Anyone else addicted to cycling?

Rick Onanian

On Mon, 10 May 2004 13:52:43 -0400, Badger_South <Badger@South.net>
wrote:
>OK, I'll try that. In the past, yeah, I've purposely remained seated
>thinking of standing to pedal as 'cheating' *(using bodyweight and not
>muscle power), but if short bouts would fix the numbness/pain, it's worth a
>shot - there are lots of small hills.

Standing is certainly not cheating...did you miss my question about
recovering from a hill, a few weeks ago?

Since you've said that you have excess lung and leg capacity
available even after other problems stop you from riding, then
standing might definitely help; it will let you exercise your legs
and lungs, and will get the rest of your body in different positions
with different exercise.
--
Rick Onanian

Rick Onanian

On Mon, 10 May 2004 12:18:01 -0400, Badger_South <Badger@South.net>
wrote:
>Only problem I'm having now is with numb-butt-itis, which I get at about
>the 10 mile point, despite all the shifting around in the saddle. My

Sounds like your saddle is too soft, and/or your position too
upright.
--
Rick Onanian

Badger_South

On Tue, 11 May 2004 07:34:47 -0400, David Kerber <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net>
wrote:

>In article <2g9vj9FecufU1@uni-berlin.de>, rogerzoul2@hotmail.com says...
>
>...
>
>> :: I'd love to be able to do that much time, and I'm not in bad shape,
>> :: but at one hour I start seeing stars/spots, and my triceps is
>> :: starting to shake/spasm, the the butt is aching.
>>
>> The butt problem can be addressed easily. Learn to shift positions on the
>> saddle and stand occasionally.
>>
>> As for seeing stars/spots, and triceps shaking/spasming, I don't have an
>> idea about that. I seem to recall you stating a while ago that you weight
>> train....so I don't know why you'd be having problems with your triceps,
>> unless you're sore from gym work. I'd see a doctor about seeing stars and
>> spots, honestly.
>
>The triceps spasming could be from too much weight on the bars, and/or
>trying to keep the elbows bent too much (some bend is good, but more is
>not necessarily better). I start seeing stars and spots when I'm
>seriously bonking, or have been at or near my max HR for a while, and am
>going into oxygen debt.

How do I rectify the 'too much weight on the bars'? I find myself switching
from a regular grip to posting on the extended hand, as though I want to
sit up more. Sometimes it seems like the bars are too low. When I switch
grip it rotates my triceps downard and relieves some of the stress (it's
just the right triceps that seems overly stressed).

I think the 'seeing spots' is due to restricted blood flow due to excessive
tension in the neck. I've been rotating my shoulders a bit now and then to
help it.

Hard to imagine getting to higher mileage if I'm having these kind of
problems at 10-15 miles. OTOH, I was able to go 15 miles the other day.

I'm gonna try the 1-2 min rest every 45 min and see if that helps.

Best,

-B

Rick Onanian

On Tue, 11 May 2004 10:36:08 -0400, Badger_South <Badger@South.net>
wrote:
>How do I rectify the 'too much weight on the bars'? I find myself switching
>from a regular grip to posting on the extended hand, as though I want to
>sit up more. Sometimes it seems like the bars are too low. When I switch
>grip it rotates my triceps downard and relieves some of the stress (it's
>just the right triceps that seems overly stressed).

Possible causes of too much weight on bars:
- bars too low
- bars too far forward
- saddle pointed down-forward

>I think the 'seeing spots' is due to restricted blood flow due to excessive
>tension in the neck. I've been rotating my shoulders a bit now and then to
>help it.

Craning the neck excessively is definitely a sign of bars too low.

>Hard to imagine getting to higher mileage if I'm having these kind of
>problems at 10-15 miles. OTOH, I was able to go 15 miles the other day.

Maybe a better fit will help.

Is the handlebar significantly lower than the saddle (or is your
body oddly proportioned)?
--
Rick Onanian

Badger_South

On Tue, 11 May 2004 10:53:10 -0400, Rick Onanian <spamsink@cox.net> wrote:

>On Tue, 11 May 2004 10:36:08 -0400, Badger_South <Badger@South.net>
>wrote:
>>How do I rectify the 'too much weight on the bars'? I find myself switching
>>from a regular grip to posting on the extended hand, as though I want to
>>sit up more. Sometimes it seems like the bars are too low. When I switch
>>grip it rotates my triceps downard and relieves some of the stress (it's
>>just the right triceps that seems overly stressed).
>
>Possible causes of too much weight on bars:
> - bars too low
> - bars too far forward
> - saddle pointed down-forward

Thx. I do find myself pushing back onto the back part of the saddle every
couple miles, so I must be sliding forwards.

