General Discussion Triathlon Talk » First time on a road bike with clip on shoes Rss Feed  
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2007-06-06 10:14 AM


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Subject: First time on a road bike with clip on shoes
I have been training for the past 2 months on my old mountain bike and recently had the opportunity to "borrrow" a road bike with clip on shoes. My first reaction was that I was going to fall on my head several times before I figured out how to disengage from them. I went for my first ride this am and after engaging and disengaging several times felt fairly comfortable. The biggest difference I noticed after the ride was that, man these road bikes go fast......I was able to cut 3 minutes off a 10 mile ride compared to when I had the mountain bike. Does anyone have any recommendations for what tire pressure to keep inflated? Looking forward to my first sprint TRI end of July.


2007-06-06 10:21 AM
in reply to: #832018

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Champion
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Butler
Subject: RE: First time on a road bike with clip on shoes
Look at what the tire say but mine are usually around 110psi.
2007-06-06 10:24 AM
in reply to: #832018

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Expert
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Subject: RE: First time on a road bike with clip on shoes
Pressure will depend on the tires but usually they say on them what to pump them to. Mine say 100psi and I usually go a little higher, may not be the right thing to do but I like to keep the tires stiff. With that high of a pressure I usually have to put a little air in my tires almost every time a ride, I notice a littel difference in teh ride if I don't.
2007-06-06 10:26 AM
in reply to: #832045

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Subject: RE: First time on a road bike with clip on shoes

115 lbs, but different tires are rated for different air pressures, make sure you read the sidewall.

I loved when I switched from mtn to road, I felt like I was flying!  Enjoy it! 

2007-06-06 10:30 AM
in reply to: #832018


5

Subject: RE: First time on a road bike with clip on shoes
thanks for the advice. the tires say 87-115 but I thought the tire was going to blow out when I was approaching 85 psi. I guess that I need to pump them up some more.
2007-06-06 10:35 AM
in reply to: #832018

Subject: RE: First time on a road bike with clip on shoes
They should be pretty solid, or feel "hard", unlike a mountain bike tire, which usually has a little bit of give to it. So don't worry, you won't pop them if you go up to 100psi as long as the tire say it's good for it- but I think all road bike tires are good for at least 100, usually more.


2007-06-06 10:49 AM
in reply to: #832018

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Subject: RE: First time on a road bike with clip on shoes
Mine go up to 120 psi, and I keep them at their max and pump my tires every single time I take out my bike. It keeps me from getting flats as often and gives me an advantage when riding with training partners who don't check their tire pressure .
2007-06-06 11:00 AM
in reply to: #832018

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Subject: RE: First time on a road bike with clip on shoes

Max pressure and/or pressure range are usually indicated on the sidewall of the tire. 

Higher pressure is usually better for lower rolling resistance.

Lower pressure is usually better for smoothing out road imperfections (but may also affect handling as the tire may squirm a little more on turns). 

I'm a little cautios inflating old/unknown tires to max pressure. 

Yea, there is a HUGE difference between riding a mountain bike and riding a road bike

2007-06-06 11:00 AM
in reply to: #832018

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Master
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Flagstaff and Phoenix, AZ
Subject: RE: First time on a road bike with clip on shoes
just went from mtn to rd bike too about a month ago and remember how amazed I was at the exhilarating speed! (not that I had never ridden a rd bike before, but it wasn't a fast tri bike!) I put clipless pedals on two weeks ago. the biggest benefit on the tri bike is that I can lift the foot up in my shoes without loosing control. it seems to help a lot with the numbness in the foot i get on longer rides. i just lift the foot up a few times and it goes away. does anyone else experience this?
2007-06-06 11:08 AM
in reply to: #832045

Iron Donkey
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Subject: RE: First time on a road bike with clip on shoes
climbin5414 - 2007-06-06 10:24 AM

Pressure will depend on the tires but usually they say on them what to pump them to. Mine say 100psi and I usually go a little higher, may not be the right thing to do but I like to keep the tires stiff. With that high of a pressure I usually have to put a little air in my tires almost every time a ride, I notice a littel difference in teh ride if I don't.


The P.S.I. on mine are around 120. I was informed to keep them around 110 by the pro fitter. He mentioned that approximately 10 p.s.i. is naturally lost every week, so it's good to keep checking them before every ride. Putting more than what is noted can be a cause for a serious problem.
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