guys, unless you're literally trying to win a tour de france stage or something, this whole clipless pedal obsession is seriously overrated. ngl i really think you should reconsider.

let me tell u what happened on a sunday ride recently. i was at the front pulling at like 32-33 km/h so my buddy behind me could draft. just cruising on the side of the road when suddenly i see this perfectly straight cut in the asphalt that wasn't patched up. no time to dodge it at that speed, so i just slammed right into it.

the impact totally trashed my front wheel. the shock made my feet slip off the pedals, but since i wasn't clipped in, i just planted my feet straight on the ground and kept the bike upright. then the rear wheel hit the exact same hole and got destroyed too. both wheels are completely busted, but at least i walked away from what could've been a nasty crash without a scratch.

now imagine hitting that hole clipped in... with that sudden loss of control at that speed, not being able to unclip? i 100% would've gone flying over the bars. you know the rest: broken collarbone, cracked ribs, or even worse like neck damage...

obviously im not saying flat pedals are 100% safe and clipless is dangerous, but being able to just instantly put your foot down in unexpected moments like that is honestly a huge lifesaver.

if you're not a racer chasing every single second, sacrificing that peace of mind just to save 3-5 watts just ain't worth it man. don't listen to those elitists going "omg who uses flat pedals on a carbon road bike", there's nothing to be embarrassed about. if your goal is just getting some exercise, exploring, and stopping for ice cream every now and then, flats are the absolute best. even if you're riding full carbon, you don't owe anyone clipless pedals. just ride whatever makes you feel safe and confident tbh.

Does anyone else’s elite fly bottles leak like a sieve ? Mine seem to leak from around the mouth piece, I’ve tried hand washing only, checked the mouth piece for any debris to no avail.

Specifically 750ml bottles, which I have x4 of all seem to leak no matter what, yet my 500ml bottles are ok.

Sounds like a minor problem, but when carb mix is constantly leaking onto your bike it’s rather annoying to clean it off after every ride

Thanks

Mine might be saying, I'll just go for an easy ride today, and then somehow ending up on a longer route than I planned. Cycling has a funny way of making us change our minds once we're already out there. One extra hill turns into three, a short detour becomes another ten miles, and suddenly the easy ride isn't so easy anymore. What's the biggest lie you tell yourself before or during a ride?

of course im trying to save money. but then there's remorse. i found a frame i just couldn't pass up. the thrill of receiving the frame shipped. hunting down an old vint group is just so time consuming. and a bit stressful buying used. am i weird. go ahead and tell me if i am.

so got a new set of wheels and new set of ultegra brakes. the front wheel i can easily hand turn the lockring but it doesn't meet the brake, it gets unable to turn by hand by around 50%. so i stupidly used the tool to get it all the way and now it's tightened. after thinking about it a few days i thought the problem could be the hub, or the lockring or even some dirt (unlikely as both are new!)

the brake disk is true and there is no problem. do you think i should undo the lockring and diagnose the issue or just leave it?

I’m curious to hear how cheap Chinese tires from Amazon or other marketplaces perform. Are they worth buying and running for a little while, or should I just bite the bullet and buy something nicer now?

Just as the title says - I’m looking for recommendations on a folding bike that I can pack away when not using. Mainly to get to my job which is a 40 min walk and to get to my placement which is also a 40-50 min walk. Cheap cause I’m a student 😵‍💫🥲

I have a question regarding my new bike and its pedals, I recently got a used specialized ruby elite to use for commuting and also going for nice long rides on the weekends.

This bikes comes with the clicking pedals, which I think would be nice for efficiency and long rides. But inconvenient for commuting having to bring a second pair of shoes.

I am interested in getting those dual pedals where one side you click in and one side is regular, what is the opinion on those from those who have used them, Pros? Cons? Advice?

Just got the pd-r8000 pedals and found out pd-r8200 just released. The most frustrating part of this is that I swapped them for decades old campagnolo pedals with the point of getting the most modern product…smdh. I don’t see a whole lot of difference between them I’m just concerned about being able to buy cleats for another 10 years. So am I cooked?

Im thinking about buying a Varia RCT715 to pair with my Forerunner 870.

I’m wondering how practical it is to take your hand off the bars to view the watch and the car approaching warnings. Is there enough real estate on a watch display to be useful?

I’ve been biking for 1 year 3 months now. Original first bike was an aluminum guru road bike. It had a selle italia saddle on it. Was giving me bum issues and I switched with a serfas saddle. Shit was ugly asf. But my god was it good. Had minimum back pain, I used to get left groin issues , or issues with my balls. It always hurt on the left side of my bum. With this seat no issues, I did multiple centuries and all was well. I bought a Scott addict this year and been having saddle sore issues on the left side. I tried SLR saddles, Sworks mirror saddles, I’ve tried bout 8 different saddles, issue is always the same. Groin or balls start killing me and it just gets uncomfortable to be on the seat. My bike is paired with enve 4.5s and aesthetically it’s a beautiful bike. That serfas seat is so big and granny looking, should I just switch back to it? Any saddles for performance with similar build to a serfas? I’m in need of help

(Sorry that this is probably a stupid question. But I have no one to get proper help from and I genuinely need to know if I can do this.)

