How To Set Up Your First Road Bike: Beginner Series Ep. 2

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  • čas přidán 25. 08. 2024

Komentáře • 109

  • @gcn
    @gcn  Před rokem +4

    What’s your best advice for new cyclists? 🤔

    • @MrSuperb
      @MrSuperb Před rokem +7

      That pedals don't follow the lefty loosey righty tightly rule depending on the side, I've seen too many crank shafts ruined from that simple mistake

    • @davehollingworth5537
      @davehollingworth5537 Před rokem +3

      Bib shorts and chamois cream. 🎉

    • @gcn
      @gcn  Před rokem +2

      @@davehollingworth5537 Say it louder for those at the back 📣

    • @MTBScotland
      @MTBScotland Před rokem +7

      its more addictive than crack and more expensive.

    • @almassengale
      @almassengale Před rokem +4

      Be prepared to spend a lot more money than you think (helmet, clothes, tools, maintenance, lights, etc, etc, etc, etc) The cost of the bike is only the start. Also be prepared to have more fun than you think.

  • @MartinBBB
    @MartinBBB Před rokem +102

    Probably worth mentioning to novices that pedals have left and right- hand threads depending on which side you're working on.

    • @paulgibby6932
      @paulgibby6932 Před rokem

      !!

    • @MrSuperb
      @MrSuperb Před rokem +5

      Especially as they say left loosy right after, you can ruin a crankshaft if you mess up pedals

    • @endcensorship874
      @endcensorship874 Před rokem +13

      Here’s how I remember it, and how I teach it: *back off*
      With the pedals level, and the pedal wrench pointed up, move the wrench toward the back of the bike to get the pedal off.

    • @gomeri
      @gomeri Před rokem +13

      Also maybe apply some grease in the threads so you can one day remove the pedals a bit easier...

    • @gcn
      @gcn  Před rokem +10

      Good point Martin! That can be an expensive mistake to make 👀

  • @laconfreriedesimbeciles8249

    For the beginners, when you are tightening your stem screws, don't forget to tighten them crosswise.

    • @memucanhunt1
      @memucanhunt1 Před rokem

      Good advice for any item that has more than 3 bolts/screws.

  • @DarkHawk360
    @DarkHawk360 Před rokem +15

    Don't forget to put some grease on the pedal threads to help prevent corrosion.

    • @gcn
      @gcn  Před rokem

      Great pro tip 🙌

    • @yonglingng5640
      @yonglingng5640 Před rokem

      ​@@happydogg312 This is ideal, but grease is better than nothing.

  • @cherriagana
    @cherriagana Před rokem +4

    Best advice I would give myself back in the days is that a bikefit is really worth the money.
    Little things kept adding up causing neck/knee and ITB problems: Bikefitter adjusted the angle of my SPD cleats on both planes, fixed my arch support, made small adjustments to my bar and extended my reach on the peddals.
    Now I'm not only riding fully painfree but also allot faster for longer!

  • @shauncasey8295
    @shauncasey8295 Před rokem +1

    I ordered my Scott road bike online from their website. It was then sent to a dealer near me and assembled there by the pros. All i had to do was go pick it up. The bike shop owner fitted me to the bike, explained everything to me about the bike, even took a short ride with me to help me get the feel of it and answer any questions i had before i left. Also, he offered a free break in tune up after i put 50 miles on it. I'm all for hands on and learning new things, but that really made for a great experience. Fast and easy out the door riding it as soon as i got home.

  • @daveeeed
    @daveeeed Před rokem +5

    Fore and aft saddle position makes a difference. Also angle. I have a slight rise in the saddle. Helps with stability

  • @johnstrac
    @johnstrac Před rokem +7

    I would always advise to use a torque wrench on anything involving carbon fibre, be it bars seatpost etc. That cracking noise would be terminal.

    • @gcn
      @gcn  Před rokem

      Great point! If it doubt get the the torque wrench out 🔧

    • @craigpavia8943
      @craigpavia8943 Před rokem +3

      Seriously. A beginner adjusting bars at home? GCN should remind buyers that a decent shop should give u a basic fit and that moving your bars requires tape removal and replacement of the shifters.

    • @johnstrac
      @johnstrac Před rokem

      @@craigpavia8943 I think Manon was just showing the basics of bar adjustment but you make a good point, bar angle could be spot on but shifters all wrong or vice versa.

