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[Jobiensis]

Unrelated, can anyone point me in the direction of any stretching / yoga routines aimed at cyclists? I've never really trained just cycling before now and I'm starting to feel seriously tight / unbalanced.

Not sure on the unbalanced part, but if I get tightness in calves/adductors/glutes a couple of minutes of moderately high cadence/low effort spins helps clear it up. I've got a couple of core exercises I do, but I'm no expert, it is pretty much a hodge podge of what I was put through in physical therapy. Planks, Bridges, Bird Dogs, Chest Fly, Back Fly, Squats (and a bunch of neck stuff for my injury). Just using bands works fine for me. I don't do much arm work, so I'm probably unbalanced.

quick question: how difficult would it be to change handlebars? I don't mean just a replacement, I mean moving from a flat handlebar to a drop bar. I feel like I'm too high up when I'm on my bike and the drop bars would lower me a bit. I've been looking at various bikes when I see them and it would appear I would need new brakes at the least, possibly an entirely new shifter setup at the most. I'm a commuter and do between 10 and 30 miles a day depending on conditions and bus availability. Thanks.

It's probably not worthwhile. The derailleurs and brakes need to be compatible with the brifter. Add up all those costs plus a stem, drop bars, misc parts and labor. Usually it is better just to get a road bike. Your bike's geometry might not mesh well with drops anyway.

 

[Psychotext]

It's more than I'm quickly seeing my flexibility seriously diminish, and that can't be a good thing. I'm hoping that the rest sorts itself out when I switch back to something like P90X.

I guess I could just try some random yoga but I'd have thought there must be something specifically aimed at the muscle groups fucked / posture issues caused by cycling.

 

[gillty]

quick question: how difficult would it be to change handlebars? I don't mean just a replacement, I mean moving from a flat handlebar to a drop bar. I feel like I'm too high up when I'm on my bike and the drop bars would lower me a bit. I've been looking at various bikes when I see them and it would appear I would need new brakes at the least, possibly an entirely new shifter setup at the most. I'm a commuter and do between 10 and 30 miles a day depending on conditions and bus availability. Thanks.

It's probably not worthwhile. The derailleurs and brakes need to be compatible with the brifter. Add up all those costs plus a stem, drop bars, misc parts and labor. Usually it is better just to get a road bike. Your bike's geometry might not mesh well with drops anyway.

Pretty much this, if your looking for more hand positions try a trekking or butterfly bar. I use one on my hybrid and it's great, nashbar.com has a good one for the price.

 

[Stinkles]

Can someone who works in the biz explain why there is a dealer monopoly (like cars - I get the retail component kind of) that excludes online purchasing of major decent brands? The reason you can't buy a CAR online is dealer collusion and monopolistic garbage.

Quoting myself from bottom of last page.

 

[Darth Pinche]

quick question: how difficult would it be to change handlebars? I don't mean just a replacement, I mean moving from a flat handlebar to a drop bar. I feel like I'm too high up when I'm on my bike and the drop bars would lower me a bit. I've been looking at various bikes when I see them and it would appear I would need new brakes at the least, possibly an entirely new shifter setup at the most. I'm a commuter and do between 10 and 30 miles a day depending on conditions and bus availability. Thanks.

How about just flipping your stem upside down? If that is not possible a new stem with a negative rise (a drop) should be cheaper than a bunch of new parts.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

Hmm. I'll have to take a picture of what I have so you can translate what you just said into what I have vs. what I might need.

Another question: How long would you wait on a bike to consider it 'abandoned'? There's one by my work that has been sitting there since January and hasn't moved. I live in a college town so it's possible its owner graduated and didn't want to travel.

 

[davidnic]

Another question: How long would you wait on a bike to consider it 'abandoned'? There's one by my work that has been sitting there since January and hasn't moved. I live in a college town so it's possible its owner graduated and didn't want to travel.

I think if a person leaves at bike at college for a couple of months it is save say it is 'abamdoned' the person who owns that bike doesn't care about it.

 

[Psychotext]

Can someone who works in the biz explain why there is a dealer monopoly (like cars - I get the retail component kind of) that excludes online purchasing of major decent brands? The reason you can't buy a CAR online is dealer collusion and monopolistic garbage.

Is that the way it works in the US? In the UK I can buy pretty much every bike I could possibly want online (aside from maybe the ones that simply don't get shipped to the UK).

 

[KPJZKC]

I'm sort of late posting this, but the past weekend myself and a group took part in the largest group cycling event in Ireland. 248 cyclists travelled from from Maynooth (a university town near Dublin) to Galway, on a route that was approximately 195km. Departing at about 6.30am and arriving at about 6pm, we took a couple of short 15 - 20 minute (about every 40 - 60km) breaks in large towns for everyone to refill water bottles and stuff their pockets full of food.

