Cycling

Polar Bear

They call me Mr Sunshine
Verified Military
Joined
Aug 14, 2006
Messages
4,635
Location
Kentucky
Anyone out there cycle? Preferable road. Started about a month ago. Learning stuff on my own sucks. Example: made a 3 mm adjustment on my seat and now my nuts don't feel like someone hit them with a baseball bat after a 20 miler.
 
I've been kicking around the idea of getting a road bike. After years of mtn/trail riding, a road bike would be nice to throw into the mix.
 
Nice! I ride regularly but a road bike would be cool to add into the mix. Plus my lack of anything spandex and shitty tattoos would make me an anomaly around here with the cycling crowd!
 
I love it, my knees quit on me at 39, 7 years later, I finally found something that gives me that running high again. Rode 30 miles on Saturday

Have you tried an elliptical? I started running again about three years ago. Within two days of running, my knees hurt so bad that I didn't think I would ever be able to walk again. I gave them a couple days to recover and tried again. I thought someone was beating my knees with a hammer.

I had someone suggest an elliptical to me and recommended that I give it a shot. I tried one and within that week, my knees quit hurting and I was up to running seven miles a day -- five days a week with no knee problems at all. Just a suggestion -- I realize I may be late to this game and you may have already tried it. Just figured I would offer since you loved running as I did.
 
Have you tried an elliptical? I started running again about three years ago. Within two days of running, my knees hurt so bad that I didn't think I would ever be able to walk again. I gave them a couple days to recover and tried again. I thought someone was beating my knees with a hammer.

I had someone suggest an elliptical to me and recommended that I give it a shot. I tried one and within that week, my knees quit hurting and I was up to running seven miles a day -- five days a week with no knee problems at all. Just a suggestion -- I realize I may be late to this game and you may have already tried it. Just figured I would offer since you loved running as I did.

You have not been on the board long...I am 6'8" 260 lbs. an elliptical still sucks. It is made for someone of average height. It did not hurt as much but did not give me that high
 
I hate cycling. Just haven't done it much, I guess my body is used to walking and running and it feels really unnatural and uncomfortable for me to cycle. That said, I know it's a great exercise.
 
Like others, I mountain/trail ride, and have been looking at getting a road bike to ride around town. My 29'er isn't the most practical for the road when I want to get out and ride without hitting a trail. Sadly, a road bike will probably have to wait since I just bought a kayak to add to all my hobbies.

On a side note, I just got done watching a lot of Martyn Ashton's videos on YouTube. He's the Danny Macaskill of road bikes, he does some seriously impressive stuff on road bikes. Check out Road Bike Party and Road Bike Party 2 if you're interested.
 
Like others, I mountain/trail ride, and have been looking at getting a road bike to ride around town. My 29'er isn't the most practical for the road when I want to get out and ride without hitting a trail. Sadly, a road bike will probably have to wait since I just bought a kayak to add to all my hobbies.

On a side note, I just got done watching a lot of Martyn Ashton's videos on YouTube. He's the Danny Macaskill of road bikes, he does some seriously impressive stuff on road bikes. Check out Road Bike Party and Road Bike Party 2 if you're interested.
Yup, what you need is to add (not replace your 29'er) a 650B to your collection!

Back to the topic at hand, and not very helpful to Mr. Bear, everything i love about cycling is in nature and not on the road - in addition, in Israel it's safer to take a day trip to Gaza than cycling on the roads! The driving culture here is somewhat reminiscent of an uncultured, selfish, win at all costs (even if there's no race!) Neanderthals behind the wheel - wait, actually, there is NO driving culture and hence the danger in road biking here. People do it, but seldom without an escort vehicle to physically block other cars from knocking one off.

What i did see on a recent trip to the Great US of A were fantastic hybrid bikes that are styled such as MTB's (visually) but have slick, road tires. Very nice! Something along the lines of these http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/fitness

Attached is my ride.
 

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Hubby and I used to ride in charity races. I still have his Ironman in the garage.
I remember the guys at the shop having more than a little to say about tire/seat to leg length which you've already discovered.
Also, the height of the handle bars should be adjusted for your longer frame since you don't sit UP on a racing bike.
I'm guessing you are already wearing actual bike shorts. The padding makes all the difference.
Are you using your shoes with standard pedals or bike shoes and road pedals?
 
Once you switch over to clipless pedals, you'll notice a huge difference on your pedaling efficiency. The shorts was a huge benefit also, I eventually switched out my saddle to a WTB Rocket V, which made a huge difference. Either way there is going to be a break in period on the saddle and your body. I remember walking around for a few days after a long ride feeling like I was continuously getting kicked in the balls and gooch.
 
I just got into it recently on the weekends.

Performance bike.com

I was informed of that gem after I drowned a few dollars at the local bicycle shop. Could a saved nearly $50 per item :mad:
 
I just got into it recently on the weekends.

Performance bike.com

I was informed of that gem after I drowned a few dollars at the local bicycle shop. Could a saved nearly $50 per item :mad:
Not a big fan of their own line of bibs
 
I've got a road bike but where I live has no real bike lanes that are safe. Every week it seems that a cyclist is killed or injured. Gotta love Florida. I went to the cycling class at my gym, holy shit, that kicked my ass. I'm looking forward to going back.
 
I got into cycling roughly 9 years ago. I was home on leave and bought a Trek 1000sl. A buddy off mine rode with a local bike club and invited me along. I didn't tell anyone there I was in the military but the old guys in the group thought they were going to show off for the new young kid who was on a brand new bike. It was a planned 80 mile ride and the group quickly split off into two groups, guys and girls. The way up averaged 21mph (terrain was mostly flat and what little hills we do have are nothing). We stopped at the 40 mile point and ate a light brunch before turning back towards home. On the way back I was setting the pace and turned around at one point and I was all alone. I stopped and waited (I ddnt quite remember the full route and didn't feel like getting lost) for 20 minutes before the women's pack came into sight. Turns out all the guys had to call their wives to come get them because they were too exhausted to ride back home.

Mostly my bike just collects dust now. I've put about 200 miles on it the last two years as it's hard to find time now to get on and go for a ride of any decent length, plus last year I did a 40 mile ride once and was done for the rest of the day.

PB. If you do decide to go clipless (highly recommended), start off with a rather loose setting on it and just get used to it. In a panic you may forget you are clipped in so having them not as tight allows for you to break out of it easier.
 
I just started riding. Love it so far. Bought a Specialized Roubaix SL4 Sport with disc brakes.
 
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