Mrs & I need bikes, Houston MS 150, complete beginners - Page 7

look 171 · 01-10-2019, 08:19 AM

Yep, go riding and not worry about fit so much at this point. Use that as a baseline and adj from there. Everyone is different. Plus, most of that stuff is set up for sports riding. For racing and hard ricing, saddle height is a must, but for leisure rides, I always suggest a slightly lower riding saddle. About 1/4"-3/8" lower then racing to reduce pressure on your sit bone. Riders get tire and they cruise or freewheel and that puts a lot of stress on your seat bones where as in racing or training, that pressure is reduced by the force of down stroke and that force is constant throughout the ride.

By riding a slightly lower saddle height, you can shift yourself back a little on the saddle to relief that pressure.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Just wait unit he gets numb, the first time....

masraum · 01-10-2019, 05:21 PM

A little closer. Pedals (red on mine and teal on hers) and my saddle installed. Her saddle was delivered, but the UPS guy didn't set up the code so I can't get into the room to get it until the leasing folks get here tomorrow morning. Her saddle is white.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Bikes look great!

It doesn't look like you went with mountain bike pedals.

masraum · 01-10-2019, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

Bikes look great!

It doesn't look like you went with mountain bike pedals.

They are ISSI Flip IIs, SPD, not SPD-SL.

Platform on one side, clip on the other.

masraum · 01-12-2019, 06:44 PM

We took our maiden voyage today. It wasn’t long or hard. It was mostly a ride to familiarize the missus with her bike. We spent some time in a parking lot going through shifting gears. We then went for a ride, only 6.5 miles, not much speed. We were on bike paths full of cyclers, pedestrains, families with dogs, etc... We were out for a bit over an hour and only went about 6.5 miles. The missus is hoping to go out again tomorrow. She didn’t fall or have any other accidents which is great. She hasn’t started clipping into her pedals yet.

I was clipped in today (using my “clipless” pedals). They are great. I did fall over in them once. The missus was behind me. I had just rounded a very tight corner almost having to stop. I heard her squeal and saw her faltering off of the side of the sidewalk so I was goign to emergency stop and run to her aid. That didn’t go as expected since my feet were one with the pedal. Luckily, I landed in the grass, and the ground was nice and soft. Hopefully, that will hit my fall over quote for a few months. Still, I do love being clipped into the pedals.

The bikes ran really well. They felt solid and ran trouble-free. They were relatively comfy. We wore our bibs which added to the comfort.

Now we just need to get a bunch more time on until the missus feels comfy in the saddle so we can start doing longer runs. I think we’re going to go ahead and get a trainer too.

masraum · 01-12-2019, 07:06 PM

I can also see the point to getting gloves that work with a touchscreen...

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

There nothing like Butt time.

You will get used to the pedals. It will be natural to twist as you take your foot off.

masraum · 01-12-2019, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

There nothing like Butt time.

You will get used to the pedals. It will be natural to twist as you take your foot off.

It actually wasn't too bad. It wasn't until it seemed like a possible emergency when thought went out the door and there was no muscle memory. It was pretty funny, and would have been even funnier if I hadn't been falling towards Waugh Dr.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Falling over happens to the best of us...

look 171 · 01-12-2019, 10:57 PM

I hope you know that you are suppose to go commando with cycling shorts?

masraum · 01-13-2019, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

I hope you know that you are suppose to go commando with cycling shorts?

Yep. We've been told. You've got a PM, BTW.

wayner · 01-13-2019, 06:06 AM

I don’t know if this has been said but get into a routine of always unclipping the same foot first

In a last minute situation it one less decision to make before tipping over

masraum · 01-13-2019, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayner

I don’t know if this has been said but get into a routine of always unclipping the same foot first

In a last minute situation it one less decision to make before tipping over

That's what I've been doing, but probably just because I'm right handed so the right foot always goes first, but thanks.

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayner

I don’t know if this has been said but get into a routine of always unclipping the same foot first

In a last minute situation it one less decision to make before tipping over

Would it not make more sense to unclip the foot on the side you are falling over then you can put your foot out to stop falling to the ground?

masraum · 01-13-2019, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Would it not make more sense to unclip the foot on the side you are falling over then you can put your foot out to stop falling to the ground?

That's assuming that in your panic when you realize that you're falling you remember that you can't just put your foot down but there's a special way to disengage your foot. I think the deal is that you need to create some muscle memory for getting your foot/feet out of the pedals.

flatbutt · 01-13-2019, 07:49 AM

Steve have you adjusted the clips so that you need only a little pressure to twist out? IDK if you pull the pedal on your upstroke but once you get the form down so that you are pushing and pulling in a straight line you won't need a lot of pressure to keep your boot in the clip. It makes bailing out easier AMHIK.

masraum · 01-13-2019, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Steve have you adjusted the clips so that you need only a little pressure to twist out? IDK if you pull the pedal on your upstroke but once you get the form down so that you are pushing and pulling in a straight line you won't need a lot of pressure to keep your boot in the clip. It makes bailing out easier AMHIK.

I'm aware of a tension adjustment, but I haven't messed with it yet. I haven't had a hard time getting out of them so far, but a little less effort would be nice. I'm sure I'll experiment some with that so that when I put the missus in them, I can make hers loose.

We went on ride #2 today, almost 1.5 hours and 11 miles. Yeah, super slow, I know, but taking it easy on the missus until she's more comfortable. I could go faster and farther, but I can't kill her or she'll bail.

very little discomfort in the backside. Some slightly tight muscles in the shoulders/back. All in all, feeling pretty good about the bike and riding. Actually, having a GREAT time. I always loved riding a bike as a kid.

mepstein · 01-13-2019, 01:00 PM

I sold hundreds of clipless pedals at the bike shop. I always lowered the pedal tension for women including my wife's bikes. She was a very strong rider but unless the tension was reduced, she could hardly unclip. If you get a trainer, you can always practice and experiment with the tension. You always get off your bike on the left side so get used to unlipping your left foot as you are slowing down and then as you stop, lean a bit to your left. Once you stop, unclip your right pedal. Your right hand stays on the right brake to control your speed.

flatbutt · 01-13-2019, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

. Some slightly tight muscles in the shoulders/back. All in all, feeling pretty good about the bike and riding. Actually, having a GREAT time. I always loved riding a bike as a kid.

Yeah keeping the upper body quiet is tough at first.