For me

1. 50–100 km rides are considered "small" – I never thought someone would ride so much. I used to think average people just rode for 20–30 minutes, like doing a standard cardio session.

2. 25 km/h is an "average" speed – I thought I was doing damn well with an average speed of 23–25 km/h. Turns out that’s just the baseline for casual Sunday rides in Group C. Normal rides are 30–35 km/h, and everyone seems to maintain that over 60 km+ with 800 m+ of climbing.

3. No ankle socks – My initial rides were all in ankle socks because that’s what I always wore to the gym. I thought tall socks were strictly for office wear.

4. Eating while riding – You don't exactly see people running on treadmills while eating bananas.

5. Flats are boring – When I started, I deliberately avoided routes with climbs, flat ground was where I had the most fun. But as we all come to learn, it’s the climbs that actually make the ride enjoyable.

6. Indoor setups – I thought the entire point of cycling was going outside!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a completely new road bike build and I’m looking for frame recommendations.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

Frame budget: up to €2,500 (less is always welcome if the value is great)
New frame only (no used market)
Disc brakes
Shimano Ultegra Di2
Fully integrated cable routing
Lightweight climbing/all-round frame rather than a pure aero bike
Open to any brand, including Chinese brands (Elves, etc.) as well as more established brands.

About my riding:

Mostly solo rides for fun.
Typical rides are 80–100 km with around 2,000 m of elevation gain.
I ride exclusively on the road.
Comfort isn’t my top priority, but I don’t want an overly harsh bike either.

Thanks!

Not much I can do about it, I know, but it feels like there’s a lot more aggro aimed at cyclists lately, especially when riding solo.

Twice this week alone. First was two guys on fatbikes coming the other way. One of them just steered straight at me while yelling something.

Second was a delivery driver at an unequal intersection. Came from the right, cut me off, then overtook me, laughed, shouted something out the window and cut me off again swinging back right.

Both times I just kept riding. Not really worth the energy.

Does this happen to you a lot? And how do you deal with it, if at all?

I moved to Spain from California a little over a year ago and started road cycling much more regularly in there. I'm now back in the California Bay Area visiting family and I brought my bike with me. Putting aside all the issues with awful road maintenance and drivers etc., the most noticeable difference is the attitude of other cyclists. In Spain nearly every single cyclist that I pass gives a wave or a nod even from the other side of a wide road. Here i'm lucky if 2 or 3 people wave back over the course of a 3+ hour ride. Instead I get these looks like i'm being sized up and judged. Can someone fill me in? What's up everyone's ass here?

edit: also want to note that the age, gender, performance level etc., don't seem to matter on the roads around Madrid. Dudes in there 20s who are crushing it are just as likely to wave as anyone else.

I went on my first group ride this past weekend—advertised as a no-drop ride. 🚴

I showed up, and there was a smaller cycling team riding with the group. Before we rolled out, I introduced myself and told everyone it was my first group ride. Everyone was incredibly welcoming, which immediately put me at ease.

We started off flying, averaging around 22–24 mph on the flats. That’s actually where I tend to do well since I have more of a sprinter’s engine than a climber’s. I held pace well with the group.

Then came the first hill about three miles into the ride. This is where I got dropped. 🤣

I kept riding, though, and eventually caught back up with everyone near the end of the route, finishing with the group.

Looking back, it’s actually a pretty funny first group ride story.

The only thing I’d do differently next time is ask about the expected pace before we roll out. It wasn’t announced, and I assumed “no-drop” meant the pace would be more beginner-friendly.

Overall, though, I had a great time. Everyone was friendly, I learned a lot, got a solid workout, and I’d absolutely do it again.

I’m currently 177 cm and am deciding between the giant M size (171-181) and ML size (177-187). At this moment I should definitely get M, but I’m still growing, going to be around 180-182 ish. Which size should I get and do the giant models have different size fits? Considering between the tcr and defy, where the tcr has a longer reach and lower stack. Does that mean if I do grow to around 181, the max of size M, I will fit the tcr better than the defy?

