Road Cycling - bike bug... again

hey to all (first post)... I too, am dusting off my old bike (Scwhinn Criss-Cross) and getting her/me up to running condition... it looks like all I may need is a new front gearset cause the old ones are bent up pretty bad (cheap metal?). Other than that with the new tires and all I plan to ride her and get back into the sport for a while.

BUT... I am already looking at what bikes makers and the new technology is all about. So since I have found the internet most useful for this sort of knowledge quest... I'll probably hang-out here for now... if ya'll don't mind.

I used to ride fairly serious in the 70's while living in Jax Fl and then a while in the mid 80's in Morehead City, NC... But now we have lived in the country of far-eastern NC for the past 7+ years and the roads/scenery out here are near perfect for touring (I can't seem to shake the desire to bike!). At 45 years old and 5'11"/200lbs, its time to get back into some form of excercise that I enjoy... I hate running and walking is too boring.

The only physical problem that I remember with biking was the numbing of the under crotch area... any cure for that?

Welcome, s-boy, you've probably come to the right place! There are several members here who've resumed cycling at your age or later, and in a remarkably short time felt all kinds of benefits.

While you're waiting for some responses here, I suggest you look up the posts by member nebill (aka Fujidude)--go to the "members" link at the top of the page, and click on it, and then you can narrow down your search.

Fujidude's story is so inspiring it ought to be in Technicolor.

The subject of crotch numbness is also covered there--and several other places in the forums! :) Generally it's a matter of getting seat height and saddle tilt just exactly right, and I mean a few millimeters can make a big difference. You probably already know that. Chances are you just need to make some adjustments.

I would write more, but I'm too hot and tired: heat index of 118 degrees predicted today in Kansas City, and I have no air conditioning. Probably should also turn the computer off... :(

Post away!

:blush: Gosh, Jon, thanks for the nice words!

s_boy, this is a great place to hang out. I have learned a lot here, and gotten a lot of great advice and encouragement!

As Jon said, the very first thing to think about is saddle height. When adjusted correctly, it will allow you to generate more energy, be easy on your joints, and be more comfortable. When you are seated on the saddle, and your foot is in normal pedalling poistion at the bottom of the stroke, your knee should be just slightly bent. Once you have this basic adjustment, you can move the seat post up or down very slightly to finally get the perfect position for you. Next is padded biking shorts. You can find them on the 'net from a lot of different sources, from about $15 to $80+. The padding really helps with the male numbness problem. And, finally, if your saddle is uncomfortable, it may be time for a new one of those. Odd as it may sound, a saddle with a lot of padding is actually more uncomfortable than one with just a little. And, they make male and female specific saddles that have holes in them or depressions to help relieve pressure on sensitive areas. If you are lucky enough to find a good LBS (local bike shop) they may let you test drive some different saddles to find just the right one for you.

Glad to hear that you are getting back into biking. It is a blast, and be sure and check back here frequently! The folks here are always happy to lend a hand!

Thanks for the welcome.

Today I did have the fwd gearset replaced with a new (but cheap) 3 ring Shimano, the shop owner removed, cleaned, regreased and reset my crank bearings since he had the bike down that far... all for <$38!!!

I was home by 11:30 am. I set off on my first route of 8 mi total and all is well... but no doubt the gel-seat has got to go next payday. This should give me time to decide what I may want to get.

Today was perfect for my first ride in years... slight northerly breeze and high pressure with low humidity. I couldnt ask for any better. As soon as I get the yard cut and relax a bit, I will probably round out the late afternoon with another 4-5 mile jaunt.

I have taken your advice JonR and have started readin all of nebills post from his first (nebill you famous big dog/road warrior you! :D )... and I am enjoying them immensely.

later...

Originally posted by s_boy
...no doubt the gel-seat has got to go next payday. This should give me time to decide what I may want to get.

