Cycling UK Forum

Ritchie - Worrying similarity there with the dodgy knee. Apart from more cycling to strengthen it I don't know what to do about it - I'd be very interested to hear what the osteopath has to say. If he says we're just too old I'll be gutted!

I'll definitely check the frame alignment PW - thanks for the tip with the string. I've never had SPD pedals - always been too scared due to the knee thing, even when the floating ones came out, so I've always cycled with straps 'n traps the old fashioned way. What do you think would be better - should I "ankle" more to get freer movement? Both knees are dodgy (too much badly managed sports training when young) so both legs might benefit from a change in cycling style. Any other thoughts welcome...

I wonder if anyone's experienced this; I couldn't find any previous threads. I've been getting stiff shoulders, especially the right one after only a couple of hours cycling. The pain is strongest in the lower part of the shoulder blade area, but wears off quickly after getting off the bike.

I had my tourer rebuilt a couple of years ago (quite a major frame redesign as it now has 26" wheels instead of 700c) & an A type headset. After some trials of bar positions I set the drop bars rather higher than I used to have them, which I much prefer; the hood point of the bars is 1 cm above the height of the saddle nose. I mainly ride on the hoods & use STI's so don't move my arms around so much.
Is it possible to set drop bars too high?

My partner says I ride lopsidedly which he puts down to pushing harder with the right leg due partly to my weak left knee. I have noticed I've become rather tense in my upper body & arms when riding, perhaps it is an age thing? I'm 44.

Another odd thing (probably totally unrelated) is that I can't ride this bike with no hands, unlike my other bikes. Could this mean the frame is out of true? (I've tried with & without luggage). Any thoughts welcome, I could do with sorting this out before the touring season begins in earnest!

I don't have kids but do use a "Bike Box" trailer. I ws lucky enough to be given some offcuts from that reflective stuff they use on police cars, which I liberally applied all over the aluminium trailer box. The main roads here in Mid Wales at night are unlit but fast, but the effect of all that reflective stuff has been amazing - cars just don't seem to have a clue what's in front of them & always slow right down behind me whilst they work it out & only then overtake. Bliss.
Nobble a traffic copper or find out who sells this stuff...

Diolch yn fawr am y syniad 'na - dwi'n wedi bod yn dysgu Cymraeg hefyd (mae'n teimlo fel gwaith caled weithiau!) ac mae'n neis iawn i glywed o'r rhywun o Gymru.

well - this is what I hope I've said yn Saesneg/English:
Thanks for that idea - I've been learning Welsh aswell, (feels like hard work sometimes!) & it's really nice to hear from someone from Wales. (Hugo will spot the missing mutation & spelling mistakes in that lot.)

I think you're right, I do mean El Puerto de Santa Maria. My Spanish teacher will be grateful for the reminder of harbout gender, as indeed am I. Thank you. Long live pedantry.

Please moderate me if I'm going on too much!
The road into Cadiz is a main highway, & although it's permitted to cycle on the hard lane of the autopistas it can be a bit noisy & tiring. (Often the autopista offers only straight route out of a town & they're ok to cycle, especially at night, but watch for fast moving traffic joining from the right). An alternative is to get a train or boat ("El Vapor") from Puerta Santa Maria with the bike into Cadiz - much nicer than the motorway!

Ok, I'll stop banging on now...

In my experience the regional trains are good for bikes; bikes are permitted, certainly I've taken them out of Sevilla & Cadiz, & often the end carriage has a raised wide area where you can sit with your bike. I've often heard that the faster trains on regional routes & the major routes are more tricky but haven't tried. In the unlikely event that you get a return ticket be aware that you will need to get the ticket "verified" for the return journey at the station. It costs a few Euros but will save an exasperated train inspector!
I've found the buses to be varied. Bike carriage is at the discretion of the driver, occasionally I've been refused, once I was told it had to be "recogido" (folding), but usually it's been fine. Just need to buy the ticket at the kiosk at the bus station, bearing in mind that they are often private companies (especially in & out of the Grazalema region & you'll need to figure out which one goes where.) But the area is so stunning that it's worth all the effort, & fantastic cycling once you're there.