It was pouring rain pretty heavily very nearly the entire way there, but the wind was at our backs so we were flying along and we got there eventually with no accidents (barring a couple of punctures and minor falls) - then everybody flooded into the hostels to shower for hitting the pubs.

This isn't just a party thing by the way, this has been organised every year for the past 25 (26 now!) years, but this was our biggest year yet, with two ambulances, several motorcycle outriders, couple of maintenance vans, rigid truck for the food (oh dear god, so much food, 300 people for a whole weekend) and bikes for those who couldn't make it. On top of that we had full gardai (police) escort the whole way (also on motorbikes). So bright and early on saturday morning everybody crawled out of bed to make their way into the city and shake their buckets at people to make them feel guilty (apologies to any Galway City people on the forum, there must be at least one ).

To my knowledge so far the total raised is about €130,000, which is all going towards a charity here in Ireland called the Jack & Jill Foundation which provides money for homecare nursing for infants with brain damage and (usually) very short life expectancies.

Oh, and on Sunday morning a (much much smaller) group cycled back too! I couldn't cut it though, the friday had caught up to me and the wind was fiercely against us the whole way back!

I'll just leave this here (and if anyone thinks this is cool and wants to donate, feel free to put in a comment about neogaf on the donation so I can thank you properly)
http://galwaycycle.ie/

Looking forward to next year, will be training hard so I can do both legs of the journey!

Second link, another participants blog!

 

[Psychotext]

Good job! That's one thing I think road cyclists have that mountain bikers can't really emulate.

Sure, there are events for mountain bikers but they never really work on the same scale unless they're reduced to very simple cross country routes on well defined trails.

 

[KPJZKC]

Good job! That's one thing I think road cyclists have that mountain bikers can't really emulate.

Sure, there are events for mountain bikers but they never really work on the same scale unless they're reduced to very simple cross country routes on well defined trails.

For most of the training all I had was a hybrid (though I have a feeling it was definitely more like a mountain bike), dear baby jesus that was hard. I picked up a trek 1.1 a couple of days before the big event and it made a whole world of difference. I definitely wouldn't have been able to handle the trip on the old one.

One other random thing that comes to mind is that by the end of it I had almost lost my voice - nearly 200km of quality irish roads, we were pretty much shouting "surface! hole left! hole right! hole centre! slowing! constantly.

 

[Psychotext]

A reminder for some of the newer visitors to the thread.... GAF has a Strava group: http://app.strava.com/clubs/bike-age

Join us and watch Jobiensis, Vidcons and GamePnoy74 do a ridiculous number of miles.

 

[Psychotext]

I woke up a couple of hours after going to sleep... both of my hamstrings cramped. That was some world ending pain. Took me about 10 minutes to stop it.

Don't really know what happened there. Nutrition was right during my training and I had a recovery drink / plenty of water. Maybe I needed to eat more or I need some vitamins.

 

[Kraftwerk]

I woke up a couple of hours after going to sleep... both of my hamstrings cramped. That was some world ending pain. Took me about 10 minutes to stop it.

Don't really know what happened there. Nutrition was right during my training and I had a recovery drink / plenty of water. Maybe I needed to eat more or I need some vitamins.

Did you have too much potassium?

Also, sneak peek at my new cyclocross bike !!

So excited. Riding it for the first time today.

Fully custom built.

 

[Psychotext]

Didn't specifically have any. I think the problem was more than I didn't have a full meal after the exercise as I finished really late.

 

[Hieberrr]

A reminder for some of the newer visitors to the thread.... GAF has a Strava group: http://app.strava.com/clubs/bike-age

Join us and watch Jobiensis, Vidcons and GamePnoy74 do a ridiculous number of miles.

Damn,count me in! I still ride like a noob. I really need to find places to ride in Toronto. Riding along lakeshore and downtown gets boring after a while.

Did you have too much potassium?

Also, sneak peek at my new cyclocross bike !!

So excited. Riding it for the first time today.



Fully custom built.

Hngggggggggg

Edito you have any suggestions for places to ride in Toronto?

 

[Jobiensis]

Join us and watch Jobiensis, Vidcons and GamePnoy74 do a ridiculous number of miles.

Yeah, I think you need to include yourself in that list. Your weekly hours aren't much different than mine!

I woke up a couple of hours after going to sleep... both of my hamstrings cramped. That was some world ending pain. Took me about 10 minutes to stop it.

Don't really know what happened there. Nutrition was right during my training and I had a recovery drink / plenty of water. Maybe I needed to eat more or I need some vitamins.

