Bicycle thread

[Mercury264]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

Ones like Chisenhallw has are what you need. I have a pair of those, and they work great on both flats and clipless pedals. They're also very good for walking in. Their only real disadvantage is that they're flexible like a pair of sneakers, so your feet will move around inside them as the material stretches when pedaling hard. I'm also informed that they're not as comfortable on long rides because they don't provide enough support, but I haven't done enough back to back comparisons to say for sure.

I should be OK, I don't need to set any of those BS Strava KOM records

[TheNedster]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

Well sure it is, but my purpose is learning to RIDE up steep hills, not to carry my bike up.

Yabbut, you asked what to do when you stall out on said steep bit. In that case you can:
A) Push the bike.
B) Carry the bike.
C) Go back down to the last flat spot and try for a do-over.

In my experience, if it's steep enough and loose enough, you're pooched and aren't going to be able to get rolling again.

[Aurelius]

Originally Posted by TheNedster

Yabbut, you asked what to do when you stall out on said steep bit. In that case you can:
A) Push the bike.
B) Carry the bike.
C) Go back down to the last flat spot and try for a do-over.

Yes of course, but I thought there might be another option, like starting in a taller gear just to get rolling and then downshifting.

[Aurelius]

Originally Posted by Mercury264

I should be OK, I don't need to set any of those BS Strava KOM records

What possible purpose can there be in riding if you're not going for a KOM?

[Aurelius]

Originally Posted by zouch

riding up steep hills is one thing; getting re-started on a steep hill is yet another. most mortals can ride up hills much steeper than they can re-start on, and restarting is an art in itself that requires finding the proper balance of weighting the bike, gently applying power in the correct gear, and basically balancing yourself so as to be able to lift your standing foot so lightly that you're essentially in the middle of a power stroke when your standing foot comes of the ground. (naturally, all this has to be done seated, with your weight on the saddle, or you'll just spin the rear tire.)

See, that's the kind of thing I'm talking about. I actually did try those things, but I couldn't maintain my balance long enough to get a good start.

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by Weirdo

Spoken like a true cross rider.

I learned that in 1987 when I first started mtn biking and had absolutely no clue there was anything called 'cyclocross' out there.

...but it has been reinforced riding/racing cross

M

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

Yes of course, but I thought there might be another option, like starting in a taller gear just to get rolling and then downshifting.

If its that steep, there's no effing way you're going to turn over anything bigger.

If you get stuck and its that steep, ya gotta either go forward or backwards till you can find yourself a spot to get at least one pedal stroke in.

If using clipless pedals, don't worry about clipping in at the first pedal stroke. Get some momentum up first. May take a few revolutions of the pedals to get it. Till then platform on your unclipped pedal. If you happen to get it right and you clip in, great, but don't count on it.

M

[Chisenhallw]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

Ones like Chisenhallw has are what you need. I have a pair of those, and they work great on both flats and clipless pedals. They're also very good for walking in. Their only real disadvantage is that they're flexible like a pair of sneakers, so your feet will move around inside them as the material stretches when pedaling hard. I'm also informed that they're not as comfortable on long rides because they don't provide enough support, but I haven't done enough back to back comparisons to say for sure.

No arch support, the toe box started off a little tight, and they run a euro size smaller than you need. But they look good, the reflectivity is nice, they're comfy enough to wear around the office all day, and non-bike dorks don't peg you as a bike dork.

If I was going to turn into a hardcore dirt junkie I'd probably get something with a stiffer sole.


The only drawback about those pedals is that they're weighted to flip the clip receiver up, so if you're going to pedal on the flat you need to remember to flip it over with your foot before you get in a situation where you can't take your feet off the pedals.

[zouch]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

See, that's the kind of thing I'm talking about. I actually did try those things, but I couldn't maintain my balance long enough to get a good start.

did i say it was easy?
i've seen some of the vids you've posted, and always though it seemed like you hadn't learned where your true center was, weren't loose enough in your elbows (tip; try focusing on relaxing your neck, and everything else seems to follow,) and didn't have your balance optimized yet, so that's no surprise to hear you say that.
it'll take practice; and comes to some people easier than others. (in spite of having competed at Trials, i was *not* one of the people to whom it came easy, and had to work at it.)

