Learning to ride again...

R

RoyR

New Member
Making progress learning to ride my new Quest, but I'm not quite there yet.

I seem to still be fighting the bike. Yesterday I noticed that I had twisted the handlebar out of alignment with the front wheel somehow ( I did not crash). The bar is tight and I know I mounted it properly. I put enough torque into the bar, fighting my feet, I guess, to move the bar out of plumb.

Maybe that's why my riding had been, errrrrrr, somewhat less than smooth.

Comments/suggestions welcome.

I think I'm on the verge of a breakthrough...I'm not a natural athlete and these things take time with me!

--Roy
 
castlerobber

castlerobber

Zen MBB Master
Another newbie

I've had my Q451 about three weeks. I had the same problem with the handlebar twisting the first day or two, but I may not have had mine tight enough.

I try to get out for 20-30 minutes every day to practice. I've graduated from the school parking lot, to the half-mile paved circle around the baseball fields at the park, to easy rides around the low-traffic neighborhood near the park. There's a slight hill on one block, which is getting noticeably easier to ride up, and less wobbly to ride down.

I'm not quite ready to put my clipless pedals on yet; maybe in a week or two. I did swap the Q's stock pedals for a pair of mountain bike platform pedals, which has helped with keeping my feet on the pedals. I've been able to lengthen the boom about an inch from where I started, thus lowering the BB, which has helped with balance. Riding in higher gears, once I got the DualDrive clickbox attached correctly, has helped with stability as well.

My goal is to be comfortable enough handling the Q to ride at least 25 miles at a charity ride in mid-September. Most of the ride is on the Natchez Trace, with long, gradual hills, but there are some steep hills in the couple of miles between the start and the Trace. I'll definitely be at the back of the pack for those.

The breakthrough will come. From all I've read here, it just takes time, and making sure everything is adjusted properly for you.
 
L

lalbander

New Member
keep your mind on your feet

I had the same thing when on my first real ride.
I fought the bike so hard that I twisted the handlebars and fell off!

Then I saw the video someone had posted of an old Russian guy who said "steer with your feet"
"Aha! he has something there"
So now I am focussing on the feet and holding the bars lightly.

I am putting in a lot of time in the car park.

It may sound a bit "Luke Skywalker" but I just pedal and don't try to control the direction of the bike with my hands.
I'm only a beginner but I feel its working.

Of course you have to make some compromises on the road or cyclepaths!



 
Robert Holler

Robert Holler

Administrator
Staff member
Being very tense makes any

Being very tense makes any bike (and particularly recumbents) difficult to ride. A big key is to relax and trust that after you are rolling a bit the bike will want to stay upright.

I taught my daughter recently at the Portland Human Power Challenge to ride a Q26 the first time by having her get a "jogging start" and then sitting in the seat and just rolling, feet dangling to the sides, having her feel the balance and steering. (while relaxing)

After a handful of times doing this, I had her then lift her feet to the pedals and just coast for a bit.

Last, I had her get a jogging start, lift her feet, coast, and after relaxing a bit lightly start pedaling. I told her to not think of "fighting" the steering, but think of her arms and feet "working together like a team." Don't muscle it, get the upper and lower body naturally working together.

She was very quickly riding with great success. The next morning at the races she pulled a running start 200 meters at 18 MPH.

Robert

 
ReklinedRider

ReklinedRider

Zen MBB Master
@robbins4:

Another good ride (even though it's in August. In the Delta!!) is the Bikes, Blues, and Bayous ride, in and around Greenwood. Mostly flat. Several distances. Great local support. I plan to be there, either on Sofrider or Silvio, depending on how far my little group decides to go for. Check out their web page. Hope to see you there!

KM
 
castlerobber

castlerobber

Zen MBB Master
@Abuelo

I might just have to try that. My kids' pediatrician rode it last year and had nothing but good things to say about it (other than the heat). It would be nice to meet another Cruzbiker, too! We're also new Kettwiesel owners, having bought a used one recently.

...It just occurred to me... I think someone was telling me about you the other day. Do you happen to know a guy named Monty, whose wife works for MACM?
 
ReklinedRider

ReklinedRider

Zen MBB Master
@robbins4

Yes, Monty and Jan. We go to the same church. Good people and avid riders.

We love the Kettwiesels. Hope y'all can make the BBB ride. That is where i saw my first 'in person' Cruzbike....a guy from Louisiana on a Silvio passed me like i was sitting still. So i figured there must be something to it!

Welcome to the Cruzbike family. Let us know if you decide to ride in Greenwood; i've never seen a Quest. If not we'll look for you on the trails.
 
castlerobber

castlerobber

Zen MBB Master
Slow but steady

Rode a little over eight miles today, my first time to try the Q on one of my regular road routes. Swapped out the mountain bike platform pedals for PD-M324s--clipless on one side, flat with Power Grips on the other. Rode part of the way with one foot in the Power Grip, the other clipped in; and the rest (nervously) with both feet clipped in. Averaged 12 mph, about midway between my road bike and tadpole trike on that course.

Felt pretty good, except for tense shoulders. I suppose that will ease up eventually?
 
castlerobber

castlerobber

Zen MBB Master
@Abuelo

I've had the pleasure of working with Jan for nearly 25 years.

Seriously considering the 20-mile option at BBB. We may even bring the Kettwiesel so my husband can ride the Tour de Grand.

I never saw a Cruzbike in person until mine arrived a month ago. Met a guy from the Tupelo area a couple of years ago who told me he has a Sofrider. He offered to let me try it when I'm in the area, but I never got around to it.
 
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