sad admission...
05-26-08, 09:28 AM
#26
I need more cowbell.
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The good news is: Nobody cares.
Case in point: Yesterday a tire blew on my road bike as I was about to head out on a big group ride. So I grabbed by my 25-year-old fat-tired touring bike. Ended up riding 50 miles with a charming and rather attractive young woman who had a purple bike with purple pedals and purple socks, purple shoes, purple shorts and a purple jersey, oh, and purple gloves and a purple helmet. She was so busy being purple and I was so busy being charmed that no one seemed to notice my rust bucket with a quill stem.
Case in point: Yesterday a tire blew on my road bike as I was about to head out on a big group ride. So I grabbed by my 25-year-old fat-tired touring bike. Ended up riding 50 miles with a charming and rather attractive young woman who had a purple bike with purple pedals and purple socks, purple shoes, purple shorts and a purple jersey, oh, and purple gloves and a purple helmet. She was so busy being purple and I was so busy being charmed that no one seemed to notice my rust bucket with a quill stem.
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2015 Sirrus Elite
Proud member of the original Club Tombay
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Proud member of the original Club Tombay
05-26-08, 09:42 AM
#27
Surly Girly
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05-26-08, 12:14 PM
#29
Erect member since 1953
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05-26-08, 12:17 PM
#30
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05-26-08, 05:25 PM
#32
Lanky Lass
Goodness! Does this mean it's been so long since you've used drop bars you can't remember 
!
Or just that you've never ridden a bike with drop bars
?
East Hill
!Or just that you've never ridden a bike with drop bars
?East Hill
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TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
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05-26-08, 05:47 PM
#33
Senior Member
I think maybe you should have gotten a Specialized Roubaix, no problem in the drops at all.
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George
05-26-08, 05:52 PM
#34
Old Fart Racing
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How interesting...I just ditched my 100mm tall stem bought a 75mm stem with 7° angle. 
I wonder what the future has in store for me. 
I wonder what the future has in store for me.
05-26-08, 06:06 PM
#35
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When I put my Delta Stem Riser on it looked pretty bad to me so I put one of these on too and now it looks a lot better and it is a great place for a granola bar, small camera etc. I was gonna take a picture of my bike with it on it but I would have had to get up off the couch and go all the way out to the garage to do it.
05-26-08, 07:15 PM
#36
rebmeM roineS
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Haven't bought a bike with drop bars since 1979 - mountain bike, hybrids, tandem (with an adjustable stem for the Cap'n) and now riding the Older Person's Recumbent Bicycle.
05-26-08, 07:23 PM
#37
www.ocrebels.com
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Don't worry about how it looks! If it feels good, do it.
I went to a slightly larger frame on my last bike (per Rivendell sizing, though it's a Calfee and not a Rivendell) and I'm much for comfortable overall, plus . . . I ride in the drops a lot now, as to almost never on my smaller framed bike.
So don't become too focused on one part (like the stem, or the drop depth of the bars), but look at the whole picture (which you probably knew anyway . . . ).
Rick / OCRR
I went to a slightly larger frame on my last bike (per Rivendell sizing, though it's a Calfee and not a Rivendell) and I'm much for comfortable overall, plus . . . I ride in the drops a lot now, as to almost never on my smaller framed bike.
So don't become too focused on one part (like the stem, or the drop depth of the bars), but look at the whole picture (which you probably knew anyway . . . ).
Rick / OCRR
05-26-08, 10:34 PM
#39
MrBill54
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... lurking newbie about to post...
After my recent substantial weight loss, I've convince myself that I'm 25 years younger and so yesterday I re-subscribed to BICYCLING magazine and I bought a new Road bike. For the last 10 years, I thought that I was destined to only ride a bike path bike.
I've missed the road bike feel though I think too that I'll be on the hoods more than I was with my old Schwinn Tempo.
CCCorlew, your posts are interesting and funny to read. I too, have a similar pretzel girl experience...
After my recent substantial weight loss, I've convince myself that I'm 25 years younger and so yesterday I re-subscribed to BICYCLING magazine and I bought a new Road bike. For the last 10 years, I thought that I was destined to only ride a bike path bike.
I've missed the road bike feel though I think too that I'll be on the hoods more than I was with my old Schwinn Tempo.
CCCorlew, your posts are interesting and funny to read. I too, have a similar pretzel girl experience...
05-27-08, 07:36 AM
#41
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05-27-08, 08:31 AM
#42
just keep riding
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A few years back I went to a shallower drop bar and a higher stem to bring my bars up from 3.5" below saddle height to 1" below and it was a great move. I am much more comfortable when on the hoods and much less hesitant to go into the drops for a headwind, a downhill or a fast stretch of flat road. Fortunately I have a threaded fork steerer and quill stem, so I could go with a Nitto Technomic Deluxe stem and keep the traditional level stem extension. 
Recognizing the benefits of a higher bar doesn't indicate you are over the hill. But recognizing any reason to leave a room full of 19y/o girls stretching and contorting is a pretty sure sign that it's all over.
Recognizing the benefits of a higher bar doesn't indicate you are over the hill. But recognizing any reason to leave a room full of 19y/o girls stretching and contorting is a pretty sure sign that it's all over.
05-27-08, 08:34 AM
#43
just keep riding
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05-27-08, 10:18 AM
#44
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Hmmm.....I'm going through the exact opposite experience. My LBS-built LHT was set up with a "geezer stem" - angled very much upwards so that the bars were about 2" above the saddle. I recently discovered that I was very comfortable riding in the drops, to the extent that when I got down into the drops the hand-numbness and butt-pain were relieved. I just lowered my stem about 1/2" and raised my saddle about 3/4". Much better, and I'm thinking about lowering the stem another spacer-worth.
