General Cycling Discussion - I guess the old cliche is true...

...you never forget how to ride a bike. I hadn't had a leg over one in almost twenty years until the quick spin down the block last night. I got a chance to go out for a short but real ride (about 30 minutes) this afternoon.

The ride felt real good. Even outran a pack of mutts, though I'm glad they caught me on the flat and not going up hill 'cause I sure don't have the legs I used to! I wore a bike helmet for the first time in my life today, too. I guess I must be getting old and feeling my mortality ;)

This suspension fork is going to take some getting used to. Everything feels mushy and I keep thinking a tire is going flat on me. Also doesn't feel like I can corner as fast, though logically I would think one could corner faster with a suspension fork as it seems the wheel should have less tendency to bounce over small bumps. Maybe the upright riding position of this hybrid is the real impediment to cornering, CG a lot higher than I remember from my road bikes of a few millenia ago.

The elliptical glider has certainly helped with conditioning. I didn't have much problem with the several moderate hills I hit. I only wound up in granny a couple of times and the 28-32 combo of the granny seemed sufficient for the worst of them, slowing me to a crawl but spinning well with little strain on the legs. The hills were more boring, moving at a walking pace in granny, than they were difficult. I think I'll definitely need a bit lower gearing if I do any long/loaded tours, though. We'll see how this crankset goes through the summer, anyway. The only long rides I plan before fall are all unloaded and sagged, so the 48-38-28 should do for now.

Love the direct-pull cantilever brakes! They make the old centerpull calipers feel like dragging your feet ala Flinstone!

John

First ride in 20 years!! Dude!! You are the MAN. What a wonderful, special feeling. Aren't you glad to be among the land of the living again? Congrats!!

Peace,
Lou

Yeah, it felt real good. I can't wait for longer days so I can get in at least an hour after work. I hope this weekend is nice so I can at least find the local rails-to-trails trail head, even if I don't have the legs to ride the whole trail yet.

My plan is to start riding that trail at least once a week during spring and summer, more often when I get home from work in time to make all or most of the 40 MPH round trip (more like 50 from my house) before "full dark."

So, who's riding the Peach Peddle in Weatherford, Texas, with me this year and where do I sign up for the HTH100? :)

John

John,

My wife and I will be in Weatherford
(I'll be wearing the BikeForums jersey!)
unless something untoward happens.
you can get HHH info
at The Ride (http://www.hh100.org/)
I believe that 1OldRoadie will be there, I'm there,
EastTexan has also mentioned it.
Scubagirl rode her first imperial century at HHH last year
(way to go!), so I expect she'll be there.
If thats not enough there will be about 7000 other riders
to keep you company!

Marty

I have an MTB with a suspension fork, and I too disliked the mushiness when riding on the road.

Until I realized I could set it to be almost locked out. I like a slight bit of give, it helps smooth out the potholes.

See if you can adjust yours. I *think* some can be locked out completely. At least set it to have minimal give. Your LBS should be able to help with that.

Sure sounds like you've got a good start going. At least there have finally been a few days that you can at least get out and get a few miles in. Had to work late last night so I rode the exercycle for 26 miles last night, but it sure wasn't as nice as Mondays ride. Anybody going to the Gator Ride in Baytown, or the Katy Ram in on March 1st & 2nd? Got to get those miles in before the Houston to Austin!!

Originally posted by HalfHearted
I hadn't had a leg over one in almost twenty years until the quick spin down the block last night. I got a chance to go out for a short but real ride (about 30 minutes) this afternoon.
That's great! :beer:


I wore a bike helmet for the first time in my life today, too.
:eek:



This suspension fork is going to take some getting used to. Everything feels mushy and I keep thinking a tire is going flat on me.

Maybe the upright riding position of this hybrid is the real impediment to cornering, CG a lot higher than I remember from my road bikes of a few millenia ago.
Sounds like you need to get another road bike. ;)

Killer! Keep it up! You'll feel great overall daily. Since my return to biking, I have felt much better, and had more energy. I too was able to just hop on and ride (only after a two year hiatus) but for some reason I am still having difficulty riding with no hands.

If you want some social aspects to riding, check around for local clubs in your area that have different speed groups. I have had a blast riding with my club. And they have various ride groups for just about every fitness level of rider. These are a great way to ride on different routes and condition yourself with others that have the same end goal.

Welcome back to the wheel world.

I wish I could get some of my friends to follow your example. So many set or waddle as they watch the years pass, pass gas and their belt gets longer and longer with a slimmer margin for viewing their shoes. :eek:

Congratulations and "you've only just begun" :D...

Yes, HalfHearted, Congratulations with a Capital C.
The first step, er pedal, is always hardest.
I applaud anyone willing to swim against the cultural tide, in this case resignation to aquiring a dunlap* with age.
Do get in touch with a local group of riders. They almost always welcome new members.
Cruising this forum is also a great idea, unless it burns up time that could be spent cycling :D

* mah belly dun laps over my feets!

Originally posted by Garbear
So many ..., pass gas ...

Well, sorry to disappoint you but I do a fair amount of that :lol:

John

Originally posted by RonH
Sounds like you need to get another road bike. ;)
Actually, I probably would have (albeit with low gearing) but I've had some problems with lower back pain since my bypass surgery and so I really need the upright riding position, even though it's not very aerodynamic nor as stable.

The pain isn't real bad, and the exercises the doc has given me to do seem to be helping, but I'm afraid a crouch over dropped bars would not be a good thing right now.

I was a bit worried about riding at all. That's why I was very glad that when I got back from the quick spin yesterday I hadn't had any pain at all. That was a big relief.

John

Originally posted by lotek
John,

My wife and I will be in Weatherford
(I'll be wearing the BikeForums jersey!)
unless something untoward happens.


Cool. I'll keep an eye out for you. I'll be the pudgy, pale guy with ten miles of flourescent and reflective tape on his helmet and the brightest homemade flashing taillight you've ever seen :lol:



you can get HHH info
at The Ride (http://www.hh100.org/)
I believe that 1OldRoadie will be there, I'm there,
EastTexan has also mentioned it.
Scubagirl rode her first imperial century at HHH last year
(way to go!), so I expect she'll be there.
If thats not enough there will be about 7000 other riders
to keep you company!

Marty
I'm going to try to make it but that will depend on whether I can get in enough conditioning time. We've got a killer deadline on a major project at work, so I won't get in much ride time on weekdays until it's light past 7PM or so. I'm pretty confident I could ride the Peach Pedal even now albeit slowly but I've heard HHH is a whole different ball game, er..., bike ride!

John

Originally posted by Garbear
I wish I could get some of my friends to follow your example. ...

I, too. My boss, who is 364 days younger than I, wants to sell his full-Campag. NR/SR Medici; I keep telling him he should ride it, instead.