Starting Road Cycling
I have a Carrera TDF road bike that is very different from anything I have ridden prior. Especially since having SPD clipless pedals. Lot’s going on all of a sudden.
The weather apart from the wind was good today and so I needed to escape my imposed lockdown. I needed the experience and decided to cycle part of the route I normally run. Quiet and devoid of much vehicular metal I felt more at ease though possibly had more potholes to deal with?
What happened
A decent start but the wind became apparent too quickly. Though what a lovely change of temperature and it was dry. So I would go out just a 30 minute ride.
I hit a pot hole due to wind and a lorry and lack of experience. A few meters more and I could feel lumps in the rear. So not wanting to damage anything more I unclipped and stopped. Yes the rear tyre was deflating us both.
At least I had grass verge where I could get fully clear. I had a spare tube and pump on me with a kit. I had debated taking the risk. Maybe a couple hours walking in SPD’s could have been the result.
Amazing coincidence that in my shed an old pump bracket that I happened to see would fit my pump that came from a different place. I now have my pump fixed to the frame. And is doing the job and saved me a problem walk.
I also left without my mobile and didn’t even realise until I had gotten home!
It all went ok apart from breaking a pathetic plastic tyre lever. I am borrowing the cycle repair kit from a friend and of course will replace it.
I am happier having done that (rear tube change roadside) for the first time. But is this going to always happen when hitting a pot hole? It’s going to make me carry 2 tubes if yes. But I simply feel that I didn’t have enough pressure in the wheels. Noob.
10 minutes later I was rolling again/ The tyre held ok but I found I had not put my back wheel on fully and so the lumps made sense. I only did 2 miles home and think I got away with not damaging it or buckling the wheel. Lucky remains to be seen.
Very silly would have been so simple to take more time to check the back wheel was fully in the slot/sprocket.
The other thing I noticed was the tyre was slightly out around the valve. Never seen that before. Increasing the pressure seems to have fixed that.
I also noticed that my rear tektro brake calipers were catching on one side and so a simple tightening now stops the caliper floating. And I thought they were supposed to float! Hence why I did not try to fix.
I also have no gauge on my mini pump and think I did not have enough air in it. An old car foot pump told me I had around 40-50 PSI estimated. The tyre suggests 115 PSI or around 6 Bar. That is really high. Is this why I got a puncture? A pinch flat they seem to be called. I have not inspected the damage yet. Wonder if patching a tube is even worth doing at the higher pressures.
I am worried it’s now over inflated. Should they really be rock hard?
Yes I am pretty new to all of this. And all of the above is the reason why you should start with a second hand road bike.