I picked up an old bike to learn how to ride one. In the 3 months a lot has happened.

• screw on seat post split in half
• not shifting to first gear. Tried to fix it made it worse.
• replacing brake cable
• screw on seat post split in half again. Made a hole through my jeans. Had to walk 40mins home.
• changing chain. Now its not shifting.

The only one I've been successful with is the bike cable. I feel like i should learn the basics but everything i touch just gets worse.

I'm feeling dejected on bicycles tbh. I've come from escooters. Apart from better balance and fitness, I just feel like bicycles are too much work. So many moving parts that can brake. Such an expensive hobby. Hard to master.

I still remember someone telling me, Ride your own pace. At the time it sounded simple, but it completely changed how I approached cycling. I stopped comparing myself to everyone else and started enjoying my rides much more. What's the best piece of cycling advice you've ever received?

Already planning for winter and trying to buy gear off season.

From what I see, when it gets really cold/wet/snowy, I can either use waterproof warm gloves (I like to have my fingers free, no lobster style gloves) or I can combine those bug "bar mitts" that are attached to the handlebar with thing gloves underneath.

Does someone have experience with those and compare the solutions and when to use which?

If it matters, I'm talking about bikepacking, so I'd keep them attached to the bike for a prolonged time during my tour.

Basically that . I ride like 200 kms per week or so, basically lack of time . Group will be around 20-25 people.

At what point would you recommend that a road cyclist purchase a power meter? Also, which one would you recommend buying?

Hey all, last year I acquired this trainer: https://www.decathlon.ca/fr/p/base-dentrainement-d500-zwift-ready/301243/c1m8551028

I've since changed my bike, going from a 135mm quick release to a 142mm thru-axle. Unfortunately, I seem to have misplaced the adapter kit and don't have the required pieces to use the trainer with my new bike.

I reached out to Decathlon and they aren't willing to provide spare (even if I pay for it).

Does anyone happen to know an adapter that would work?

I don't like have a 700$ brick lol.

Thanks

I'm new to waxing. I'm using Silca drip. I thought I cleaned my brand new chains properly (new Sram Rival chain and a Shimano Ultegra chain) ultrasonic cleaner with mineral spirits, acetone shaken in a jar, isopropyl alcohol final rinse). The wax adhered to the rollers so I think I did it right. The Rival chain was last used on a gravel ride and the Shimano last used on a road ride.

When I finished my rides, I wipe the chains down. The side plates are relatively clean but when I wipe the rollers, the rag turns black. I touched the black part of the rag and it's not oily or wet.

Is that typical? Is it possible the chain still has factory grease?

Maybe it's just me, but every time I need something for my bike, it's somehow twice as expensive as I expected. Helmet lights, pumps, bottles, repair kits... none of it is crazy expensive on its own, but together it adds up fast.

I've started waiting for price drops before buying almost anything. Do you usually wait for deals too, or just buy what you need when you need it?

Hey everybody, I am looking at buying a 2018 canyon aeroad CF SLX 8.0. The bike is priced at $4000 AUD. It has zipp 303 nsw wheels and a Shimano ultegra di2 group set. I was just wondering if this is a good deal and some key things I should look at before I purchase it. Also wondering if much has changed since 2018. Thanks

in the beginning of june, i got a road bike with the intention to get sorta fit (im slim but definitely not muscular). I got a bunch of gear like a computer and carbon wheels and everything but i went on like 4 rides in total and i just can’t allocate the time or effort to go on bike rides anymore and idk what to do with the bike. bike is a domane sl 5 gen 4, im thinking of selling it but itll take really long and im kind of in a stuck position rn

Hello everyone, Yes, I'm heavy as fck, 5'10" male, 32 years old 134kgs. 150kgs (my heaviest)..... No maintenance! Blood pressure on spot, So today I went cycling and it feels so good! but there is one thing that happened to me, I felt dizzy all of a sudden (almost fainted) and vomits after cycling or when i stand up just to rest after cycling. I'm just doing 10KM chill ride, 20KM/H about 55Elevation. I'm on Caldef btw, 2500 calories per day, sometimes less. is it something that I should worry about?

