Can't Cycle after Spill - Page 4 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-28-2004, 11:56 PM

>I've decided to leave this until the weekend. Snowy and icy weather
>today lets me off the hook anyway. Even before the spills I certainly
>would not have ridden under these conditions. The other reason is that
>there is a time imperative in taking the bike to work, because I have
>to _get_ to work at a reasonable hour, so that involves rushing, which
>adds another level of panic.

I think that is a good decision, and well stated.

I find it very difficult to ride in snow, icing conditions, and so
forth in urban traffic, but it can be done.

This is not an impossible goal for you, you have demonstrated a degree
of courage that is exemplary.

The only suggestion I could venture is that I have found that in sports
it's important not to over analyze.

By this I mean that training and skill development are important, but
it basically comes down to will.

You want to win. If you didn't want that you wouldn't be here.

Elisa Francesca Roselli, you have the determination and will to
become anything you like. If riding a bicycle with skill and
confidence is one of your personal objectives you are going to
have to accept the inevitable pain and sacrifice.

You are having a crisis of confidence.

You haven't moved much in skill level for a long time. You need
to get over it and ride, if you are not ready for this then that
is fine.

But don't reiterate. You're here to be a winner, remember?

>On the weekend, I won't need to get anywhere within a specific
>time-frame, so I can practise slowly and then perhaps redo my very
>first route, to the local supermarket along flat bike-paths.

It is said that everyone wants to return to the womb. In my
opinion you need a good dose of WTF, IMHO your progress is
unsatisfactory.

--

_______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY MIND_______________________
------------------"Buddy Holly, the Texas Elvis"------------------
__________306.350.357.38>>cwhitman@texastwr.utaust in.edu__________

01-29-2004, 01:42 AM

I just wanted to say that yesterday after work I had a spin on both bikes
in the safety of my underground parking. I spent about half an hour
back-and-forthing and cycling down and up the ramps. I tried to loosen the
brakes on Myrtille with that little screw-like thing that tightens the
brake-strings, or whatever their called, into the handlebars. Don't know if
I've succeeded or over-succeeded and won't know until I take her out again.

This morning I am well and truly off the hook because of ice-bound road
conditions that require extra caution even for walking. But I consider that
I'm back in the saddle and rolling.

Thanks to everyone on this thread for the very kind help and support and
hand-holding. I feel, if anything, a bit molly-coddled, but the gentleness
has made a difference.

EFR
In crunchy-slidey-underfoot Ile de France

01-29-2004, 06:20 AM

"Elisa Francesca Roselli"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> I just wanted to say that yesterday after work I had a spin on
both bikes
> in the safety of my underground parking. I spent about half an
hour
> back-and-forthing and cycling down and up the ramps. I tried to
loosen the
> brakes on Myrtille with that little screw-like thing that
tightens the
> brake-strings, or whatever their called, into the handlebars.
Don't know if
> I've succeeded or over-succeeded and won't know until I take her
out again.

That sounds like the barrel adjuster. It's for fine tuning the
brakes or taking up some slack as new cables stretch and loosen.

Mtb brakes are supposed to come on instantly. There's supposed to
be little clearance. They are also made to operate with one or 2
fingers only. The other fingers are supposedto be grasping the
handlebar to keep the offroad bumps from knocking the bar out of
your hands.

Using a good set of these brakes on the road gives most riders
more stopping power than they need. It sounds like the same goes
for you too. Rather than changing the adjustment of the brakes I'd
recommend you try the one finger on the brakes to stop. Well
adjusted brakes are going to work predictably and that's what you
want when you gain experience with them.

It's always hard to avoid clamping hard on the brakes when
startled. Many people have gone over the handlebars from grabbing
not just mtb but any type of bicycle brakes too hard when
surprised.

Good to hear you're working at it. Keep upthe good work!

Doug
For email, a sense of wonder.

01-29-2004, 07:56 AM

On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 18:46:12 -0800, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Tom Keats)
wrote:
>I guess the Off[tm] season is when we've gotta spray insect repellent
>on us.

I may have been unhappy when that season was in full swing and I was
getting eaten alive, but right now I'm not sure I'd mind having an
Off[tm] season.
--
Rick Onanian