Luckily there are dozens of good yet inexpensive saddles on the market. I have been riding on a Vetta saddle on my MTB and though it seemed surprisingly hard at first, I quickly got used to it and appreciate its firmness now. I have a Flolite WaveFlow Sport saddle on my road bike: it molds to your body contour and retains the contour, and yet is firm, not mushy or gel-like, really remarkable. The Flolite people make high-tech specialized products for people confined to wheelchairs, etc., in the pursuit of comfort. They also make three or four different bike saddles.

One thing to watch for when buying a saddle: the rails on them vary a lot. Some of them won't allow you to install the saddle far enough back for a good fit, and the result can be numbness in the hands, and/or knee pain. So watch out for that. If you have your bike with you in the store, you can get a pretty good idea how things will mesh.

Sounds like you are lucky to have the dealer you wrote about!

s_boy, I am glad you are enjoying the posts...I enjoy doing them, but most of all I enjoy the replies I get! I don't think of myself as a 'road warrior', just a C rider...but I will be a B rider one of these days, then the A riders (the real road warriors!) better make room for another one! :D

There is such a wealth of knowledge here on these forums, it never ceases to amaze me. I really think I am where I am today because of the advice and encouragement that I have received from the fine folks here! Almost all of my riding is done solo, so I really appreciate my on-line coaches!

Sounds to me like you are off to a good start, so enjoy, and keep coming back!

nebill,

I am in the same situation as most of my riding will be solo. So this site is probably where I will draw my support and expertise from. I was a tad bit sore today, got up early... went to Cape Lookout in the boat (fishing with wife and #3 son).

Took a different 8 mi route after we got home. And the wind was up a few mph from yesterday... and boy was I whipped when I pulled into the driveway today!

I am thinking that the hybrid design is gonna be my mainstay out here on these country roads... I have to keep a heads up for fast cars and pick-ups (yee-haw!). Not to mention there are a lot of great gravel and dirt roads to see out here as well and if I have to get off the highway shoulder in a hurry the bigger tires are better suited for these occasions. Now that you have a road bike do you ever get back on your hybrid?

Is this the correct section on this forum to discuss hybrids?

oh by the way s_boy is just short for southern boy... I like to use that monicker on other forums that I belong to. My name is Alex and it is nice to meet with you, you really are an inspiration.

s_boy

Sounds like the hybrid is a wise choice for your territory. If you get a second bike (which I recommend, since you might have to leave the first one in the shop sometime--or be without its use for some other reason), you might even consider a mountain bike.

How great to be able to go out on your boat like that, and then bike home. It sounds like a romantic place to live!

As for the "correct section" to discuss something, I've never noticed anybody being very picky about what's where, but if you're ever in doubt you could just start a thread under "General Discussion." The main trouble with discussing hybrids here under "Road Cycling" would be that some who are interested in hybrid bicycles might never give a glance to the road cycling posts.

Hi Alex! Well, my 'nebill' handle is just 'ne' for Nebraska, and then my name, Bill.

Oh, yes, I will still use my hybrid! My Roubaix, the road bike, only has two chain rings, so it is a 'go fast' bike. I am working real hard with a guy at work who is confined to a wheel chair to get him into biking. He has done a search and found a lot of hand powered trikes on the 'net, but at $1400+ he has not ordered one...yet! I have promised him that when he gets his bike, I will ride with him, so the grannie gears of the hybrid will come in real handy untill he starts outrunning me!

Isn't wind fun? When I first started riding, I used to hate it. Now, I have a different attitude about it. If I am riding with no particular destination in mind, I always head into the wind first, so it can be at my back for the trip home. Of course, about half the time the wind might change and be in my face on the way home or quit all together! Anyway, now I don't mind the wind at all. I just gear down to keep a good cadence going, and pedal on! The wind just helps give me a better workout. A couple weeks ago, I rode into the wind and worked a bunch of hills, and my trip average speed was only about 8 miles per hour. While I was doing it, I was about ready to give up, but afterwards, I was sure glad that I did it!