Stretching exercises? I just got seriously back into Service Rifle shooting, and I think that the 200 yard sitting position requires one to get into a very stretched-out position with the elbows hooked in front of the knees. The first several times in this position, I could really feel my back stretching - to the point that it was painful! Now, since I'm stretched out, it's quite comfortable.
It's curious how the two sports complement each other. The sitting and prone positions in Service Rifle require one to get really stretched and flexible, which helps the riding. The cardio workout of riding helps with the respiratory pause and steadiness of position, which helps in shooting.
Stretching exercises? I just got seriously back into Service Rifle shooting, and I think that the 200 yard sitting position requires one to get into a very stretched-out position with the elbows hooked in front of the knees. The first several times in this position, I could really feel my back stretching - to the point that it was painful! Now, since I'm stretched out, it's quite comfortable.
It's curious how the two sports complement each other. The sitting and prone positions in Service Rifle require one to get really stretched and flexible, which helps the riding. The cardio workout of riding helps with the respiratory pause and steadiness of position, which helps in shooting.
05-27-08, 10:27 AM
#45
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I have been known to use them in strong headwinds.
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05-27-08, 11:16 AM
#46
Software for Cyclists
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Interesting...I'm no Gumby, but I guess I must be an exception to the "old guy with a bad back" rule.
I'm 55 years old, and my Surly LHT commuter is set up with the bars about 2.5" below the saddle.
My Trek Madone race bike is set up with the bars around 3.5" below the saddle.
And my Cervelo P3C TT/tri bike is set up with the bars about 5.5" below the saddle.
So far, no back issues for me.
However, I do ride nearly every day, and I've been doing more stretching and low back exercises recently to prepare for some upcoming time trial races. Here's hoping I never have to join the "flipped stem club".
I'm 55 years old, and my Surly LHT commuter is set up with the bars about 2.5" below the saddle.
My Trek Madone race bike is set up with the bars around 3.5" below the saddle.
And my Cervelo P3C TT/tri bike is set up with the bars about 5.5" below the saddle.
So far, no back issues for me.
However, I do ride nearly every day, and I've been doing more stretching and low back exercises recently to prepare for some upcoming time trial races. Here's hoping I never have to join the "flipped stem club".
05-27-08, 11:22 AM
#47
Streetfire
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I found a photo of the part I bought....
Needless to say it is not pointed in the same direction shown here...
Ad copy: "This unique Specialized stem is adjustable in 2-degree increments from +/- 8-degrees to +/- 16-degrees ensuring dialed ergonomics. This forged beauty also features an oversize 31.8mm clamp and a 4-bolt face plate for exceptional strength."
Needless to say it is not pointed in the same direction shown here...
Ad copy: "This unique Specialized stem is adjustable in 2-degree increments from +/- 8-degrees to +/- 16-degrees ensuring dialed ergonomics. This forged beauty also features an oversize 31.8mm clamp and a 4-bolt face plate for exceptional strength."
05-27-08, 11:27 AM
#48
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Interesting...I'm no Gumby, but I guess I must be an exception to the "old guy with a bad back" rule.
I'm 55 years old, and my Surly LHT commuter is set up with the bars about 2.5" below the saddle.
My Trek Madone race bike is set up with the bars around 3.5" below the saddle.
And my Cervelo P3C TT/tri bike is set up with the bars about 5.5" below the saddle.
So far, no back issues for me.
However, I do ride nearly every day, and I've been doing more stretching and low back exercises recently to prepare for some upcoming time trial races. Here's hoping I never have to join the "flipped stem club".
I'm 55 years old, and my Surly LHT commuter is set up with the bars about 2.5" below the saddle.
My Trek Madone race bike is set up with the bars around 3.5" below the saddle.
And my Cervelo P3C TT/tri bike is set up with the bars about 5.5" below the saddle.
So far, no back issues for me.
However, I do ride nearly every day, and I've been doing more stretching and low back exercises recently to prepare for some upcoming time trial races. Here's hoping I never have to join the "flipped stem club".
I'm not dead in the water here, My new stem brings my bars up to just ever so slightly below my seat.
I'm also thinking of (well, shopping for) shallow drop bars. Then I can put that stem a bit lower.
But I've never been really flexible and now I'm even less so.
I guess I need to work on that
05-27-08, 08:13 PM
#49
Senior Member
05-27-08, 09:14 PM
#50
Software for Cyclists
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Now I have two reasons to hate you. No Mac version of CycleStats and now this flexible over 50 stuff.
I'm not dead in the water here, My new stem brings my bars up to just ever so slightly below my seat.
I'm also thinking of (well, shopping for) shallow drop bars. Then I can put that stem a bit lower.
But I've never been really flexible and now I'm even less so.
I guess I need to work on that
I'm not dead in the water here, My new stem brings my bars up to just ever so slightly below my seat.
I'm also thinking of (well, shopping for) shallow drop bars. Then I can put that stem a bit lower.
But I've never been really flexible and now I'm even less so.
I guess I need to work on that
- For the Surly LHT - 3 inches
- For the Trek Madone - 4.5 inches
- For the Cervelo P3C - 8.5 inches
Just call me Gumby, I guess.
As for recumbents....I'll ride one when they pry my cold dead fingers off of my carbon fiber drop bars.
As for no Mac version of CycliStats - thankfully, newer Macs are based on Intel chips and can now run most of the fine Windows programs that have been unavailable to Mac users for so many years. This includes CycliStats - I have quite a few users of the program who are running it on their Macs using the Windows emulator options that are now available.