I bought a bike because I wanted to get to places quicker than walking and I don't have a car. I've been trying to just keep myself balanced while going down a slight hill without pedaling, even though I am a bit terrified of falling.

But I feel like I will never get the hang of it. I've always been exceptionally bad at anything that requires the use of my body and some muscles. For reference, I can't jump rope without getting caught in the rope after like 3. I can't balance on one leg while holding my foot and stretching my leg behind me, I need to be holding onto something stable.

I thought I could get over my fear and eventually learn to bike, but I don't understand how to use my upper body to balance the bike. After practicing for a few days, I kind of started using the handle to turn to balance myself, by making very big turns every time I start to tip to the side. Obviously I can't do that on an actual road because a road is not the size of an empty parking lot and I need to be able to go where I want to go.

Is this still an okay start? Or should I break this habit and force myself to learn to use my body instead of the handle, even if I don't even know where to even begin? Do you think that some people, even though they can walk, might fail to learn to ride a bike? I feel hopeless. :(

Edit: I have not even attempted to use the pedals yet. I have the seat as low as it goes, but my heels don't touch the ground. I have been using my toes to push myself forward along with the slope to gain a little speed.

Thank you for all the comments, they are all very helpful! With the number of comments and replies, it's hard to respond to all of you but I will definitely continue trying, keeping your suggestions in mind.

Hey all,
New to cycling. I would like to buy my first road bike. I am thinking of an endurance road bike.

I will be using it this winter with a wahoo kickr. Plan is to eventually use it for a 70.3 Ironman next summer.
From what I have see and read, an aluminum bike should be more than enough especially considering that I will definitely be falling a couple of times. I went to a bike shop and it seems like even aluminum might be outside my price range.
I am looking at bikes around the 1000$CAD range.
I started looking at Marketplace. I was recommended to look at cannondale caad 8/10, Specialized Allez, and trek domane.
I also heard that a Shimano 105 and the equivalent SRAM should be possible with my budget.

My questions are:
Is my budget good for a beginner entry bike?
What are some other options that I should search?
What are some things to look at when buying used bike in this lower price range ?
Thanks.

Hello, I just purchased a used Garmin Edge 540 and I want to get a HRM to track my heart rate and basic metrics during work outs. I do not own a smartwatch nor do I plan to purchase one.

I am between the Polar H10 and the Garmin 200 or 600. I plan to use it predominantly for cycling and gym workouts, maybe an occasional run.

Basically I am wondering if the stand-alone feature of the Garmin 600 is necessary if I plan to always have my bike computer or phone with me anyway? And would I miss out on anything if I just go with the H10? Thanks!

please share because lately whenever i lean my bike on anything in my garage all hell breaks loose. i only have one bike stand - 6 bikes and refuse to buy another stand.

Hello Reddit, looking for some advice.

I’m 30 and have been big into biking on and off for the last few years. Had a pretty severe concussion in 2023 and finally got properly back on the bike in April this year.

Since then I’m down 27kg, started at 113kg and currently around 86kg. Still a way to go.
I tried to bike as much as I could this summer. Honestly my weight held me back quite a bit and progress was slower than normal, but I loved being back on the bike and definitely got fitter.

In summer obviously fairly easy to stay on track. Winter is where I usually let myself go and lose fitness, so I’m a bit concerned about heading into it this year and ending up back in the same cycle.

Winter cycling where I live is basically impossible, we’re talking 3/4ft of snow outside most days. So I’ve bought a KICKR CORE 2 and will put my current road bike on it. Originally planned on getting the Zwift Ride but it’s sold out here. I’ve also just had a professional bike fit so all good on that side.

Basically I have around 5 months indoors and I want to actually use them properly this year. I’d love to head into next summer strong and maybe start entering some races. But more importantly I want to start the summer already able to do long distances at a solid speed, rather than spending the first few months trying to build my fitness back up again.

So a few questions
Any specific Zwift plans/programs you recommend?
Is a coach worth it at my level or overkill, It would have to be online I imagine any recommendations?
How do you stay consistent and on track all winter?
Would also be interested to hear from anyone who’s been in a similar situation. What worked, what didn’t and any dos/don’ts you’d recommend.
Any advice welcome.

/verbosity set to max, so that I’m not having to piece out relevant info. We’ll see!

preface: I’ve been riding about 9 miles M/T/W/Th and 35-40 on Saturday or Sunday, where I started the year riding 15-20mi, and increased to 35+ starting in May. Bonked badly on my first 40 mile ride in July when clipped in (I hadn’t been clipping for the past several years), had muscle cramps for multiple hours, but now fuel regularly along the ride and have gotten up to a consistent 35 to 40 miles at a time (3-3.5 hours in the saddle on a hybrid bike doing 12-14mph). I’ve also since done that same ride without any problems.

