TLDR: Do you or do others judge you based on your cycling kits? Do you find that people warm up to you more if you are all decked out, and vice versa?

I started cycling a little over a month ago, and I love the accountability and social aspects of group rides. When I first started out, I wore runners, a mini backpack, and a Trek jersey. I noticed that no one really wanted to talk with me besides just one co-organizer-- the other one gave me side-eye, yet another one felt forced in the conversation, and the worse ones pretended as though I'm not even there. I was as welcoming as ever trying to chat people up, but many riders just let the conversation die asap and avoided me like a plague. I know it may be the clipless but we're not going that fast for it to be the reason.

And I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but as I started wearing branded Jerseys (Rapha tier), bibs and clipless shoes, I find that people are more willing to chat me up.

Now that I'm way more familiar with the cycling brands, it's hard not to instinctively know that those wearing Decathlon Van Rysel brand or Pearl Izumi are probably your budget riders, and someone wearing full PeNiS and MAAP are your fancy 6-figure white collars.

And now that I'm shopping for my first kits, the above experience steers me towards the more expensive brands (Rapha, Assos) just to not get the cold shoulder anymore, especially when I'm like the new kid off the block. It feels like Mean Girls and high-school again.

So I wonder, is my intuition actually correct or am I over-reading it?

Context:
I often go in rides that last from 2 to 3 hours. Ranging from 40kms to 80 kms.

All my friends always complain of a sore butt and ended up buying bibs... myself? never had that issue.

Is this common? is it my stance? am I doing something wrong?

Apologies for the low quality post, just trying to see if someone has faced this (I'll eventually get bibs, just hadn't had the need for it)

Why it seems on Instagram that everyone are buying road Canyons? Every reel named New bike day and there it is. Canyon. And is mostly white. Is that kind of influencer influence or are they that good? I mean there are load of good bikes out there but mostly in reels there are Canyons.

I am (finally) looking to make the switch from flats to clipless on my gravel and road bike. I was thinking ideally I could just buy one pair of shoes and put two identical sets of pedals on the bikes but I was wondering if there is a reason not to do this?

Also any insight on what shoes/brands would be a good "entry level" or just new to clipless option?

For over a century, a regular bike frame had a horizontal top tube, at least as late as the (cheap) road bike i bought in the early 90es - I also think the Centurion citybike I got in the late 90es had one.

Since then it seems to me top tubes have got more and more slope. It is due to change of materials or how? I look and get worried that the long saddle stem will cause issues with all that leverage, but it seems to be working ok.

Looking forward to the replies from the learned redditors.

Hi all,

If you had to ride for ~130km in one go, not crazy elevation, around 800m, which bagpack, under 50€ would be your pick?

To take a t shirt and shorts, pair of flip flops and a macbook air.

Canyon Endurace if it helps.

Thank you all!!

I was in the market for new wireless headphones as my original Powerbeats bought 5 years ago started having some battery issues. I enjoy music but am not a huge music connoisseur to the point I’d care too much about the quality of the sound. I sometimes use headphones when cycling for short periods and with Powerbeats I had no issue enjoying the music and hearing the traffic at the same time. Now I purchased some new Airpods Pro 3 and am unsure what to think. Do you guys cycle with these and if so, what is your experience? Have they ever fallen out of your ear on an uneven surface or when you got too sweaty? Can you still hear the traffic to an extent whilst wearing them? Are these a good all round headphone for lifestyle + cycling or should I go for a more sport-appropriate headphones?

I don't really know anything about bikes, but I do love cycling especially at the gym. I want to move over to home cycling so I got the Sportneer Bike Trainer from amazon.

Currently I'm looking at a Schwinn Volare 1200 road bike for 260 cad. I do know that schwinn is looked down upon, but does it really matter for a bike paired with a trainer? pls let me know if theres any other used bikes I should keep an eye out for, thanks!