I've had chronic cramping issues that diet/nutrition doesn't help. I think it is just overworked muscles, it is always adductors and always after a hard hilly ride. If I feel my legs are still sore when evening comes, 15-20 minutes of a heating pad seems to help. If they start twinging, I'll do a relaxed pace on a treadmill for a couple minutes before putting heat on. I haven't been able to help it by diet or supplements (even pickle juice). If it starts cramping, it is incredibly painful and takes a long time to get stretched and relaxed again.

So I feel your pain, but don't have an answer for you. Try pickle juice when it starts cramping. It didn't help me, but some people swear by it

Spoiler

(I think it is just because they think it is funny making other people drink pickle juice)

.

Also, sneak peek at my new cyclocross bike !!

Really nice bike. The stem, handlebars and seat post look like an exact color match.

Damn,count me in! I still ride like a noob.

Don't worry, we aren't elitists, we even allow mountain bikers to join.

 

[Psychotext]

Yeah, I think you need to include yourself in that list. Your weekly hours aren't much different than mine!

Yeah, but by virtue of having fat old mountain bike wheels I don't get the same sort of mileage.

So I feel your pain, but don't have an answer for you. Try pickle juice when it starts cramping. It didn't help me, but some people swear by it

Spoiler

(I think it is just because they think it is funny making other people drink pickle juice)

.

Well, thanks for the advice anyway. For what it's worth I actually really like vinegar.

 

[Stinkles]

Good job! That's one thing I think road cyclists have that mountain bikers can't really emulate.

Sure, there are events for mountain bikers but they never really work on the same scale unless they're reduced to very simple cross country routes on well defined trails.

I agree, but I did the (California) AIDS Ride on a Gary Fisher Utopia, which is technically a "hybrid" but is really just a mountain bike frame and components. I stuck a pair of Rock Shox Metros on at a stiff setting and a big ass gel saddle.

What I found was that while the bike was "heavy" relative to the road bikes, that I was finishing in the top group on centuries, but with way less wrist and ass fatigue than anyone in my "club."

On the last day I finished in 19th place. *


* Very few people are competitive on the last day because there are big closing event(s) spaced out at set times, so there's not much point getting there early. But still.

The combination of uphill ability and comfort made it a choice I would absolutely make again.

 

[Psychotext]

Fitness wise I imagine I'd be ok, but I'd be screwed when it came to etiquette I reckon. I just wouldn't have a clue.

 

[Jobiensis]

For fun/charity rides nobody cares what you ride, I've seen elliptical bikes on century rides.

Weight isn't the problem. Gearing, tires/wheels and aero can be.

I'm certain a flat bar can do just fine on a hilly ride. Going up everyone is on the tops or hoods anyway. Going down, a good IAB is going to be much faster than the drops. So unless the descent is technical, you can probably come close to matching a road bike (my Sirrus top speeds are faster than my CAAD top speeds) going down.

Now, on a flat section with a head wind or cross wind, and a good pace line... you will get dropped with flat bars (unless you have Cancellera's legs).

I've only had one ride were I felt good after 80 miles (and it was on a road bike), it was fairly flat so my total time on the bike wasn't that long. 5-6 hours is when my comfort starts to wane. A huge part of it is mental. I have some long, hard rides coming up, so we'll see what I feel like after 8+ hours.

 

[Psychotext]

Yeah, 5 hours is when I really start to feel it. That's when discomfort goes from just in my legs to places like my back and arms.

 

[GamePnoy74]

Join us and watch Jobiensis, Vidcons and GamePnoy74 do a ridiculous number of miles.

I log in SLOW miles for a road bike, though. =)

 

[Jobiensis]

I log in SLOW miles for a road bike, though. =)

When you have a slow day, just say it is a recovery ride.

Wow, congrats on the LA marathon, quite an accomplishment.

 

[GamePnoy74]

When you have a slow day, just say it is a recovery ride.

Wow, congrats on the LA marathon, quite an accomplishment.

Lately every ride's been a recovery ride =P

And thanks =) I wish I could've had a better time on the marathon but massive cramps at mile 17 and 20 forced me to stop and stretch on the sidewalk for a while, as well as having to walk for a little bit afterwards when I couldn't get it going again. At least I was able to recover and finish the last 5K kinda decently. I'm happy I finished though, we'll see what's in store for next year.

 

[Hieberrr]

I cannot wait until I can afford a nice Specialized bike. Single speed dun killed my legs

 

[opticalmace]

I... have no idea how to properly adjust my mechanical disk brakes.

