The Fretboard Cycling Club

Jaycee · March 2021

Ohh they look nice,

I just put on a short 155mm wide saddle, first impressions are good, I had a Fizik Arione on there before, which was good but a bit narrow for me.

Jaycee · March 2021

Just did a lumpy 20 miler, my legs felt like jelly, and my chest full of cotton wool........feel beter now tho'

mudslide73 · March 2021

I bottled it this weekend. I had a couple of things to deal with and used them as an excuse. I need to get back out there.

racefaceec90 · March 2021

am very excited to be picking up my new road bike tomorrow (planet x spitfire ti).

this will be my third ever road bike after a raleigh elan in mint green bought early 90's and then a 2012-13 specialized tarmac sport (both great bikes i must add).

have lusted after a ti road bike for literally decades,so finally getting one is like blinkin crimbo and my birthday in one lol.

will be doing a nice 10 mile walk to shop first thing tomorrow to pick it up (obviously respecting covid etc,will have my mask).

i cannot bloody wait tbh :-)

Logie · March 2021

I've managed to clock up about 120 mile in the last couple of weeks just doing 20 milers. Slow going though and I can definitely tell I've been off the bike a while!

Brio · March 2021

The mileage will soon get easier. Nice work everyone getting back out there.

MtB · March 2021

I've been a cyclist for the past 30-odd years. I have a Cannondale Synapse road bike and an Orange 5 Pro bouncer.

I average around 1100 miles per year from going out on a Saturday/Sunday morning for a couple of hours, and an hour at lunchtime when working from home.

https://i.imgur.com/nuWjRH6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/f4RGi1K.jpg

SlopeSoarer · March 2021

I have always enjoyed cycling but have never been very consistent apart from a bit in my 30s when I had a fantastic rigid mountain bike (Saracen Kili Comp). I'd go through periods of over training then not being able to look at the bike again for months. Several years went by without having a bike (all sorts of excuses, work, family, other hobbies, etc) but in 2015 I bought a Genesis Equilibrium 853 (I love old school technology) and again didn't get in to a good routine until lockdown started in March 2020.

Being retired now I had no excuse, it was a challenge getting in to a routine but the good weather and quiet roads were very encouraging. I had to keep a check on myself as I was well aware that I could fall back in to doing too much to soon and over train. I did what I felt was a sensible mix of riding, walking and having rest days. I went from doing 12 miles a day avaeraging 12mph to now doing upto 36 miles (which to some will seem little) and avarage speed on a good day is just over 16mph.

I've had a little break over Christmas and early New Year due to weather (I won't go out if there is risk of ice) and moving home. We've retired to Anglesey (Trearddur Bay) a few weeks ago. I've been back cycling and walking again. My fitness levels are so much better, my mental health is a lot better, I drink less (not that it was overly excessive), sleep has improved and I've lost about 35lb in weight.

I love cycling and all the benefits it brings but just have to make sure I don't over do it and neglect guitar time (as I'm still shit) or the wife.

Happy days (sorry for the boring ramble)!

Image: http://simonz.co.uk/images/bike.jpg

crunchman · March 2021

Great picture.

I went out on Saturday for the first time in long time. Took it gently for about 10 miles, as I have got very unfit working from home with no cycle to work.

My daughters are back in school this week, so I'm going to try to get out at lunchtimes until the evenings are lighter.

ESBlonde · March 2021

I don't have a fancy road bike, it's a 10 year old crossover jobbie complete with racks so I dare not even weigh it.
That said I've been trying to improve my health since stopping work at Christmas. I've had a few rides and I'm working up from 9 miles to 15 and 17 more recently. I seem to recover better now and plan to get above 20 miles each time. Come the better weather the opportunities will be more frequent. Watch this space.

Jaycee · March 2021

We all got to start somewhere, Sunday felt as tho' I had never been on a bike before, I did 28 miles today 13.5mph av felt much better

Logie · March 2021

Did my first 40+ miler of the year yesterday. A bit jelly legged up the inclines and my legs were definitely running out of steam toward the end but it was good to do a few decent hills and mileage. I think I'll have a day off today though:)

drofluf · March 2021

Outside yesterday for a change; after a winter spend on Zwift I need to remember a few basics. Just stuff like not riding into hairpins at 50kph without slowing down and going round other cyclists rather than through them when overtaking.

Just minor stuff really.

Jaycee · March 2021

drofluf said:

Outside yesterday for a change; after a winter spend on Zwift I need to remember a few basics. Just stuff like not riding into hairpins at 50kph without slowing down and going round other cyclists rather than through them when overtaking.

Just minor stuff really.

Yes it does help .....

I got a tidy 34 miler on Saturday, ......it is getting easier

goldtop · March 2021

Question for proper cyclists.

