Clydesdale looking for advice

[rkimble]

Hey Guys!

I am new to cycling and thought I'd introduce myself. I spent 11 years in the Army and was pretty fit during that time. When I got out in late 2003 I weighed 185 pounds at 5'8". After three years of college I have moved up to 235 pounds. I started riding the stationary bike two weeks ago at the gym. Since then I've lost 6 pounds. I bought a used bike last night that I'm really proud of click the link for pics

http://picasaweb.google.com/rkimble67/Bike

To top everything off I've signed up to do a ride in September that is 230 miles over 4 days. So I will be training very hard until that time. If you have any advice about the bike or training please post to this thread.

[Stoeger]

The seat seems really low, does the bike fit you properly? I would take it to your local bike shop and have them do a fit for you, right seat height, stem length, etc, it does make a wolrd of difference.

Brian

[rkimble]

I do plan on going to get a proper fit at the LBS. What kind of price range am I looking at to get a good fit?

[Stoeger]

Price for the bike fit can range depending on how in depth you want to get w/ it, best bet is call before to see what they can do. Does the frame fit you?

Brian

[rkimble]

It seems to I have road it a couple miles around the road I live on. The guy I purchased it from said it was a 54cm bike. So I hope it fits me or can be adjusted to fit me?

[Stoeger]

It can be made to fit if it's a bit too small or too large. What is your inseam? When you stand over the bike, how many inches do you have between your crotch and the top tube?

Brian

[Velo Dog]

Assuming you're in decent health, you certainly should be able to do the ride in September. That's less than 60 miles a day, which probably sounds like a lot to you now, but isn't really that tough.
As others have recommended, adjust the bike to fit you, whether with a professional fitting or by reading some of the thousands of sources on the Web. It's not magic; you can probably figure it out. I don't know if a bike that size will fit a 5'8" guy perfectly, but I don't think it will be too far away. If you have to raise the seat so high that it's way above the handlebars, consider a new stem to get the bars up nearly level with the seat and you'll be a lot more comfortable.
Then ride. Start slow, and increase your mileage by 10 percent or so a week. One ride a week should be long--if you're doing, say, a 60-mile week, you might want to do ride of 10, 10, 15 and 25. By the end of August your long ride should be at least 60 miles. And take rest days, or at least very easy days, to give your body time to recover, don't try to ride every day between now and September.
There's been a ton of stuff written about training for long rides. Try googling "training for a century" and modify that to fit.

[JumboRider]

rkimble,
Hey man...welcome to the forum. It is funny how the weight pops up when Uncle Sam is not making you do PT or take a fit exam every year. I was 212 when I got out and hit a high, or low depending on your view point, of 375 pounds. You can read my blog about that if you wish.

Thank you for your service and I know biking will take you to your goals.

I would look into getting a different saddle before the big ride. I chose a Brooks saddle after reading through these forums.

[rkimble]

Standing over the bike in my living room lst night I had maybe a quarter inch between the crossbar and my crotch. But that was standing on carpet barefoot. If I remember shouldn't I have atleast an inch clearance?

[rkimble]

JumboRIder i was checking out your blog last night and it is very good. Yes the pounds to do pile on when you are not forced to run 3 to 8 miles eveyday.

[old and new]

Standing over the bike in my living room lst night I had maybe a quarter inch between the crossbar and my crotch. But that was standing on carpet barefoot. If I remember shouldn't I have atleast an inch clearance?
I just glanced at the bike,it's correct given your height;the inseam/ S.O./ clearence seems fine.You can adjust it accordingly. Don't mess with them stem either. Maybe an increase in height will be of some advantage untill you become a more seasoned cyclist. Too long or too short of a stem is not a good place to start. The S.O. thing is over-rated, it's an inch to your pubic bone, not contacting soft tissue !Besides,you WILL be riding with shoes, an extra 7/16 to 9/16 or more lift.You'll be spending more time on the saddle than you will be straddling the frame anyway. Folkes tend get too-small bikes,a big problem.

[Tom Stormcrowe]

I just glanced at the bike,it's correct given your height;the inseam/ S.O./ clearence seems fine.You can adjust it accordingly. Don't mess with them stem either. Maybe an increase in height will be of some advantage untill you become a more seasoned cyclist. Too long or too short of a stem is not a good place to start. The S.O. thing is over-rated, it's an inch to your pubic bone, not contacting soft tissue !Besides,you WILL be riding with shoes, an extra 7/16 to 9/16 or more lift.You'll be spending more time on the saddle than you will be straddling the frame anyway. Folkes tend get too-small bikes,a big problem.
Very good post here, O&N! I agree with you 1000% (Not a typo for 100%).

[Stoeger]

The frame fits you, so time to raise your seatpost!

Brian

[rkimble]

Thanks alot for the info taht makes me feel better. For a minute there i thought I had purchased a bike that was to big for me.

[JumboRider]

I asked the same think rk. When you realize the rod and tackle is so close to being crushed you just have to wonder.