Originally Posted by Gummee!

If its that steep, there's no effing way you're going to turn over anything bigger.

If you get stuck and its that steep, ya gotta either go forward or backwards till you can find yourself a spot to get at least one pedal stroke in.

If using clipless pedals, don't worry about clipping in at the first pedal stroke. Get some momentum up first. May take a few revolutions of the pedals to get it. Till then platform on your unclipped pedal. If you happen to get it right and you clip in, great, but don't count on it.

M

i would only add that it's not that first pedal stroke that's the hardest at a steep start, it's the one after that.

[Aurelius]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

If its that steep, there's no effing way you're going to turn over anything bigger.

If you get stuck and its that steep, ya gotta either go forward or backwards till you can find yourself a spot to get at least one pedal stroke in.

If using clipless pedals, don't worry about clipping in at the first pedal stroke. Get some momentum up first. May take a few revolutions of the pedals to get it. Till then platform on your unclipped pedal. If you happen to get it right and you clip in, great, but don't count on it.

M

Good advice, especially the part about not clipping in at first. I do remember even expert riders telling me they sometimes couldn't make it up these hills, so maybe I wasn't doing as badly as I thought. There's lots of race footage taken at Santos showing experienced racers carrying their bikes up these hills, but I always assumed that's because they were already tired out by the time they got there.

[Spicy McHaggis]

Originally Posted by rbrsddn

Keep up the good(i.e. Hard) work everybody! We just got 10+ inches of snow, so our New Years ride has morphed into a X country ski adventure. No shortage of laughs there! Anyway, carry on, and have an awesome New Years!!!

What, no Fat Bikes???

[rbrsddn]

Originally Posted by Spicy McHaggis

What, no Fat Bikes???

Not yet anyway! I've got Nokian 294 studded tires for the Mtb, which are great on ice. Going to be freezing this weekend!!!

[Gummee!]

So Wed is the Haymarket ride. Talked my riding buddy into coming out. His first time doing the loop at night and he had lots of fun. I keep talking him in to things that he's if not against, then neutral on and he keeps having fun. One of these days he'll learn to just listen to me the first time.

So we set off at 1820 lights on front and back. I got sucked into the front then peeled off, then sucked back on the front, and peeled off. My legs just didn't want to work after yesterday's 4.5hr ride.

There's 4 good sized hills on this route. 3 of em are dirt/gravel. I wasn't 'dropped' but I was OTB by 5-10m on the first one (managed to catch up when the road leveled out some), and with the other 4 guys on the next 3.

Then the last big downhill... Picture hauling ass down a dirt road at night. Two of your buddies are 50m ahead of you. 2 more are behind you and for no apparent reason your front tire goes flat!



So I'm flailing about madly trying to get slowed down in a straight line while the road's in a gentle turn to the left.



I was fer sure I was gonna end up in the ditch! Managed to get stopped right before that happened. :phew Tire off, tube in, hit it with the CO2 and awaaaay we go!

the whole way down the mountain. I was shivering when I hit the bottom so I went to the front to lay down some power to get warmed back up. Few km of that and I'm not nearly as cold any more.

I had on a wool t-shirt, a silkweight Patagucci capilene shirt, a summer-weight LS jersey and a 'windbreaker' type jacket from Specialized. IOW I was dressed to go, not to descend. I got back to he car, peeled off everything to get into dry clothes and noticed that everything but the wool jersey was soaked thru with sweat. No effing wonder I was cold!

One of these days, I'm going to figure out the secret to layering. Hasn't happened yet, but I'll keep trying different tactics.

I'm rediscovering that I climb better standing than I do sitting. Feels better. I go faster. HR doesn't spike as bad as some people's.

Today? UW Hockey or nothing. I've got a guy coming to look at the FG wheels I have for sale so I can afford new stuff.

M

[Omi]

My brother officially opened for business today!

[k7]

Originally Posted by Omi

My brother officially opened for business today!

Jeebus dood - at least list the name and location of the shop along with the advrider discount rate. . Otherwise, you aren't giving him a shot at our $$$$$$.