Guidance

[Go-slow]

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.

[Go-slow]

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)

[RobynE]

Bro, without cycling shorts, that’s pretty much turning the meat and veg into soup. At least with shorts they’re a stew.

Jokes aside - sounds like an awesome outcome all round. Happy miles! 

[DieselnDust]

  On 4/9/2025 at 10:03 AM, Go-slow said:

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.

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Where do you live?

Is your 10km ride straight up a hill, pan cake flat or rolling terrain.

You're 50y and 60kg so I assume relatively short or a female? you haven't provided any information inthis regard

WRT to you issue, what is duckwalking for 20min and then you're ok. Are you in pain and if so, where?

Are you cramping?

You say you haven't cycled for 20-20 years, but have you participated in other sports? again no information provided.

If you can provide a clearer picture it will be a lot easier to attempt to help you. Some will say "go for a bike fit" and although this may be good advise, we can't even comment on this since we don't know if you live down the road or at the North Pole.

[RobynE]

  On 4/11/2025 at 6:41 PM, DieselnDust said:

 

Where do you live?

 

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OP lives near Kroonstad

Edited April 11 by RobynE

[Go-slow]

  On 4/11/2025 at 6:41 PM, DieselnDust said:

 

Where do you live?

Is your 10km ride straight up a hill, pan cake flat or rolling terrain.

You're 50y and 60kg so I assume relatively short or a female? you haven't provided any information inthis regard

WRT to you issue, what is duckwalking for 20min and then you're ok. Are you in pain and if so, where?

Are you cramping?

You say you haven't cycled for 20-20 years, but have you participated in other sports? again no information provided.

If you can provide a clearer picture it will be a lot easier to attempt to help you. Some will say "go for a bike fit" and although this may be good advise, we can't even comment on this since we don't know if you live down the road or at the North Pole.

Expand  

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.

[DieselnDust]

  On 4/12/2025 at 10:06 AM, Go-slow said:

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.

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Ok it sounds to me like you're suffering a pinched nerve somewhere. Could be lower back, could be a disc, could be anything. I'd get that checked by a medical professional and determine a suitable course of action from there