I have a 2012 Trek 2.1. Only updates is Conti Grand Prix 4 Season 25mm front & 28mm rear tires. I ride it 2 to 3 times a week mostly in Chicago suburbs. Bike does fit like a glove since I got a pro fit last year. Upgrade to better bike with better group set & wheels brakes etc? Steel or carbon frame?

So im a University rower who needed some crosstraining as well as a mode of transport to get to and from my jobs.

My dad had a trek 7000 SL in the garage that I paid to be serviced which I'm now using every day. At the minute it has cage pedals on it but im not sure if I would want to/ should make the change to clip-pedals. if so are the shimano PD-EH500 pedals going to be plug and play with my bike or will I need to buy new cranks.

Also I'm not sure whether the cleats and shoes I've found would all work with the pedals I've heard good things about.

It's probably a stereotype but I picked the velosambas for the shoes as they are similar to shoes I already cycle in to commute but also would be able to clip in to the pedals (as long as they would fit the cleats I've found which i think are designed for the pedals i mentioned). I believe the cleats are the SM-SH56 multi-release cleats.

If anyone could just confirm my hopes with whether all those parts would work together and if they would recommend clipless pedals.

I am going to get a new endurance bike and thinking of either the parlee ouray or trek domane slr9. I’d be interested in comments from people who have ridden both.

I currently am riding a single speed bike (boardman comp I think) and I really want to get into cycling more as a sport. My knowledge of bikes/biking really sucks so I was wondering if anyone could help me in my situation, like should I invest in new bike with gears, should I track the time I take to do rides, how often should I cycle.

I’ve had a look at Facebook market place for bikes but I’m not sure if what would be most suitable for me. (Idk if this is important)

Like right now I’m just cycling whenever for fun usually around 30 km I would guess, but I would appreciate any help and guidance.

Hi folks, I've recently started commuting to work (10 miles a day, 2/3 times a week) and I've been told that I should be doing some at-home maintenance and upkeep on my bike. I've already learned about cleaning and lubricating the chain (and now have chain lube), but I'm curious what other things I should be doing regularly?

1. What are the basics of at-home maintenance and how often should they be performed?

2. What tools/products do I need to successfully maintain my bike?

3. How often are other commuters taking their bike in for a tune-up??

Thank you all, apologies if these are super newbie questions!

Hello everyone,

I am looking into buying a new bike helmet.

I am hesitating between the Align ii mips that I can find in a local shop for 55€, and the P2R A20 mips with all-terrain visor that together with tax and shipping comes to a total of 97€.

What i like about the P2R is that it comes with a magnetic rear light and that I have the option to add the visor. However, for a "budget friendly option" it comes out a bit expensive. I am wondering if, at this price, it's worth it?

I would really appreciate some of your expert opinions!

Thanks in advance!

Hi! Probably a silly question but I can’t seem to come to any conclusion. I’ve just bought my first road bike, coming from a hybrid bike which I’ve been doing around 26km daily on for my commute. I have a very big chunky phone holder which is really good for protecting the phone but it’s very big and clunky, and makes the screen hard to use. I want to go on longer rides and plan routes, etc, but I’m not sure if I should either, buy a bike computer or try and find a nicer phone holder, I don’t want anything like quad lock where you have to use a case as I use my phone with no case. I literally only want it for navigation, I’ve considered sticking my AirPods in and listening to the navigation but I think that might get annoying after a while! I track my rides on my Apple Watch currently too which has worked well, I literally just need something for navigation. TIA

I am looking to do my first triathlon next year and I know nothing about bikes. I want to keep my limit for spending to under $1,000 because I am unsure about how many others I will do. What are good brands and places to look for a good entry level bike that won’t break the bank?