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by Grarea
11 Jan 2019, 4:10pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Still trying to understand comfort.
Replies: 26
Views: 1807

Re: Still trying to understand comfort.

Marcus Aurelius wrote:Riding a generic type bike is never going to be armchair comfy, you have to learn to ‘blur out’ the slight discomfort you’ll inevitably always encounter. The more you ride, the more you’ll discover what works for you, by trial and error. Different components, and combos of components ( saddles, stems, bars, cranks etc ) will work differently for different people, riding in different conditions / durations / intensity, and there is no one size fits all answer. You could even experiment with such things as recumbent trikes / bikes, some people can’t ride a traditional type bike comfortably, and find they are the answer. It’s horses for courses, and only you will know what works for you.


Yup, am happy to blur out slight discomfort, it is pain that stops me.
I am used to pain.
I push through pain.

I know what pain is, I have broken ribs before.
I have, strained/torn back muscles and arm muscles and carried on landscaping.
I am not looking for armchair comfort, just something where I can manage through.

But, boy I need to get up and off after two miles.
I think the hand pain wasn't 'too much weight on my hands'. It was me holding my body back on the saddle.
I have been getting the terminology wrong.
I seem to have managed to reduce that. (Well, it is now just quite uncomfortable)
I think that I have always kind of wedged myself in between the saddle and the bars.

In the last two years I have got rid of my numb feet and legs.
I didn't know other people didn't get that. I thought they just toughed it out more than me.

After a couple of miles, I would stand up and feel the blood running into my legs.
That turned out to be pear shaped and/or rounded topped saddles.

I think that it is positioning.
I have tried with a standard type frame.
I have tried taking the saddle back with a 67 degree sta and a very setback seatpost.
(This did reduce the 'weight' on my hands, but it was such a silly position and didn't fix the sit bone issue, so I went with dumping that one and bringing it forward again.)

I am now wondering if me sliding forward is more to do with the shorter limbs that I have discovered I have.
Perhaps my natural position is slightly forward than where I sit.
Also, as my arms are short, that might also be pulling me forward.
I don't know, I just know it is wrong because it hurts.


Like I say, over the decades, I have used all sorts of bikes but never scientifically worked it through which I am trying to do now.
That is what this post is trying to work out.
How to move forward. I am not after a magic pill.
I think that what I want might be a short top tube but higher bars.
To give you an idea I can manage some suffering, I have done a 120 mile ride in a day in the past with numb legs (and everything else) and saddle pain after two miles, but I did it anyway. I didn't know any different.

I was asking if that sort of made sense, when I have some measurements, but I don't think any body knows the answer to my OP, so I guess I just buy some random bikes and try some stuff as I can't work out what way to go.
by Grarea
11 Jan 2019, 2:45pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Still trying to understand comfort.
Replies: 26
Views: 1807

Re: Still trying to understand comfort.

Marcus Aurelius wrote:
Grarea wrote:Pardon?
When you say retro fitting, what do you mean?

The bike the guy fit me to I have ridden most days for over a year and when he changed it seemed to make more sense, the one I am trying out is completely new to me. It is just a random bike.
I am a bit lost though, I am not sure what to ry and gain from this bike.
If the fitting is correct it seems to me that I would need to lose 10cm, which seems a lot if i am transferring similar measurements to another bike.


By ‘retro fitting’ I mean going with a ‘bodge’ fit, determined by riding the bike and tweeking it on the fly, then taking the bike for a Retul type fit. Then finding that the ‘bodge’ fit wasn’t actually as good as it felt. Don’t confuse comfort with efficiency. The efficient fit can ( and often does ) feel uncomfortable. It all depends on what you want from your riding. If you want to ‘smash stuff’ the uncomfortable fit may be better. If you just want a comfortable fit, that allows you to do lots of riding, that may be scientifically ‘<i>[inappropriate word removed]</i>’ but feels better for you, then don’t bother getting a proper ‘fitting’ done, it’s wasted money.

Thing is, I can't find anything that approaches comfort.
I don't know what to do.
I have tried all sorts.
by Grarea
11 Jan 2019, 2:33pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Still trying to understand comfort.
Replies: 26
Views: 1807

Re: Still trying to understand comfort.

I have considered a recumbent, but a) I like to nip off road when I am out and b) I can't afford one.