  • @bengt_axle
    @bengt_axle Před rokem +2

    1) As numerous commenters note, left (NDS) pedal is reverse threaded. Turn (rotate) the pedal axle towards the FRONT of the bike to INSTALL; towards the back wheel to remove. Grease the threads and do not over tighten.
    2) By far the most tricky saddle positioning is set back. It has nothing to do with how far away the bars are, but rather how well your weight is balanced. The proper setback will allow your palms to just float on the bars when pedaling moderately hard while seated. Once you've got the setback right, then choose the stem length. Hopefully, your frame size is correct and a stem between 70-120 mm will put the bars in the right place. For this reason, it may be worthwhile to do a bike fit before buying a bike, and let the fitter suggest which model and size to buy.
    3) Don't cut the steerer before giving yourself 1000km of riding for your body to adapt and feel perfectly natural. You can always add or remove spacers or invert the stem, but once the steerer is cut, you have less range of adjustment in handlebar height.

  • @marctestarossa
    @marctestarossa Před rokem +1

    I just got my first road bike after several years of not being able to ride at all

  • @Redmire44
    @Redmire44 Před rokem +6

    Beginner series brilliant idea !!

    • @gcn
      @gcn  Před rokem +3

      Let's get more people cycling 🙌

  • @SweetappleC
    @SweetappleC Před rokem +1

    Good stuff. I am 'playing' with tyre pressure at the moment, and Manon's view is an easy way to understand a tricky topic. On saddles, setting them up flat (use a spirit level) is important too.

  • @emmabird9745
    @emmabird9745 Před rokem +1

    Hi Manon. You missed a bit. When tightening the 4 bolts on the handlebar clamp, you should finger tight first then diagonal tightening.
    ? that seat post bolt on your bike is into carbon. Adjust it on the road with a multi tool, use a torque wrench? There ae mixed messages there.
    saddles? Try one bring it back etc. That is not the policy in all bike shops. You should make that clear.
    Pedals, not all are allen key fixing, I've had several that need a narrow spanner. Also its worth mentioning (for the beginner) RH thread on the right and LH thread on thr left.

  • @davidhenry5925
    @davidhenry5925 Před rokem +7

    Best advice for a new cyclist. Get on your bike and ride as often as possible, even if it's a short ride. Also, try to find other people to ride with. There is safety in numbers (on the road) and the encouragement of friends keeps you going.

  • @chris1275cc
    @chris1275cc Před rokem +2

    Stem bolts should be tightened up evenly. If you whack one bolt up too tight while the others are too loose you will damage the bars.
    Bring them up to torque a bit at a time crossing the bars every time you change bolts in a kind of a bowtie pattern. I go TOP LEFT - BOTTOM RIGHT - TOP RIGHT - BOTTOM LEFT - (back to) TOP LEFT and repeat. Keep an eye on the gap between the face plate and the stem it should remain roughly even while tightening and be even when you are done.

  • @mancello
    @mancello Před rokem +2

    Tighten stem faceplate bolts in a cross pattern.

  • @packepuck
    @packepuck Před rokem +4

    I'm quite new to road bikes and I found the most difficult parameters to set up to be the angle and the longitudinal position of seat. I think it took a couple of months before I settled...

    • @Vixen1525
      @Vixen1525 Před 8 měsíci

      Yes I can relate to that but making your handlebar "symmetrical" is way, more bummering in my opinion.

  • @Kakirax
    @Kakirax Před měsícem

    My big tip for a beginner is to invest in a good bike fit from a reputable person! I purchased a road bike based and tried to set it up myself, but this resulted in lots of aches and pains. After I got a bike fit (luckily the bike I bought was a good size for me), it got dialed in based on my body and now it's surprisingly comfortable. Not to mention if you are an adult, a single bike fit will give you the knowledge on what bike measurements are good for you for life!

  • @jennifercash1093
    @jennifercash1093 Před rokem +3

    remember to straighten your saddle up to the frame if you have a tubular saddle post rather than a non-round one like the one Manon had here! Similarly when adjusting handlbars/stack, make sure it all goes back to square so you don't feel like you are permanently riding round corners or sitting wonky

  • @cleekmaker00
    @cleekmaker00 Před rokem +1

    Excellent video, Manon! This will definitely help newbies out! 🖖🙂

    • @gcn
      @gcn  Před rokem +1

      What is your one piece of advice for new cyclists? 🚴‍♀️

  • @Didyoureallythinkaboutit

    I always enjoy the content and your presentation even when the intended audience may be very new and everything is an effort to absorb. It’s a good start to the basic checklist. There are myriad top shelf GCN videos to get into the nitty gritty. See you on the flip side.

  • @Aeysir
    @Aeysir Před rokem

    Bought a Ragley Trig this week from Chain Reaction and it turned up with a spare multitool, a pedal spanner and a cheap set of pedals. Pretty useful 🙂

  • @jonnybegood1544
    @jonnybegood1544 Před 4 měsíci

    Love tour vids ))

  • @loscrows1836
    @loscrows1836 Před rokem

    Finding the right saddle was an odyssey for me. The answer came out of frustration after spending too much money on a bunch of saddles. The answer was a 35 dollar(on sale) mountain bike saddle.

