pcfxer

Hello all,

I went for a non-stop-sign/stop-light filled ride today in the country side a few clicks away from where I live. The country is great to ride in save for the few cars traveling 80km/h+ within inches of my arm - NOT COOL! Those few are the exception though and I've had a few people even cheer me on as they cruise right next to me.

I mapped my ride and entered the time. 24 km/h average with the brutal 52/42 chain ring on the Gitane (I think the rear cog is 14-28) Tour De France. I am submitting to this bike in a big way; I don't have the legs of steel that I thought I had. I squat and dead lift just over 400lbs for 8-10 reps but this bike humbles me on rides without descents.

Let's just say that my modernized Bianchi will be used for my Bike Tour in August!

https://www.mapmyride.com/view_workou...27888492098507

Let me know what you guys think. PS, I definitely had some gas in the tank since I was riding 70-80% just so I could bang out the higher mileage.

WNG

You probably do have legs of steel being able to squat that weight. But let's not mistaken anaerobic with aerobic capacity. You can likely win numerous sprints, but climbing is a whole different animal. (mountain goat)
On a double crank, I've always preferred 39T over the traditional 42T inner. (I'm no climber.)

abarth

The route from the link you posted has very little elevation gain and is only 28 mile long. For a route like that at 15 mph ave. is like a walk in the park. Ride more and you will go faster.

nlerner

From the title of this thread, I thought I'd report that I found a 9/16" wrench w/ one open end and one ratcheting end lying on the street during yesterday's ride.

Neal

Old Fat Guy

How many clowns can you bench?

michael k

And I'll post that I netted $180.00 from yesterdays flip.

EjustE

+1
I thought that he was talking found objects during a ride. I don't understand that modern ride info keeping device stuff (I just wear my wristwatch when I ride and don't even have a cyclocomputer these days).

On the other hand... the fact that someone thinks that a 52/42 coupled with a 14-28 is "brutal", brings smiles on my face...

20grit

i saw the title and came in here with the intent to say the my bikes get all the chicks....

RobbieTunes

My latest ride netted me a good 27 miles at 22-23, a mile cool-down, a Hershey's bar and a bottle of G2, then 18 easy, a cup of coffee and a doughnut. Then it was on to the rest of the day.

I only know the data because I was the one without a cyclo, or a watch, and everyone else told me.

It appears to me there could be one or more slight problems. It's almost always a combination of things.

My hunch is that something is occurring that is scraping some of your effort away, and you're not getting the power transfer you want.

1-Your fiit is off, and even experienced cyclists sometimes lose track of a seat or bar movement.
2-The bike has a mechanical problem, probably wheel bearings, bottom bracket, or a binding caliper.
3-Your technique may just be a little off (I'll bet you're mashing).
4-Toe clips or clipless? Not a problem, just asking.

You DO have legs of steel. We just need to help you put those springs to work more efficiently.

pcfxer

1-I can post a video for others to comment on but in the mean time I shall review some of the road bike adjustment guidelines. Is it normal to have a sore neck if perhaps your neck muscles aren't up to the task. The soreness in my neck is the same when I first started riding road bikes this summer. The longest ride since has been 20km and I suspect that my muscles have adapted to short sprints.

2-I have fully cleaned and rebuilt the front hub but only squirted in some grease for the rear because I don't have the tool to loosen up the freewheel. I think ordering the tools to do the work on the bottom bracket is less than my LBS charges so I'll do that.

After all of my rides I inspect the brakes, as seems to be common the Mafacs were out of adjustment and the front pad was rubbing quite a bit (better exercise maybe but probably bad for training).

3-I have only ridden MTBs until this Summer so technique issues are VERY possible. I have been working to train my back stroke without forgetting about the front stroke . What is mashing? Gear mashing??

4-I am using toe clips, old school christophes with the lyotard leather straps. The pedal is a very lightweight "Unique pedal made in Japan"

Thanks for the colourful comments lol.

EjustE, remember I said, "I *think*" the rear cogset is 14-28. I shall check this out though. I will also let my legs rest up since I've ridden every day with interval training for the past week and a half straight. If the weather holds up I can put some advice from the thread to some good use.

Thanks a bunch guys!

pcfxer

I don't know, never tried.

EjustE

+1 to what Robbie said (and please post pictures of your bike). Sore neck tells me that the seatpost is way too high in relation to the handlebars (and maybe the whole bike is a few sizes too small.) I can see that happen if you come from the MTB world and MTB-sized bikes.

BTW, "mashing" is keeping on low gears and letting your legs do your work at a lower cadence. I am a masher, but I usually run corncobs back there and if I need to bail out I stand. When I hit the 50 mark in a few years, and my joints are complaining, I will probably alter my train of thought...

stien

Man I rode 52/42 13-18 for a while, that's a boatload of fun.

RobbieTunes

I'm still riding straight blocks, but recently discovered the joys of a 21t cog when I went to 10 speeds...hallelujah.

pcfxer,

As a consistent masher (like E, I'm an ex-runner), I simply learned to smooth out the mash a bit. I've had centuries where I lived the first half on the big ring and lower cogs, and ended up on the small ring and larger cogs, hoping to make it to the end. My learning curve was adjusted by pain and helpful BF guys locally, and things are much better.

