Search found 569 matches

by groberts
8 Feb 2023, 5:10pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Bicep Tendon Tendinitis
Replies: 10
Views: 1748

Re: Bicep Tendon Tendinitis

Your expeince gives me hope Gearoidmuar. I've been off the bike for a couple of weeks with a lousy cold + the physio is (perhaps?) having some positive effect.

Position was the first thing that ocurred to me also Colin. Although I haven't changed anything recently, except raising the seat a little following a TKR in 2015. Since the pain started I've been trying to use the bar end extensions that I do have (see image) a bit more, which does (I think?) help a little, though not fully convinced yet. Once the weather warms up I'll try some other tweaks, though as I said: I'm not convinced cycling is the root cause, merely just aggravates the problem.
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by groberts
10 Jan 2023, 7:33pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Bicep Tendon Tendinitis
Replies: 10
Views: 1748

Re: Bicep Tendon Tendinitis

Thanks for your comments and observations Jonathan.

I'm not expecting any magic bullet but wondered if anyone had a similar experince from cycling, what they did about it and the outcome.

It's not like I get offf the bike and I'm in pain, it's sore after a ride like yesterday but there's a deep pain today - it certainly feels muscular or tendon related and might just be an age thing. For no particular reason it can come on just watching TV but always is aggravated by cycling. Having used the same bike set-up for so long I'd be surpised if it was that.

I will be seing the phsyio again in x3 weeks and he's already suggested a scan might be needed.

Ironically, as cyling is my main relief from knee pain - TKR in 2015 and now the other one's going - I won't be gving that up and may therefore just hace to live with it. But for the moment, I'm keen to see if there is anything that can be done or learn from others.

Graham
by groberts
9 Jan 2023, 9:30pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Bicep Tendon Tendinitis
Replies: 10
Views: 1748

Re: Bicep Tendon Tendinitis

Not very encouraging but thanks all the same. The funny thing is I played squash for more than 25 years + was into rock climbing and I'm right handed but the problem is my left bicep and, as far as I recall, there's never been any any trauma to the arm. Like you say, it might be a case of grin and bear it!
by groberts
9 Jan 2023, 9:07pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Bicep Tendon Tendinitis
Replies: 10
Views: 1748

Bicep Tendon Tendinitis

Over the past 9-months I’ve been getting increasing pain in my left bicep, which if not caused by, is certainly aggravated by cycling. I’ve been riding my Trek 830 on-road for over thirty years with straight bars + Ergon grips + comfortable postion, without any problems, until now.

With some rest + Voltarol etc. I’d hoped it would settle down but it didn’t so I eventually spoke to my daughter, who is a GP, and she suggested it could be Bicep Tendon Tendinitis and gave me some exercises, which just made it worse! Therefore, on her advioce I recently went to a physiotherapist who suggested it could be inflammation of the long head bicep tendon and has been supervising a new physio regime + told me to stop cycling for a while, which after +6-weeks doesn’t seem to be helping much. I got back on the bike again today and sure enough it irritated the bicep pain again.

I wondered if anyone else has experienced such a problem and can provide any guidance on what to do?

Graham
by groberts
15 Aug 2022, 3:50pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Puncture Repair Aerosole
Replies: 3
Views: 241

Re: Puncture Repair Aerosole

No they're + innertubes.
by groberts
15 Aug 2022, 2:46pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Puncture Repair Aerosole
Replies: 3
Views: 241

Puncture Repair Aerosole

After a left knee TKR + right knee deterioration, I successfully chose to convert my Trek 830 MTB to a front hub drive e-bike a few years ago. Whilst I carry all the praphernalea needed to remove either wheel in the event of a puncture and fix it, being more of a faff than a standard bike I'm thinking about an easier / quicker way of dealing with punctures when out riding.

I have no experience of these but was wondering if a puncture repair aerosole would achieve such an outcome? If so, what are other's experience of using then + any reccomendations of ones that would work for my set-up: 26" x1.50" Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres.

Graham
by groberts
24 Jun 2022, 4:38pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cash v Contactless use in France?
Replies: 51
Views: 2149

Re: Cash v Contactless use in France?

Oops, sorry had forgotten about that = a senior moment!
by groberts
24 Jun 2022, 4:29pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cash v Contactless use in France?
Replies: 51
Views: 2149

Cash v Contactless use in France?

I'm going cycling in France later next month and wondered if anybody has any recent experience whether cash (Euros) or contactless payments are generally now preferred following Covid-19? Historically I've always liked to carry a reasonble amount of cash but if contactless is now de rigueur then I'll cut back. Thinking of cafes, food shops, camp sites etc.
by groberts
31 May 2022, 3:25pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Knee Replacement
Replies: 50
Views: 10777

Re: Knee Replacement

Had my left knee done in 2015, here's a record of my initial recovery. It's gone on to do well, though my leg's a little swollen permanenently + I now use a E-converted Trek MTB to help on the hills - more for my right knee which is on the way out and likley require replacement soon.

https://roundthebendpart1.wordpress.com ... -recovery/

+ subsequent progress:

https://roundthebendpart1.wordpress.com ... e-year-on/

+ now with a little e-help:

https://roundthebendpart1.wordpress.com ... ling-e-ra/
by groberts
25 May 2022, 2:00pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cash v Contactless use in France?
Replies: 51
Views: 2149

France - cash or contactless?

For the first time in a few years we're returning to France with our bikes in July and was wondering if from first hand experience (post covid) if anybody can say whether contactless transactions can now be widely used there as in the UK, or is cash still a better method of paying?