  • @newoldsteel
    @newoldsteel Před rokem +1

    I build vintage steel bikes with vintage parts because there’s way more fudge factor when doing your own maintenance/builds because they are so durable.
    BUT I will ALWAYS have modern cycling shoes and saddle because no vintage shoe or saddle is worth potentially having knee/saddle pain! So that’s my advice!

  • @robertneild3772
    @robertneild3772 Před rokem

    Super helpful! Thank you!

  • @jeffogar
    @jeffogar Před rokem +2

    Throw some grease on those pedals before threading them on - nothing worse than trying to free them up when they’re seized. I did it once and vowed never ever again after my knuckles healed up.

  • @BarryJones-wt3et
    @BarryJones-wt3et Před rokem +1

    Very useful 😊

  • @kenswan6838
    @kenswan6838 Před rokem

    Worth noting that it is pretty important to put some sort of anti seize on both pedal threads and seat posts. I recently bought a second hand bike from a guy who obviously thought that Grease was just a musical!

  • @matt.3.14
    @matt.3.14 Před rokem +1

    Probably worth mentioning that when you loosen the stem and take off the cap, the fork isn't attached to the bike any more. If it's not sitting on the ground, it'll fall out.

  • @donaldduck5731
    @donaldduck5731 Před rokem

    I’m convinced now, there’s no difference between designing and building spacecraft and designing and building bikes, the engineering is exactly the same, pure physics, form and function and efficiency.

  • @craigpavia8943
    @craigpavia8943 Před rokem +2

    Saddle height on any bike also requires a torque wrench...especially on a $10,000 "entry level" full carbon aero bike LOL.

    • @yonglingng5640
      @yonglingng5640 Před rokem

      Many riders still don't have a torque wrench or any torque tool for that matter. I only know less than 5 riders who aren't mechanics that have a torque wrench.

  • @tamarastrulik5996
    @tamarastrulik5996 Před rokem +1

    Caution when u do the pedals there is a left and a right pedal and they have a left-hantread and a rightgandtread just don't force it and u will be fine

  • @fwod1867
    @fwod1867 Před rokem +1

    Would buy some new parts for all my bikes, if Manon helps me attach them to my bikes 😊 Manage to build your own bike is not so easy as it looks. Need some knowledge, good tools and passion 😅

    • @yonglingng5640
      @yonglingng5640 Před rokem

      Most importantly, mechanical aptitude, an attribute that's seemingly not as common as it was in the past. If it's absent, a good job can never be achieved.

    • @fwod1867
      @fwod1867 Před rokem

      👍

  • @jason-white
    @jason-white Před rokem

    I have to go back and rewatch, Perhaps I missed it but you showed how to make these adjustments on a specific bike but I heard no mention of how to tell that you need to make them.

  • @emiljarengrim2536
    @emiljarengrim2536 Před rokem

    My rides got a lot more comfortable when I finally gave in and accepted just how wide my ass is and bought a saddle correct to that size. That was a good and rough day at the same time...

  • @johnderickjardin5273
    @johnderickjardin5273 Před rokem

    Amazing tip

  • @BadHorsie1
    @BadHorsie1 Před 5 měsíci

    She didn't mention that the crank on the opposite side to the chain ring usually had a left hand thread. Oh it's so easy just pop the pedals on😂

  • @tenpennyguy
    @tenpennyguy Před rokem

    I understand that it is tricky to balance how much to say, how to encourage new riders, provide enough "how-to" info but not too much. Alas, as others have commented, this video left out some important items on pedals and torque for handlebar. For me, there wasn't enough here to be useful and more than enough gaps to be problematic.

  • @brian2066
    @brian2066 Před rokem

    Hello GCN team,I have a question I hope you guys can answer.
    Should I use a time trial or road bike on my indoor trainer?.
    Which will give me the best results on my VO2 and muscle strength?…
    Thanks….

  • @MultiQwerty9
    @MultiQwerty9 Před rokem +3

    >explains how to work with spacers
    >demonstrates on a bike without spacers

  • @McBofh
    @McBofh Před rokem

    This was very informative Manon, thankyou very much. While I've been cycling for a long time and consider myself to be reasonably well informed, it's always nice to see a different way of explaining things.

  • @event4216
    @event4216 Před rokem

    If I'll use track pump to inflate road bike tires will I be able to coast or have to spin all the time?

  • @truthseeker8483
    @truthseeker8483 Před rokem +1

    If your handlebars are wider then you will be leaning forward more...the opposite of what the "expert" said at 4.45.....but what do I know?? 🤪

  • @malcolmgraham9462
    @malcolmgraham9462 Před rokem

    Do not forget the opposite thread on pedals - RH installs clockwise - LH installs anti-Clockwise!

