Well it did say at the top of the page...

[cardiac case]

"For beginners and experienced cyclists alike. No question to stupid."

I have two bikes.

An old Trek 700; steel (read heavy), flat bars, slick 28mm tyres, three chain rings.

A Giant Defy 2; really smart, looks cool, light as a feather, two chain rings, and tyres like lacky bands.
I struggle on hills and it hurts my back. I don't get down to the bottom bars anyway. Never get past the hoods.


So to the question.

If I put them in a darkened room, play them sweet music, will they breed ?

Will I end up with my perfect bike?
Lightweight, quick (ish), good up hills, comfortable for long rides (well long for me), and easy on the back.


Your thoughts please.
Paul G

 

[midliferider]

"For beginners and experienced cyclists alike. No question to stupid."

I have two bikes.
If I put them in a darkened room, play them sweet music, will they breed ?
Your thoughts please.
Paul G

I believe they do. That is what I told my (ex) partner when the third bike mysteriously appeared in our garage. But she did not believe it.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Sadly they will not, but fear not as there is an easy solution, just see Rule #12

 

[midliferider]

You have two questions or problems. They are
1. Back ache
2. You struggle to climb hills

1.Back ache- This may be because
1a) poor posture or incorrect bike fitting. There are plenty of resources on the internet and on these forums on the subject.
1b) Your own core muscles are "weak" and you do not follow a good routine of warm up and post cycling stretches. Again, there are plenty of Youtube videos on the subject.

2. Climbing hills- This is an art based on good science. In simple terms, how you peddle, how you hold handle bar, how do you breath, when to change gears etc.
Again there are very good instructional videos on the subject. But remember that whatever the technique, your own endurance or exercise capacity does matter.

 

[midliferider]

Sadly, no.....but what you need is another bike

Seriously? What is wrong with the Giant? It has 20 gears, 12-28 cassette, giving a minimum gear ratio of 1.2.
I thought it is good enough to handle an average hill.
But I would not have bought it myself.

 

[cardiac case]

Seriously? What is wrong with the Giant? It has 20 gears, 12-28 cassette, giving a minimum gear ratio of 1.2.
I thought it is good enough to handle an average hill.
But I would not have bought it myself.

Hi MLR, (& everyone else)

Nothing wrong with the Giant. It's gears (18, 11-28) would be fine for most riders. I'm the problem.

Since my heart attack back in March I'm on a cocktail of tablets, my 'seven a day', that restrict my bpm.
Where as Mr Fit has a "heart cassette" that runs a bpm of 40-170 mine is nearer to 60-80. I'm almost a "fixie".

The back ache is not helped by the Gallstones that were found by a recent scan. I believe these cause pain
from the upper stomach round to the kidney area. (Waiting for a hospital appointment)

Now don't get me wrong. My fitness has improved no end and biking has been a huge help. Last year I couldn't
walk without discomfort, and now I can bike 10 miles, even getting up some of the hills.


I'll keep an eye open for a suitable hybrid, a flat bar road bike type rather than the off road type of hybrid.
With luck I may find one of similar value to the Defy2 and not have to spend out cash. (pigs might fly)

Cheers,
Paul G

 

[Cubist]

Hi MLR, (& everyone else)

Nothing wrong with the Giant. It's gears (18, 11-28) would be fine for most riders. I'm the problem.

Since my heart attack back in March I'm on a cocktail of tablets, my 'seven a day', that restrict my bpm.
Where as Mr Fit has a "heart cassette" that runs a bpm of 40-170 mine is nearer to 60-80. I'm almost a "fixie".

The back ache is not helped by the Gallstones that were found by a recent scan. I believe these cause pain
from the upper stomach round to the kidney area. (Waiting for a hospital appointment)

Now don't get me wrong. My fitness has improved no end and biking has been a huge help. Last year I couldn't
walk without discomfort, and now I can bike 10 miles, even getting up some of the hills.


I'll keep an eye open for a suitable hybrid, a flat bar road bike type rather than the off road type of hybrid.
With luck I may find one of similar value to the Defy2 and not have to spend out cash. (pigs might fly)

Cheers,
Paul G

You could do one of two things IMO. You could get to Halfords Sale and get one of their road hybrids while they're discounted. Light, fast, well-priced, what's not to like?

