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Any road bikers?

#142
spade2you said:
A positive side effect of cycling. I've seen some overweight people wearing various cycling clothing. It works or they wouldn't do it.

It's definitely harder to go back to riding a bike witout cycling clothing once you've done it for a while. Jeans, big padded saddle, unfitted bike.....NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I'm so comfortable in my road position anything else just feels wrong.
 
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#143
Padded underpants make you a better rider?
Lycra is the only fabric made in bright colors?
Riding in cutoffs means your bike is unfitted?
Cotton t shirts don't wick well enough and cause too much drag?

I guess I need to put big padded seats on my hand made bikes so I fit the stereotype of bikers who don't dress in current team gear.


I'll admit I've learned a thing or two from you chaps - more liquid on the rides! - but some of what you are saying is pushing the realms of credibility. If you have chafing issues they need to be dealt with, but do not assume others are having issues which are not there.


RegardingInvalid Link Removed

I've biked in 35 mph sustained winds with gusts much higher, just because
I've biked in ice storms
I've biked in North Dakota blizzards
I've biked when it was 45 below (real, not that sissy wind chill BS) and too cold for my car to start
I've biked within a week of foot surgery
I almost killed myself riding in 100 degree heat, and got medivac'd afterwards/ tough is over rated and chopper rides are EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!


plus
it's fun to tease guys in stretchy pants! :)

(and I'm stuck not riding now because of too many gigs, and my kids are too young to ride - my youngest can't solo without training wheels yet)
 
#144
carl h. said:
Padded underpants make you a better rider?
Saddle sores are nothing to mess with.
Lycra is the only fabric made in bright colors?
I wear mostly black, my rain gear is white though.
Riding in cutoffs means your bike is unfitted?
Cotton t shirts don't wick well enough and cause too much drag?
Cotton acts like a sponge, the difference is night and day.

I guess I need to put big padded seats on my hand made bikes so I fit the stereotype of bikers who don't dress in current team gear.
I try to get the most generic looking gear possible, which is surprisingly hard when you need tiny jerseys.


I'll admit I've learned a thing or two from you chaps - more liquid on the rides! - but some of what you are saying is pushing the realms of credibility. If you have chafing issues they need to be dealt with, but do not assume others are having issues which are not there.
Hey now, I'll have you know I have very sensitive skin, it's the ginger in me.


RegardingInvalid Link Removed
Those are mostly Rule #9, still the other ones will help you look good. Looking Fantastic is the most important part of riding.
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My thoughts in bold.
 
#145
Yeah, gear that doesn't work, doesn't work regardless of how much was paid for it.

I base my color choices on how much shade/direct sun I'll be riding in. I never trust ANYONE to notice me as I ride, and assume they are aiming for me.

The last time I got "saddle" sore, was after I was forced to either ride stationary at a gym or not ride at all. I decided not at all was better than the gym garbage. It was an expensive device, but not set up for a "serious" rider. Tractor seats belong on tractors.

I do have a trainer, however, I was on extreme weight limitations and pain pills and couldn't set it up or make room for it to be set up. This past winter was a nightmare. Specialists are in my near future, but I will ride as much as possible while I can.
 
#146
carl h. said:
Yeah, gear that doesn't work, doesn't work regardless of how much was paid for it.

I base my color choices on how much shade/direct sun I'll be riding in. I never trust ANYONE to notice me as I ride, and assume they are aiming for me.

The last time I got "saddle" sore, was after I was forced to either ride stationary at a gym or not ride at all. I decided not at all was better than the gym garbage. It was an expensive device, but not set up for a "serious" rider. Tractor seats belong on tractors.

I do have a trainer, however, I was on extreme weight limitations and pain pills and couldn't set it up or make room for it to be set up. This past winter was a nightmare. Specialists are in my near future, but I will ride as much as possible while I can.
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Spinning machines are awful. No way to even approximate my position, how do people ride them at all?
 