  • @PawnScum
    @PawnScum Před rokem +1

    Setup (noun) is one word. Set up (verb) is two words. You got it right this time in the title, but not so much in the thumbnail (unless you were emphasizing that it was a simple bike getting set up).

  • @alfabethev2.074
    @alfabethev2.074 Před rokem

    Hahaha ! I just love the three beautiful Felt bikes in the background😄 ..
    Felt, a company that you are not sponsored by.. ooh, that must sting !!🤣

  • @GOLTEB
    @GOLTEB Před rokem +1

    Don't be cheap on buying tools!

    • @yonglingng5640
      @yonglingng5640 Před rokem +1

      This is especially true for hex wrenches. When I bought my Bondhus set, I initially couldn't really swallow the relatively high price, but it turned out to be one of my best purchases ever. Very, VERY well worth it!

  • @innerlocus
    @innerlocus Před rokem

    Are flat seats like the ones that come with the bike more comfortable than a rounded padded seat?

    • @gcn
      @gcn  Před rokem +2

      Great question. Saddles are a always a tough one to get right and often it comes down to the person. Flatter and harder saddles tend to offer more support on longer rides. Maybe head to your local shop and see if you can try some saddles out.

    • @innerlocus
      @innerlocus Před rokem

      @@gcn It's good I kept the flat seat, and I will switch the padded out to try the flat one out again, today, thx.

    • @emil5459
      @emil5459 Před rokem +1

      ​@@innerlocus I saw an infographic from Fizik where they recommended flatter or more curved saddles based on your back, hip, and leg flexibility as well as your fitness level or style of riding.
      If I remember correctly, the gist was the more flexible you are (and the more you had an athletic or performance oriented riding style), the flatter your saddle can/should be. The curved saddles were supposed to compensate for a stiff back and a further forward tilted hip, so you can still properly sit on your sitbones instead of putting pressure on your soft tissue

  • @michaelb9664
    @michaelb9664 Před rokem

    I don’t mean to be negative guys, but this video was poor - and that’s being polite.
    If this is aimed at people new to cycling you need to cover things in more detail.
    Pedals are opposite threads. Tighten pedals towards the front of the bike and loosen towards the rear of the bike no matter which side of the bike you are working at.
    Grease the threads so the pedals do not seize in the cranks.
    Tighten stem bolts in an alternating diagonal pattern gently one at a time until they are all getting a hold and then do a final nip/or torque them up in the same diagonal manner and then double check them as the first one can slacken off once you’ve been around all 4 bolts.
    Demonstrate a steerer tube with a conventional set up and actually show taking it apart and moving the spacers instead of just briefly describing it. This is the the area of the bike which if you get it wrong can be very dangerous. Discuss the importance of having a correctly tightened headset with a carbon steerer tube.
    Talk about using the correct grease on the seat post to suit frame and post material as again these can seize solid.
    Come on GCN this is really basic but very important stuff.

  • @chrisparent4660
    @chrisparent4660 Před rokem

    No grease on the pedal threads? Eeks!!!

  • @craigpavia8943
    @craigpavia8943 Před rokem

    "Go off feel" is the advice seconds after a casual mention of a torque wrench ($100)...GCN?!?!?!

  • @sfoot3882
    @sfoot3882 Před rokem +1

    You need to edit out the part about the steering tube spacers! “just screw it back together like you took it off” is going to get someone seriously hurt. It’s a specific order, screw down the cap to compress the stack. Then tighten the stem. Otherwise your stem is floating on the steering tube and you’ll rattle apart at speed. You guys are better than this, but you’ve been real sloppy in your education videos lately.

  • @robertmyers5269
    @robertmyers5269 Před rokem +7

    Manon, I usually really like your videos, but this pretty quickly got me hitting the thumbs down. Pedals 1) where is the grease on the threads? 2) this is one place where righty tighty, lefty loosey doesn't apply - this is a bad place to mention it, as well as this is the place to demonstrate this exception. 3) some pedal don't have allen fittings, you need a wrench. 4..infinity, WHERE'S THE GREASE?? Stem height, if your are going to describe it, show a bike with spacers. Didn't watch further.

  • @techliso
    @techliso Před rokem +2

    You don't need to set up your first road bike if you don't have it. Mtbs rule!

    • @gcn
      @gcn  Před rokem +4

      Did the GMBN team send you 👀

    • @techliso
      @techliso Před rokem

      @@gcn 😂😅

  • @vongdong10
    @vongdong10 Před rokem

    How many times are you guys going to make the same kind of videos??? I want to unsubscribe because of this but staying for the good videos...

    • @larrylem3582
      @larrylem3582 Před rokem

      They've run out of material, are looking for suggestions. They need the subscriptions and likes to stay in business.

    • @dongoat4232
      @dongoat4232 Před rokem

      Thats coz road bikes ddnt change that much since. but because there are people who are new to cycling, they needed this kind of vid.