Forums » General Training » Cycling

1. Lindsey
   Member

   A few weeks ago I started riding my bike again, it is a Huffy and I believe is considered a "mens" mountain bike.

   Anyway, my goal is to participate in a sprint triathlon this summer (July). I really know nothing about cycling except what I did as a kid playing around and what was my main type of transportation before I started driving.

   Anyway...is it ok to use a mountain bike for this sort of thing? I would like to get a new bike eventually, but I would like to stick with a mountain bike because I want to eventually ride on trails up in the mountains with my hubby.

   Also, I have never really used the gears much, I don't think I have ever used a different gear other than '3' and '4'...I don't like to feel like my legs are swinging around uncontrolably. Is there a certain way to use the gears properly? Oh, and I don't think I have ever used the one on the left handle bar.

   My brakes are also really bad, I have to use both like a block before I really want to stop because they don't do much for stopping...any advise on the maintenance of breaks?

   Are there certain "rules of the road" that I should follow when riding my bike? I always stick to the sidewalk because I am afraid of getting run over by some crazy driver and I like to stick to the direction that lets me see the traffic coming at me.

   I feel a bit clumsy on the bike right now since it has been a while. Any advice you can provide as far as ways to train on a bike for triathlons would be great. Right now I am just riding whatever distance I have planned for that day.

   Thanks a head of time for all the great feedback!!

   Posted 6 months ago #

2. Brad Hefta-Gaub
   Administrator

   Great questions... I'll try to take them one at a time.

   1) Can you use a mountain bike for your triathlon? YES - many people will ride whatever bike they have available to them. If you have a bike, that's all you need. Once you've been bit by the triathlon bug, you might want to buy a new bike, but for your first one, just go ride the bike you have, and enjoy yourself!

   2) How do you use gears? I'd say the right way to use gears is to find a gear that is most comfortable for you in the situation that you're riding in. Most sprint courses are pretty flat, and so picking a middle gear that you are comfortable with is and leaving it there is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. The more you ride your bike, the more you may determine that different gears are better for different situations, and with experience, you'll get used to changing them when you need to/want to change the amount of power you're generating. If your legs are "swinging around uncontrollably" then you may have your gear too "low" or too easy, which means you're not generating much power and your feeling less in control. Try changing the gear to a "bigger number" and see how that feels.

   3) Brakes - It sounds like you might want to take your bike in to a local bike shop and have them check it out. Usually a tuneup will cost around $20 and you'll end up with a bike that rides much better and is much safer. If your brakes or gears are old and broken, then the bill might be a little higher, but you'll be happy with the results, and it's a lot cheaper than getting a whole new bike. Most shops can do a tune up while you wait. It's easy and well worth it!

   4) Rules of the Road - In most cities, bikes are supposed to follow the same traffic laws as cars. That means riding on the sidewalk is a no-no. And unlike running or walking on the road, you are supposed to do it "with" the flow of traffic. Yes, this can be a little scary, but as you gain experience on your bike you'll actually find that this is much safer than any other alternatives. If you're nervous about riding on the road, then try to find some roads with less traffic and WIDE shoulders.

   Good luck! You can do it!

   Posted 6 months ago #

3. fayezie
   Member

   hi, i am doing my first tri this coming weekend... will be doing it on a hybrid that belongs to my father... after humming and hawing over whether to possibly use my own mtn bike, i finally convinced myself that i'd rather ride my own mtn bike because a) it has clipless pedals, and b) the frame fits me so well... well, I learned the hard way: Don't take your bike in for a tune up with one week before the race, cause the shop just might be backed up... (lol)... needless to say, I will now be riding the hybrid this weekend... So, what the heck is my point here? yeah, it is fine to ride the mtn bike, just take it in sooner rather than later to have it tuned. Plus, the bike man said, even if it were tuned before the race, the cables can stretch back out and need re-adjusting, and there's nothing worse than finding that out at mile marker #5...

   good luck! I'll be checking back to your thread to read other replies.

   Posted 6 months ago #

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