Mntboy Posted January 18, 2016 Posted January 18, 2016 Edit: double post! Eish ships and signal not always friends. I don't know where she bought it but I can ask.Not sure if they have a mountain bike version, but I would be pretty surprised if there wasn't one - considering I ride both and it was free I wasn't going to complain [emoji14]
KarlvN Posted January 18, 2016 Posted January 18, 2016 I swear that every night I go to bed I have a vision of myself bombing some sweeping singletrack on a new bike, hitting some big jumps and generally just sending it...That has me asleep in no time with a fat smile on my dial.
Mntboy Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 I DEFINITELY need to practice the water bottle business; I took my hand off the handlebars for about a second yesterday and was sure that was the end of my life! so balance and one handed things need to be worked on!This may wind up sounding more complicated than it actually is but for your balance you need to remember that your weight will be acting through your chest/shoulders while riding. So if you prevent excessive movement in your shoulders then your balance will be fine. As for drawing your water bottle from your bottle cage while riding I've found that it's easier to do when you've shifted your hands close to the stem and then use one hand to reach down between your leg and the bike and pull the bottle up. I use my left hand as it's my weaker hand. Replacing the bottle is the same, it's just the reverse of drawing. You'll find that in order to keep your balance centered while doing this that your shoulder opposite of the arm you are using to draw the bottle should be doing the opposite of the other. Basically you're using your shoulders as a set of levers. Also the knee on the side that you're drawing the bottle from should be slightly away from the bike frame. Hope that makes sense. Have the friend that provided you with the bike show you their method or look for a video on it on YouTube - the Global Cycling Network (GCN) should have one on their channel. It'll probably make it easier to understand if you can see what/how a rider does it. All of that said it's still ok for you to stop to have a drink from your water bottle or even better to have a coffee break at a nice coffee shop! In fact, coffee stops is highly encouraged.
Lurch the stalker Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 This may wind up sounding more complicated than it actually is but for your balance you need to remember that your weight will be acting through your chest/shoulders while riding. So if you prevent excessive movement in your shoulders then your balance will be fine. As for drawing your water bottle from your bottle cage while riding I've found that it's easier to do when you've shifted your hands close to the stem and then use one hand to reach down between your leg and the bike and pull the bottle up. I use my left hand as it's my weaker hand. Replacing the bottle is the same, it's just the reverse of drawing. You'll find that in order to keep your balance centered while doing this that your shoulder opposite of the arm you are using to draw the bottle should be doing the opposite of the other. Basically you're using your shoulders as a set of levers. Also the knee on the side that you're drawing the bottle from should be slightly away from the bike frame. Hope that makes sense. Have the friend that provided you with the bike show you their method or look for a video on it on YouTube - the Global Cycling Network (GCN) should have one on their channel. It'll probably make it easier to understand if you can see what/how a rider does it. All of that said it's still ok for you to stop to have a drink from your water bottle or even better to have a coffee break at a nice coffee shop! In fact, coffee stops is highly encouraged....and just to make this even more confusing, my left hand is also my weaker hand, yet on the bike I will always go for the bottle with my right hand.So when you do get to trying it, try both hands (obviously not at the same time, haha) and see which one you're more comfortable with.
Mntboy Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 ...and just to make this even more confusing, my left hand is also my weaker hand, yet on the bike I will always go for the bottle with my right hand.So when you do get to trying it, try both hands (obviously not at the same time, haha) and see which one you're more comfortable with.I usually ride with my 1.5L Camelbak and one bottle. If I do ride with another bottle it automatically goes into my jersey's right hand pocket as I find it easier to draw and replace from there. Any food stuff goes into my left hand pocket which I have pre-opened, just easier that way.
LexieB Posted January 19, 2016 Author Posted January 19, 2016 Thanks for the advice guys!! I was also contemplating just using my camelbak, but I know for longer rides I'll need more than just that, so I'll definitely start practicing drawing the bottle! In other news, I broke my fall virginity this morning! My chain came off and wacked my leg, and I didn't manage to get both feet out of the baskets in time, so I went toppling over sideways! But I am proud to say that I managed to get the chain back on all by my lonesome (being technically challenged in general, this is a big accomplishment for me!) and rode away with just a couple of roasties and a bruised ego [emoji23]
Neverfit Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 Hope you are ok after the gravity induced dirt inspection.... Next time that happens you have a legit excuse for being late fro work as you 1st had to go get a new chain at the LBS and then take it for a "safety check" ride of no less than 30km... Enjoy the riding..
