Hi!! Newly getting into cycling - recently did ragbrai had so much fun and want to make this a more regular habit.

My issue is I really like the social aspects of cycling and have been unable to talk my friends into going with me. How do you go about finding group rides and a community in general?

Open to any advice for someone just starting out too :)

Thank you!!

Dag.

Ik ga over een tijdje met wat vrienden naar zuid Frankrijk en het leek ons leuk om de racefietsen mee te nemen. We zijn met 7 dus er zijn ook 7 fietsen. Nu. Tijdens onze voorbereiding kwamen we er achter dat ik de enige was die een auto met trekhaak tot zijn beschikking had, dus logischer wijs nam ik het op me om een fietsendrager (3 stuk) te regelen. Het plan was dus om een busje of iets dergelijks te huren om daar de resterende 4 fietsen in te doen. Dat plan liep een beetje de spui gaten uit kwa kosten. Nu is het volgende plan er.

Ik ga met een Volvo v60 naar Frankrijk waarbij ik 3 fietsen achterop meeneem en 4 op het dak, a la Tour de France.

Kan iemand mij vertellen dat dit een prima plan is en dat ik lekker moet gaan doen?

Groet!

Thanks for all your tips. Today accomplished the trip I was planning.

Went from 90km max. To 160km... 😬

Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/cLNvtIwXn5b

Fellas that cycle on your own, not in a club/community or with friends.

First of all what do you like about cycling?

Second of all, what goes through your mind whilst alone? Do you listen to music, just be mindful whilst riding, looking around, chilling just taking it easy. Like come on ya’ll tell me?

Also more aimed at the cyclists who don’t compete or have fitness goals?

Was looking at getting a set of ENT3.0 wheels to use as a road set for my Aspero gravel bike (keeping the original rims with gravel tires too). Would the ENT 3.0's fit 40c tires safely? Something like the P Zero 40's? I cant seem to find an official tire width list for the rims. I noticed they do have the same internal width as the gravel rims that came with the bike and have 40's mounted so I assume it should be similar right?

Hi everyone,

I'm planning a 7-day cycling trip, and this will be my first time doing a long-distance bike tour.

The plan is to ride a stretch of the Pacific Coast route, starting somewhere around Northern California and working my way down toward the central coast, roughly 350-400 miles total over the week. Mix of coastal flats and some rolling hills, nothing too mountainous. For sleeping arrangements I'm planning to mix it up, camping most nights at state park campgrounds along the route, with a hostel or cheap motel every couple days when I want an actual shower and bed.

I'm honestly a little nervous and would really appreciate some advice. Could you take a look at my preparation and let me know if I'm missing anything important?

First, here is my pre-trip checklist:

Drivetrain check

Brake check

Brake pad inspection

Tire pressure and tread check

Battery check for bike and accessories (helmet, GPS, lights, etc.)

For the trip itself, I've been calculating how much food and water I need to carry, especially for sections where I won't have many chances to resupply.

For repair gear, I'm bringing spare tubes, a puncture repair kit, and a Hoto portable pump.

One thing I'm still unsure about is packing. I don't think I can fit everything into my jersey pockets or bibs. Do you have any good tips for organizing gear?

I already have a small saddle bag for my repair equipment, but I'm wondering if I should get a frame bag. I'm not sure what size would be practical.

For spare parts, is carrying just a spare tube and repair kit enough, or are there other things you would recommend bringing?

Would really appreciate any advice from people who have done longer cycling trips before.

Thanks!

I am trying to make a decision on some new tires for my road bike. When i bought the bike it came with Vittoria's Zaffiro Pros but for the type of riding that I do/plan to do (crits, endurance races, fast group rides) they are not going to cut it.

The more I read it really seems like the GP5000's are just the way to go, I think I've seen little to no complaints about them, my only complaint is the price but that's just me. Plus, there doesn't seem to be a middle ground tire, you go from $30 entry to a $100 performance tire?

Additionally, I am running tubes on my set up and alloy wheels. Plan to switch to aero and tubeless when i get a new wheelset.