>>I think the 'seeing spots' is due to restricted blood flow due to excessive
>>tension in the neck. I've been rotating my shoulders a bit now and then to
>>help it.
>
>Craning the neck excessively is definitely a sign of bars too low.

Cool. I definitely need a better fit.

>>Hard to imagine getting to higher mileage if I'm having these kind of
>>problems at 10-15 miles. OTOH, I was able to go 15 miles the other day.
>
>Maybe a better fit will help.
>
>Is the handlebar significantly lower than the saddle (or is your
>body oddly proportioned)?

I'll check. Proportionally, I'm told I have very long arms for my height
(5'9; 72.5" reach). I noticed that I can't remove my hands from the bar and
remain in the same position - I'd fall forward. Early last week my saddle
had loosened on the rails and slid forwards, and I tightened it in that
same position. In this new position, I could just barely remain in position
while lifting my hands off the bars. However I eventually moved it back to
a mid-position, since it felt cramped being that far forwards.

Thx for the help! ;-)

-B

Badger_South

On Tue, 11 May 2004 08:35:44 -0400, Rick Onanian <spamsink@cox.net> wrote:

>On Mon, 10 May 2004 13:52:43 -0400, Badger_South <Badger@South.net>
>wrote:
>>OK, I'll try that. In the past, yeah, I've purposely remained seated
>>thinking of standing to pedal as 'cheating' *(using bodyweight and not
>>muscle power), but if short bouts would fix the numbness/pain, it's worth a
>>shot - there are lots of small hills.
>
>Standing is certainly not cheating...did you miss my question about
>recovering from a hill, a few weeks ago?
>
>Since you've said that you have excess lung and leg capacity
>available even after other problems stop you from riding, then
>standing might definitely help; it will let you exercise your legs
>and lungs, and will get the rest of your body in different positions
>with different exercise.

Well I've been trying to stand and pedal on the small hills and it's
-definitely- not cheating. In fact the heart rate goes up. Guess it's not
as much a bodyweight thing as I anticipated, b/c you definitely feel it in
the legs, even though I'm only doing about 10-15 strokes standing.

Using those suggestions, (except for the resting for a minute), I've added
another 4 miles to my longest ride and no numbness, or any other adverse
effects.

Cool. Thx.

-B

Badger_South

On Tue, 11 May 2004 08:36:09 -0400, Rick Onanian <spamsink@cox.net> wrote:

>On Mon, 10 May 2004 12:18:01 -0400, Badger_South <Badger@South.net>
>wrote:
>>Only problem I'm having now is with numb-butt-itis, which I get at about
>>the 10 mile point, despite all the shifting around in the saddle. My
>
>Sounds like your saddle is too soft, and/or your position too
>upright.

Jeeze, too soft? How could that be? It's a normal saddle, although not one
of those extreme skinny ones. I'll look up the brand name later today.

How do we get too soft=numbness?

-B

Denver C. Fox

>How do we get too soft=numbness?

You should be sitting on your "Ischial Tuberosities" (Your "sit bones"), not on
your whole butt.

See:

http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bicycleseats.html


http://members.aol.com/foxcondorsrvtns
(Colorado rental condo)

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox
(Family Web Page)

Rick Onanian

On Tue, 11 May 2004 11:31:43 -0400, Badger_South <Badger@South.net>
wrote:
>On Tue, 11 May 2004 08:36:09 -0400, Rick Onanian <spamsink@cox.net> wrote:
>>Sounds like your saddle is too soft, and/or your position too
>>upright.
>
>Jeeze, too soft? How could that be? It's a normal saddle, although not one
>of those extreme skinny ones. I'll look up the brand name later today.
>
>How do we get too soft=numbness?

A soft saddle squishes up and/or presses in on the spots that are
vulnerable to numbness. A harder saddle does not; it supports you
where you've got some reasonable structure (the sit bones). This was
mainly theoretical to me until a couple recent saddle experiments
proved it very true.

On my mountain bike, I had a suspension seatpost with a very hard
saddle on it. The post broke, and in a hurry to get back on the
trail, I went home and dug out a rigid post with a wide, very soft
saddle on it (I used to ride it before the suspension). I didn't
bother changing the saddle, and just used the wide soft one. The
width bothered me so much (on the spot where the legs meet the butt)
that I went to buy a soft, narrow saddle (soft b/c I had no more
suspension).