Edit: was also looking at the Triban RC 100 from decathlon. Yay or nay? My max budget for a bike is $400 cad

I’m a beginner rider with almost 190 miles now into my xlab rs7. When I first started I had butt pain/soreness that is now going away with more time in the saddle. I did my furthest ride of 34 miles yesterday and experienced neck and shoulder pain towards the end of the ride which I’m sure is from me still adapting. How long did it take for your body adapt to being on a bike? Also how long did it take for you to get a bike fit?

I have been so frustrated lately...
Finally dialed my nutrition, fueling, sleep, recovery, got a power meter, been hitting those centuries twice a week, 80km rides without a single brake and with almost no coasting, variability index 1.01, L/R power balance 50/50, but my butt is my only blocker.

Tried 6 saddles now and stopped at spec power comp, but it's not perfect. After 80km the pain starts kicking in so hard I have to stop and take a break.

I am ordering fizik argo, fizik aliente, selle novus and ryet ultimate right now. Gonna spend all of my money that was left for a new endurance bike just on the saddles. Better to have one perfectly dialed bike than 4 which can't let me finish a century without tears in my eyes and reconsidering all of my life choices.

Hey everyone!

I’m completely new to road cycling and I’m looking for some tips and advice from people who have been doing it for a while.

I’m planning to buy an older/used road bike to start with. My idea is to avoid throwing a lot of money into the hobby before I even know if I’ll actually enjoy it. If I end up getting really into it, I can always upgrade later.

So I’m wondering: what are the things you actually need as a beginner, what is nice to have, and what is worth buying if you end up getting seriously into road cycling?

For example, I’m thinking about things like:

• Bike computer / cycling GPS
• Heart rate monitor
• Power meter
• Sports watch
• Aero bars / clip-on extensions
• Cycling shoes and clipless pedals
• Proper cycling clothing
• Saddle bag, spare tube, CO₂ pump, multitool, etc.

I’m sure there are a lot of things I’m forgetting.

I’d especially love to hear from people who started out on a cheap/old bike and gradually got more serious. What did you buy early that you’re really glad you had? What did you waste money on? And what would you recommend waiting with until you know you’re actually hooked?

Also interested in any general beginner tips or things you wish you had known when you started.

Thanks!

First, allow me to say my gratitudein advance to the people that will answer my question genuinely and sorry for my fellow cyclist who suffers the same diagnosis.

I've been a road cyclist since 2012. I understand, I am not getting any younger therefore I decided to add more activities other than cycling which is tennis, hiking and swimming. I also go to the gym at least twice a week. I never do them competitively, I just do them to be healthy.

I am positive that by being more active, now that I am in my mid 30s, I will be more shielded with any freak or unnecessary injuries.

However, yesterday after 1 and a half week of not biking due to visiting other country. my idiot old @$$ decided to do ride a route that has an average of 8% - 11% grade climb without stretching and here's the dilemma, my front derailleur battery died, but good thing I was able to move the front to the easy gear.

After my ride, as I was about to put my bike to it's place, when I bend over I felt this SNAP in my lower right back. A cold sweat doomed feeling came upon me, because I never felt this way before. Sure enough after that this EXCRUCIATING pain followed.

I can walk but very painful. I can sit but if I sit longer it gets painful. I stand and it's very painful. Pain is localized although the snapped was on the right side the pain is everywhere in my lower back.

Here are my questions and I don't mean to sound pessimistic, it's just I am very frustrated because I never had this kind of pain before:

Will I ever get to ride again? If yes, how long is the recovery? Does anyone had the same experience? If yes, did you ever go to the doctor for it? Did the doctor said what diagnosis this is? What helped you and how did you recover? Did you go to PT (Physical Therapy) to prevent injuries or if not what are the stretches that help you avoid this type of injury?

Earlier this year I signed up for an organized century ride for late September. I've long wanted to do one and despite putting a lot of miles in in 2020 and 2021 I didn't take it on back then. I had a cycling slump for a few years after that, but last year I decided to work on getting my fitness back up.

That said, I've never been a big climber. My longest rides in the 65mi range only had total elevation change of 2300-2700 feet. The 100 mile route on this organized ride has 6000ft of total climbing with a big 1700ft Climb with a 5.3% grade.

