Show us your.......newbie progress! [4 Sep 2012 - 4 Oct 2014]

[Nigelnaturist]

Nice one. Have you got your new hybrid yet?

I attempted a seriously steep climb this morning but had to walk some of it. Even on a 34/28 gear I just couldn't turn the pedals. Thought I was going to have a heart attack trying. Not only does it get really steep but it twists and has potholes too. Might have more success on the hybrid with the triple ring. I will give it a try another day.

Just having done it will make it easier next time, Mo.

 

[RWright]

I just wonder what happens if you still have aches and pains after the fit.

 

[RWright]

Just having done it will make it easier next time, Mo.

Yep, go after it again some other day. I hope you are not like me. If a hill makes me get off I scream like a mad man. AHHHHHHH S@@@!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I think a bike fit takes a lot of the guesswork out of your hands, it also gives a placebo esque feeling of satisfaction that everything is ok.

Thing is, bike setup is SO important. If you get it wrong, you get knee ache, back ache or any number of aches, and it could be a matter of cm's that makes the difference.

I personally think the two important things saddle height and bar reach are important, minor changes do make differences, for example the new bars are 2cm's wider and are more comfortable, but this could be the shape of the drops, I am more confident on the drops than on the old bars. I didn't really notice any difference between 172.5mm cranks and 170mm, nor any difference between clips and clipless.
I came across a tip for saddle bar length, and it quoted that "If you look down through the bars it should be in line with the front axle", my old bars the axle was always slightly in front, the new bars & stem it's in line so maybe that is what made things better.
I suffered a compression injury to my right leg years ago, and this has given me some problems, how ever as I have got fitter, this as become less of a problem, I presume as the muscle has improved it has given more support to the damaged area/s, clips or clipless has made no difference.
Cleats, when I put them on, I just put them on so they are in the same place on the shoe, and felt right when attached to the peddles.

The rest backache, numbness ect.. I think improves with fitness.
I got off the bike last night and it didn't feel like I had just done 40 miles, apart from some ache in the thighs, due I think to the maintained increase in cadence.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Yep, go after it again some other day. I hope you are not like me. If a hill makes me get off I scream like a mad man. AHHHHHHH S@@@!

Nothing round here that is that bad, best I can get to at the moment are a few cat4's and 3's, and they are not too bad.

 

[MaxInc]

Just came across this articles based apparently on a M.I.T. study of 700 subjects which gives a very good approximation of the important settings with a 98% accuracy compared to the professional camera assited bike fitting. Not sure how much is true but I'm going to give it a go since it doesn't cost anything.

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2010/04/science-of-bike-fitting/

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Nice one. Have you got your new hybrid yet?

I attempted a seriously steep climb this morning but had to walk some of it. Even on a 34/28 gear I just couldn't turn the pedals. Thought I was going to have a heart attack trying. Not only does it get really steep but it twists and has potholes too. Might have more success on the hybrid with the triple ring. I will give it a try another day.

I nearly had a heart attack just looking at the elevation profile, you put me to shame with your climbing.

Re the Hybrid, I got it Saturday and rode to work on it on Monday. I was slower than I am on the old Hybrid, but it is a lovely bike, gear changes are really smooth and it is very quiet. I need to lower the seat a touch I think, the tyres seemed fine, I am going to keep them on until I start getting punctures then I will change them to Marathon Plus

 

[MaxInc]

Just came across this articles based apparently on a M.I.T. study of 700 subjects which gives a very good approximation of the important settings with a 98% accuracy compared to the professional camera assited bike fitting. Not sure how much is true but I'm going to give it a go since it doesn't cost anything.

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2010/04/science-of-bike-fitting/

UPDATE: On a closer look it seemed like an April's fool joke . Oddly enough I raised the saddle according to the trick and feels better already

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I just wonder what happens if you still have aches and pains after the fit.

Then you just have to admit it, you are old and passed it

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Just came across this articles based apparently on a M.I.T. study of 700 subjects which gives a very good approximation of the important settings with a 98% accuracy compared to the professional camera assited bike fitting. Not sure how much is true but I'm going to give it a go since it doesn't cost anything.

