bike setup and new gear

[eccc whippet]

at the beginning of this year i decided to go from a beachfront cruise to off road and increase the distances that i ride...so i kept my hybrid for the sunday morning beachfront front ride and started doing the short distance off road races...

 

middle of this year spent my whole piggy box savings and some on an anthem...rides got a little more comfortable.

 

people spoke of weight and speed in seconds...i laughed...thought I am too old and fat to worry about a couple grams on a bicycle and a couple seconds...I talk kgs and hours

 

and so more time has pasted and things are improving...i have a KOM (not telling anyone were because there is only 3 of us doing it for now ) and chasing a few seconds to take another KOM...if i go into strava segments were 5000 other cyclist are riding i am 4000 + in the segment...so small steps for now.

 

I decided if i wanted to improve my cycling i need to start monitoring what i am doing...so off to a cadence class...4th week into it and i can see an improvement...not in speed or FTP yet...but control of the pedal...my graph was all over the place peaking and dead zones...up and down...were i would go way over the wattage required for the session...then just give up take a break then ride pedal like crazy again...now the graph is improving more stable and not so many peaks and dead zones.

 

now the next step is to increase the distance i cycle...which is why i need to start looking at the bike setup and gear...my setup at the moment allows me to cycle 40 km then it starts getting uncomfortable...crutch starts burning...chaffing on the inner thighs...pins and needles in the hands and feet etc...etc...the first time i did a 100 km ride in one day...i couldnt walk for 2 days.

 

now i have a cheap road bike...man these things are uncomfortable to ride

 

so the first upgrade is gona be the bib...not too concerned about the pedals and shoes for now...but i am sure as the cycling improves so the need for proper roadie shoes and pedals will become more important.

 

next thing is bike setup...have entered my first 100 km race ( more like try get to the end for me) so will be getting it done in the next week or so.

 

then the saddle...with a little google research...you start finding some interesting info...like the height...sitting position position...width of seat...etc...nothing worse than a sore crutch to spoil the ride.

 

then handlebars...width...angle etc

 

i will be upgrading the road sooner than later...but want to first make sure i know what to upgrade to...not like the anthem...the only dual suspension i have ridden...so did i make the right choice who knows...until i get to ride another dual suspension bike i cant really comment on whether it is the right buy or not....i wont make the same mistake with the road bike.

 

hopefully i can just move the saddle and handlebars to the new bike...

 

have already bought a specialized romin evo saddle...should have done more research...i am not sure it was the right choice yet...looking at the fizik website...there are various seating positions...now I see where the race snakes comments come from...i am certainly not in that category...more like a bull.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Edge540]

Might be an idea to get your butt measured to make sure the saddle is the correct width for you and you can't go wrong with Anthem

[velomonatiCT]

plank ..

 

core strength is everything ..  (and much neglected by amateur cyclists)

 

its a good routine to do and improves every facet of your experience on a bike

 

less sore ass back shoulders no numb hands etc etc and it doesn't require pricey kit to do

[eccc whippet]

Core strength...I have heard it mentioned many times....and planking looks likes it works more muscles than you realize.

 

Had the bike done...handle was too narrow...seat too low and too far forward...so now it is adjusted correctly...will see how the seat feels this weekend.

 

Done an assometer check...143 was the result...advised by specialized to get a Romin evo 155...the sit bones seem to sit nicely on the seat...it is the front of the concave section that makes it feel like someone had my nuts in a vice...maybe a vet visit would solve that problem.

[velomonatiCT]

when you get tired after an hour or so (or however long your knees take to get tired)

 

then you start taking the weight on your other contact points - hands (numb hands etc) and ass

 

you shuffle a little forward on your saddle under load and as your knees aren't supporting you above the saddle anymore it starts to feel ouch down there

 

if you have had a proper bike fit and you got good shorts then your core strength work will start to support your weight better and keep it off your ass and knees

 

and if your road bike saddle catches you behind your nuts when you are in a drop position  try tilting the nose of the saddle down by 1 or 2 degrees (careful spirit level adjustment job)

 

this is why saddles with cutouts in the center are so popular...

 

but you will discover as time goes on that its not padding that matters its core strength -hard strength work on your legs and knees and good bike fit

 

you cant buy bike bits (even from a spaz store) that can compensate for body strength

 

keep at it

[eccc whippet]

Cadence classes is certainly helping...only started the class in the later half...tried the toaster test last night...but failed...managed to get just over 700 watts...but as i leaned forward to put more power on the pedals my calf muscle cramped [emoji57]

 

I still have a long journey ahead...one of the biggest mistakes i made when i started cycling was thinking my legs would be able to handle the pace without even developing them.