singlespeeders - help needed

[cat-i]

 

i use my heavy old rigid to commute. a few months ago i realised the gear cables need replacement, but figured less gears are better training.

 

question 1:

how on earth do you singlespeeders prevent knee pain from cycling with too low a cadence? my cadence is usually higher than those aound me. i used the rigid about twice a week, the gear-availibility rapidly declined during the last month or 2. I now developed a knee pain, probably from trying to cycle up deltapark pushing too heavy gears

 

- am i supposed to stand and peddle till i run out of heart-revs, and then get of and walk, instead of sitting and powering when i run out of oxygen?

- am i supposed to have started with the higher cadence more gradually? e.i. riding the hardtail up there without using the granny every once in a while?

- should  i have used the rigid less ... e.g. once a week, to first get used to the higher impact?

 

question 2:

how on earth do you singlespeeders get enough oxygen???????

 

 

 

 

 

cat-i2009-03-25 12:29:48

[Little-Ben]

train more

[Tumbleweed]

at some stage they didn't get enough oxygen. that's why they start riding them would tell you about my newest one - she's less than 5 days old but i'm going doodoos now

[cat-i]

 

train more

 

LOL little ben i'm quite prepared to do that ... just need to know what type of training, don't want to end up not being able to cycle because of a knee injury

 

[Little-Ben]

train more

LOL little ben i'm quite prepared to do that ... just need to know what type of training' date=' don't want to end up not being able to cycle because of a knee injury
[/quote']

 

try a hard but comfortable gear but not to easy, when you comfy with that gear move to a harder gear and so on and so on, if knee pain stays then see a doctor,

[Thug]

Cat-i, 2 suggestions and either of which should save you on the knee pain.

 

1. By a new gear cable for your bike, or

 

2. Convert your bike to a single speed with a proper single speed gear ratio. 

 

You should be able to climb Delta Park on a single speed with the right gear ratio relatively easily. Yes, you might be out of the saddle but you shouldn't be out of breath at the top. Play around with the ratios until you find one that suits you.