Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride! - Page 3

12-25-2006, 07:34 AM

Congratulations!

Some in this group may disagree, but a great confidence booster is a helmet
and rear view mirror.

The mirror especially helps, since you can relax more when you see how wide
a berth most cars give you. When you hear a car coming up but aren't sure
where they are you may tend to veer in towards the curb to keep out of their
way - with a mirror you'll see that they see you fine and are already way
out in the other lane to pass you. Or that they are bearing down straight on
you -- either bit of information is useful when riding.

When you get to the bike paths, the mirror will help you to avoid all the
joggers, frisbees, skaters, walkers, dogs, etc that populate most paths,
you'll get good at glancing back and knowing you can move to the side to
pass or avoid them.

Slow and steady, you'll build miles over the months until you're riding what
now seems like an impossible distance (20 miles? Impossible! 50, 75, century
ride... all are possible eventually)

jm

"The Historian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1166988308.200720.223660@42g2000cwt.googlegro ups.com...
> My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
> parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
> to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
> at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
> by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
> stopping.
>
> I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> circumstances. Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
> the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the homeward
> leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in missing it
> I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting gloves, so
> I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem to be OK.
> The chain came off the bike in the spill, so I walked it home. It's
> fixed now, but I'm done with riding for today. :-)
>
> My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
> walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
> walking, was about 1.5 miles.
>
> Neil
>

12-25-2006, 07:41 AM

"The Historian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1167057149.589608.48460@f1g2000cwa.googlegrou ps.com...
>
> Paul Turner wrote:
>> landotter wrote:
>>
>> > The Historian wrote:
>>
>> > > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
>> > > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
>> > > circumstances.
>> >
>> > Nonsense, I see big guys on hybrids on my local bike trail all the
>> > time, zooming along. Ya just need to get your "sea legs" is all.
>>
>> Absolutely right. Experience matters, not weight. There was a time when
>> I weighed way more than 275, and it didn't affect my ability to stay
>> upright. I would expect the OP to feel perfectly comfortable on his
>> bike in two or three weeks if he keeps at it.
>
> Thanks. I wondered about the learning curve for a beginning bicyclist.
> I'd like to go out again today, but it's cold and wet outside. Plus my
> knee is swollen and bruised from the fall yesterday. Unfortunately,
> winters in SE PA aren't known for good biking weather, so I may get few
> chances to practice before spring.
>

I'm sorry that you got so hurt. I've fallen off a total of 5 times (six
times if you count my recent recumbent fall)...the first 4 times had to do
with not getting clipped out properly when coming to a stop (the first 3 of
those happened on my first road ride after going clipless). The 5 time I
went down I was crossing some railroad tracks. I was riding a loop, trying
to build up miles in prep for a century the next week. On about the 10th
time around, I guess I lost attention while crossing the tracks. I let my
front wheel get in the track by not making sure I was crossing at a right
angle. I went down at about 12 to 14 mph. I throw the bike over me, scraped
my helmet on the pavement, tore my brand new tights, put a hole on the upper
right shoulder (the top part) of my new cycling jacket, and scratched up and
bent my left shifter/brake lever out of place. I also busted up a tail
light, too. Fortunately, I just had one sore spot on the top of my right
shoulder and a bit of road rash on my leg. I was more embarrassed than
anything, but I could not see anyone else in sight.

While I would not wish this upon anyone, there was a certain excitement in
going down. I think mainly because I remember it in slow motion and I didn't
get hurt. I did complete my first organized century the next Saturday.

12-25-2006, 09:07 AM

Roger Zoul wrote:
> "The Historian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:1167057149.589608.48460@f1g2000cwa.googlegrou ps.com...
> >
> > Paul Turner wrote:
> >> landotter wrote:
> >>
> >> > The Historian wrote:
> >>
> >> > > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> >> > > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> >> > > circumstances.
> >> >
> >> > Nonsense, I see big guys on hybrids on my local bike trail all the
> >> > time, zooming along. Ya just need to get your "sea legs" is all.
> >>
> >> Absolutely right. Experience matters, not weight. There was a time when
> >> I weighed way more than 275, and it didn't affect my ability to stay
> >> upright. I would expect the OP to feel perfectly comfortable on his
> >> bike in two or three weeks if he keeps at it.
> >
> > Thanks. I wondered about the learning curve for a beginning bicyclist.
> > I'd like to go out again today, but it's cold and wet outside. Plus my
> > knee is swollen and bruised from the fall yesterday. Unfortunately,
> > winters in SE PA aren't known for good biking weather, so I may get few
> > chances to practice before spring.
> >
>
> I'm sorry that you got so hurt.