The soft, narrow saddle was so damn pretty I felt it a shame to
wreck it off-road, so I tried it on my road bike. Ouch! It felt
terrible; part of the soft saddle absorbed my sit bones deeply,
while the remaining portion pushed against parts that shouldn't bear
weight. Basically, my butt felt like I had twice or thrice as many
miles on that ride. I forgot to change it and rode it a second time,
with the same effect.

Since the semi-aggressive off-road biking I do keeps me out of the
saddle as much as in, that soft saddle might work; but, I've already
gotten a new suspension post, and stumbled across a saddle on ebay
that I might like best yet, which I got cheaply. It's a gel + cutout
version of the saddle I like so much on my road bike, so I'll either
love it or hate it..
--
Rick Onanian

David Kerber

In article <s6s1a0l8lh4fb0q1vu0b0hdi2lvglrunfr@4ax.com>,
Badger@South.net says...
> On Tue, 11 May 2004 08:35:44 -0400, Rick Onanian <spamsink@cox.net> wrote:
>
> >On Mon, 10 May 2004 13:52:43 -0400, Badger_South <Badger@South.net>
> >wrote:
> >>OK, I'll try that. In the past, yeah, I've purposely remained seated
> >>thinking of standing to pedal as 'cheating' *(using bodyweight and not
> >>muscle power), but if short bouts would fix the numbness/pain, it's worth a
> >>shot - there are lots of small hills.
> >
> >Standing is certainly not cheating...did you miss my question about
> >recovering from a hill, a few weeks ago?
> >
> >Since you've said that you have excess lung and leg capacity
> >available even after other problems stop you from riding, then
> >standing might definitely help; it will let you exercise your legs
> >and lungs, and will get the rest of your body in different positions
> >with different exercise.
>
> Well I've been trying to stand and pedal on the small hills and it's
> -definitely- not cheating. In fact the heart rate goes up. Guess it's not
> as much a bodyweight thing as I anticipated, b/c you definitely feel it in
> the legs, even though I'm only doing about 10-15 strokes standing.
>
> Using those suggestions, (except for the resting for a minute), I've added
> another 4 miles to my longest ride and no numbness, or any other adverse
> effects.

Glad it's working for you!

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

loki

I had kicked the habit. Over a very rainy spring so far the few times I did
get out other than commuting/utility was cold and wet.

Well today was beautiful and I got my first off-road high! Only 25 km of
trail - soggy trail at that in parts. A tune up ride wearing shorts for the
first time this season.

Damn that felt good!

--
'An environmentally concerned ex-CIA agent is willing
to blow things up in Alaska to save Mother Earth.'
-blurb for a Steven Seagal movie

mary

I will see you on Sunday at Pedal Pittsburgh. My wife and I will be helping
had refreshments at Washington's landing. Say hi.

Tom
"curt" <nospam@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:5dAnc.40620$wY.2976@nwrdny03.gnilink.net...
> I just re-started cycling this season. It has been a while. I am wanting
> to do triathlons, but have discovered that I really like cycling the best.
> I rode 55 miles Saturday and 30 today and it was just great. I find
myself
> not wanting to get off my bicycle. I am reading a local fitness magazine
to
> see what rides are coming up. Signed up for Peddle Pittsburgh (60 miles)
> and the MS 150 in June. I am so glad I rediscoved cycling and love to
> explore on a bicycle. I have not ridden in a group for years and am
looking
> forward to riding in a pack. Hope people are friendly.
>
> Just wondered if anyone else wants to stay on their bicycle all the time?
> Curt
>
>

curt

"mary" <tombates@city-net.com> wrote in message
news:40a16f72$0$21383$4d5ecec7@reader.city-net.com...
> I will see you on Sunday at Pedal Pittsburgh. My wife and I will be
helping
> had refreshments at Washington's landing. Say hi.
>
> Tom

Well, if I know who to look for I will sure do. It would be nice to meet
some people that are into cycling in my area. I don't know one person yet.
I sure am enjoying it. Riding tomorrow and can hardly sleep thinking about
it. I don't know where I am going, but who cares.

Curt

LioNiNoiL_a t_NetscapE_D 0 T_NeT

>> Just wondered if anyone else wants to stay on their bicycle
>> all the time?
>
> Put me in that category. I feel pretty awkward on my feet

It's a standing joke in my family that I can hold a better line on the
bike than on my feet.

> Isn't it amazing that a skinny little bike seat can be so much
> more comfortable than a high-quality desk chair?

I'd much rather spend eight hours on the bike than at my desk. Some of
the happiest times of my life have been on a bike, doing nothing more
special than riding to the next campground.