The past couple of weeks, I have had what seems to be attempted light cramps in my right outer calf (fibularis longus maybe?). It twitched and not-quite-a-cramp, not hard and I was always able to stave it off by forcing it to stretch while pedaling. It started when I was about 20 miles in, and then every once in a while (every 15-20 minutes maybe). The weather has gotten cooler (started the ride at 50f and 60 instead of the usual upper-70s/low-80s) and though I was dressed appropriately, it still happened both rides. My only thought was that it wasn’t fatigue (I’ve now ridden 35+ miles over 20 times), but because I haven’t been guzzling as much Gatorade (full sugar); I had been drinking 60+oz during a ride, but now I’m under 30 because I’m not sweating. I’m eating turkish delights for fuel, though at the halfway point, and had been relying on the Gatorade + one of those Nature Valley crunchy oat bar (consumed 1 hr before the ride) for fuel for the first half.

While I haven’t had to stop, every time it twitches became a “…shiiiiit……” moment, and I’m trying to figure out what I can do. I keep reading that it’s neuromuscular due to fatigue,but again it feels like I’ve been doing the right things to deal with that, I typically don’t ride the day before the long ride. So my next thought was potassium/magnesium, but thought I’d start here.

Thanks! Been lurking here this year, and all the talk about focusing on “time in saddle” instead of “miles ridden” was what got me working on these 3+ hour rides.

Hi everyone, I have a trek that I want to sell but I am not able to understand the model of the bike.
I am sure it is an emonda, it shows on the frame also “RSL race shop limited” but by adding the serial number on the trek website it says that my bike is a “EMONDA SLR P1 50 U5 Vapor Coa” and it doesn’t show anywhere the RSL thing.
Also by searching on the internet the model that comes up with the serial number i don’t find any bike with the same things. can you please help and give me some advices to understand the model?
thxx

I'm a relatively decent road cyclist and looking to get into Gravel. I'm always looking for a good deal rather than a brand so I'm drawn to the XLab GT8.

The reviews on youtube are mostly very complimentary; here's one from Cade Media who I tend to trust but I did also find this bad review from The Bicycle Station . Putting their hideous personalities aside (think Bill and Ted without the charm) the review is pretty scathing and has made me think twice.

Basically looking for reviews from people who own the GT8. Where does it sit on the scale of Cade Media (fast, great value, well built) to Bicycle Station (Putty Frame, slowest bike they've ever ridden, the GRX groupset is trash). I would be looking to enter some races on this, but realistically I'm not going to win any of them whether I'm on a $10,000 bike or a GT8.

All input appreciated!

Money isn’t a big deal but
Frame: s-works tarmac sl9
Groupset: sram force AXS in 1x, going to go 50 chainring with a 10-36 cassette
Wheels: swissside 550
Tyres: continental archetype
Bar: profile design canta race, in 33cm
Stem: profile design 1/seventeen
I had to go s-works because I drop crazy watts and regular frames are too soft. Plus I gave up on 2x cuz I’m used to running big chains and I drop chains all the time

I purchased a new road bike from a Trek store in my nearest city. After purchasing, I was told I would do well to bring it in after 30 days for a small tuneup to address cables and components that would “settle” after being ridden for that long.

Here’s my issue and where I’m looking for advice: I noticed right away when I started riding that the middle gears had some slippage/poor shifting. I made it a point to just stay away from those particular gear combinations, but now after riding for less than a week and doing a 20 mile ride yesterday I am experience more slippage (like the gear changes don’t stick) and I am hearing subtle “creaking” regardless of gear combination.

Is this all a sign that I should call and pester my shop that I need to go ahead and bring my bike in for that small tuneup (I’m aware it wouldn’t be a full tuneup)?

What's up, folks? I just bought my first road bike and wanted to ask a couple of questions. It's a 2016 Giant Defy 3 Aluxx. I'm pretty new to the sport, but I run I want to make sure I take proper care of my bike. What wanted to see which upgrades I could make or adjustments might be necessary and highly beneficial. It's a 9x2 Sora tips for gears how to use what combos to start with...

I'm pretty fit; however, what types of workouts can I do to increase my pedaling efficiency and build up to longer distances? What's an ideal weekly distance, and how should I increase my mileage?

Looking to see if anyone else has found a site that accept the voucher with the sale bikes, found balfs and tredz do. Any others that people have found??

Hi I am a young Frenchman and I have been interested for a while in the world of cycling and more precisely in the world of fixie and I would like to have advice from people who own a fixie on the use of maintenance and of course the means of acquiring one

Recently bought and built out a Madone series 7 (2013-2014) and the decals have some wear and are chipped in some areas. Is this something I could possibly re decal or just leave it be as it is? It’s all cosmetic, there is no frame damage.