I'm lucky I didn't hit the mailbox. As it is, I'm bruised, swollen a
little, and stiff, but OK.

I've fallen off a total of 5 times (six
> times if you count my recent recumbent fall)

Over how long a period of time?

....the first 4 times had to do
> with not getting clipped out properly when coming to a stop (the first 3 of
> those happened on my first road ride after going clipless). The 5 time I
> went down I was crossing some railroad tracks. I was riding a loop, trying
> to build up miles in prep for a century the next week. On about the 10th
> time around, I guess I lost attention while crossing the tracks. I let my
> front wheel get in the track by not making sure I was crossing at a right
> angle. I went down at about 12 to 14 mph. I throw the bike over me, scraped
> my helmet on the pavement, tore my brand new tights, put a hole on the upper
> right shoulder (the top part) of my new cycling jacket, and scratched up and
> bent my left shifter/brake lever out of place. I also busted up a tail
> light, too. Fortunately, I just had one sore spot on the top of my right
> shoulder and a bit of road rash on my leg.

Aside from the damage to your bike and gear, you sound fortunate to get
off so easily. I'm glad I was wearing jeans when I fell.

I was more embarrassed than
> anything, but I could not see anyone else in sight.
>
> While I would not wish this upon anyone, there was a certain excitement in
> going down.

As strange as it sounds, I feel better for falling. I've fallen and
survived. Now I can concentrate on riding.

I think mainly because I remember it in slow motion and I didn't
> get hurt. I did complete my first organized century the next Saturday.

12-26-2006, 07:07 AM

The Historian wrote:

> My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
> walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
> walking, was about 1.5 miles.

So average speed was about 1.5 mph.

Hey, you can only improve!

SMH

12-26-2006, 04:23 PM

"The Historian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1167070058.441101.281570@h40g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Roger Zoul wrote:
>> "The Historian" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
>> news:1167057149.589608.48460@f1g2000cwa.googlegrou ps.com...
>> >
>> > Paul Turner wrote:
>> >> landotter wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > The Historian wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A
>> >> > > 275
>> >> > > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
>> >> > > circumstances.
>> >> >
>> >> > Nonsense, I see big guys on hybrids on my local bike trail all the
>> >> > time, zooming along. Ya just need to get your "sea legs" is all.
>> >>
>> >> Absolutely right. Experience matters, not weight. There was a time
>> >> when
>> >> I weighed way more than 275, and it didn't affect my ability to stay
>> >> upright. I would expect the OP to feel perfectly comfortable on his
>> >> bike in two or three weeks if he keeps at it.
>> >
>> > Thanks. I wondered about the learning curve for a beginning bicyclist.
>> > I'd like to go out again today, but it's cold and wet outside. Plus my
>> > knee is swollen and bruised from the fall yesterday. Unfortunately,
>> > winters in SE PA aren't known for good biking weather, so I may get few
>> > chances to practice before spring.
>> >
>>
>> I'm sorry that you got so hurt.
>
> I'm lucky I didn't hit the mailbox. As it is, I'm bruised, swollen a
> little, and stiff, but OK.
>
> I've fallen off a total of 5 times (six
>> times if you count my recent recumbent fall)
>
> Over how long a period of time?

Hmm...let's see. I started riding again at age 45 in October 2003. I
didn't go clipless until end of March 2004. So three falls happened on my
first real road ride. The 4th was at a stop light in traffic...I tried to
put my right foot on the curb as I got in position...but it was still
partially clipped in...people in cars laughed at me...that has to be a few
months after going clipless. the 5th was right after Thanksgivings in
2004....the week before my first formal century ride. So, about 9 or 10
months is the span of the falls.

>
> ...the first 4 times had to do
>> with not getting clipped out properly when coming to a stop (the first 3
>> of
>> those happened on my first road ride after going clipless). The 5 time I
>> went down I was crossing some railroad tracks. I was riding a loop,
>> trying
>> to build up miles in prep for a century the next week. On about the 10th
>> time around, I guess I lost attention while crossing the tracks. I let
>> my
>> front wheel get in the track by not making sure I was crossing at a right
>> angle. I went down at about 12 to 14 mph. I throw the bike over me,
>> scraped
>> my helmet on the pavement, tore my brand new tights, put a hole on the
>> upper
>> right shoulder (the top part) of my new cycling jacket, and scratched up
>> and
>> bent my left shifter/brake lever out of place. I also busted up a tail
>> light, too. Fortunately, I just had one sore spot on the top of my right
>> shoulder and a bit of road rash on my leg.
>
> Aside from the damage to your bike and gear, you sound fortunate to get
> off so easily. I'm glad I was wearing jeans when I fell.