Same goes with the custom frame, can't afford one.
Edit: Also, it is a lot of money to go with a hope that the guy fitting you gets it right isn't it?
I imagine they ask what you like and I don't know as I have never been comfortable.

You don't think they have sorted out yet?
I have done minimum of 4 miles a day for 18 months.
Plus I did two months of going for 22 (cornish) mile rides once a week.
I am still in exactly the same boat.
Pretty keen to get off after a mile and a half.
On the 22 milers, I get to about two miles then struggle for 20.
I get off as often as I can,including every downhill.

I have also tried skipping a week to see if I needed to recover. The same.

I gave up and have been going MTB most weeks for the last two to three months.
It hurts less. I think because I am on the saddle less, not sure.
Edit: If I go a mile and a half on the flat (well, slight ride) in the saddle I know it gets pretty uncomfortable still even on the MTB.



Anyway, the main aim of this thread was about trying to work out what sort of thing might help.
As in transferring the measurements from one bike to another.
by Grarea
23 Dec 2018, 10:00pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tubeless Tyres - well impressed!
Replies: 26
Views: 1967

Re: Tubeless Tyres - well impressed!

What was the disappointment?

We suffer at least one flat per ride between the two of us off road.
especially if you include slows.

I guess it is thorn season.

I didn't used to get them when I used to ride off road. I suspect it has a lot to do with your terrain.
Possibly how many bikes go through clearing the path. (very few in or case)
by Grarea
21 Dec 2018, 9:42pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Still trying to understand comfort.
Replies: 26
Views: 1807

Re: Still trying to understand comfort.

OK.
The efficiency fit definitely feels on the right lines.
Like I say, I think it needs the whole thing bringing forward compared to BB.
He was looking to see if we could reverse the seatpost when we were fitting.
It was alway a concern with this frame.

The efficiency fit brought me forward and somehow reduced weight on my hands.
All seems good.
Like I say in the OP, I am trying to work out how to pick up a bike that I can transfer that info across to.
by Grarea
21 Dec 2018, 9:25pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Still trying to understand comfort.
Replies: 26
Views: 1807

Re: Still trying to understand comfort.

Pardon?
When you say retro fitting, what do you mean?

The bike the guy fit me to I have ridden most days for over a year and when he changed it seemed to make more sense, the one I am trying out is completely new to me. It is just a random bike.
I am a bit lost though, I am not sure what to ry and gain from this bike.
If the fitting is correct it seems to me that I would need to lose 10cm, which seems a lot if i am transferring similar measurements to another bike.
by Grarea
21 Dec 2018, 9:08pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Still trying to understand comfort.
Replies: 26
Views: 1807

Re: Still trying to understand comfort.

So, I borrowed a bike.
According to charts, it is about right for my height.

Pretty sure it is this.
we also think the year is right.
Although it is a white one.
White is lighter than black, so the white one is faster..... right?

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... 5cm-frames

I have brought the saddle forward to negate the setback seatpost.
The ETT is 53cm. (my measurement)

I feel fairly stretched to get the hoods.
Haven't had any daylight to have a go yet though.

Then I measure the hoods to the centre of the saddle rails and it is 72cm.
(in a straight line parallel to the frame, not point to point if you know what I mean)

So, not the biggest surprise when the guy set me up at 62cm (as per OP).
I shall go for a ride, trouble is, I have no idea what stuff is meant to feel like.
Not sure what to try and gain from this bike now.
by Grarea
20 Dec 2018, 3:09pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Still trying to understand comfort.
Replies: 26
Views: 1807

Re: Still trying to understand comfort.

Vorpal wrote:OK. That makes more sense. Can you borrow a bike?

I had wondered that.
I had decided no.

I know two people with road bikes. One is way taller than me. The other, although similar size, has three inch longer arms
(and legs I think) anyway, his bike is a carbon road bike and he has it all set up nice. I wouldn't be happy borrowing it for ages and messing about with it.

However, you having asked the question made me think again.
I just might be able to borrow one from someone else.
by Grarea
20 Dec 2018, 12:35pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Still trying to understand comfort.
Replies: 26
Views: 1807

Re: Still trying to understand comfort.

Well, I am not messing with the fitting.
I haven't changed it.

I have done a good 100 miles.
Mostly in 2 mile sections though. I do 4 miles almost every day.