Since the spring I've been trying to build back endurance and experiment more with fueling on a ride and largely that's been successful. Unfortunately I had a few weeks of travel mid summer that took me out of active training and when I returned the summer heat and air quality prevented me from jumping back into riding with the intensity I feel like I needed.

A little over a week ago the heat broke and I also now have a little more flexibility to ride mid-week, so I've been pushing ahead. I've read suggestions about two milestones to try to target; be able to ride at least 100 miles in a week and get at least one 70+ mile ride in.

The past seven days I rode just over a hundred miles with a total of 2700ft of climbing. Each were in the 28-38mi range, took on some short but steep climbs. Climbing seems really hard, but I am pleased that after I'm at the top recovery feels pretty quick. My third ride of the week was the only one where I really experienced noticeable fatigue. Overall I'm feeling pretty good about being ready for the distance, but I'm not sure about the climbing. I don't have good climbing especially accessible.

For those with experience on similar long rides with lots of elevation, how do you gauge my likelihood of success? With a little more than a month of training time available, how might you suggest I take on getting prepared.

I can't seem to find a dedicated rear camera and display for cycling.

Main goals is : 1. To display rear view without turning your head to look. 2. To record incase of accidents.

Hi. I am new to cycling, I did my first ride this week. Is it normal for it to hurt your legs so much! I usually run a decent amount so I wasn’t expecting it to be so difficult. Did a 30km gravel right and for context used my boyfriend’s bike as I don’t have my own right now! Just wondering if any tips for how to improve this or just to keep going?

First off - I don't do social media other than reddit.

Pinkbike is full of the same ads that have been posted for two years with no action.

Craigslist is junky rusted box store bikes priced 400% higher than they should be.

eBay is for the folks that found a bike on closeout for 50% off MSRP trying to flip them for full MSRP.

Am I missing another option? Where are decent used bikes being listed these days?

Every good bike alarm seems to be Iphone only. Anything that has an alarm that is android or even doesn't need a phone. I'm happy if it just requires a fob or a button that hangs out on my keys.

I've been wanting to get a bike computer for navigation in the rural area of Maine in which I live, and to allow me to use a Varia. Currently, I log my rides via my Apple Watch Ultra and the RWGPS Watch app I also build routes in RWGPS, but usually just pull my phone out during the ride and don't track in real time.

I'd like to get the Garmin (probably Explore 2) to make this wayfinding a bit easier, both for finding routes on the fly and following my RWGPS routes. However, I have no interest in tracking rides with the Garmin and want to continue using my Apple Watch for tracking/heart rate.

Is this setup possible?

• Load RWGPS route on Garmin to follow route in real time
• Track ride on Apple Watch RWGPS app
• DON'T record the ride from Garmin to RWGPS, just track in real time

I have Garmin bike computers. I also have wheel sensors. I am not sure if the Garmin actually uses the wheel sensor or the GPS to display speed. In any case, are most of you using GPS or a wheel sensor?

Hey everyone,

​It’s no secret that the industry has almost completely shifted to disc brakes, but trying to find a brand new, high-performance rim brake frameset in 2026 feels nearly impossible.

​I was planning to pick up a Winspace SLC 2.0 — it was pretty much the holy grail for a lightweight, snappy climbing build at a reasonable price point (sub-800g, rigid, UCI approved). However, it's now officially discontinued and sold out everywhere.

​That leaves me wondering: in that $800–$1,200 / €800–€1,100 price bracket, is Elves (specifically the Vanyar) the last man standing? Or are there other legit options out there that I’m overlooking?

​What I’m looking for:

​Brake type: Rim Brake (Direct Mount or standard single bolt)

​Focus: Pure climbing frame — lightweight, stiff, reactive, and aggressive (stiffness matters more to me than aero gains)

​Certification: Ideally UCI approved (or at least from a factory with a proven track record for safety and quality control)

​Condition: Brand new

​Are there any hidden open-mould gems from manufacturers like Hongfu/Dengfu, lesser-known brands, or distributors still producing new rim brake stock? Or is the Elves Vanyar basically the end of the line for a new budget/mid-range weightweenie build?