Or, you can alter the cockpit of your Giant to take pressure off your back. Yes, core exercises would help, but not as much as lifting your hand position an inch. Try flipping your stem upwards if it'll do it, (or get a riser stem if it doesn't) and rotating your bars to lift the hand position on the hoods. Might not be fashionable, but it's a helluva lot cheaper than a new bike, and might just do the trick. I used to ride my Boardman hybrid with a slammed, flipped stem and the flat bars were no higher than a drop-bar.

 

[roadrash]

Why not put flat bars and a suiable cassette on the defy 2 ? Problem solved

 

[cardiac case]

Am I right in thinking that to change stuff on a bike can cost more than changing bikes, second hand for second hand.

I have already put a new cassette on to give me the 28t, and that was £40.
I've tipped the bars as far as looks right. ( Would I need a shorter horizontal part to the stem to achieve more?)

I paid a little over £400 for the bike so would I not get a good Giant/Trek/Cannondale hybrid for that sort of money?
( I would ask £425 for the Defy2 as it's unmarked and assuming I wasn't robbed by the seller. )

Cheers,
Paul G

 

[Fab Foodie]

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

Hi, firstly, regarding the Giant, read the above article and make sure you are set up properly.
A race bike has a more aggressive weight forward position ( for aerodynamics) than a hybrid which tend to be more upright. You may need to move saddle rearwards to make yourself more balanced and comfortable.

Secondly as a cardiac patient myself I understand the issue with meds - Beta - blockers and the like, and whilst they don't help matters they are not such a massive barrier to performance either. At 50 I can ride as well as most if my peers that don't have CHD, but it takes longer to get warmed- up and hills have to be tackled gently, but I get there all the same and most don't realised I have any issues.

I'd look at getting the Giant better fitted to you. Bike fit is hugely important in getting the best from your effort. A few mm's adjustment can bring dividends.

There are always gearing options after that.

 

[vickster]

Flip the stem?

 

[cardiac case]

Flip the stem?

Well it's obviously intended to be fitted both ways as the writing is printed both ways, so will look the same when inverted.

As this will cost nothing to try then I'll give it a go. There's a howling gale out there at the moment so testing will have to wait.

Cheers,
Paul G

Edit to add:-

I'm shocked. The bars are now 30mm higher.
Didn't think it would be that much.

 

[midliferider]

Hi Paul
When facts change opinions need to be reconsidered.
Now we have new information about your health and therefore my opinion is has to be reconsidered.

In my view, your objective would be to keep active, gradually increase your exercise tolerance. In that case, as others have suggested, road bike with drop handle bar is not the best bike. You have now had plenty of suggestions on that.
Your profile says that you are in Suffolk-Essex border. My understanding of geography is that there are no hills on that area.

 

[compo]

Your profile says that you are in Suffolk-Essex border. My understanding of geography is that there are no hills on that area.

Having lived for many years on the Suffolk/Essex border I can state your knowledge of geography is sadly lacking!

OK, they are not mountains or go on for miles, but there are plenty of hills to make you breathe heavy!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Hi Paul
When facts change opinions need to be reconsidered.
Now we have new information about your health and therefore my opinion is has to be reconsidered.

In my view, your objective would be to keep active, gradually increase your exercise tolerance. In that case, as others have suggested, road bike with drop handle bar is not the best bike. You have now had plenty of suggestions on that.
Your profile says that you are in Suffolk-Essex border. My understanding of geography is that there are no hills on that area.

I don't agree.
There's no reason why the Giant shouldn't be OK is there? Surely best to make sure that the thing is set-up properly and exhausted that avenue first. There's plenty Cardiac patients on drop bar bikes on this forum.

I agree that fitness and stamina need to be built maybe, but again there's no reason why the Giant shouldn't fit the bill ... yet.

IF drops are not for you however (and they're not for everyone), changing a road-bike to flat bars and shifters is waaaay cheaper than going from flat-bar to drops. The reason is that integrated brake/shifters are very expensive to buy. Going the other way you can sell them for a reasonable amount and regular shifters and brake levers are pretty cheap.

Hills are relative ....