My new ride

by bethie on Aug 11, 2007 5:55 PM EDT

For most of my life, I was a cigarette smoker. I'd tried a lot of different ways to quit, since will-power was not a viable option; gum, lozenges, patches, hypnosis, acupuncture, nothing worked for me until I tried this new drug from Pfizer called Chantix. WIthin seven days I had given up the habit for good!

Still, with my past history I had my doubts that I could do it, so when I started the program, I made a promise to myself that if I could go 30 days without a cigarette I'd buy myself a bicycle, and ride it. Now that I know I'll never smoke cigarettes again, and I can actually breathe properly, I took the plunge and bought myself this sweet little beauty.

Well, part of this post is to thank the Podium Cafe posters for helping me hone my love of the sport of cycling. I don't have to compete to love riding my bike, for me it's the freedom of rolling along, getting some workout while enjoying the method. Sure beats walking a treadmill, and where I live, with over 300 days of sunshine a year, I can take advantage of all the bike has to offer.

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Which bike is it

The link opens up to the Front Trek page. Which bike did you get?

by LD82 on Aug 11, 2007 6:12 PM EDT 0 recs

It's the Navigator 2 WSD (Silver)

Link opens OK for me, maybe because it's cached.

by bethie on Aug 11, 2007 7:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don't care if it's a beat to hell clunker

Congrats, Bethie! It'll be one of the best investments you've ever made.

by Sui Juris on Aug 11, 2007 6:29 PM EDT 0 recs

Congratulations!

Hope you stay away from your smokes forever and keep pedaling twice as long.

The S. Obedient Flying Dog Boy

by flying dog on Aug 11, 2007 7:03 PM EDT 0 recs

Great Job Bethie!

There is nothing better than a brand new bike. It's one of life's great pleasures (IMHO). Here's to many fun miles ahead, and please drop us a line if you have any service/maintenance questions...or if you have any possible upgrades in mind ; - )

Vlaenderen die Leu

by Mr Van P on Aug 11, 2007 7:36 PM EDT 0 recs

I suppose when I'm ready

to ride my first century, I'll have some questions on upgrading. Thanks Mr. VanP. I'm pretty jazzed.

by bethie on Aug 11, 2007 7:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dropping my chain

I just bought a bike as well. My chain comes off frequently when I'm going up hill (its a double and it drops off the small ring).

Is there something I can adjust without taking it back to the bike shop? (they will adjust if for me, I would rather learn to fix my bike myself.)

by John.. on Aug 11, 2007 8:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

couple of possibilities

There are two limit screws. One locates the derailleur when you shift to the little ring. One locates the derailleur when you shift to the big ring. You might need to adjust them, or possibly adjust the shift cable tension.

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=75

Park tool has pretty good instructions at their site. Or, you can get a copy of Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance.

A very useful item to get is a repair stand. It makes tune-ups much easier.

-K-

by KevinK on Aug 11, 2007 9:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

3rd possibility

If you're new to biking and it's coming off the small ring, there's a small chance it's just the way you're shifting. Are you shifting into the big rings in the back, waiting till you're all the way to your biggest back ring, then throwing the lever on the front ring? If so, there's a chance that the tension in the rear derailleur is throwing your chain over your small front ring. Try to avoid ever having the chain on the big front and the big back, it tends to mess up shifting.

Another possibility is you've got an Ultegra-level FSA crank and a Shimano chain, which can sometimes be a bit ill-fitting until the chain gets broken in.

Both these are longshots, but not unheard of. To cure the first problem without worrying about your shifting habits, buy a little device called a dogtooth. It's an interior chain guide. A lot of the pro peloton uses it for exactly the reason you're describing

by Tiki on Aug 12, 2007 8:02 AM EDT up 0 recs

I agree with Kevin

adjust the limit screw so that when you are in your small/big comb (smallest chain ring, biggest cog) there is just a small amount of clearance between the chain and the inside of front derailleur cage (maybe be able to fit a penny between them). Then just take up the slack in the cable. If you are crossed up (big/big) and downshift suddenly to the small ring while under load, it can still come off even if adjusted perfectly. Tiki uses a device called a dog-tooth, which is a small plastic guide that keeps the chain from popping off to the inside. I've seen them on pro bikes and their pretty popular in 'cross too. I don't use one myself, but I can see the merit of it.

Vlaenderen die Leu

by Mr Van P on Aug 11, 2007 9:47 PM EDT 0 recs

it sometimes helps

to use the feather shift on the front derailleur, instead of just popping it from the big ring to the small ring--I think I do that instinctively now. Every once in a great while, I drop the chain, but usually, I can just shift to the big ring to get it back on.

-K-

by KevinK on Aug 11, 2007 10:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

...and the Park Tool site

is the mother ship for me, when I'm stumped.

Vlaenderen die Leu

by Mr Van P on Aug 11, 2007 9:48 PM EDT 0 recs

Congratulations Bethie!

Very proud of you, both for kicking the habit and joining the dark side :-)

"Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated."

(we should post that warning at the top of the home page, so first time visitors know what they're getting into)

"Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals ... except the weasel. "

by Drew on Aug 12, 2007 7:09 AM EDT 0 recs

Thanks

Thanks for all the suggestions and I apologize for barging in on Berthie's thread.

I'm going to try to follow the park tool site suggestions. If that doesn't work, I'll take it to the shop. The chain doesn't come off often, but more often than I would like.

And for anyone else that might take up cycling after being a runner, don't expect the fitness to transfer quickly. I have been humbled by riders more than 15 years older than I am and that weigh considerably more than I do. After buying a new bike to replace the loaner bike and two months of consistent riding, I am doing well on the hills, but they still rule the flats and the downhills.

by John.. on Aug 12, 2007 5:07 PM EDT 0 recs

Barge away!

And talk about being humbled, I'm starting out riding post-menopausal, overweight, and out-of-shape and can barely ride a (flat) mile in 15 minutes. The way I look at it, the only place to go from here is up. :-)

I think the last bike I owned had a bell, basket and banana seat.

by bethie on Aug 12, 2007 6:12 PM EDT up 0 recs