My bike has a handlebar+stem setup like this:

I'd like to raise the handlebars by a few cm to see if it will stop the shoulder ache I get after 2-3 hours. But looking at it, I suspect that I need more of the ring/spacer things. Anyone know?

(I don't have a torque measuring thingummy either.)

Siejen · March 2021

Hi, your stem is already at the top of your steerer tube, so your bars will only go higher with an adjustable stem like this; https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/deda-elementi-adj-adjustable-stem/rp-prod158477

You can try a shorter stem if you are too far away, (this will quicken the steering a little) or you can get more extreme angle stems, but they look silly.

However, bar height alone may not fix your issues. This may be worth a read. https://www.bikedynamics.co.uk/neckpain.htm

drofluf · March 2021

As @Siejen says you can’t raise your bars any higher but a shorter/steeper stem may help.

goldtop · March 2021

Thanks, guys. Would handlebar ends be a useful thing to do instead of the adjustable stem (or as well as)?

I'll take a read through that website on posture. For sure, something's not right.

m_c · March 2021

It might be worth trying some Ergon bar ends, as they'll give you a different position, without the unsightly tree catching full bar ends.

Quite often just having somewhere else to put your hands to change position can be enough to alleviate pain. I know I'll often move hand position if I've been stuck in the one position for a while. On the road bike that can be switching between drops/hoods/tops, or on the mountain bike just riding a bit more upright with the hands on the centre of the bars.

drofluf · March 2021

Changing hand positions may help. Can you post a picture of you on the bike in your riding position?

joneve · March 2021

goldtop said:

Thanks, guys. Would handlebar ends be a useful thing to do instead of the adjustable stem (or as well as)?

I'll take a read through that website on posture. For sure, something's not right.

See if there's anyone local that can do a bike fit. It's honestly the best money I've ever spent. You don't need to pay hundreds of pounds for a fit that includes body mapping and all sorts of nonsense. But if you have any British Cycling qualified coaches who might offer it, it's worth looking at.

I'm lucky that we have a British Cycling chap locally who does it for £35. Sets you up, sticks dots on you, films you with an iPhone app, analyses it and you from different angles. Makes the necessary tweaks, re-films it, and then gives you the two to compare and the difference for me was night and day. I still got a bad lower back on longer rides but that's mostly down to having zero core strength and bad posture - but it wasn't anywhere near as bad. And I also felt more comfortable and like I was able to generate more power and pedal more efficiently.

Jaycee · March 2021

One thing I tried with some success years ago was altering the width of the hand grips, when I found a width that I was happy with I got an appropriate sized bar,

MooseAboot · March 2021

I would second the bike fit suggestion. Do check your saddle angle. If it is flat you might find tilting it back 1 or 2 degrees will rebalance you. Ideally you shouldn't have too much weight on your wrists.

goldtop · March 2021

I'll look into a bike fit. Had thought it was more useful to serious cyclists doing 100s of miles a week, not a hobby rider doing a 2-3hr mooch.

The shoulder pain/ache is the same one I used to get when gaming for too many hours in a sitting. When I am riding and feel it coming on, I want to try to sit up more - like kids do when riding with no hands on the handlebars.

m_c · March 2021

A bike fit will likely help, but it may just be a case you need to stop occasionally and have a stretch and change of position.

Cafe's make ideal stopping locations (once they reopen!) for stretching :-)

SUNBATHER · March 2021

Anyone got a tip for releasing a stuck seat post?
Fixed up my old bike and it's great now except the seat post has fused to the frame.

I've tried heating with hot water, prying with flat head screwdriver, bashing it with a hammer and various oils and liquids and DIY old wives tricks.

My final option is to use a hacksaw and cut it from the inside then crush it, and hope to god that gets it out.

It's an aluminium frame, if that helps. It's an old Raleigh Max from the 90s

m_c · March 2021

Brute force.

Clamp the seat post in a very sturdy vice, and use the frame to try and spin the frame on the seat post. If that doesn't work, then you'll need to cut it out.

Jaycee · March 2021

Interesting vid here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54WhdrLKKvY&t=150s

Jaycee · March 2021

joneve said

I'm lucky that we have a British Cycling chap locally who does it for £35. Sets you up, sticks dots on you, films you with an iPhone app, analyses it and you from different angles. Makes the necessary tweaks, re-films it, and then gives you the two to compare and the difference for me was night and day. I still got a bad lower back on longer rides but that's mostly down to having zero core strength and bad posture - but it wasn't anywhere near as bad. And I also felt more comfortable and like I was able to generate more power and pedal more efficiently.

Who did your bike fit? I haven't got around to having it done yet?

drofluf · March 2021

Not used him myself but https://theseatpostman.com/ has been recommended on cycling fora.

I’ve also had some success using a plumbers pipe freezing kit https://www.screwfix.com/p/arctic-products-pipe-freezing-kit-150ml/433fj

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