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2010/04/science-of-bike-fitting/

Seems pretty sound to me, these were the things I was taught when a teen, I remembered some when I bought the bike in 2008, so I guess this is why it's not been to bad, and like I said, I think fitness has had a lot to do with the comfort thing, and the miles. Weight may have played apart but I wasn't to over weight to start, I guess I have lost 1 1/2 to 2 stone in the year. I reckon I am between 12 and 12 1/2 stone.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Just checked most on mine and they are pretty close, like I said earlier I think the saddle needs to come down a touch anyway, because I start to bounce above 95rpm.
Not sure how they would have worked out the stem height though, nor what relevance your arm length has on your saddle height. I can see how the stem length works though, arm length to stem and then hand reach to bars.

UPDATE: On a closer look it seemed like an April's fool joke . Oddly enough I raised the saddle according to the trick and feels better already

So maybe it was, but how we used to fit things cant all be wrong, and at the end of the day I have made improvements.
Remember my bike is a Viking Torino not a sought after bike, for it's weight ect.. though I can get it down to just over 11Kg's carbon forks would get down a touch more, but is it worth it. I am starting to get avg speeds of between 16-17mph and I always ride solo so I never have the benefit of riding in a group, I am as quick as some of my contemporary's around here (or I have got a good tailwind on segments), I presume on much more expensive bikes.

 

[Mo1959]

Remember my bike is a Viking Torino not a sought after bike, for it's weight ect.. though I can get it down to just over 11Kg's carbon forks would get down a touch more, but is it worth it. I am starting to get avg speeds of between 16-17mph and I always ride solo so I never have the benefit of riding in a group, I am as quick as some of my contemporary's around here (or I have got a good tailwind on segments), I presume on much more expensive bikes.

I am pretty sure it is at least 80% if not more down to the rider on board.

 

[Nomadski]

I am pretty sure it is at least 80% if not more down to the rider on board.

So much this. I'm not a weight junkie but I guess if I have a choice between 2 similar items I would look at the weight then.

My bike with saddle bag, Garmin and lights on is 12 kg, just over with full water bottles obviously. Good enough for me, like Mo said if I am going to massively improve this there is half a stone up top that will go before I worry bout 40 gram lighter seatpost.

Also even though that site was an April fools joke I just know I'm going to check mine when it comes back from the lbs.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

So much this. I'm not a weight junkie but I guess if I have a choice between 2 similar items I would look at the weight then.

My bike with saddle bag, Garmin and lights on is 12 kg, just over with full water bottles obviously. Good enough for me, like Mo said if I am going to massively improve this there is half a stone up top that will go before I worry bout 40 gram lighter seatpost.

Also even though that site was an April fools joke I just know I'm going to check mine when it comes back from the lbs.

Interesting to see even so. At the end of the day unless you are racing, its all about personal improvement in your health, and to the end to some degree it does not matter what you ride, so long as you are comfortable enough to do the distance needed for health improvements, and I do think that some of that comes down to just putting the hours in.
When I started I hated the climb I have to do on a Friday morning, these days its no problem (still dont like it first thing, but I have no choice)
The first two short climbs on this, though I can drop a little further down and climb a little more, but I alternate the two routes.
http://app.strava.com/activities/60313200#1147042118
I have set a p.b each of the last 4 times I have done this run, but it is traffic and traffic light dependent really
On Friday I did it in 18'22" riding time over the 5 miles. Takes over 40 mins on the bus to Cas plus the walk to the hospital from the bus station, and £4 in travel x that by 40wks (£160) and like wise the trip to the photo group Tuesdays again probably about 40 time a year, it does not pay for everything I have spent on the bike this last year, more to do with gear ratios chainsets and cassettes and clothes, but know I am fit enough to work the gears I have and a set of clothes, costs should be minimal on this bike now, just replacement parts over the year which £300 should cover, plus the benefit of having free transport over distances upto 30-40 miles, I do not think I would consider rides over that distance transport as such, more recreational rides.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

First ride for 6 days due to long trip to Poole to see Mad Friends and hence a few days of excess plus rotten long drive either side!

12.70 miles at 14.99 mph av' - damn!

Wore my new Tenn Cool Flo Top with deep zip revealing my manly chest - was lovely and cool and cheap as chips (£11.00 delivered from Amazon) but seems to be fit for purpose.

Big ride tomorrow and then another big day hiking in the mountains Thurs/Friday once my mountain buddy can make his blooming mind up as to which day he would prefer to play golf - the latter past-time being the driving force of his diary.

Took a while to catch up on what's been occurring in the Best Thread On Cycle Chat - good stuff going on as ever.

Take it easy everyone.