Discussing hybrids here is okay...besides, we are lucky enough to have a good administrator, and if it is in the wrong place, he will kindly let you know, and move it to where it needs to be! Sure sounds to me like the hybrid is going to work out well for you. And, if you find yourself riding more pavement than dirt, you can even change your tires to ones that are slick in the middle for less rolling resistance but still have knobbies on the edges for handling the occasional off road excursion!

then I shall discuss the hybrid freely until otherwise directed.

JonR, I have lived around the water all my life and keep my little 18' skiff in the water for quick coming and going. If you look on a US map and find NC (all the way east), you will see Cape Hatteras and to the south Cape Lookout... Lookout is my stomping ground and it is only accessible by boat! It is wonderful to still have places like that on this ol' earth. I wonder how well MTB's can hang in sandy conditions... the areas over there are basically deserted with miles of winding sandy roads. As far as me getting an MTB??? I will certainly entertain it... but, I am not in any hurry. The Schwinn is doing fine until I can decide. I may upgrade to some clipless pedals and the seat soon. I also need to get a water bottle on the frame.

nebill, I hope that your friend can find a way to get the hand powered trike, I think its great that you are helping to motivate him. I have a severely hanicapped fellow who I employ and he is such an inspiration to me and all of my other 68 employee's. We all love him and when any of us feel like whinning or complaing about some of our little mess, his life always provides us a reality check, if you know what I mean.

the wind is a great source of power and as you say it should be worked with and not against mentally.... since that is 90% of the battle anyway so I certainly agree on that point.

day 3 and I did 9-10 mi tonite and I feel real good... a bit sedated from the workout (hot & humid), which is a great natural high. I thought about this all day and really did look forward to the ride, but the traffic is heavier around 4-6 pm so I need to adjust my ride time for a more enjoyable and safer workout. perhaps as I get in better shape I will feel more confident with the blow-bys. when I read about the road bikes on this forum, i have to admit that deep down that is where I would like to get eventually. I do like the speed and the lightness of those machines... hmmmm! I hate to settle for less so I will keep an open mind.

be blessed all!

Good man, Alex! Riding is such a rush, it is nice to be able to share it on these forums!

I walked by my buddies office today, and he was surfing the 'net trying to find some used hand trikes, but never got to check back in with him to see if he had had any luck. Let's all send some positive vibes his way, couldn't hurt!

My Sagres (the hybrid) is a good bike, 21 speeds, bar ends, nice saddle...chromolly frame, built like a tank! My average speed overall with it was 12 mph. My very first ride on my Roubaix (the road bike) instantly added 4 mph to my average speed! And, with the aluminum frame, it is light! That is the first thing I noticed about it, how responsive it is to my feeble inputs! And now, when I come upon a small hazard in the road, I can just jump right over it! (I don't do that often, I have to take care of that beautiful frame!) I really like my Fujis, but I love that road bike!

Clipless pedals are great, too. I was surprised at how quickly I adapted to them. I am using Shimanos, as they are two sided, so if my foot is on the pedal, it will lock right in, and I don't have to worry about getting the right side up.

Sounds like you are doing great! I don't envy your ride in the traffic, though! I like mine...almost non-existant by your standards!

Originally posted by nebill
Let's all send some positive vibes his way, couldn't hurt!

Vibes coming right up, Fujidude. :thumbup:

s_boy, for me the contrast between mountain bike and road bike is like the contrast between, let's say, Beethoven and Mozart (since I'm a classical-music fan). Sometimes I'm in the mood for that powerhouse music of Beethoven, and sometimes for the graceful, almost minimalist elegance of Mozart. I don't actually prefer one to the other--they're different!

I must say I especially appreciate the road bike when I carry it up and down my twenty-some stairs, though!

will certainly say a prayer for the friend...

today i have vertigo from an inner ear infection, something that I get almost every year about this time from swimming, I have earplugs but I always forget to use them!!!! The first time I got vertigo about 4 years ago I thought there was a serious problem with my brain, heart or something but now as soon as I get it I know what it is and head over to the Dr's office for my ZythroMax (anti-biotics).