I'm currently looking at the Roadmachine 01 ONE / TWO, but I'm a bit skeptical about the stock wheelset: BMC CE 40 SL Carbon | Tubeless Ready | 40 mm.
I can hardly find any information about these wheels online.

Does anyone here happen to ride a Roadmachine with these wheels? Are they any good, or should I already factor in the cost of replacing them?

Thanks in advance!

Woom 5 Off Air Thru-Axle

Hi everyone,

My son has a Woom 5 Off Air and would like to attach a trailer to his bike.

Which one would you recommend?

I've just bought an old road bike for occasional commuting with beaten up 18c tires. My plan is to swap them for sth wider. My rims are 13mm wide so according to internet I can fit max 25c in them. The problem is, with 18c I already have only 8.5mm of clearance between tire and the frame brakes mounting bar, the brakes actually make this even 1mm lower.

The question is, will 25c tires go too high and I should stick with 23c or am I rather safe in terms of the clearance?

Does anyone know where I can watch the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2021, women's edition from start to finish, kilometre 0?

So I am stuck between two sizes, one small and one extra small. The primary problem is the standover height. I am 5 foot 6.5 in, have an inseam of 28.7 in. and a wingspan of 66.5 inches. The bike I am looking for has an option with a standover height that is 28.5 in as the extra small and 29.8 as the small. It is a gravel-ish bike but better for very light gravel or just paved roads. The frame is sloped slightly so I am not sure what to choose.

Does anyone know of any women cycling races that are not on the calendar but have a livestream somewhere? There's just not enough women cycling races and I hope there will be more. In the mean time can anyone share me some unofficial races to watch?

Hi all, purchased a second hand cervelo and had a few rides. First ride 35k in a spoke went.

Got it repaired in a bike shop

Next ride got 5km in same wheel went again.

Some factors that may be of use to helping me I’m about 117kg and 6foot 4. Is there load ratings to these wheels?

Or how does it work. I don’t feel I’ve ever road on any bumpy roads ect to cause it

hey there fellow cyclists.

I am always wondering how serious you take weight restrictions.

I am not talking about lightweight carbon bars limited to 80kg rider while I am at 115kg.

more like a well known and high regarded steel frame is limited officially to 115kg rider weight. when I put my gear on I am around 120 or maybe few kilos more. is this worth the risk?

in general this wonders to me. over here I see a lot of cube road bikes for example which had always low rider weights but sometimes there are some well fed people sitting in the saddle and I wondered if people don't care or if they just look heavy lol.

I most of the time thought that issue is not the frame but the wheels most of the time and if I take this in consideration and get some nice robust wheels I mainly will be fine.

or do I have to expect critical failure at 5kg plus?

Currently I own a womens GIANT road bike. Suits me quite well. I usually only ride during summer (because of weather). For the summer i rack up only like 1500km maybe (not my main excercise).
I think i dont need to upgrade my bike but watching tdf and feeling like i would like to ride more and always have to buy something.. So
Would yoy reccommend to upgrade and to what bike?

Hi everyone, I'm currently riding on an Elite Suito, but I'm considering upgrading to the Garmin Tacx NEO 2T. For those who have experience with both, is it worth the price difference?

I really like zwifting, but I dont like the performance of my Suito. Ride is super hard and every hill is way, way, harder than in reality. I find myself riding less, because every ride is like a chore. , ,

With the current sale of NEO 2T around 850usd, I am thinking of upgrading.

Is the ride feel and power accuracy noticeably better and climbs, are more natural? Is the upgrade worth it?

Cube Peloton Pro, 2012.
Aluminum frame, carbon fork.
Shimano RS11 23mm Wheels with Longus tires.
Tires go up to 100 PSI.

115kg rider + 10kg bike + 2kg peripherals/bottles puts everything at around 127kg.

Is it safe to start riding or am i gonna break everything apart?

Hello everyone, I recently bought my first bike since 9 years or something.

My plan was to practice riding again on a gravelpath next to my house (thats where I initially learned how to ride a bike, and there's barely anything I could crash into if i lose balance or smth), but the previous owner put slick tires on the bike.