Failure, always an option! lol

 

[ATF487]

I think I'm going to finally bite the bullet and buy a bike on friday. Does anyone have experience with the lower end Trek bikes? I've been looking at hybrids, specifically the 7000/7100 and 7.1FX. Mountain bikes are an option too; I think I'm not ready for a straight road bike though (partly due to cost, as well as inexperience, and Massachusetts road quality)

I'm looking to use it mostly for exercise on bike paths and bombing around the city, probably not hitting many unpaved trails but I'm sure there will be many potholes. Budget is about 500 bucks

 

[Hieberrr]

If you aren't going on trails or off-road, I think (from what I keep hearing) you should stay away from mountain bikes. The tires on those things are huge, heavy, and don't really work too well on paved roads.

I can't say I know too much about Giant though. I'd love to get some opinions too as I'm saving up for a $500 bike soon.

Also check out Bikes Direct. People seem to love the Mercier Kilo TT (if you are into fixed gear or single speeds).

 

[Psychotext]

You can get road tyres for mountain bikes. They're still a bit wider, but it's not a massive difference.

Hybrid sounds like the best option though.

 

[brentech]

I think I'm going to finally bite the bullet and buy a bike on friday. Does anyone have experience with the lower end Trek bikes? I've been looking at hybrids, specifically the 7000/7100 and 7.1FX. Mountain bikes are an option too; I think I'm not ready for a straight road bike though (partly due to cost, as well as inexperience, and Massachusetts road quality)

I'm looking to use it mostly for exercise on bike paths and bombing around the city, probably not hitting many unpaved trails but I'm sure there will be many potholes. Budget is about 500 bucks

Are the bike paths all fully paved, or do they have some of that tight packed gravel.
If any gravel at all, even tight packed which generally feels totally solid, you'll want at least hybrid tires (still thin, but has some small knobs).
Giant offers the Escape for that type of category - your price range is the Escape 3: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/escape.3/11500/55833/

 

[SUPARSTARX]

I wanna sell my 2010 Specialized Allez Sport Compact for a longer bike but I don't think I can get a lot out of it. Where can I look up prices for used bikes?

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Joined your Strava team! I've been riding for a couple of years, trying to get the lbs back to normal. Was rolling on a Trek Valencia Hybrid (not motorized) until February, when I grabbed this beauty. My first road bike or cyclo-cross(?)..I'm loving it either way. Rode 60 miles for the first time yesterday. Thought my body would be shot when I woke up today, but I actually feel pretty great..gonna try for 65 in the next week or two.

 

[F0NZ]

I wanna sell my 2010 Specialized Allez Sport Compact for a longer bike but I don't think I can get a lot out of it. Where can I look up prices for used bikes?

Bicycle Blue Book

 

[cbox]

I cannot wait until I can afford a nice Specialized bike. Single speed dun killed my legs

hnngggg the feeling of getting on a nice road bike after lugging it on a single speed is such an amazing feeling. Changing gears and just booking it feels so good on a nice smooth road.

 

[Hieberrr]

hnngggg the feeling of getting on a nice road bike after lugging it on a single speed is such an amazing feeling. Changing gears and just booking it feels so good on a nice smooth road.

Oh man... one day! I did some further research and it seems like Quebec-based Devinci makes some amazing rides for a good price. I'm probably going to get one of those in a couple of years when I invest in another bike.

 

[ATF487]

Are the bike paths all fully paved, or do they have some of that tight packed gravel.
If any gravel at all, even tight packed which generally feels totally solid, you'll want at least hybrid tires (still thin, but has some small knobs).
Giant offers the Escape for that type of category - your price range is the Escape 3: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/escape.3/11500/55833/

Most of them are paved, but in varying quality. After doing some more reading I think I want a hybrid for sure. But thanks for the Giant link, I'll check out the Giant bike store near me

edit: ended up buying a trek 7.1fx. i'm excited bicycle-gaf!!!!!

 

[robox]

i want one of those old old old school bikes that can seat a (cute girl) passenger on the rear rack. do they still make those? where can i get one? i imagine they weight like 100lbs

 

[Psychotext]

Pics from this weeks adventures...

Found a bit of water:

and later a bridge that I really wasn't willing to cross:

I feel for whoever hits that at speed.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Pics from this weeks adventures...

Found a bit of water:

and later a bridge that I really wasn't willing to cross:

I feel for whoever hits that at speed.

Looks like a broken everything scenario waiting to happen..good call not taking the chance.

 

[vidcons]

Weekend Report:

TTT - Team got together well and I think I did a good job getting them up to speed before falling off the back. Legs were just not awake that early or ready for that cold. Anyways, the three guys went on to get 1st as I solo'd the rest of the course. I feel like that counts as me being there for a win, sorta.