It will be at least 1 or 2 days before I can ride again since excess movements make me real dizzy... bummer.

regarding MTBs and road bikes.... I have slid over and read some post on the recumbents and must say that is an intriguing concept. I may try to get a test ride on one of those rigs. I guess they could be considered like... John Phillip Sousa (sp?) a real parade!!!

the traffic numbers are quite low out here in rural NC, on either of my 8 mile routes I probably deal with less than 20-30 vehicles. BUT... they do go fast on these country roads and the road shoulders are very small or non-existant.

Bike bug is a good bug to have isn't it s_boy?

Originally posted by s_boy
today i have vertigo from an inner ear infection...
I can sympathize all the way with you here. In 1992 I was sorting laundry when I suddenly collapsed on the floor with the room spinning violently around me. I threw up for an hour (yes, on the floor) and eventually was able to crawl into the living room and look up my old doctor's name in the phone book. Fortunately she was still listed at that time. It was a Sunday; I got her answering machine--but like a miracle, she came on the line, and remembered me though it had been something like five years. She said to go to the emergency room at Menorah Medical Center, and she would meet me there.

My friend Greg, who lives sixteen miles from me, came and helped me down the stairs and took me to the hospital, and gave me his entire Sunday afternoon, away from his family.

My doctor (and a bunch of others) examined me and decided it wasn't a stroke, but viral labyrinthitis. It usually only happens once to a person, thank goodness. It kept me off work for two days, I had brief recurrences during the next couple of weeks where I had to sit down or fall down, but then I was over it.

And my doctor never sent me a bill.

There are good people in this world. Not only on Bike Forums! :D

As for recumbents, they don't appeal to me, but I see more of them in KC than I ever expected to, and the riders invariably look happy. Sousa? I dunno... One of my favorite composers, though.

S-boy,
Welcome to BikeForums! Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner. Just a couple of points right now.

You will be surprised how fast your seat will get used to riding once you do it regularly. Getting it adjusted properly is very important for overall comfort on the bike - seat, hands, legs and back all depend on proper position. It may take months to get it right. Make a little change, ride with it for a while, make a little change, ride with it for a while. Eventually you will zero in on it.

Your bike shop should have some little plastic clamp-on mounts for water bottle cages. They come in 2-3 sizes for different size tubes. If the tube you want to put it on is oversized you can use hose clamps, with a piece of inner tube to protect the bike's finish, to attach a bottle cage. I have 4 bottle cages on my commuter. The bike had mounts on the down tube. I added one of the plastic mounts on the seat tube. For long rides on hot days, 2 bottles are not enough so I wanted more. My down tube is oversized so I could not use any of the available mounts. I wrapped a piece of inner tube around it and used two hose clamps to mount two bottle cages side by side at angles near the top of the down tube. That fixes me up for rides up to about 30 miles. I have a hydration pack for longer rides or I stick extra quarts of water in a rack trunk.

One should never get to comfortable with fast blow bys. Getting too comfortable can lead to disaster. Maintain a health fear of them. :D
Regards,
Rainman

rainman... thanks for the good advice. actually my ol'schwinn is equipped with cage mounts for the bottles... I just never used them (I do now).

as far as the seat goes I am doing as you say and making baby adjustments, up/down/back/fwd/tilt... it would be nice if it were electric like my truck :D:D:D. Ill be getting a new seat in a week or so and will probably have to start over since it will be much different (firmer, smaller).

got a cage and bottle today (room for 1 more later)... I went a full 10 miles+ today and felt really good. Its nice to be able to guzzle down some water on the route. While I was at the bike shop I realized that there is a group that meets there every day and rides 15-30 mi depending on whos invloved, weather, etc. and I happened to know a few of them! So if I get a road bike I could start getting in some serious miles with good company.

I also looked at a few Cannondale's (esp the 500) and I think I got a bit weak... I need to stay strong! This shop is local and they mainly deal Trek and Cannon's. I know there are other brands out there, but if I spend a grand or more on a bike I would like to know the service and parts are close by.

Any comment on these two brand would be appreciated. I think I like the CAD4 frame on the Cannon better than the Trek comparable 1200 model??? it is lighter!