When he was setting up, he brought it as far forward as he could go because of the sta.
Then as you say, see how I go.
Well, I reckon it needs to come further forward, as I think he was suggesting.
But I can't because of the frame.

I have gone back to him, but he hasn't replied for a few weeks. I think he might be away.
So, I am pretty keen to progress and as I think I am quite close, I thought, knowing the measurements he has set me up at, it might be an easy answer to find what sort of size frame I could pick up.
I thought I might be able to transfer those measurements, allow a bit for bringing it forward (making it a pretty standard 73 degree (ish) sta) to an idea as to what I am looking for.

So I thought I would ask here.
I kind of thought we might just be able to transfer the numbers across.
by Grarea
20 Dec 2018, 12:19pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Still trying to understand comfort.
Replies: 26
Views: 1807

Re: Still trying to understand comfort.

Well, I basically have always had numb feet and legs.
Bad sit bone pain and really bad hand pain.
But it all happens within a couple of miles.
I am keen to get off after a couple of miles.
So, any comfort would be brilliant.
Then I can work from there.

In an ideal world, I want an all round utility bike for shops/commute/day trips that can cope with a bit of off road.
Plus a road bike for just scooting out for a ride.
I have an MTB which is somewhere near right, but who knows as I clamber all over it.
As soon as I do a couple of miles on the flat, same thing.

It is only last couple of years that I discovered not everyone is in discomfort when they cycle.
I just put up with it or didn't cycle.
I thought that people who did longer rides just suffered big time.

I have had hybrid, road and mtb, all have similar effects.

Mountain biking wasn't so bad, but I suspect that is because I would be constantly moving about.
Although, I also always got smaller frames for the lightness, so that probably meant the TT was shorter.

Also, the more upright I sit, I find the more pressure on my sit bones.
I think they are a bit pointy (my bones).

I discovered that it is either pear shaped or rounded top saddles that were causing my foot and leg numbness.
Flat and T shaped saddles have sorted that way out.

Also, the more upright I sit, I find the more pressure on my sit bones.
I think they are a bit pointy.

I thought that I would sort hand pressure and bike position first.
I read Colin's great guide and thought that it made all sorts of sense.
So, the first stage was to get the saddle back to reduce the weight on my hands. They really hurt.
However, I set the saddle back as far as i could. The setback seat post, still didn't work.
So I got a frame that has 67 sta. Plus set back seat post plus some wood blocks to make my feet further forward.
This actually removed the weight off my hands. "oh, so that is what it is meant to feel like".

Anyway, it was hard work cycling like that.
So, I picked up some bars like in the picture. They adjust back, forth, up, down, width, everything.
Have tried all sorts of positions.
I went with bringing it further forward because i still had saddle pain anyway and it was harder work uphill.

Then I discovered that my limbs are shorter than other people with the same torso length as mine.
Revelation.
So, then I raised my bars and brought them further back.
This helped the hand pressure.
My bars are higher than my saddle. Which makes a sense with short arms, right?

I think, in hindsight, that the pressure on the hands is me kind of wedging myself in between the bars and the saddle to hold myself back on the saddle. I always slip forward on the saddle.
But to get to the point where I don't, see comments about hand pressure above.
So, then I was stuck. So I went to a bike fit guy.

Him bringing me forward surprised me.
I still slip forward, but maybe that is because my sta is too shallow and I need to bring it further forward than it can go.
The hand pressure has relieved a lot.

But going on just feel of efficient pedalling, I still want to bring it further forward.
Which I can't unless I spend money.
So I need to buy either a set forward post or a different bike.
I have another hybrid frame out there which maybe I could play with, but I reckon it would be cheaper to buy a whole bike than a whole load of replacement parts as my only transport is my bike so need it every day.
So, my thinking is get a cheap bike in the winter that I shouldn't lose money on if i need to sell it later in the year.

I have asked the bike fit guy but I think he is off for the winter now maybe.
So, I am keen to not miss out on cheaper winter bikes if I can so am trying to work out what to get.
I will just get a random bike and work on that as a basis if it isn't possible to work out what size to get.

I thought that given that I almost have the right positon I must be somewhere near close to knowing what size to buy, I just am not sure how to actually work that out.
by Grarea
19 Dec 2018, 10:23pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Still trying to understand comfort.
Replies: 26
Views: 1807

Re: Still trying to understand comfort.