We'll certainly take some cash but less if contactless is generally viable.

Graham
by groberts
23 May 2022, 9:07pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Caen to Cherbourg
Replies: 6
Views: 779

Re: Caen to Cherbourg

I cycled the reverse in 2010 from Cherebourg to Le Harve via Caen to coincide with the annual D-Day rememberence on 6th June. Just take my route and follow something like it in reverse, using a Michelin 1:150,000 map numbers 303 and 304, which I found quite adequate. As long as you stay on the minor roads they're usually very good. Here's my write up of the trip.

https://roundthebendpart1.wordpress.com ... june-2010/

It was a memorable, moving and very intersting ride which I'm sure you'll enjoy. Some homework on the area it's history beforehand will make the ride all the more rewarding.

Graham
by groberts
26 Oct 2021, 5:02pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Ebike Charger Connector
Replies: 2
Views: 402

Ebike Charger Connector

I've just broken the end of the barrel connector from the charger that plugs into the battery. It's a simple 2.1 x 5.5 barrel connector which I hope can just be cut off and replaced. I found such a connector on Amazon (see picture) but unfortunately it's not quite right. In order to hold the said connector firmly there's a small metal clip inside which grips onto the pin for this purpose - very similar to the one on my computer charger. I've looked high and low online but despite being found commonly on such chargers (Ebikes and computers) I can not find one. Just wondered of anyone might know of a source?

Graham
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IMG_20211026_164302347_1.jpg
by groberts
8 Oct 2021, 8:20am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: E-BIKES KIT CONVERSIONS
Replies: 19
Views: 2650

Re: E-BIKES KIT CONVERSIONS

TonyN wrote: 30 Sep 2021, 5:58pm POWER SETTING CHANGES ON EBIKES
Re: crank vs hub power
Post by TonyN » 30 Sep 2021, 5:16pm

I am an unapologetic user of front hub motors and conversion kits for one's own familiar bike. One main point seemingly ignored by most commentators is the cost comparison, a kit using a bottom bracket motor is more expensive and generally needs more expensive maintenance beyond that of a DIY home mechanic. Other points are :-
1. Most batteries fit onto the downtube and with a hub motor there is little stability difference than with a slightly lower bottom bracket motor.
2. A front hub motor distributes weight along the bike, has two tyres driving the bike and chain wear is less than on the original bike.
3. Commercial big name Ebikes start in price at about £2000, at this level weigh over 22kg and require expert expensive maintenance.
4. My ex cyclo-cross bike conversion cost £450 for kit and battery, weighs 16.5 kg and has a 70 mile range on a charge. The bottle battery as the name indicates looks like a large water bottle and the aesthetics are, I think, better than a big fat downtube.
5. Even if the local bike shop has to fit your kit any maintenace replacements are cheaply available and easy to fit by them or yourself.
6. I read a contribution a few weeks ago by a keen cyclist, used to travelling at 18 mph with his club bunch, very dissatisfied because his commercial Ebike cut out at 15mph with no resetting method available. So he was pushing a heavier bike by his own efforts to keep up with his mates. I have installed a number of kits over the last few years and every kit was capable of setting the cut-off speed between 10 to 25mph along with the supply of a hand throttle. Note that an Ebike can only be legally used on public roads with the cut-off speed set at a max of 15mph and without a throttle fitted.
7. Power settings on Ebikes have generally been by push button with a range of up to 5 settings. My kits provided roughly 50 watts on the lowest, 100 watts next, 200 watts next and so on. This power is constantly provided at these settings irrespective of rider effort.
Just to put this into context I seem to remember that Bradley Wiggins averaged 440 watts when he broke the hour record.
On my latest kit automation has taken over and the power setting now seems to represent a maximum. In normal riding the power provided is sufficient for progress but it automatically increases dramatically if pedal effort for a slope is encountered. This means two things, no power is wasted when it is not needed, thus more range for a charge. And changing gears to cope with a hill now does not need a combined juggle between gears and power buttons, the power is increased by the controller. In addition to this the first turn of the pedals gives an automatic powered surge, very handy for setting off and crossing roads.
Tony, I would interested to know what kit you used & it's source - motor, wheel/tyre size, battery etc? I'm interested in converting a Dawes Audax using a front hub motor + bottle battery but am concerned if my 700x28 tryes are robust enough + whether I can get sufficient range? I already have a very successful Trek 830 front hub conversion with 26x1.5 tyres and a 17Ah battery, which does the job very well but not sure the Dawes would. Any thoughts + info?

Graham
by groberts
5 Oct 2021, 3:00pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tyre Levers
Replies: 9
Views: 893

Re: Tyre Levers

Thanks Jonathan, no it's not just Marathon's, which I became acquainted with some years ago and certainly qualify as by far the most difficult tyres to fit when new + overcome by strapping / tying down as you move round the rim; after some use fortunately they 'loosen-up' a bit. Notwithstanding I've just ordered a Kool Stop Tyre Mate, looks like a useful gismo to have as my thumbs aren't what they used to be!

My wife just battles with tyre levers, though 99 time out of 100 I do them for her - just bought some Schwalbe ones which look good.

Graham
by groberts
5 Oct 2021, 12:19pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: crank vs hub power
Replies: 27
Views: 3709

Re: crank vs hub power

Thanks for your reply John on the Ribble CGR E which is very helpful - I'm toying between this or a Cytronex conversion of my Dawes Audax.

Graham