I was wearing lycra cycling gear and gloves....always wear gloves...in case
no one else mentioned that. They are most important for zero-mph falling.

>
> I was more embarrassed than
>> anything, but I could not see anyone else in sight.
>>
>> While I would not wish this upon anyone, there was a certain excitement
>> in
>> going down.
>
> As strange as it sounds, I feel better for falling. I've fallen and
> survived. Now I can concentrate on riding.
>
> I think mainly because I remember it in slow motion and I didn't
>> get hurt. I did complete my first organized century the next Saturday.
>

12-26-2006, 07:19 PM

Roger Zoul wrote:

> > I've fallen off a total of 5 times (six
> >> times if you count my recent recumbent fall)
> >
> > Over how long a period of time?
>
> Hmm...let's see. I started riding again at age 45 in October 2003. I
> didn't go clipless until end of March 2004. So three falls happened on my
> first real road ride. The 4th was at a stop light in traffic...I tried to
> put my right foot on the curb as I got in position...but it was still
> partially clipped in...people in cars laughed at me...that has to be a few
> months after going clipless. the 5th was right after Thanksgivings in
> 2004....the week before my first formal century ride. So, about 9 or 10
> months is the span of the falls.

Good, so my next fall won't be for a while. Or at least until tomorrow.
:-)

12-26-2006, 07:59 PM

In article <1167034013.592041.317640@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups. com>,
"[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
>
> Ernie Willson wrote:
>> The Historian wrote:
>> > My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
>> > parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
>> > to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
>> > at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
>> > by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
>> > stopping.
>> >
>> > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
>> > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
>> > circumstances. Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
>> > the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the homeward
>> > leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in missing it
>> > I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting gloves, so
>> > I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem to be OK.
>> > The chain came off the bike in the spill, so I walked it home. It's
>> > fixed now, but I'm done with riding for today. :-)
>> >
>> > My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
>> > walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
>> > walking, was about 1.5 miles.
>> >
>> > Neil
>> >
>> Congratulations! You've made a start. Keep at it and you'll be OK.
>>
>> I fell over on my first trip out because I couldn't get my feet out of
>> the toe straps when I stopped. Truly embarrassing.
>
> On my last road bike the bike shop refused to set me up with both toe
> straps on the grounds that I was too new to toe straps and too new to
> not having suicide lever brakes that I was likely to do something
> stupid like forget to take my foot off the pedal and fall down. I had
> to get used to the bike first and then I could have both toe straps.
>
> Two days later, with ONE toe strap I came to a stop at a traffic light,
> failed to put my foot down, and fell over.
>
> Embarrassing enough to fail to unclip, or to fail to get your feet out
> of the straps when you have two of them ,but when you only have one...
> sheesh...

Y'see, there're toe clips, and there are toe clips (and straps).
The MTB ones such as Zefal's are dead easy to extracate one's
foot from. They provide a good-enough attachment without
committing the rider to the whims of the Fates like an errant
space-walking astronaut whose tether has broken and he's floating
uncontrollably off into outer space. The Zephal straps and toothed
buckles have a certain amount of give to them. Even if you cinch
'em a little too tight, you can wriggle your foot loose enough,
while still maintaining a fair degree of attachment.

Then there are those inescapable track rider's combos of
old-style cleats, clips and double straps. Those are the
things to shun in traffic.

But there are different kinds of clips-&-straps.
Some good, some not so good, depending on what
you use 'em for.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

12-27-2006, 04:49 AM

I find the SPD style of clips easier to get in & out of than toe
straps. If I'm coming to a stop and the bike is leaning over, or if
I'm falling, my reflex is to take my foot sideways away from the pedal
and to the ground on the low side of the bike. The SPD clips release
this way, making the transition easy & smooth. With toe straps I find
if they're tight enough to work well, I need to come back before going
sideways, and I need to be smooth. I can jerk out of my SPD's in a
split second if need be (though smooth is preferred).

It's all objective, but this has been my experience. I also only fell
once with them, and it was a matter of forgetting I was clicked in.
Everyone told me the first time I stopped I'd forget I was clicked and
tip over. Properly warned, I assured everyone I would not. The second
time I stopped, however, I tipped over. No harm, no foul. Hasn't
happened since.

Anyway, welcome to the sport Neil. I'm sure if you keep with it you'll
be stable & loving it in no time.

12-27-2006, 06:55 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> Anyway, welcome to the sport Neil. I'm sure if you keep with it you'll
> be stable & loving it in no time.