KarlvN Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 Lexie, your anecdotes are a breath of fresh air on this forum. I love reading about your daily exploits and how you overcome in difficult situations. Keep it up.
Lurch the stalker Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 Thanks for the advice guys!! I was also contemplating just using my camelbak, but I know for longer rides I'll need more than just that, so I'll definitely start practicing drawing the bottle! In other news, I broke my fall virginity this morning! My chain came off and wacked my leg, and I didn't manage to get both feet out of the baskets in time, so I went toppling over sideways! But I am proud to say that I managed to get the chain back on all by my lonesome (being technically challenged in general, this is a big accomplishment for me!) and rode away with just a couple of roasties and a bruised ego [emoji23] Remember, if you are on a road bike you will have to die of shame if you have a camelbak on... Now you no longer have to be scared of falling since it happened and you got it out the way (now you just have to worry about the first broken bone )
Lurch the stalker Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 Hope you are ok after the gravity induced dirt inspection.... Next time that happens you have a legit excuse for being late fro work as you 1st had to go get a new chain at the LBS and then take it for a "safety check" ride of no less than 30km... Enjoy the riding..Your profile picture is perfect for what happened
Neverfit Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 Sadly I have been a victim of my profile pic more than I care to remember.... got better at extending the landing gear after a few dirt inspections...Most common problem was unclipping 1 foot.....and falling the exact opposite way...
LexieB Posted January 19, 2016 Author Posted January 19, 2016 Hope you are ok after the gravity induced dirt inspection.... Next time that happens you have a legit excuse for being late fro work as you 1st had to go get a new chain at the LBS and then take it for a "safety check" ride of no less than 30km... Enjoy the riding.. All good, and just as stoked to get out again Haha the best part of using that as an excuse is that my boss will totally understand, because she is a cyclist as well Lexie, your anecdotes are a breath of fresh air on this forum. I love reading about your daily exploits and how you overcome in difficult situations. Keep it up. Thanks Karl, it's do awesome to share this stuff with people who are interested! Remember, if you are on a road bike you will have to die of shame if you have a camelbak on... Now you no longer have to be scared of falling since it happened and you got it out the way (now you just have to worry about the first broken bone ) Ok, so there goes the Camelbak idea... I guess it's back to balance practice (and in all likelihood, a few more falls!) Your profile picture is perfect for what happened Haha yes, luckily I've had years of experience falling off giant animals moving at speed (often landing in bushes, or on the biggest, most solid log jump in the course), so coming off the bike is slightly less intimidating, considering how much closer to the ground it is
Lurch the stalker Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 Sadly I have been a victim of my profile pic more than I care to remember.... got better at extending the landing gear after a few dirt inspections...Most common problem was unclipping 1 foot.....and falling the exact opposite way...I know the feeling - I did exactly that a few weeks back on my road bike.Stopped at a traffic light and just somehow forgot that my right shoe was clipped in and went down - mostly just my pride that got hurt at least...
Lurch the stalker Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 my boss will totally understand, because she is a cyclist as well Ok, so there goes the Camelbak idea... I guess it's back to balance practice (and in all likelihood, a few more falls!) Nice, officially referring to yourself as a cyclist now. Falling is much better than the shame of the Camelback on the road
Lurch the stalker Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 I'd appreciate it if you asked your friend where she got it and the cool thing is you have a legit excuse in asking for a hubber in Cape Town.Apparently if was from a store called Birthdays. Presume you have some down in Cape Town, since I've seen quite a few up here in Gauteng.
KarlvN Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 I know the feeling - I did exactly that a few weeks back on my road bike.Stopped at a traffic light and just somehow forgot that my right shoe was clipped in and went down - mostly just my pride that got hurt at least... My worst #unclippedthewrongfootfall happened when I stopped to take a picture of a berg adder, and then turned to the left to leave. it was my left foot that was still clipped in, which threw me off balance, and deposited me flat on my back...right beside the snake I had just photographed....
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