Go-slow

Morning, yes now see how that could taise several questions. Let me give a more detailed explanation. Must add I had an unofficial bike fitting done but will only know on Monday morning if it was successful after a proper test. I stay in freestate close to kroonstad (Edenville side). 50yo (turned 50 in January), weigh around 60kg and 1.82m tall. (Yes skinny but so is my whole family. Part of the genetics I guess.) Back in the day (school days, around 30+ years ago, I played rugby, did long distance running and just to make up the team played some cricket. General transport in those days to school and friends was a bicycle. Went to the Army after school and pretty much that is where fitness ended. Road I am traveling is uphill with two or three slight bends to the right. The GPS on my phone indicates 12km to where I turn around. I deduct 2km because I cannot ride from the house to the main gate so walk that part till I get to the tar road. When I reach my selfset turn around point I need to get of the tar road and then I take a water break there before heading back. Legs not working is when I get off the bike at the turn around point. I struggle to get my legs to move forward and only way to do this is to use the whole leg and prety much dragging it to go forward. One after another (duck walk). Around 20 minutes (not timed, estimated) I am able to lift my leg over the bike (without falling) and head back downhill. I try to keep pedalling back home in a lower gear so the return trip is alot faster and not alot of work needs to go into it. Then am able to walk back from the tar road to the house (about 2 km) very slowly. Not cramping legs just wants to give in as I walk. Hope this clears up most of the questions. I must add that after the unofficial bike fitting the bike did feel like a new bike but have not taken her out on the road properly so will know if it was successful on monday after my ride.

So felt like being at the doctor. Rhis being the MTB guy I mentioned earlier. So many o my measurements was incorrect but he pointed out that it is not as easy as it sounds to measure yourself. So to get the 45/90 body position my handle bars had to be 25mm lower than my seat. Seat height was adjusted, to my length while in relaxed riding position (he had another name for it) and then the seat was right all the way to the back. Brake levers was moved slighly up and handle bars got tilted a bit more. I was told that that this is a "star-off" position and will change gradually as I get more used to riding. Took the hike oubfor about 2k's and I felt nothing. No hand problem, no numb legs and nothing pushing in the wrong places. While there I bought one of his older MTB's and now have a weekend riding buddy. All turned out well and yes I must agree. Bike fitting is one of the most important things. Now I just need to get cycling shorts. He gave me an earfull for not having any. He suggested gel padded shorts. Thanks to everyone's input and guidance on this. Feels like a new bike. Will still get it fone professionally gurther fown the line (possibly fourways in July)

Found a place names Cycle Shack in Welkom. Trying to touch base with Eugene now. Lets hope since that is around 100km from me which is not bad. Will just drop the cycle in the car and go there. Personally I am not ready for a 200k round trip ride. I will die somewhere between 15 and 30 (LMAO). But lets see if they get back to me. Each step is one step closer.

Fourways... possibly only July this year. Have jot tried Welkom. Will do a google search and see maybe I am lucky and they have one. Thank you.

Currently reading up on the frame sizes. The PTP (top frame bar) measure at 530mm and from what I found it is a Large frame (cannot find anything larger), Height test (25.4mm from top bar when straddling) seems to be about right. And seat has an offset of maybe (guestimate 20mm). Will be doig the balance and (45/90) degree test in a few. Something I did have was hands getting tired. That happened this morning and before I started fidgeting the seat was all the way to the front. I did mark all the original positions of this morning just incase I muck up. I have an appointment with a MTB rider later this afternoon who says he will assist me in bike fitting to the best of his knowledge. He used to ride Road bikes but then changed to MTB's. I cannot see it doing any harm by going.

Not sure what the one was that I used just now but I hit a brick wall where the front of my knee with the ball of foot on pedal at 3 O'clock, should then align with the pedal axle. My seat is now adjusted all the way back (maximum) and front of my knee is still infront of the pedal axle. Let my google your suggested method then will see where I do get stuck. I love small towns but sometimes they are a pain in the butt and this seems to be one of those cases. I can go 300km to Bloemfontein or 300km to Johannesburg or 50km to kroonstad where I cannot seem to find a fitting shop.

My closest major city is Kroonstad. Anyone know of shop that does bike fitting? I buy parts and spares from Sally's but they do not offer fitting and do not know of someone who does.

Just returned from my ride. Again just about 10km. Concentrated on hip movement and yes there was. Lowered the seat maybe 2cm. With it at that position I could feel it pushing in very uncomfortable places so tilted the tip of the seat slightly down. She rides like a dream. Now instead of having numb legs I end up with burning legs. Thank you for everyone's advice. Never thought that a simple seat adjustment will make such a huge difference.

My next ride will be on Friday morning. I am assuming (we all know who the mother of assumptions are) that if my hips swy the seat would be too high? Will concentrate on that friday morning and see what my hips dies during riding. Fortunately "ma and pa" was very active. "Pa still dived and and skydived till about 3 years ago and "ma" is still doing her morning jogs aged 77. Think you have a good point on the seat height. As said I fitted from what I could get off the internet, "google is my friend" kinda thing. Will report back Friday. Unfortunately I am not fit enough for a daily ride......but will get there eventually. Thank you for the advice. Much appreciated

About 2 years ago someone gave me a 2005 semi-carrera as a present. I relocated to a new town in December and decided to start riding for exercise and maybe someday (when I am a grown-up) do a bike race or two. Past few weeks (roughly 4 weeks) I have been cycling every second day casually, roughly about 10km per ride, but feels as if I am doing something wrong. So turning to the professionals for guidance. I am 50, weight about 60kg, have not ridden a cycle since school days, in a new town where I know no one and have not seen other cyclists except for MTB's, so buddy cycler is out of the question. My first 2 or 3 km are hard. Legs burning and I end up granny gearing. After the first 2 km granny gearing is a thing of the past and my legs are fine and I can push all the way to my turn around point and back home without a problem. My problem comes when stopping where my legs simply just stop working and my +- 10kg bike weighs a ton and I duckwalk just to get from A to B. Give it 20minute rest and I am all good again. Is this normal for someone getting back in the saddle or is it a fitting problem? Like I said I am in a new town and have not seen any cycling shops anywhere apart from MTB's, so did the bike fitting best I could through what I found on different website. Any advice to check if it might be a fitting problem? If not advise on how to get past the leg problem.