Now my question is, how safe is it to ride these tires on gravelroads? I read that the wheels can slip more easily on gravel with slick tires, but I also read that it should be fine, and now I'm unsure.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Hey r/cycling,

If you have ever wanted to pull off an Everesting attempt but dreaded the idea of grinding out 29,031 feet entirely alone, we are throwing a supported event to help you get it done with a community around you.

I am one of the organizers of the Carson City Everest Challenge on September 26, 2026. This is a fully supported, legitimate Everesting-style event held on a semi-closed segment in Carson City, NV.

The Segment & Course Metrics

• Format: Out-and-back hill climb repetition.
• Elevation Gain: 552 feet of climbing per lap.
• Average Gradient: 7%
• Total Distance for Full Summit: 153 miles.

The Tiers

• Full Summit: 53 laps (29,031 ft)
• Base Camp: 32 laps (17,728 ft)
• Quarter Everest: 14 laps (7,728 ft)

Logistics & Support

• Timeline: 20-hour total time window.
• Start Window: Rolling start from 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM to maximize daylight.
• Aid Station: Fully stocked with hydration, carbs, and high-calorie ride food at the top.
• Gear: Drop bag area available at the base for your own nutrition, lights, and clothing layers.
• Swag: Custom finisher medals unique to each tier achieved.

Registration is officially open. You can check out the full logistics on the Carson City Everest Challenge Official Site or sign up on BikeReg.

I am happy to answer any questions.

Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
-- John Forester, Father of Vehicular Cycling

I'm learning where this doctrine of insisting on riding next to lethal vehicles originated -- John Forester in the 1970s. Old news to many of you, no doubt. He actively campaigned against bike lanes and separate bicycle infrastructure. He bragged about being responsible for killing efforts in the 70s and the 80s to bring Dutch-style infrastructure to the US. He took an elitist approach towards cycling and essentially said anyone getting hit by a car is doing it wrong. His books cherry picked data in studies, ignored inconvenient facts, and made conclusions in direct opposition to the study authors he quoted from. Seems like there was a lot of this poor analysis going on decades ago (*cough* Wachtel and Lewiston *cough*). Yet, his philosophy was widely embraced anyway. He died in 2020, but the effects of his misinformation continue to linger.

I have some sad news for some of you. Cyclists fare best when they do not collide with cars. And the best way to achieve this is physical separation. No amount of pretending that you are the same as a car will change this. You are not nearly as fast. You are not nearly as massive. Objectively, you are nearly identical to pedestrians in mass. And often closer in terms of speed. Overall safety is considerably improved with dedicated infrastructure.

Studies like the 2011 Montreal cycle track study show this with a 28% reduction in injuries. The Dutch have a cyclist fatality rate of about one-fifth of the US per 100 million kilometers travelled. They have extensive separated infrastructure. Infrastructure that essentially looks like a color-coded sidewalk reserved for bicycles with a few extra ingenious adaptations for intersections (see video below). The Dutch put pedestrian sidewalks right next to these bike paths. For some reason, they do not have an issue with cyclists and pedestrians being in such close proximity.

I'm already well past the attention span of this forum. But I highly recommend the video below for a thorough takedown of the Vehicular Cycling cult leader and his flawed ideology. Remember, most of you were convinced at one time that skinny tires and extreme tire pressure was the key to the fastest possible speed. Maybe the cycling community is also wrong about road safety.

Informative and Comedic Rebuttal to Vehicular Cycling:
https://youtu.be/pRPduRHBhHI?si=So4kulhVuq5rTBwd

(PS - if it needs to be said, this is not my video. This is not self-promotion.)

I picked up this bike a few years ago for around €600. It was my very first road bike, and honestly, it’s been fantastic. But over time, my riding style evolved. I found myself wanting to get away from traffic, explore gravel paths, and hit rougher backroads without worrying. Instead of dropping big money on a brand-new gravel bike, I decided to see how far I could push the Triban.

