Pat in TX wrote:
::: Well, I'm not really into anything else. The only "sports" I've
::: ever done are walking, running or cycling. I'm not coordinated
::: enough to play ball games, though my partner has mentioned starting
::: up playing squash............
::
:: Here is what my ortho doc told me one day: "Go to a tall building
:: and walk up the stairs. Then, take the elevator down. Do this over
:: and over until you are tired or until you have done 30 minutes."
:: The reasoning is that going down stairs is so much harder on your
:: knees than going up. He didn't say run up the stairs--just walk up.
::
::
::
:::
::: Truth be told, the bike is probably too big for me all round. I
::: have to have
::: the seat the lowest it will go just to reach the pedals without
::: straining. (my leg is almost at full extention without being too
::: straight if that makes
::: sense?) It's a boys bike, so has a straight bar from handle bars
::: to seat post. I can *just* stand astride that while touching the
::: ground, without doing myself a mischief 😉 It also seems abit of a
::: stretch to the handle bars, I almost feel like I'm taking alot of
::: my body weight on my hands? I have no idea how to measure a bike
::: frame, and although I'm 5'4, most of my height is in my body I
::: think.
::
:: This doesn't sound good. Think of your body on a bike as a triangle
:: consisting of your hands, your bum, and your feet. You are supposed
:: to be balanced. Too much weight on the hands and your back will
:: start to complain and so will your neck. I would suggest going to a
:: local bike shop and let the experts there "eyeball" your setup. Most
:: bike shop personnel are good people who genuinely want to help
:: people have fun riding bicycles.
::
::
:::
::: I did another 8kms this morning. About 4 were into a head wind,
::: which definately gave me a workout! Felt quite good except for my
::: sore bum. Anyone
::: tried gel seat covers?
::
:: No, forget the gel seat covers. It simply takes a while for your bum
:: to "toughen up." I know it sounds bad, but that is what will happen.
:: I can be off of the bike for a week and will have to deal with a
:: sore rear when I start riding again. If I don't swim for a week,
:: there is no penalty that I can detect, but cycling....still, your
:: saddle may need to be changed out. Mine has a cut-out down the
:: middle. That saves the "soft bits" from getting squashed.
::
::
:::
::: I realise I will eventually need a new/better bike. We do have one,
::: but for
::: now I need the safety of my chunky bike 🙂 I'm not overly confident
::: on it, have to slow right down to go round corners etc, as I'm
::: scared of falling off 🙁 The racing bike would seem even more
::: spindly.
:::
::: W
::
:: Your bike may be just fine, but the set up is not fine. It needs to
:: be "dialed in" for your body. Maybe a few tweaks here and there will
:: make you a lot happier riding it. I suspect your handlebars are too
:: low, as well. Let a pro tell you, though, before your back starts to
:: hurt and you get a kink in your neck. My mountain bike is similar
:: to your bike. I feel like I'm riding a cow pony when I ride it
:: whereas my road bike feels like riding a mosquito. One of these
:: days, you'll get on a mosquito and appreciate it, but not for awhile
:: just yet. Something to look forward to, though.
::
:: Oh, and BTW: you don't fall "off" of a bike---it falls along with
:: you! 🙂 Just make sure to fall on the left side. Remember that;
:: it's important. Pat in TX
hehehe.. You told me that....the first time I fell I thought, "Now, how in
the hell am I supposed to make sure I fall to the left?!?" I still haven't
figured that out....