Not.

Crit - Went balls to the walls and shifted around within the first group as dudes started dropping off the back every lap. Went around the corner leading into the hill and I was mid peddle. Knocked my foot out while I was standing up and my saddle jammed up my ass. Got stuck in a big gear and ended up holding on to a gap between me and the group.

Passed the finish line on my cool down lap and they put my standings at that lap instead of my actual finish. Still wasn't last. Rankings don't show it but I felt really good about it.

Road Race - Had to do four laps of a course with a big hill climb at the end. Didn't get in the right gears on the first lap and slid off the back. Teammate helped me get back in to a small group off the back but my chain popped off at the entrance to the final climb. Still wasn't last and he and I had some great co-efforts (especially him who did great work).

Didn't get any great places for myself but it was great training and lots of fun.

Oh right, sup all.

 

[mj1108]

Well...just bought bike #3 today. I went to REI and picked up the Novara Big Buzz Bike: http://www.rei.com/product/832566/novara-big-buzz-bike-2013 I took it for a test spin before purchasing it and I have to say I love it.

After my dividend, 20% discount and a couple visa gift cards from Christmas that were unused, it only cost me about $300.

Now with this bike, my mountain bike and my road bike I am going to just sell my mountain bike I think. I don't need 3 bikes in my apartment.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

Did this route this past weekend. That hill at mile 24 is no joke: It took me 1:45 to get to that hill and another 40 to get to the top. Also, I noticed the time says 4:30 but I actually did it in 4:18 including two breaks.

I'll be doing the same thing on Sunday but instead of stopping in Longview I'll be coasting through and over to Oregon and coming back on the Columbia River Highway. I can't get the map to go across the river for some reason when I try to create the trip but total is about 107 miles. I'm training for this ride and seeing as the longest I'd ever ridden a bike prior to this weekend was ~30 miles, I've a bit more training to do.

 

[SmokyDave]

Pics from this weeks adventures...

Found a bit of water:

Me too:

Sigh. Edit: I've fucked up the image twice now so you'll have to live in wonder forever.

Well...just bought bike #3 today.

Good man.

Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
While the minimum number of bikes one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.

 

[Psychotext]

Works for me.

 

[Jobiensis]

Welcome back, vidcons. I know the feeling watching the pack disappear over the horizon, must really suck when it is your own team.

Finished 20th in yesterday's crit (looked like a full field of 50, only 34 finished). Not really looking to win any of these, just hang with the pack, move around and not crash or cause crashes. There are a couple of very organized teams that make it very difficult to place being unattached.

Spoiler

Especially if you are old and slow.

allegate: can't see your rides.

Are we doing a challenge this week? Looks like we have some new blood in the Strava group, and the weather must be getting nicer. PT has ditched the trainer and is going outside! It will be an incredibly rough week for me, not sure yet how much riding I'll be doing before Saturday, but there will be a good amount of climbing and miles for the week.

 

[SmokyDave]

Works for me.

Then no longer shall you live in wonder!

The ride did highlight the fact I either need to service or replace my forks. They're 120mm models yet I feel like I'm getting about 70mm out of 'em and it's not the air pressure at fault. I've got a few spare forks lying around, but none are over 100mm travel. I really want some Fox shocks but they're so painful on the wallet.

 

[Psychotext]

PT has ditched the trainer and is going outside!

That's got less to do with the weather and more to do with work. I had to skip a few weeks because I've been so busy and unless I can work some miracles I'm not really sure when I'll next be able to go out.

 

[muu]

Tried a couple miles yesterday as a tester. Dull pain came up around the groin again about a mile in so I had to stop. Sucks, man. Finally get to see orthopedic doc this week, I'm gonna have a fit if he just tells me to lay off the bike for a week and pop some aleve -- as if I couldn't figure that out myself.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

Welcome back, vidcons. I know the feeling watching the pack disappear over the horizon, must really suck when it is your own team.

Finished 20th in yesterday's crit (looked like a full field of 50, only 34 finished). Not really looking to win any of these, just hang with the pack, move around and not crash or cause crashes. There are a couple of very organized teams that make it very difficult to place being unattached.

Spoiler

Especially if you are old and slow.

allegate: can't see your rides.

Are we doing a challenge this week? Looks like we have some new blood in the Strava group, and the weather must be getting nicer. PT has ditched the trainer and is going outside! It will be an incredibly rough week for me, not sure yet how much riding I'll be doing before Saturday, but there will be a good amount of climbing and miles for the week.

Huh. Only just found the site, probably has some security thing on it. Yup, sure does. Try again.