My bike, today's ride etc...
 

Just wanted to post a picture of my bike and tell about my ride today. For those that read my last thread, yes it was my tire pressure that was the issue so needless to say I will be checking it prior to each ride now. As for the brakes I followed some youtube university advice. I adjusted the barrel tensioners a little and washed the contact surface of my wheels.

Today I did 5.5 miles, it was a nice day to ride. I am tempted to go take another ride in a few minutes. My feet felt a little stressed...anyone ever deal with that? I am still nervous about leaving my neighborhood on the bike. There is a big park by my kids school I wouldn't mind riding to and touring on my bike but the traffic concerns me.

I also need to get an outfit that doesn't allow my shirt to pop out in the back all the time. It is distracting and I really don't want to moon traffic and neighbors hahaha.












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feet felt stressed? what do you mean by that?

How "busy" is the traffic? are there alternate routes you could find that would take you to the park?

Shoes or socks to tight. Feet Swell in the afternoon.

I was wearing Vibram shoes.... need to try regular tennis shoes next time. just have to tuck the laces so they don't get caught.

In ref to the traffic it depends on the time of day. The roads are semi-rural, one lane each side and it is the only path to the park. I can minimize traffic by going around 1030-11ish... just worried about that one idiot out there that gets to close or if I violently sneeze hehehehe....

Still not following the stressed thing, but yeah, athletic shoes would be good, cycling shoes better if/when you're ready for that.

As for the traffic, it's probably a matter of just putting yourself out there, out of your comfort zone, and give it a shot. Can't live your life in fear of that "one idiot" though I understand how it can be difficult to just "do it."

I ride through downtown Milwaukee when I commute, and the first couple of times I puckered a little bit I'm sure. But you get used to it.

Where are your feet on the pedals? If I try to pedal more with my toes, ball of the foot over the axle of the pedal, my feet hurt and want to cramp/go numb. If I put the arch of my foot over the pedal axle my feet feel much better. I think I am putting to much leverage on my foot then I don't have it centered on the pedal. It may be something to look at next time you ride. As far as traffic goes can you try riding to the park at a time when the traffic is lighter, maybe early morning on the weekends or later in the evening?

I used the ball of my foot a lot on this ride... So that could very well be the issue. I just noticed it felt like the plantar tendon/muscles were just getting tight.

Well... I'd suggest some stiff hiking shoes (not boots) if you have some. Athletic shoes tend to be really flexy, which may be why the ball-of-your-foot style for pedaling hurts. That's obviously one reason people gravitate towards cycling shoes - they're stiffer than boards.

Same with cycling shorts (or better yet, bibs) and jerseys. They come up higher in the back and go down further in the back, respectively because they're built to fit when you're leaning forward. You'll have to do some experimenting to get regular clothes to provide the same coverage but plenty of people do it.

Your nerves will improve as you get more confident on your bike - keep after it!

If you are concerned about traffic, I would strongly suggest a helmet mounted rear view mirror. Also, an extremely bright blinking tail light will help cars to know that you're ahead.

I see cyclists all the time that I refer to as "invisible cyclists". They wear dark clothes and when they ride in the shadows (lots of shadows in the canyon I ride in) they are nearly invisible to traffic. It's much safer to wear a bright shirt and use inexpensive lighting to avoid that "run down feeling".

A comment and 2 questions (unrelated.)

First off, OP, you are not alone in regards to riding in traffic. I don't want to either. As for rural, you couldn't get any more rural than I am. Heck, it would take me 5 hours to bike to the nearest Walmart, that's how rural I am. I'm in the middle of nowhere and all roads are either 55 mph limit 2 lane state road highways (1 lane in each direction) that people drive up to 70 mph on, or up and down constant hills no road lined with blind turns every couple of hundred feet back country 35 to 45 mph roads that people drive up to 60 mph on. Traffic on the other hand is almost non-existent compared to towns and cities, rural or urban. I certainly don't feel comfortable on the 55 mph state roads where majority drive 10-20 mph above the speed limit nor do I feel comfortable on my back roads behind my house up and down all the hills where I might not make it around the bend when I'm out of sight of a driver who just came around the previous turn and reaching me before I'm on a straight again and fear getting mowed down at 60 mph by someone in a 1976 Ford F-250 with a 6 inch lift and 40 inch tires. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to win that battle.

As for city riding on the road, heck, I don't like coming to the city in a car let alone being out there exposed in traffic with a 12-14 mph speed.


Now since they were mentioned, my questions. Someone suggested "cycle shorts (or better yet, bibs).... I have to ask, what the heck is the difference? I gave a google search for "bibs" and all I saw what what looked like cycle shorts.

