Road Bike Project No.1｜Experiencing the astonishing lightness and speed on a test ride!

Araki

Hello, this is Araki from the Sanel Media Division.

I started riding a road bike because I thought it would suit my taste.

At the time, I never dreamed that four months later I would be returning home on a road bike.

In this series, through my experience of becoming obsessed with road bikes,

I would like to introduce

This time, which will be the first time, is a story when I started a road bike.

I would like to introduce about

Getting started with road biking

I started road biking in late December 2016.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

About a month and a half ago.

At that time, I was around 40 years old and had no hobbies.

One day, Maeda from our company came up with a proposal.

Maeda

I found a hobby that seems to suit Araki-san! It's a road bike, but let's go check it out next time!

He's my junior in college, and I've known him for 20 years, so I think he knows my tastes and accuracy very well.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

Well, it's true that I like to quietly enjoy my time alone, and I was in the cycling club when I was in elementary school. (I entered for the impure reason that I could ride my bicycle home from school.)

I also remember that when I was a student, I used to ride my bicycle for an hour to visit my grandma's house.

I feel like a bicycle would suit my personality, which has a lot of hobbies on my own.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

I have a feeling that if you do it, you'll be hooked.

However, to be honest, at this stage, I wasn't that enthusiastic, but I didn't have a strong reason to refuse, so I decided to go to the store together.

go meet a road bike

Visit Matsuzaka city sports bike specialty store "Cycle House Miyata Ozu store"

The following Sunday, I visited the “Cycle House Miyata Ozu Branch” in my hometown of Matsusaka.

Miyata has two stores in Matsusaka City, and this Ozu store isA shop that specializes in sports bikes such as road bikes, mountain bikes (MTB), and cross bikesThat's what I'm talking about.
(*Okuroda store, another store, is a general city cycle specialty store.)

Araki

For more informationhereIt is summarized in .

The exterior of the shop is a box-shaped building with two large windows.

It's lit up at night, and I've always wondered, "What a stylish shop."

When you enter, the first thing that catches your eye is the neat display in the center of the floor of about 20 colorful bicycles that are different in shape from the ones you have ridden before.

The high ceilings and spacious space make the bikes look cool and make you feel like you're in a small exhibition hall.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

When I looked to the side, there were many accessories such as sports bike clothing, shoes, and helmets, as well as small items such as air pumps, chain oil, and cleaners.

Also, bike parts such as wheels, tires, chains, pedals, and lights were sold separately.

This area is unique to sports bikes, but when I look at the price of the wheel, it costs over 300,000 yen...

I was surprised that the price was higher than the bicycle I saw there earlier.

Furthermore, there is a sofa and a table in the back, and the relaxing space is spreading.

Araki

When I first entered this store, my first impression was that it was stylish, clean, and had a great atmosphere.

There are various ways to enjoy it, and interest in road bikes is growing with Jojo

After walking around the store for a while, Maeda and I, who didn't even understand the squares on road bikes, decided to talk to the store clerk.

I don't remember the details of what we talked about at the time, butHe carefully explained the appeal of road bikes, selection criteria, necessary equipment, maintenance after purchase, etc.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

Even so, it was Maeda who asked a lot of questions, and I, who was shy, just sat next to them and nodded while listening.

Also, what I remember from being explained isThere are various ways to enjoy a road bikeThat means.

Broadly speaking, there are three types of road bikes.

	first,road bike (road racer)is one of many types of sports bikes,A bike intended primarily for riding on-road (paved roads)It is. It will be a model that specializes in driving on paved roads the fastest and lightest.

		next,Mountain bike (MTB)The following is a list of the most common problems with the It is a bike for off-road (unpaved roads), and you can run hard on gravel roads and uneven rough roads such as forests and riverbeds.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

	The 3rd one,cross bikeIt is. It is a bike called an urban (city) model, and it is common to have a road bike with a MTB flat handlebar. It is intended for city riding, and makes bicycle movement much more comfortable in everyday life.

Further from here,Aero road specialized for running on flat ground,Hill climb model specialized for slopes such as mountain passes,Randonneur with high loading capacity to enjoy travelingetc. will be subdivided.

All of the salesclerks' stories were interesting, and I remember feeling that they wanted to convey the charm of road bikes rather than giving them a sales impression at all.