Ah, I didn't know that.
Although, the 62cm is my measurement after being set up.
He set me up to the closest part of my sort of adjustable butterfly type bars.
I sort of assumed that would be the equivalent of where you would have your hands on the hoods.
These bars:
ImageIMGP8996 by chuffedas, on Flickr


Like I say, the problem is that the seat doesn't come far enough forward so, to get it right I either need a set forward seatpost or a different frame.
I don't particularly have a yearning to keep this frame.
by Grarea
19 Dec 2018, 7:21pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Still trying to understand comfort.
Replies: 26
Views: 1807

Still trying to understand comfort.

Well, I bit the bullet and went for a bike fit.
Unfortunately, I think the guy has taken December off.
But I am keen to progress my understanding.

Does what I say make sense please?

Last year I went with a 67 degree STA frame (sort of) to try and get my weight back off my hands.
I could eventually manage it, but it made my position completely wrong.
I think that because I went the wrong way, I can no longer get my saddle forward enough to get it right.

Anyway, the bike fit brought me much further forward and this reduced the weight on my hands.

I have short limbs.
I was amazed at how close my hands were to my body.
I have obviously been riding far too stretched out my whole life.
In hindsight I always rode a drop bar bike with just fingertips on the tops for a rest.

I am pondering picking up a cheap bike or two to try and work out what works as I don't think I can get this one comfy.
I could get a set forward seatpost, but I need it every day and messing up the position further is getting pretty boring.
Also, I can only find new posts. So, I might be better buying whole bikes to fiddle about with and sell for a similar price later in the year.

So, here is the thing.
He set me up with all the right angles to give me a starting point.
All makes sense so far.
The distance from the centre of my saddle rail to my (straight) bars (in a straight line) is 62cm.

So, using averagish figures, I am thinking that drops have a reach of, say 8cm, stems tend to be about 10cm.
Doesn't that leave me with an ETT of 44cm?
I guess I could lose 4cm without things getting too twitchy on the stem? plus 3cm pushing the saddle back.
So, that gives me an ETT of around 51cm.
Am I on the right lines?

Then my thinking is that I want my bars higher as my arms are shorter.
The smaller the frame, the higher my saddle will be compared to the bars?
So, am I looking for a kind of tall short frame?

Edit: I am 5'7 (ish)
by Grarea
15 Dec 2018, 9:45pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Which Dual Tyre Pressure Gauge
Replies: 18
Views: 1203

Re: Which Dual Tyre Pressure Gauge

Yep, I got one similar/same as Sweep's at the same time.

I have had no problems. Pretty pleased with it.
As said, it is rugged enough for a bit of general droppage.

Although someone borrowed it and let all of their air out.
But I think that was user error as I have yet to manage that.
Holds the pressure for you to read. (I love that bit. I see that like a huge decadence).

It isn't THAT accurate to read for smaller increments.
I was playing with my MTB pressures and kinda wanted to do specific pressures.
( i did have in my mind a specific number)
But, as already said, I picked where to put it to and then repeated that.
by Grarea
12 Dec 2018, 5:19pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Schwalbe 26” tyre query
Replies: 21
Views: 1439

Re: Schwalbe 26” tyre query

Brucey wrote: However the stronger/more puncture resistant a tyre is, the draggier it tends to get when you run it at low pressures;

cheers


Thank you for that comment.
That is pretty interesting.
I have 26" supremes.

I was reading about reducing the pressure on tyres.
I tried it on these but I found it slowed me down.
So I kind of disagreed with the charts that I was seeing and like them at max psi.

However, I have tried playing with lower pressures on my mtb and see what people are saying.

Your comment starts to make it all make more sense.
I hadn't thought about the construction of the tyre making a difference.
by Grarea
27 Nov 2018, 8:40pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Double edge Safety razor
Replies: 20
Views: 1155

Re: Double edge Safety razor

Yup, I too was fed up with the silly prices cartridges were and the horrible plastic into the system.

I was amazed when I looked into it a few years ago how much choice there is with safety razors, different soaps and brushes.

I have thoroughly enjoyed trying all sorts. (Mostly bought second hand so that I won't make a loss when I sell them again.)
I have found that I prefer single edge and injectors more than DE blades.

I also use soaps and a badger brush.

The soaps are mostly tallow (a waste product) and there is no water being moved around in trucks like there is in foam.
Plus I was amazed how much nicer they are.

Great fun.