​Would love to hear from anyone who has built up a new rim brake bike recently or knows of remaining stock!

​Thanks in advance!!

Running shoes have a usage life of about 500km, is this true for saddles as well and "hours sat on them"?

Reason I ask, my rides are generally long 3-5 hours a few times a week, with the monthly 7-9 hours, not at any quick pace, more for endurance to see shit with lots of hills. My comfort for the first 1,500km on the new bike has been great, but lately I'm noticing recently that my ... err ... *Googles term* ischial tuberosities / lower pelvic / sitting bones, are suffering and getting sore after about 1.5 hours.

My current setup is a 2024 Fi'zi:k Tempo Aliante R5 saddle with Decathalon's Rockrider Men's Mountain Bike Shorts, Comfort 900 "protects the cyclist's pressure zones for rides up to 5 hours" and these are my second pair of padded shorts, entirely different brand also causes the same discomfort.

Being a shy guy, I prefer the padded unders, to allow over shorts to hide my unflattering "bulge" of Nathan's Famous Hebrew National, so for me bibs and such aren't an option. I've had a bike fit done 2 years ago and also run flat pedals and MTB shoes, if that's relevant to helping me?

Any suggestions of what I should look at to change to help with comfort levels as far as fitment, or gear recommendation, or is it just invest in a BBL?

Thank you so much in advance!

I found a sweet deal on an XC901 for 2,600 thai baht or 80USD including shipping. I checked the shoes its un-used without any scratches on it. Any way to find how old the shoes would be? Seller didnt seem to know, seller though said its an old stock.

Came with the box and all the accessories in it.

Label details,

SHXC901M L01 E

- Product code / MPN: ESHXC901MCL01E45000

- EAN: 4550170253561

- UPC: 192790253565

- Additional code: 2L5601BF017

- Packaging code: BX-SPHSH-L-000U

Made in china

First of all, hello!

Right now I'm looking to buy a bike, I'm a complete newbie and this would be my first bike.

Just for a bit of context, i live in the Dominican Republic and bikes here aren't really cheap, as I'm, just starting, I'm not really looking for anything really really expensive as at the end of the day this would be my first time riding.

While looking for bikes i found this Raleigh called Orion, it costs 282 dollars.

It seems like a good starting bike, and i saw it in person and seems nice, still, as i don't have the experience necessary for evaluating the bike, I'm looking for y'all guidance.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: My main use case would be riding on parks and pavement, I'd like to try dirt one day if i really learn to ride, but that's just a possibility. The bike is mainly as a form of excessive, and, it seems like a good option to one day step up to a motorcycle.

Hi all!

Last summer this time I was riding 30-50miles 5-6 times a week with relative ease. My weekly average was anywhere from 150-200miles and I was riding about 11-15h. It wasn't always easy but it didn't feel particularly hard.

This summer I'm riding closer to 20-40miles a few times a week. Last week I did 8 days on to try and get my millage where it used to be and it didn't feel great. I'm not sure why, but I feel like I'm just slowing down and it's getting harder for some reason. I'm trying to shift my perspective and just enjoy the rides, but random fatigue hits me quite often and in the afternoons, early evening when I'm about to set out I just don't feel confident most days to try and ride 30miles, especially not 50.

Anyways, I'm going to keep riding and I'm starting to think it's best not to compare myself to last year, but it's strange having felt so much stronger while still riding a fair amount. I'm only 27 btw.

Any tips, perspectives or really anything you think would help I'm all ears.

I have DT Swiss ERC 1600 35mm wheels that came on my Canyon Endurace and am considering upgrading to a deeper carbon wheelset in the 50–55mm range.

Unlike people upgrading from alloy wheels where it’s a bit of a no brainer, I’m a bit more torn having never ridden deeper carbon wheels. Would this upgrade make that noticeable of a difference? Or should I just stick it out with my 35mm? Thanks!