RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 6/28/2008 2:00:52 PM
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phosadaud
Posts: 9827
Joined: 9/19/2005
From: Washington State
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Well, I accomplished getting up before it was too boiling hot and went 14.15 miles on my bike. I wanted to go further down the path I was on, but it was blocked off for a Renaissance Faire so I had to turn around. It was a beautiful ride though - I'm going to have to go that route more often. At one point, the path winds through a riverfront park, past a beautiful marina and then follows along the river to another park. If I hadn't been turned around, it would have continued along the river & more parks, etc. It really is a beautiful ride.
The only snag was at one point, I was coming up behind some pedestrians and yelled out "on your left"... And they jumped left...  Fortunately, I wasn't going to fast because the path is somewhat narrow with lots of curves so I had enough time to swerve back to the right. The guy realized what he did almost as soon as he did it and had an apologetic look on his face so I just laughed and said "...Or on your right!"  and he laughed back.
_____________________________
~Kristin~
42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 6/28/2008 2:36:01 PM
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mutinywxgirl
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We didn't end up riding. She woke up with severe pain in her hip and could barely move. We'll do it another day. In spite of that, we still had fun.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 6/29/2008 6:22:52 PM
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42servehymn
Posts: 374
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: Littleton, Colorado
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We had a great day biking yesterday. My husband and I chose a route that we had not taken before. The weather was perfect! It was in the low 80's and slightly overcast. We started out by biking to the bank to get that out of the way. Then we hit the bike trail . The first part of the trail is one we have done hundreds of times but then we veered off onto a new trail. That trail soon turned to gravel. I had never ridden on gravel before. It was pretty sandy in spots which was a nice challenge for us. It wove through beautiful wooded areas. We saw lots of nature. It was an uphill climb too so that added to the challenge. Apparently we live in the bottom of a bowl since no matter which direction we head we are climbing up. All together we rode 20 miles yesterday. It was not the longer ride I was wanting but it was challenging enough to make up the difference. It was a day of fun, exercise, fresh air and some sunshine.
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Lord help me to be the person that my dog thinks I am.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 6/30/2008 4:53:35 PM
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Dred
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Joined: 10/11/2007
From: Alabama
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My ten year old bike shoes broke in mid-sole last week; I got a pair cheap from a friend which were my size (though a bit narrow) and have been stretching out a bit to be more comfortable. Have you noticed how biking shoes tend to be rather narrow and tight? Well, in the last couple of days I've been trying out my new biking sandals. They carry the Nashbar label and were on sale at their site for cheap, so I took a chance and ordered some. I'm liking them. They are quite comfortable and anything which is a bit cooler in any way is nice here in hot, humid Alabama.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/1/2008 12:28:44 AM
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benelchi
Posts: 2411
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Dred
My ten year old bike shoes broke in mid-sole last week; I got a pair cheap from a friend which were my size (though a bit narrow) and have been stretching out a bit to be more comfortable. Have you noticed how biking shoes tend to be rather narrow and tight? Well, in the last couple of days I've been trying out my new biking sandals. They carry the Nashbar label and were on sale at their site for cheap, so I took a chance and ordered some. I'm liking them. They are quite comfortable and anything which is a bit cooler in any way is nice here in hot, humid Alabama.
Just don't try and sprint in them, the results can be quite unpleasant when you end up, quite unexpectedly, barefoot and off balance at the same time.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/1/2008 3:58:22 PM
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Dred
Posts: 229
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From: Alabama
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quote:
ORIGINAL: phosadaud
I don't have biking shoes - although my uncle has the fancy ones that clip to the pedals. I know he really likes them but being clipped to pedals would really scare me... especially after my bike accident a month ago. I think I would have been hurt much worse than I was. 
That is a common concern, but I think they are generally considered safer. At least, that is the case with mountain biking on which I started my "clip to the pedals" experience (ironically, they are called "clipless pedals" because they are an alternative to the "clip and strap" type of pedal). If your foot slips forward or backward unintentionally, the results can be disastrous. After a little experience with them, disengaging from the pedals is automatic and instant. Starting out with them off-road, as I did, I did fall over once before disengaging because my habit was to slide out the back of the pedals. Very soon, my habit changed and I had no problems in spite of the fact that I had to disengage quickly very frequently due to the terrain I biked upon. People talk about how efficient they are, but I like them mostly because of the convenience. They keep my foot securely in just the right position on the pedal and a short, quick twist of the foot takes me out of them.