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#147
Honestly, the only place I feel pain during and after a ride is my feet. I'm riding in cSole Brogues because of my back situation. I need to get off and walk for a few minutes every hour I ride to loosen up my lower back - I have some damage there with nerve issues which can totally disable me at times, but riding keeps them at bay. :) I skipped the walking and random pic taking one day (I was feeling good) just to see what my pace actually was and had bad back pain for 2 weeks after that. I have good shoes for biking, but they are horrible for walking, and attitudes of bikers and shops seem to eliminate any chance for good bike/walking shoes. - it's even in the rules
 
#148
I always laughed at cyclists wearing team jerseys. Man wearing tights? HAH!:roflmao:

That was before I had a road bike.:rolleyes:

After I got myself a road bike, I got myself a Team Sky jersey. The first time I wore it, I was so ashamed. Skin-tight suit? Ewww... I'm almost in shape but I have the remains of a long time beer belly.

I don't care how I look. I ride to be alone, isolated from everything including my own thoughts.

I know some people (usually youngsters) make fun of me while passing by. Big deal. I have everything I need in my jersey pockets, the gej in the tights keep machine gewehr junior intact and most of all, it gives me motivation. I feel a lot more motivated in my favorite team's jersey. You should see me after watching a stage of TDF. :D


I don't race, I ride on evenings casually but I like pushing my limits. I really wouldn't like to ride without a jersey on a road bike.

Carl things I look silly, so what, we can laugh about how silly I look in a jersey with a beer belly while having an ice cold beer.:D
 
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#149
Not a road bike but my MTB with slicks (as good)

Did a 150Km towing my Bob
Epic

I'm getting old!
IMG_0937.jpg
 
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#152
carl h. said:
Unclip before - well before you think you will be stopping.
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That's the plan, but plans are fragile things and life often dashes expectations to the ground.:woot:


I've been riding with platforms as if I'm riding with clipless pedals for the last week. If I'm coming to a stop I'm acting like I'm unclipping from the pedals and there were times I forgot to unclip. With platforms it's allright, but if I forget (which apperantly everyone does for at least once) I'll be kissing the pavement.

I'll finish the post with a quote from The Matrix.

"Everybody falls the first time, right Trin?"
 
#155
I just got back from riding with SPD-SLs for the first time.

The first 5 minutes was weird, after that I felt like I'd been doing that for years.

A cab came to immediate stop right in front of me, #//&&*^ idiot. Luckily I kept calm, stopped and unlocked my foot in time.

It's going to take a while getting used to but nothing to worry about.

I can't believe all road bikes aren't built with these pedals.:p
 
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#156
This summer i have changed brake pads and tires on my 2011 Madone 4.5. Koolstop salmon pads greatly improved braking and SEKA FPS tires improved ride and handling. I have 1,000 miles on the bike now. The stock Bontrager tires served me well but two flats in the past month doomed them to the scrap bin.
 
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#157
Bad news.

I have meniscus in both my knees and I was afraid clipless pedals would trigger some kind of pain, which they did.

I hadn't adjusted saddle height, did a little adjustment today and it felt a little better but the pain is here.

Also my left foot went numb while sprinting, which was really weird.

Any ideas to improve the situation are welcome.
 
#158
machine gewehr said:
Bad news.

I have meniscus in both my knees and I was afraid clipless pedals would trigger some kind of pain, which they did.

I hadn't adjusted saddle height, did a little adjustment today and it felt a little better but the pain is here.

Also my left foot went numb while sprinting, which was really weird.

Any ideas to improve the situation are welcome.
Click to expand...
Move the cleats around, it can take a lot of fiddling to get them positioned correctly. Generally they should be directly under the ball of your foot, but move them if that doesn't work. Adjust your pedals' float to maximum, or spring tension to minimum, if you can.
 
#159
As a newbie to biking, I'd like to upgrade my hybrid to a road bike. I'm under a budget and would certainly get a better value on Craigslist. However, I don't really know what I'm looking for, or how to recognize a good deal. I feel kinda overwhelmed whenever I check the ads. Any advice?
 

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