Normally, I am sensitive to business sense and tend to build walls, but at this time I was completely drawn into the conversation and had already developed a strong interest in road bikes.

riding a road bike for the first time

Easy to use with one hand, surprisingly light!

The store clerk recommended that I take a test drive, so I decided to do so.

They prepared two types of road bikes, one made of "carbon" and the other made of "aluminum".
(*There are other frame materials such as "chromoly (iron)" and "titanium")

The first thing that struck me was its lightness.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

try to lift it.

Araki

Light!

I picked it up with the impression that it would be slightly lighter than the mamachari I knew, so I couldn't help but let out my voice.

Araki

I almost hurt my back and shoulders.

I was especially surprised at the lightness of the carbon body.

The standard weight is about 8kg, and it seems that there are 6kg range for expensive ones.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

And now it's time for a test drive. Let's start with Maeda.

From the first row, they go around the parking lot of the store while shouting "Wow!" "Light!" "Fast!" "Amazing!"

Hi, hi, I understand, while thinking, it's my turn.

Pads protect the buttocks from hard saddles

Try straddling the bike with fear.

At this point, it's completely different from the feeling of the bike I've been riding so far.

first,The saddle area is small and there is little cushioningThe following is a list of the most common problems with the

to tell the truth,I'll find out later, but when I ride a road bike, I wear underwear with pads on my buttocks.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

Otherwise, your buttocks will hurt so much that you won't be able to ride for a long time.

However, even with padding, it still hurts over long distances.

feet fixed to the pedals

Next, when I put my foot on the pedal, it is also different from the shape I know.

this is,The cleats and pedals that attach to the back of your shoe are designed to stay in place when you rideThe following is a list of the most common problems with the

By being fixed, not only the power to step on the pedal but also the power to pull it becomes powerThat's why.

This was also one of the interesting features that I learned from my first road bike.

Araki

However, many roadies (people who ride road bikes) experience "standing moss" due to this mechanism.

This is when the cleats don't come off the pedals properly when you stop the bike, so your feet don't touch the ground and you fall off.

When I first started riding, I sometimes forgot that my feet were fixed to the pedals, and I felt uneasy.

just,When you buy a road bike, the pedals that come with it are not fixed, just like the regular bikes you've ridden, so even beginners can feel at ease.It is.

When I took the test ride, I wore my own sneakers without changing to the special shoes.

By the way, I haven't experienced a standing moss yet.

The reason is that I chose pedals and cleats with an emphasis on easy release, because I don't want to feel pain and I don't want to get stuck.

Unique shape "drop handle"

Then put your hand on the handle.

Then, the store clerk pointed out that the place to hold the handle was different.

First, like the image belowI was holding the lower part of the drop handle (lower handle), but this lower handle is the position to hold when running at full power (sprint).The following is a list of the most common problems with the

when you hold the lower handleYou can naturally take a low position and become a form that can be rowed while reducing air resistance.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

It seems that the reason why I somehow grasped the lower handle was because I had an image of a bicycle racer holding it when running.

I usually have something like the image belowThe rubber part (bracket) at the tip of the upper part of the handle, where the index and middle fingers can be applied to the brakewill be

Also, if you hold it too tightly, your hand will become numb and the base of your finger will hurt, so place it lightly.

And, after receiving the explanation from the clerk, preparations for running are complete.

Shock experience! A road bike is a different vehicle than a bicycle

First, gently step on the pedal with your right foot.

Then,Move forward with just one strokeThe following is a list of the most common problems with the

If you then pedal left, right, left, the resistance from the ground immediately decreases.

As a test, when I stepped on the pedal strongly this time, the carbon frame bent moderately and comfortably received the power.

Before long, I wanted to step on it more and more, and the bike accelerated as if responding to it.

It's completely different from the bike I knew until then, it's a feeling I've never experienced before.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

This test ride experience was the decisive factor in starting a road bike.

Araki

In the end, I was riding while yelling the whole time (lol) Well, that's what happens when you get a road bike for the first time.

summary

This time,I briefly introduced the charm of road bikes from the experience that led me to start road bikes.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

However, in fact, I haven't been outside for about a year and a half, and I only occasionally turn the roller table indoors.

This time, MieL will be serializing road bike articles.

Also, I would like to introduce the following contents in the future.

Road biking is one of the hobbies that can be enjoyed even during the current corona crisis, as it is almost never crowded.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

If you are interested, please visit Cycle House Miyata.

Recommended spots in Matsusaka city introduced this time