_____________________________
"We count any belief in Him, even the smallest belief, better than any belief about Him." --from Robert Falconer, by George MacDonald
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/1/2008 8:47:56 PM
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benelchi
Posts: 2411
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
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quote:
ORIGINAL: phosadaud
I don't have biking shoes - although my uncle has the fancy ones that clip to the pedals. I know he really likes them but being clipped to pedals would really scare me... especially after my bike accident a month ago. I think I would have been hurt much worse than I was.
As a cycling coach I can assure you that your will be far safer with cycling shoes than you will without them. One of the big mis-perceptions people have is that they can simply put their foot down if they are going to crash, and it will help them avoid the crash. The reality is that once you are going faster then about 10 mph you will have very little stability when you put your foot down, and worse once your feet are off the peddles you you have pretty much committed yourself to the crash. In a crash having your feet on your peddles is the safest place for them; when people put their foot down (at speed) the leg ends up awkwardly behind the rear wheel and this is a setup for a broken leg.
At the beginning of every cycling season I take the kids I am coaching out to a grassy field and have them practice crashing (by falling over on the grass) while keeping the hands on the bars and their feet on the peddles, and their body tucked. Learning to stay on the bike during a higher speed crash accomplishes several things.
1) if your are committed to remaining on the bike, you can continue to look for a way out of the crash; often an impossible situation changes quickly and more times than not a crash can be avoided if you remain ready for the opportunity. Most crashes that I have watched could have easily been avoided if the riders had just followed this one rule. The crash itself is often a result of panic; when you are jumping off of the bike it is hard to change direction when suddenly see a way out!
2) if you do crash while on your bike, often the bike will absorb some of the impact, and your body will be spared.
3) You often have a lot more control of where you end up, and how hard you come down.
The biggest issue is the when learning to use cleats is getting loose when the bike stops, and everyone falls over at least once, but don't worry falling over when stopped doesn't hurt too much. The best way to minimize these falls is to plan for a couple of hours of practice when you first start using the cleats. Go to a empty parking lot, or school yard and practice cleating in and out 100's of times before you try it on the road. Once you try cleats, you never want to ride without them, and you will realize quickly how much safer riding is when you are using cleats.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/1/2008 8:55:52 PM
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phosadaud
Posts: 9827
Joined: 9/19/2005
From: Washington State
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I'm sure in many cases you are correct, but in my wreck, had I stayed with the bike, I would have been more injured. I didn't put my feet out to brace myself (by that time I knew I was going to hit the curb and there was no stopping that) but rather to let myself roll off the bike rather than come to a jarring halt and getting handle bars jabbed into my ribs.
Like I said, I'm just a casual rider - I'm not racing or going at high speeds.
_____________________________
~Kristin~
42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/1/2008 9:57:41 PM
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42servehymn
Posts: 374
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: Littleton, Colorado
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I am a casual rider as well. I have developed a bad case of plantar fasciitis and I am wondering if it has to do with improper foot placement on my pedals. I am taking steps to get better but I want to prevent any future issues. My husband says that he notices that I almost always have my arches on the pedals instead of my toes. I am working 11 hour days this week and probably next so I won't be doing much riding until the weekend. Riding doesn't seem to bother me at all but walking is quite painful. Still if riding is exacerbating the problem I will stop if I need to. any help will be greatly appreciated.
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Lord help me to be the person that my dog thinks I am.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/2/2008 10:15:10 AM
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Miss Giggles
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Joined: 4/18/2005
From: MI
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Hmm I was wondering about this, I have only rid my mountain bike for short periods of time, but i was wearing sneakers and they did slip off the petals once or twice. I don't want to spend a lot of money on shoes though but if I got cycling shoes I could wear them to spin class too.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/2/2008 10:40:39 AM
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stellaluna
Posts: 4004
Joined: 4/11/2005
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I don't use cycling shoes. My bike is my primary form of transportation, so I'm not wearing cycling-specific apparel of any kind. I wear whatever my outfit is for the day--including shoes. (And dresses, ha ha.)
