I'm in full commuter mode now--about 6.5 miles each way. It's going well but one thing is becoming more and more prevalent. I constantly find myself leaning forward in the seat. If I don't actively think of planting my shoulder blades against the seat back, next thing I know I'll be leaning. I'm wondering if part of it is years of conditioning. Of course that emulates the position I was in for decades while riding a DF. And even the P-38 was like riding a DF only rotated 90 degrees. Maybe I'm just gravitating naturally towards that more closed angle (it's not a case of pulling on the bars for leverage). Maybe I'll get it right eventually!
Keep those shoulders back. If necessary, sew a big strip of velcro on your seat back and on the back of your shirt :-)
"Dave Clary" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I'm in full commuter mode now--about 6.5 miles each way. It's going well but one thing is becoming more and more prevalent. I constantly find myself leaning forward in the seat. If I don't actively think of planting my shoulder blades against the seat back, next thing I know I'll be leaning. I'm wondering if part of it is years of conditioning. Of course that emulates the position I was in for decades while riding a DF. And even the P-38 was like riding a DF only rotated 90 degrees. Maybe I'm just gravitating naturally towards that more closed angle (it's not a case of pulling on the bars for leverage). Maybe I'll get it right eventually!
TE/EZ's are not lean back kind of bikes because of the low BB. It is easier to generate power with a somewhat more closed pedal angle, something your body seems to have figured out without your brain's knowledge ;-)
JR
Dave Clary <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
I'm in full commuter mode now--about 6.5 miles each way. It's going well but one thing is becoming more and more prevalent. I constantly find myself leaning forward in the seat. If I don't actively think of planting my shoulder blades against the seat back, next thing I know I'll be leaning. I'm wondering if part of it is years of conditioning. Of course that emulates the position I was in for decades while riding a DF. And even the P-38 was like riding a DF only rotated 90 degrees. Maybe I'm just gravitating naturally towards that more closed angle (it's not a case of pulling on the bars for leverage). Maybe I'll get it right eventually!
Dave Clary <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
I'm in full commuter mode now--about 6.5 miles each way. It's going well but one thing is becoming more and more prevalent. I constantly find myself leaning forward in the seat. If I don't actively think of planting my shoulder blades against the seat back, next thing I know I'll be leaning. I'm wondering if part of it is years of conditioning. Of course that emulates the position I was in for decades while riding a DF. And even the P-38 was like riding a DF only rotated 90 degrees. Maybe I'm just gravitating naturally towards that more closed angle (it's not a case of pulling on the bars for leverage). Maybe I'll get it right eventually!
I noticed myself doing this on my homebuild. I moved the handlebars about 2 inches farther back, and didn't have a problem any more. If it feels like you're reaching just a little bit to hold the bars, you might try this.
I had two things recommended to me to break the "lean forward" habit. one was to make sure my butt cheeks were lifted from the seat when my shoulder blades were against the seat back and i was "stepping on the gas." there are plenty of hills which can be attacked well in this way, but impossible to climb by leaning forward. the other is to sing an aria while riding; it's pretty much impossible to sing while hunched over.
--ag
"Dave Clary" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I'm in full commuter mode now--about 6.5 miles each way. It's going well but one thing is becoming more and more prevalent. I constantly find myself leaning forward in the seat. If I don't actively think of planting my shoulder blades against the seat back, next thing I know I'll be leaning. I'm wondering if part of it is years of conditioning. Of course that emulates the position I was in for decades while riding a DF. And even the P-38 was like riding a DF only rotated 90 degrees. Maybe I'm just gravitating naturally towards that more closed angle (it's not a case of pulling on the bars for leverage). Maybe I'll get it right eventually!
TE/EZ's are not lean back kind of bikes because of the low BB. It is easier to generate power with a somewhat more closed pedal angle, something your body seems to have figured out without your brain's knowledge ;-)
I noticed myself doing this on my homebuild. I moved the handlebars about 2 inches farther back, and didn't have a problem any more. If it feels like you're reaching just a little bit to hold the bars, you might try this.
I tried this when I first got the bike but I moved them back too much and a knee was hitting. I moved it back to the original position. I had the same thought when I was riding today--there's definitely enough room to tilt them back a little more. Thanks--I'm gonna give it a try.
I'm in full commuter mode now--about 6.5 miles each way. It's going well but one thing is becoming more and more prevalent. I constantly find myself leaning forward in the seat. ...
<snip>
I don't know why some of you all think that leaning forward is a crime, I do it all the time to get a better rear view and to make it much easier to balance when going slowly, or to see cross traffic better. I don't think that I'd want to ride in traffic without the ability to lean forward.
Now leaning forward all the time certainly is a problem, but one that will correct itself when Dave gets tired of wasting the energy, and when he gets more comfortable on the bike.
