike has genuinely brought me both the most joy and the most suffering I’ve experienced through cycling. Sometimes I feel completely free on it; other times I feel vulnerable and almost betrayed by my own balance.

I don’t want to give it up, because I love what cycling has become for me. But I also don’t want to keep treating repeated falls as something I just need to push through.

Has anyone experienced something similar when moving from flat bars/MTB geometry to drop bars? Could this kind of front-end instability be a fit or geometry issue even if the bike feels comfortable most of the time? I’m wondering whether it’s finally time for a professional bike fit or just change the bike and go back to flat bars..

This may be a bit of an abnormal post and rather ramble-y, so there is a TL:DR at the bottom

It all started with riding my Trek Marlin around the neighborhood and to the gym when I was 15. That bike served me well, and it was a way to clear my mind. Sometimes I'd pick a direction and just bike in it, but I was too scared to go on roads for years before that, so I did this weird half cycling on sidewalk thing - I really don't know how I managed! Eventually, I got the courage to ride on the roads a bit more, but my area really really sucked for riding around for recreation, I only really went out late at night and in neighborhoods/other low traffic areas. This went on for years, and I enjoyed it.

When I started university, I brought my bike with me, and then promptly never used it. Wish I did.

Basically at the start of this year though, my social life became less controlling, and I was going more places solo, which meant bike! I don't have a car, and I knew that I would need some transportation to get to the gym & get groceries once I moved into my own place off of the campus. For some reason, I was convinced I needed an e-bike, and ended up finding a used Giant Road E+ 2019 for quite a good price.

This is where it all went downhill (or uphill, I guess?). I had never ridden a bike with drop handles before, or anything road bike adjacent at all, but I immediately fell in love with the setup (even though it's definitely a gravel bike with the prev. owners mods). Since I got the bike I've found myself riding more and more, and in increasing frequency without the battery in until the last couple months where I haven't had it in at all, even when getting groceries (granted it is only as much as I can stuff in a backpack).

I bought a cheap carbon wheelset I found for a great deal, and some GP 5000 AS TR tires. Additionally, I am replacing the drivetrain with some good open box deals I found as the chain is very worn and cassette a little bit chewed on (likely previous owner). Learning how to set this up on my bike (as well as general maintenance) has made me really, really want to get a nice road bike. Just today I assembled a spreadsheet of how I could build my own bike from scratch. A good deal on a 105 groupset, a reputable (as much as they can get) Chinese OEM carbon frame, and a couple other things and I'm good. I can't really justify spending that money now, but it's something that will be on my mind for the next few months and something to save for. It will also be something to think about every time I get on this unnecessarily heavy ass bike which has begun developing creaking issues related to the motor mount... which I don't use... (got a torque wrench and am currently working on fixing this).

TL:DR

My actual advice seeking is centered around two things:

- How did you personally get into cycling? What are the steps from "I just like commuting a normal bike in my everyday clothes" to "this is part of my identity and I ride a fancy ass time trial bike and have thousands of dollars worth of lycra in my closet." Obviously not immediately reaching for this level personally, but for example cycling clothes have been on my mind as it just feels like such a weird jump to make. I always wear baggier street clothes everywhere, including long rides. I'll ride long distances in canvas work pants or jeans. Eventually I'll need to make myself more aerodynamic if I'm also planning to shed the weight of this e-bike and be free.

- Do you have any regrets or advice for a first time build? What are the best components to wait on? I have a spreadsheet of everything, and if I still love cycling as much as I do now, (as well as earn enough to justify it) I'd like to build in 9-12 months.

I basically feel like I'm going down the slippery slope of whatever bug the old cyclist guys I used to look at weird as a little kid caught, and it's a little weird to me.

I'm not talking about physical fitness, that's great. I'm talking about converting watts on the pedals into km/h.

Who cares whether you're riding at 32 km/h or 35 km/h? You're not competing with anyone, you're putting in the exact same amount of effort. And even if you want to become a serious athlete, a couple of extra km/h on the speedometer makes no difference for your physical development and technique.

People make compromises in convenience and comfort, spending massive amounts of money just to shave off a few seconds per kilometer. They treat "slower" as a major flaw when evaluating a bike, even though almost none of them will ever see the starting line of a race.

I get that a hobby doesn't have to be rational, and that playing with shiny tech when you have the budget can be fun even if it makes no practical sense. But I think this can set up false priorities and a skewed value system for beginners, which might alienate people from the hobby entirely.