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/2/2008 11:25:08 AM
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Miss Giggles
Posts: 4134
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: MI
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I don't know if i've said it here but cycling apparel is even uglier than running apparel.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/2/2008 11:33:25 AM
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stellaluna
Posts: 4004
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Yes, cycling apparel is rather...garish. My running stuff isn't too bad, thankfully.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/2/2008 12:12:15 PM
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benelchi
Posts: 2411
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
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quote:
Hmm I was wondering about this, I have only rid my mountain bike for short periods of time, but i was wearing sneakers and they did slip off the petals once or twice. I don't want to spend a lot of money on shoes though but if I got cycling shoes I could wear them to spin class too.
Most spin classes will support only a couple of different peddle cleat systems (usually look and SPD). Check in with your local Spin class instructor, and he can tell you what they support.
FYI SPD is better suited to Mt. bike riding or general riding when you may also want to be able to walk around in the cleats a little. (Don't confuse these with the SPD-SL which is a road style cleat similar to Look)
Look is better suited for road riding, but you can not walk in the cleats very well.
< Message edited by benelchi -- 7/2/2008 2:45:50 PM >
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/2/2008 12:52:33 PM
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benelchi
Posts: 2411
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
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quote:
I am a casual rider as well. I have developed a bad case of plantar fasciitis and I am wondering if it has to do with improper foot placement on my pedals. I am taking steps to get better but I want to prevent any future issues. My husband says that he notices that I almost always have my arches on the pedals instead of my toes. I am working 11 hour days this week and probably next so I won't be doing much riding until the weekend. Riding doesn't seem to bother me at all but walking is quite painful. Still if riding is exacerbating the problem I will stop if I need to. any help will be greatly appreciated.
There are several things you can do to help this.
First consider using some kind of cycling shoe (cleated or not); if you choose to use an un-cleated shoe, you should put either a toe clip (or a half clip) on the pedal as these will keep your foot from moving too far forward. All cycling shoes (even those design to be used cleatless) have either a very stiff sole or a stiff plate in the sole designed to distribute the pedal pressure evenly across the foot i.e. They are very stiff at exactly the same place that normal shoes are most flexible. Some are designed to look so much like a normal street shoe that no one would recognize them as cycling shoes (unless they were familiar with the brand)
Second, make sure your seat height is correct; many recreational cyclists ride with their seat far too low, and this can result in knee and foot pain on longer rides. Seat height should always be measured to the bottom of the pedal stroke, not to the ground. If you can seat on the seat and place both feet on the ground the seat is too low. The bests way to measure seat height is to sit on the bike with your foot on the pedal (ankle bone over the spindle) while it is at the very bottom of the pedal stroke. The bottom of the pedal stroke is when the crank arm is completely parallel to the seat tube (usually just forward of straight down). When you are seated in this position you should able to place your foot comfortably on the pedal, but you should not be able to bend your knee hardly at all. Note: if you do have a toe clip or half clip on the pedal then take your measurement with the pedal upside down because having the ankle over the spindle is important for proper measurements, but not for proper riding, and the clip side of the pedal will prevent you from putting your foot this far forward.
Last, after making the changes above, reduce your mileage to allow your body to heal, and then gradullly bring it back up.
< Message edited by benelchi -- 7/2/2008 2:49:05 PM >
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/2/2008 2:39:38 PM
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benelchi
Posts: 2411
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
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quote:
ORIGINAL: phosadaud
I'm sure in many cases you are correct, but in my wreck, had I stayed with the bike, I would have been more injured. I didn't put my feet out to brace myself (by that time I knew I was going to hit the curb and there was no stopping that) but rather to let myself roll off the bike rather than come to a jarring halt and getting handle bars jabbed into my ribs.
Like I said, I'm just a casual rider - I'm not racing or going at high speeds.
When I teach people how to crash, I teach them to roll with the bike rather than apart from it i.e. staying on the bike doesn't mean you should come to a jarring halt. Without seeing your crash, I can't make a definitive call about what could have been done differently, but experience has shown me that separating from the bike is usually the worst thing to do in a crash. I personally spend more time teaching crash techniques with my juniors then do most coaches, and I do so for two reasons. First, knowing how to handle your bike in a crash situation helps avoid the panic and most of the time helps you to avoid the crash altogether (This is the Goal). Second, if you do crash your injuries are typically far less when these techniques are followed.
I would agree that these techniques are more important to racers; however, that is only because the potential for a crash is greater in a bike race. The techniques themselves are just as applicable to recreational cycling and I do teach them to recreational cyclist on occasion. Knowing what to do in a bad situation is always better than finding out how not to do it afterwards.