Neck pain is indicative of being short-changed on some fit area; I've not seen it before where the bike is too big. If your other bike is working well and doesn't hurt, try getting the measurements of the contact trio (bars where your hands rest, saddle where your pelvis contacts, and center of the bottom bracket) and try to duplicate it on your other bike. That's a start.

pcfxer

Okay, I've got my homework cut out for me then. For this ride I was far more attentive to any mashing than I have ever been and I did my best to make the greatest use of any type of descents.

I will get pictures as soon as I can. One observation that I made was that "holding" my handler bars with my finger tips and posturing my torso up I was able to cleanly get 30km/h and this is at the 95% marker on the ride. My conclusion is that I am not engaging all of my muscles; again pointing to fit problems as pointed out.

My cog is 14-24 .

Bianchigirll 

what is so brutal about a 42/53? most of my bikes are so equipped with a 12-21 or 23. I find it very comforatble here in So Jersey and when I lived south of Boston. if I lived in the mountains of Ontario it might be a different case. I did find myself riding a race course in Putney Vt once on a 42/52 with a 12-19 that I would call brutal!

as for what my nouvo vintage bikes 'net' me? JOY! I love bing out on a sunny day enjoying my beautiful classic rides, although I do try and workout too.

I was remarking to my daughter the other day about how Harley riders always have a sour look on their face but I ride along grining like fool on my Bianchis

pcfxer

I'm saying brutal because I put a LOT of effort into it and got an average that people without my athleticism, strength and conditioning get on their knobby MTBs.

Bianchigirl, I don't understand why motorcyclists have any grudge over normal cyclists. We (cyclists) are out enjoying the same things that they are; open air, freedom to ride and so on but, we do it more efficiently (infinite mpg).

I was sort of looking for a pace comparison among C&V rides, GPS logs would be sweet!

Barrettscv 

You should try a 1970's era Campy Record drivetrain. They often had a 52 & 49t half-step chainrings and a 14-26 five speed freewheel.

sciencemonster

It's surprising how big a difference this makes. I just make little tiny adjustments on my wife's bike, and all of a sudden I can't keep up.

Of course, big adjustments help too - she move all her stuff off her rack and onto mine.

repechage

If you were on a modern bike you probably would have been clipped as the bars are 2 to 3 cm wider on each side.

Been hit by a car mirror as they passed me too close, but that was 35 years ago and fortunately I did not tumble. I hurt though. At the next stop, I straightened up the cars mirror, driver would not make eye contact. I was really tempted to break off the valve stem on his front wheel with my foot, but couth prevailed.

repechage

It really depends on how many hours a week you ride, I remember in one race, I had to realize that I could not shift up to the big ring, I was already there, and we were climbing... those were the days. Now, a 26 helps where a 21 used to be enough.

But I do agree, 53/42 will be hard to let go of. Maybe I will just go back to my junior gear ratios, 44 x 14 top. 84.9 inches, just SPIN baby.

pcfxer

Here are the pictures. I didn't realize I had a gash on the knee until later today...I wonder if that has anything to do with the unnecessarily close call. From what I can see, my back is arched quite a lot when I'm in the drops (not even aggressively) so my neck needs to work extra hard for my eyes to see ahead. I also see that a lot of my weight is being supported by my arms. Also, when I'm in the drops my knees are very, very close to my elbows. Thankfully adjusting the stem won't be as bad as pulling it out after 37 years.

repechage, unfortunately I didn't lift my t-shirt when the photos snapped but there is a nasty welt that hasn't quite bruised yet. Like you, I am choosing to be the better man. Though, if I see Santa Fe again there will be a visitation by a friendly officer.

Sciencemonster, LOL. I have even removed the clip that holds the Zefal air pump so I can't unload anything else .

Barrettscv, I think I'm not worthy of Campagnolo yet. I can't make full use of Sugino, Simplex, Mafac; hopefully I can get another ride in soon and see what happens.

pcfxer

SWEET! I raised the stem last night by about 3/4" and immediately noticed how much more relaxed my upper body and arms were. I also didn't feel my abdomen was crunched together like it was when I engaged the drops. I was battling a lot of wind during my ride so I stayed in the drops for a while. I also noticed a big difference in body position when popping off of the saddle and grabbing the handlebars by the hoods.

I just need to get some cable casing for the derailleur cables that I got and hopefully with the weather cooperating, I'll be able to post back with at least a short 20km ride.

CPFITNESS

I'm calling bull**** that you squat over 400lbs for 8-10 reps with legs those size. Size isn't always indicitive of strength but i'm guessing your probably doing the old deep knee bend that destroys people knees but lets them move a ton of weight, as opposed to a true squat. I'd love to see video of you squatting and deadlifting.

pcfxer

It's just one set. I'm strong for my size...so what? 400lbs at my nominal weight of about 135 is nothing that impressive. I checked out Olympic stats on the advice from some trainers at my local gym and I'd need to squat 600-800 just to try out. I am doing proper squats, I am a "proper form" nazi and always have been. If I'm in New York I'll do them in front of you. If you're in Ottawa I'll also do them in front of you. Then, we can go for a ride...

I'm still looking for my squat and deadlift videos. I suppose you won't care if I just have my paper notes that I take when I'm at the gym. I'm 132lbs in this video at 6.43% body fat hydrostatically weighted at the Carleton University Sportsplex (something I forget) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pSHModj8Ak

My tour is in the first week of August. I should be able to get my power lifts back up to the 400+ mark by October.