First ride on my Specialized Vita!

omma_to_3

It was awesome!!! So much easier than my old Gary Fisher mountain bike. It was hard to go slowly with the kids so I kept going ahead and then looping back. After 8 miles hubby took them to the playset and I did another 5 miles on my own. I went about 13 miles and could have gone 20! The farthest I had gone previously was 9 to 10 miles.

The down side? I burn fewer calories since its easier lol

midschool22

Wanna burn more? Ride faster or spin a higher cadence.

Congrats on the new bike. It will be addicting to ride now!

omma_to_3

Wanna burn more? Ride faster or spin a higher cadence.

Most of the time, I can't really go faster because I have the family with me. I can usually go off on my own after 4 miles or so, so I do go much faster then.

I'm still trying to figure out the higher cadence thing too. When I try to do it on the flat, I just can't seem to keep up so there's no tension on the peddles. Apparently I can't peddle fast enough yet LOL.

Frannybobs

Congrats on the new bike!!! The higher cadence - if you can't keep up then go up the gears - you'd have to be going pretty fast on the flat in the hardest gear to not be able to keep up - it's just getting used to changing gears to keep the cadence high and consistent - even up the hills

omma_to_3

Congrats on the new bike!!! The higher cadence - if you can't keep up then go up the gears - you'd have to be going pretty fast on the flat in the hardest gear to not be able to keep up - it's just getting used to changing gears to keep the cadence high and consistent - even up the hills

I do up the gears. I'm normally riding in 3-3 to 3-6 (out of 3-8). But the cadence is lower on those gears. On bigger uphills, I'll drop down to 3-1 to 3-2.

I'm a newbie so I'll take all advice I can get!

Gapwedge01

Congrats on the new bike!!! The higher cadence - if you can't keep up then go up the gears - you'd have to be going pretty fast on the flat in the hardest gear to not be able to keep up - it's just getting used to changing gears to keep the cadence high and consistent - even up the hills

I do up the gears. I'm normally riding in 3-3 to 3-6 (out of 3-8). But the cadence is lower on those gears. On bigger uphills, I'll drop down to 3-1 to 3-2.

I'm a newbie so I'll take all advice I can get!

Sounds to me it is just a matter of getting used to your new bike. Before you know it you will be shifting without even thinking about it.

Frannybobs

Up hills I'd drop down to the second chain ring 2-5 to start and try to keep your legs moving fairly fast at a similar pace. If you are using the biggest chain ring you will be "grinding" the gears and you could end up hurting your knees. The gears make the hills easier so try out using the full range to feel what is comfortable for you. I have a Specialized Vita Elite and I love it too :-)