Here is a list of the things we practice:
1) hands on the bars, feet on the pedals at all times, always look for a way to avoid the crash and never commit yourself to the crash.
2) roll with the force if you do crash, keeping your body and head tucked.
3) In an overlapped wheel touch situation, turn into the wheel and lean away i.e. lean in the direction you are being pushed, not against it. This one takes lots of practice because the natural reaction is to do exactly the opposite. Following your gut instinct on this one will almost always cause the rear rider to crash when the wheels separate.
4) Breaking should almost always be primarily the front break because almost all of the stopping power is in the front break. The over the handlebar flips caused by using too much front break are almost always the result of someone who used the front break only in an emergency stop, but avoided it using it during normal riding. Those who know how to use the front break don't flip their bikes. Most bike racers go through one or two front break pads a season. Rotating the rear break pads forward when they need a replacement.
5) In a hard emergency stop you should shift your body behind your seat i.e. your butt should be hovering just above the rear wheel and your chest nearly touching the seat. Doing this will allow you to apply far greater amount of pressure to the front brake and can cut your stopping distance in half. This does take practice to master, and is something you want to know how to do before your are confronted with a need to use this technique.
6) If there is an obstacle ahead that you are going to need to go over because you cannot stop in time i.e. a curb, bike of a crashed rider, or even the rider themselves. While in the position described in point 5, you should apply your breaks as hard as you can to take off as much speed as possible, but you should release your breaks a fraction of a second before hitting the obstacle, doing so will help you to be able to safely get over the obstacle, and in the case of another rider keep him from getting seriously injured. When you slam into someone with your breaks locked both you and the rider you hit will have far more serious injuries. For the rider on the ground it can mean the difference between a bruise or a broken rib, and for the rider going over the top, it can mean the difference between a few scrapes and a serious head injury because when you hit any obstacle with your breaks locked, you will flip.
7) When riding in a pack of riders with road style drop bars (used in racing bikes) always keep your hands on the drops. Doing so prevents riders riding next to you from coming in on the inside of your bar and hooking their handle bars with yours. If you do get hooked, do not lean against the hook, but lean with it while accelerating from the front or breaking from the back to separate.
8) Always keep you upper body relaxed and never lock your elbows when riding, overall endurance is greatly enhanced and a much larger impact can be sustained (when another rider bumps you from the side) without transmitting that bump in to handle bars and causing the bike to veer in one direction or another. Even bumps on the ground (like potholes, rocks, fallen water bottles, etc) can cause a bike to steer badly to one direction if you are riding with your elbows locked. This is a bad habit that many cyclist develop, and it really takes conscious effort to unlearn.
Because I have been involved in bike racing for many years now, I have witnessed many crashes, and about 90% of the crashes I have seen were completely unnecessary; most crashes are the result of panic and overreaction and could have been easily avoided if the riders had practiced and followed the instructions above.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/2/2008 10:04:11 PM
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42servehymn
Posts: 374
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: Littleton, Colorado
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Thank you for the advice. I was thinking about toe clips but I hadn't considered shoes. I am better today. Hubby talked with a massage therapist who gave me some exercises which I did last night. I am on the mend though I have a ways to go.
_____________________________
Lord help me to be the person that my dog thinks I am.
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/5/2008 4:52:11 PM
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Miss Giggles
Posts: 4134
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: MI
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Well you could have just pretended you were part of the triathlon.. LOL
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/11/2008 11:51:26 AM
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Miss Giggles
Posts: 4134
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: MI
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My hands keep falling asleep. Ideas ??????
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RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite ride... - 7/11/2008 12:12:39 PM
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benelchi
Posts: 2411
Joined: 9/14/2007
From: California
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Miss Giggles
My hands keep falling asleep. Ideas ??????
Never lock your elbows when you ride your bike, and try to carry your weight using the muscles in your torso rather that trying to support your wieght with your arms and hands. This is one of the most common posture mistakes made by recreational cyclists. If you watch riders in the Tour de France (happening right now BTW), you will never see a rider with a locked elbow. Watch the riders riding down your local streets, and typically almost all of the ride with locked elbows.
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). If I was a really serious bicyclist, I might check into it, but biking is my break from running which is my main focus.