I tried riding today, only to be driven in my the cold. After ten
minutes my fingers were numb, even with gloves. It's supposed to be a
little warmer tomorrow, with less wind, so I'll try again then.

Meanwhile, my problem areas, as far as I can tell, are:

1. getting underway. I need to coordinate my downstroke on the left
pedal with my pushoff with the other foot. Often I pedal down and the
right foot doesn't make it to the pedal before I have rolled a couple
feet, so that I am 'riding' with one foot sticking out. Am I doing
something wrong or do I just need a lot of practice?

2. Once I am underway, I need to better control the bike. Too often it
seems the bike controls me. I can travel a couple of hundred feet, and
then I need to stop because it feels as if the bike is taking over, so
to speak - often because it's going too fast. Also, I wobble too much.

3. My stopping isn't bad, but it is going to take some getting used to.
In the case of the spill I took, I managed to avoid the mailbox and
would have probably safely stopped on the shoulder, but there was a
large gravel border around the mailbox, and that caused the bike to
lose traction. When I was testing the bike in Bikesport's parking lot,
Pete, one of the store staff, had to shout "brake" at me; now that I
know I have them, I need to use them better.

4. Experience, experience, experience!

Did Lance have these problems when he started? :-)

As for loving the sport, I am already investigating a club I can join
when I have more experience. The idea of whooshing down a country road
on two wheels thrills me. Perhaps I am going a little fast here,
imagining the day when I can ride with a club or in a race, but then
again, I had to imagine my losing 110 pounds before it could happen.

Thanks again,
Neil

12-27-2006, 08:11 AM

The Historian wrote:
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> > Anyway, welcome to the sport Neil. I'm sure if you keep with it you'll
> > be stable & loving it in no time.
>
> I tried riding today, only to be driven in my the cold. After ten
> minutes my fingers were numb, even with gloves. It's supposed to be a
> little warmer tomorrow, with less wind, so I'll try again then.
>
> Meanwhile, my problem areas, as far as I can tell, are:
>
> 1. getting underway. I need to coordinate my downstroke on the left
> pedal with my pushoff with the other foot. Often I pedal down and the
> right foot doesn't make it to the pedal before I have rolled a couple
> feet, so that I am 'riding' with one foot sticking out. Am I doing
> something wrong or do I just need a lot of practice?

I wonder if you're starting in too high a gear. If you're in a
sufficiently low gear, you won't need any "pushoff" from your other
foot.

There's some comment on this under
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

The best gear for most people is a sort of "medium" gear. That is,
about the middle of the 8 or 9 gears in back, and not the biggest
sprocket in front. For most people, it allows for an easy enough
start, but not so easy that you can't pick up enough speed to balance.

You might enjoy the entire Frank and Fred series at
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
and look around the rest of the site while your'e at it.

> 2. Once I am underway, I need to better control the bike. Too often it
> seems the bike controls me. I can travel a couple of hundred feet, and
> then I need to stop because it feels as if the bike is taking over, so
> to speak - often because it's going too fast. Also, I wobble too much.

I think you need some parking lot time. Go to a big empty parking lot
and spend an hour or two just swooping around, starting, stopping, etc.
Make a game of trying to ride on the parking stripes. (It's not easy
to ride a 4" paint stripe, but it's fun trying to do it.)

Try these as goals: Ride a 4" paint stripe at normal speed. Ride it
using only one hand. Look over your left shoulder while riding
straight. Do a "drag racing" start, seeing how fast you can cover 25
yards. Do some slaloms, zig-zagging around spots on the pavement.

Those are basic. Some advanced challenges come later.

> 3. My stopping isn't bad, but it is going to take some getting used to.
> In the case of the spill I took, I managed to avoid the mailbox and
> would have probably safely stopped on the shoulder, but there was a
> large gravel border around the mailbox, and that caused the bike to
> lose traction. When I was testing the bike in Bikesport's parking lot,
> Pete, one of the store staff, had to shout "brake" at me; now that I
> know I have them, I need to use them better.

Some of the advanced challenges is to learn not just normal braking,
but emergency braking; not just normal turns, but emergency "quick
turns." And dodging potholes that suddenly jump out in front of you.

These items (and much more) are covered in the Bike Ed classes
sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. There may be an
instructor near you, and if so, you can contact him to find out about
the classes. See
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
or, more specifically,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Also see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for lots of
good info.

> The idea of whooshing down a country road
> on two wheels thrills me.

It thrills me too. And I've been doing it for many decades!

- Frank Krygowski