And now the question about a helmet mounted mirror. I am wondering if they work with someone who needs reading glasses? That's one other thing that happened to me as I hit 40 last year, I need to wear reading glasses now or everything up close is blurry (though I'm going to blame that on new contacts that my eye doctor put me in rather than the "turning old" thing, LOL.) With the mirror mounted on the helmet, and so small, it is awfully close to your eye and I don't think I would be able to see in it. Then again, I wonder if it is different and would be fine since it would be a view of something further away than my close up vision problem. I just got to wondering that yesterday when I was talking to someone out on the trail yesterday talking about how I just started riding and he pointed to his helmet mounted mirror and suggested similar. I don't plan on riding in traffic, just continuing on the bike trail, but I would like to not be surprised by faster folks coming up behind me and passing since I am usually listening to music while I'm riding. I glance back often, but even that is difficult with my contacts because I don't have very good vision when my eyes are moved to the extreme corners causing my contacts to shift a little on my eye.

I use cycle mounted mirrors on all my bikes. With my vision I find it difficult to focus on the eye glass or helmet mounted mirrors. I use Mirrycle Mirrors http://www.amazon.com/Mirrycle-MTB-M...irrycle+mirror on my flat bar bikes and the German mirror on my road bikes. http://www.amazon.com/D-Oberlauda-Ul...=german+mirror.

Even more importantly I wear screaming yellow or blaze orange clothing when riding just about anywhere. You don't have to have "official" bike jerseys; regular t-shirts in a wicking fabric are available for cheap. For example:http://www.amazon.com/Radians-ST11-2...s=hi+viz+shirt .

Use flashing front lights and a blinkie on the rear. That helps also make you visible.

If the road you ride on doesn't have a shoulder and there isn't enough room for you on the edge when someone is in the lane, then stay away from the "slash zone" and ride into the lane far enough so people actually have to go over the center line to pass you. If you hug the edge people seem to take more passing risks and you run the risk of getting clipped. This was tough for me to do at first but now I am more likely to take the lane.

As far a feet hurting on the pedals there are a few options. Unless I am riding my road bike with clipless pedals I like to be able to ride in any shoe. So, I got platform pedals with a large flat platform. There are a few options. I use Ergon pedals. Another option are these: http://www.amazon.com/MKS-Lambda-Ped.../dp/B001GSQVEE. Unfortunately, both are expensive pedals so a stiffer shoe may be the better option.



Firesafe, I like your bike.

Bibs are more like a leotard...shorts of course are just shorts.

Bibs:http://voler.com/browse/product/li/1110554

Shorts:http://voler.com/browse/product/li/1110553

I use readers as well and I can use a rear view mirror just fine. Using a mirror has saved my life twice, that's why I'm such a proponent of using them.
I use a modified, helmet mounted "Third Eye" mirror. I removed the big round mirror and put a tiny 3/8x1/4" rectangular mirror on it. I can see perfectly with the small mirror and I don't get the forward visual obstruction that the larger mirror had.


One other thing, since you mentioned using readers, I have found that there are reader sunglasses! I was having a very hard time reading my bike's computer, but when I got the sunglasses with readers built in, I have the answer and I'm very happy with them. Most websites refer to these as bifocal sunglasses. Here's a link.

I know some additional topic got added to my post so I will try to hit all the topics. In reference to glasses, yes I wear prescription WileyX Clear Transitions. In reference to my safety features on the bike, I do have a front and rear light, both of which blink or stay steady, I also have an iphone mount on my handle bars and a small bag under my seat. Tunavic thank you for the links. I think until I feel comfortable I will wear something like this with a baggy shirt over it. I am very self conscious of my weight. I know fear sounds stupid as I am a professional firefighter. Yes I am a big guy for the profession however I am quite strong, always pass my fitness and health exams. I usually ask people if they want a twig coming into drag them out or a beast. So that said I am still human. I get nervous, scared, self conscious like any other person. I am a single dad as well so live with a lot of stress however I pride myself on being a great dad. (sorry for the little rant, just letting you know who I am). So in regards to the clothing I will be wearing something baggy over my upper half along with the cycling wear. I have found a couple of routes today that aren't as intimidating as they have about a 2ft area for error on the right side of the white line. Getting to that park may just well be better to drive, there is a lot of blind corners in the beginning of the ride. I am trying to find a good 10-15 mile route I can ride because I would like a change of scenery from my neighborhood. Does anyone use a pre-ride mapping program....I know google maps is capable of this but looking for a way to create a ride digitally before I ride it.

Also does anyone purchase the full Strava? Just curious.


Cam