natbla

Just asking

Neil_B

You and a few other folks are determined to make me into a cyclist (dare I say again?), aren't you? I'm waiting on the Flickr upload to complete before posting a report.

st0ut

Dude we are like a cult. and you are tring to escape...
we have kool-aid suger free

Neil_B

OK, let me post it .

24 miles, from Lower Perkiomen Valley Park in Oaks, PA, to Spring Mount on the Perkiomen Trail, and back. Here's where I turned around:



That 12 per cent grade on gravel is no fun. OK, it's fun going down, but I didn't feel like riding, err, walking back up. Here's my pupil about to go down the 12 per center. BTW, he's barely a clydesdale - he's 6'2", and runs and plays rugby. Now he's a cyclist.



I felt fine much of the ride. The only problem was tenderness in my left hamstring - I need to stretch that out a bit before riding. I had none of the physical problems I anticipated. I need to change the saddle, but I was having saddle problems before the tour, so that's not new. I was a little wobbly at first on the bike, but I seemed to get back into it. I still think I wobble too much, but my riding companion was stunned that I kept a straight line, even when turning my head to talk to him.

We were blessed with sunny weather, but by the end of the ride the temperature had soared to over 90 degrees F. Still, the Perkiomen Trail is largely shaded, and it crosses the Perkiomen Creek several times as it travels up to Green Lane Park. Here's the creek as it flows under the bridge just before the climb to Spring Mount.



And here it is just outside Graterford, PA. See the deer crossing the creek? That shows you how shallow the "Perky" is in summer.



One of the former Reading Railroad bridges that grace the trail.



Spider web on a trail railing outside Schwenksville, PA. This is an homage to Neil F. - it's the sort of photo he'd take.



The Perkiomen Trail, shot next to the spider web above.



On the return trip, I took my pupil on Third Avenue in Collegeville to help him get the hang of riding on roads. It was a mile of low-traffic riding. My student lives in center city Philadelphia, so learning road skills is easier up here.

Neil_B

While on the subject, I rode yesterday too. Seven miles, on ground as close to flat as I can find in this area. The seven miles yesterday were worse than the 24 today. I felt very tired afterwards. And yes, my butt hurt. Perhaps not bringing water wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done. The inevitable photos:

A blaze of tiger lilies:



The same rural road:



The one drawback to the bike paradise I live in - metal grate bridges. It's a good reason to get off the bike and walk.

derecola

that looked like a nice ride,we will have to get togeather to do that one...

vXhanz

Looks like a nice ride, good pic of the deer!

Neil_B

I need sugar free. Look what happened to me during my five week layoff:



You can see the tear in my left glove from when I went down in Cumberland, MD. Hopefully you can't see the seam opening on my Fat Cyclist jersey. Right beneath the zipper - darn belly's too big. Of course the thing never really fit right even when I weighed less. Twin Six sizing is for people with shorter torsos.

BTW, is it noticeable I'm not wearing a base layer or compression shirt under my jersey?

Neil_B

Why did the deer cross the Perkiomen? To get to the other side!

txvintage

Some great pics of a beuatiful ride. I think the best pic is the first, with the grin on your pupils face.

How very Kewl.............(can a 45 yr old clyde say Kewl?) I blame my kids.

bcc

Nice photos. Glad to see you in the saddle even if you're not completely convinced. Yet.

Neil_B

The jury still remains out.

Tom Stormcrowe

Beautiful picture of a Deer, Neil. Lucky man, there.

Neil_B

Another photo of my adult beginner:



He has the basic stuff down. At this point I need to have him ride with others so he doesn't pick up on my bad habits. Also shorts and gloves are going to be his next purchase - the 24 miles were rough without them, I'm told.

heckler

those gel pads probably hurt more than they help past a 5 mile jaunt ( in reference to your friend)

Tom Stormcrowe

My thoughts as well. Get him in some bibs, Neil, and get him on a decent saddle.

Neil_B

He told me he was buying shorts and probably gloves on his way home from the ride. I explained the differences among mountain bike shorts, road shorts, and bibs. It's his call what he gets. Unlike me, he doesn't have a gut, so perhaps he won't need, or want, bibs.

I hadn't realized he was riding a gel saddle cover until "heckler" pointed it out. Once he gets proper shorts, he'll probably ditch the saddle cover.

One thing I should have suggested was ditching the QR seatpost. But then again, he's still not riding with a proper extension of the leg. Now that he can ride without his feet flat on the ground, we should set a proper saddle height for him.

Tom Stormcrowe

I suspect he'd still like bibs, since you can plain breathe better.

Yeah, slowly work his saddle height up to a proper height. As to the QR seatpost, that shouldn't really be an issue. You might suggest he mark the seatpost with a sharpie or something to give him a marker if it slips.

Neil_B

I'm sure his downtown bike shop - Bicycle Therapy in Philadelphia - will be happy to set him up.

Now to MY saddle problem. I'm getting reduced blood flow in - well, you can guess. Since my saddle setup is unchanged since I got the bike in August last year, I don't know what's causing it. I had the problem on tour too, so it's not a problem caused by my 'comeback.' Here's what I'm riding - ignore the spider webs please:



I don't know if it's because of my added weight, or if I should be getting a new saddle. It's a Serfas RX gel saddle with a cut.

Tom Stormcrowe

There are a couple of things you can look at before you spend money.....

Try your posture, maybe. Try rolling your hips forward a tad, or maybe you've started slipping forward on the saddle. If you roll the hips a tad forward, it forces you to sit on the proper area of the saddle and support yourself on bone rather than soft tissue as well as relieve pressure on the perineal artery. Anytime you are getting blood flow issues, it's because you are supporting yourself on soft tissue.

EDIT has your saddle angle slipped possible, and changed the saddle tilt? It can happen. Post a side view of your bike to see what the saddle angle is, that also could be causing your issue.

Neil_B

As requested:



I suppose I could try tilting the saddle nose down a little, but it looks pretty level to me. I'm trying to avoid adding pressure to my hands and arms by tilting the saddle nose.

Sorry for the reflections in the photo, but the woods at Spring Mount are very dense, and the camera flash came on. Note the new panniers - the Trek Grocery panniers have been retired.

Tom Stormcrowe

OK, mark the rails and try sliding it forward a tad to force a hip tuck, see if that addresses it. With the rails marked, it's easy to move back if that isn't the issue (Move it in small increments, a few mm at a time). The tilt looks correct, though, so that would be my suggestion.

Neil_B

More photos:

Another bridge over the Perkiomen:



180 degree turn from the bridge photo above. This is just before the climb to Spring Mount.



Same position, photo of Perkiomen Creek:



You don't want to go on the other side of this fence. Ever:

jaxgtr

Neil, great pictures. On your saddle, could it be that use have just gotten to use to it and are ready to move to one that is a little firmer. That saddle seems a little thick and I am wondering if it is breaking down as far as the support goes. I found as I got more saddle time in, that the thicker saddles just were not doing it for me any longer and had to move to firmer saddle. My current Hybrid saddle is a WTB Speed V, I've done 65 miles on it no problems.

st0ut

Neil one think about your beginner cylist.. while he maybe a begiiner at cyceling he is Obvouisly not out of shape and is simply adding cycling to his workkout routine.


I would expect him to gain speen and endurance rapidly. as his einging s in tune and is simply being retooled for cycling.