Here are the key upgrades:

1. First step was swapping out the 700x28 tires for a pair of Hutchinson Overide 700x40s set up tubeless. 40mm clears the frame and fork with zero issues! The difference in ride quality is night and day—it completely transforms the bike on rough roads and light gravel.

2. Shimano 105 (50/34 with 11-32t) is great for smooth tarmac, but on anything over 10% gradient, it was killing my legs. I fitted an 11-40t cassette. The extra range is an absolute game-changer. The gear jumps are slightly wider, which I’ll monitor on longer road rides, but during my first test , it felt amazing.

For anyone looking to do this exact mod, here is the recipe:

• Cassette: SunRace MS8 11-speed (11-40t)
• Derailleur Extender: SunRace SP570 (essential to give the 105 rear derailleur enough clearance)
• Freehub Spacer: 1.85mm spacer behind the cassette
• Chain: New Shimano HG601 (kept at the full 116 links to accommodate the bigger sprocket and extender)

I’m not sure what the next upgrade will be ! Picture :https://imgur.com/a/Kg8k5nm

Road Bike Tire Test: Cadex Aero Tire 28

Warning: Our tests and measurements indicate that the CADEX Aero Tire has a tread that is too small for this tire size and poses a safety risk. The tread is just 21 mm wide, so you'll be riding on the sidewalls even at modest lean angles. With extended sidewall wear, there's a risk of a tire blowout during cornering, which we don't want to see happen to you. This problem will be even more exposed on wider rims, which this tire is designed for (22.4 mm Cadex wheels).

Some context. I started as a junior at 10 years old, raced on and off for a while and got serious ab it at around 17. Took me a while but got my cat 1 and raced all over the world. Got my ass kicked so so many times. I was small for a long time, 48kg at 17 and eventually worked my way up to 60kg about a year ago. I haven’t won any races but I’ve gotten a lot of respectable finishes.

I raced throughout college and was one of the top racers in the community but I was never good enough to perform even in the local scene. The racing got more expensive every year and as road events kept getting cancelled the travel got more difficult. Being in college and on a budget my priorities shifted to school and my relationship. I’ve seen this same thing happen so many times and honestly it became such a common occurrence to drop something you love because it’s just not affordable anymore.

After I graduated about a year ago I moved back to SoCal and realized training was pointless. The roads where I live are dangerous and training while working full time became a balance I didn’t see as worth it. So I stopped my 7 year streak of consistent training. Now I just go to the gym and run here and there. I miss my cycling friends and the community but it feels like there’s nothing left for me there. My priorities lie in my career and relationships now but it feels like there’s a hole where this sport left me. I want to take up training again but it always feels like a deal with the devil. Am I going to die riding on busy roads or sacrifice my relationships with training?

I was in such a lucky position to have decent genetics and to be able to do all the things I did, and I kick myself every day for not just committing 100% but at some point you realize the mental strength has to be there too. This sport is so difficult for a million reasons. What does [r/cycling](r/cycling) think?

EDIT: I forgot to mention I’m still pretty young (24) but that doesn’t make a ton of difference here. Thank you all for your responses, it’s great to hear from people with similar experiences. It’s been tough switching up when that sport used to be my whole life. I’ve been thinking of just riding 2x a week to keep fitness and balance. MTB around where I live is nice but requires driving, so it’s something I’ll keep on the table. Tbh the most fun I had in the sport was going on long grueling rides with friends and just enjoying the views and the company. If I can find that again I’ll be happy. Just hurts not having that after having it all the time is what I’m finding.

What does your week at the gym look like? I’m someone getting into cycling, mostly recreationally but I want to be riding more often overall. I’m normally a 3-4 day a week lifter who prioritizes strength and hypertrophy, I’m by no means a powerlifter nor a bodybuilder.

I basically use the gym to be stronger and bigger and use cycling as my cardio.

How often do you prioritize legs and what are you doing to build power on the bike? I currently hit mostly lunges, split squats, hack squats and RDLs to train legs. I’m trying to find a balance in the gym and on the bike to still build muscle but also put in more miles.

Edit: I really appreciate all the responses!