noob questions

Why do you want such a heavy bike with all those hills?

And I guess you don't want his and hers bikes, but the Trek Allant for chaps is very pretty and has a handy rack if you're set on getting a hybrid.

really tempted to trade up my town bike for something lighter and sexier

Mine was way lighter than the Allant for boys, I thought!

Instead of my usual routine of riding a consistent but difficult pace (I'd say 85% of max effort) on my 15 mile commute home, last few days I've been spinning easier on the flats and then doing max effort sprints up the climbs (5 locations along PCH where it rises about 150 feet over 1/2 mile), not for any strict reason, just for fun, to switch up the routine. Anyway, I find that going up the slight hills while out of the saddle like that I skip out my rear wheel quite a bit. I'm mostly on the hoods, and leaned over pretty far over the bars. I'm guessing this is the reason? If I want to sprint like this should I stand straighter up? Could it be a bike geometery issue? I'm 6'1" and ride a size ML Giant TCR (effective top tube 57cm). I put a 130mm stem on recently to put myself into a little more leaned-over position, so I'm hanging a little further over the front wheel than I was before.

Anyway, is this a common thing? What to do to avoid it?

Used to do this on loose-surface mtb climbs, solution is basically don't lean so far forward.

It does just sound like a weight distribution thing to me, assuming your rear tyre is in good condition and the road surface hasn't been wet. Seems it could also be quite dangerous to have the front wheel so loaded as you'd wipe out completely if you hit an oil spill or nasty pothole.

Also, I wonder if your pedal stroke is in part the issue? If you are pushing down on one pedal or other 100% of the time, you should have enough downforce for the back wheel not to skip. If you're effectively unweighting the pedals during your stroke, then that will also help the back end skip. Maybe.

how do you keep your water cold on warm days?

wrap in a wet towel -> evaporation -> inside = cold

perhaps a sock wd be better?

doesn't sound like it'd look PRO tho

same principle: http://www.maxchill.com/Home.html

freeze water bottles overnight (with water inside)

^tried that but it didn't work for me; 30mins in they had melted and by an 1hr in they were beginning to get warm : /

noob questions:
(i) how do I tell what cassette/gearing I have - I think it's 12x27 but I can't be sure
(ii) how do I tell what size (measurement?) of tyres I have (and thus need for replacements and replacement tubes)?
(iii) when clipped in am I supposed to be pulling on the upstroke along w/pushing on the down?

i) count or look for the writing on the cogs, if you can't see the writing your cogs are too dirty, clean them, filthmonger.

ii) again should be embossed on the sidewall of the tire but it is also the approximate inflated diameter of the fat bit of the tyre

iii) yes but it fast becomes second nature, i wouldn't force it especially as your muscles may be under-developed. You'll know you're getting it when you ride all day and the things that hurt are your hamstrings.

is 12x27 an old man's gearing?

I find the little rind p.useless and the hardest gear on the biggest ring doesn't give me enough tension when going all-out

ring*

What are your front rings and what sort of cadence are you riding at?

now you're getting technical!

(dunno :))

12x27 with a standard crank (53x39) = fit rider looking for a bailout up steep climbs
12x27 with a compact crank (50x34) = perfect for beginners, but don't be mistaken: even some pro guys will go compact with a 27 if there are significant mtn passes to be ridden on a particular stage.

yeah, I think it's a compact (how do I know if it is?) I should take my bike to a mechanic and get him to talk me through it I guess

the amount of teeth should be written on the chainrings

and as Ed mentioned upthread... you can count the teeth ffs! :-P

counting is hard

noob question: how do I count?

(ty for humouring a noob dudes)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crankset#Chainrings

all those metal bits emanating outward from the metal ring are "teeth". the amount of teeth on your chainring versus the amount on your rear cog (a cluster of which is referred to as a cassette) will determine your gear inch ratio, ie, how much work required to turn the pedals.

ok now you're just taking the piss

h8 u

:)

:) I'm grateful for the help, ty

When trying to count the teeth you could place a finger or thumb on each tooth as you work your way round. You have a total of five of these on each hand. Given that all your cogs and rings will have more than ten teeth, and that you only have two hands*, you will need to enlist the help of at least one other person for this exercise, perhaps even five additional people. Once all the teeth have a digit resting on them simply count the number of whole hands involved and multiply by five. Add on the number of fingers used from the incomplete hand (if there is one) and hey presto, you have your teeth number. Ensure you and your five companions wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

*I assume

I thought this was a safe zone :__(
http://www.genderworkchicago.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/safe_zone.320201324_std.JPG

see but I actually do have two hands but ~no fingers~

how do I shot

don't worry you are still in the nest

it's jsut that while the old man is gone mean low cat bullies think they can just go around out PROing the n00bs

I miss the Hunt3r. :-(

I h8 the rest of u, well... except for all of you.

yeah he is the only way I know about cycling in the 90s

heard he owned one of the very first anodized skewers

high fived tinker juarez at a trade show

crashed a prototype y-33 in moab

had beers the night before the actual YETI gave up the bike game and rejoined his people in the mountains of the himalaya

listening to music while on bike: y/n?

emphatically no, I enjoy being not dead.

what about podcasts

enh, i'm 50-50 on the music thing. when i was taking classes, i could do 90% of my commute on the greenway, where jamming tunes just isn't an issue at all.

now i've got a) those squishy sound canceling headphones and b) a commute thru downtown, so no dice

i tried this only once and i immediately felt like my balance was off and couldn't do it -- some kind of inner ear, reg'lar ear connection problem maybe?

can't beat the dulcet tones of m.bragg on in our time as you cruise along I find
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/img/presenters/melvyn_bragg.jpg

on cyclist-only closed circuits it's questionably of merit, but impairing your senses anywhere with auto traffic is not a good idea imo.

i did a hillclimb a week ago and there was a gal with a music system with speakers on her rig, thought it was kinda cute.

I always feel kinda envious of people who can listen to music when they're riding, but I really can't dare myself to even try it. If I'm ever off the bike for commuting for more than a day at a time it's the extra hour or so of listening and reading that makes it harder to get back on the saddle.

saw some old man beardo with a custom rigged helmet w/two small speakers projecting sound into the helmet from the outside. not very aero, but he could still listen to music w/o impairing his senses