New Sofrider owner log stardate 14 Feb 2012

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GregFork

Member
Day one - how the hell am I ever going to ride this thing wobble city walked more than rode.

Day two - started the same but want the he'll I'm pedaling quick hill change down O no a corner and a hill ! Pedal pedal keep going around the corner I go, change up don't stop pedaling down the hill, are car coming don't loose it now! Made it to the bottom no cars try u turn (what the, are you mad) I made it pedal O no leg down up hill krap foot ready brain on push right foot push left hand of I go fail, try again relax right foot left hand left foot right hand of I go don't panic keep pedaling hill change down pedal pedal..... You get the picture 200% better than day one.... Two laps around my coarse and Im done, why am I so stuffed after 10-15 minutes of home.

Hope day 3 goes as well :)

One thing I found is it easier to keep my balance if when I stop pedaling keep my feet at 6 & 12 o'clock.

Greg

 
G

GregFork

Member
Day three - 50 minute ride

Day three - 50 minute ride tonight with lots of corner and u turns getting there.
Found front delts where getting hammered handle bars and seat to close so I moved the seat back and turned the handle bars around see if the next ride releaves the shoulder problem, no sore butt :)
Also swapped pedals over from my mountain bike my feet kept slipping down the pedals but mountain bike ones have crocodile teeth should stop that.
Looking good for ride around the river Saturday

Greg
 
G

GregFork

Member
Day four - rest
Day five -

Day four - rest

Day five - new seat position not as good, on full leg extension the back of my legs where cliping the front edge of the seat and started to get pins and needle in legs and not quite as stable as before.

I've reset to original position.

Any ball park idear on arm position/extension that I should be looking for?

Greg

 
G

GregFork

Member
I can't manage to get my arms

I can't manage to get my arms to that position, I've tried seat bacl but can't get the back rest in a good position for me than my knees start getting to close the the bars.

So I've order ...

See how I go with that
 
G

GregFork

Member
Quick up date ...
I'm able to

Quick up date ...

I'm able to pedal straight off for a stop without to much hassle even uphill.

I can manage to grab my drink bottle now without having to stop due to unbalance, even managed a wave or two, without kissing the ground :)

Some days I seem in control only to find the next day I'm not so good ! frustrating thing.

I was going to do my around the river run Saturday but Friday's ride I could just manage to stay on my side of the cycle path so gave that idea up for another time.

Still getting pins and needles in my legs after my ride last night (45minute ride) I can still feel the lip of the seat as I pedal ... I'll try moving the seat back a bit more but this may bring back knee clearance problem again (hopefully my above adaptor will help when it turns up)

I find it tricky to keep a straight line especially when changing gears you really have to get the pedal rate and speed just right.

Still not a relaxing ride yet, I find I'm concentrating on staying straight and not wobbling to much into the traffic, I'm sure it will come in time but mentally and physically tiring at the moment.

Greg
 
John Tolhurst

John Tolhurst

Zen MBB Master
Thanks for the update

Thanks for the update, Greg,

The lapses are your memory of how to ride a regular bike jumping in. Just with time, this will abate.

You can move the seat in two ways. Move the seat mount on the frame, or the seat on the mount. So its possible to have less raise in the front, and still have the seat forward.
 
G

GregFork

Member
Hi Guys ...
Re:set the seat

Hi Guys ...

Re:set the seat base plate all the way back and set the seat plate one hole back from full forward and the seat seems flatter at the front, but on my ride I was constantly resetting my feet they where slipping down (even with spiked pedal) so moved the boom a bit closer shortening my stroke helped a bit, ended up moving my feet so the ball of my foot was above the pedal centre line seemed to help them stay put.

I'm leaving this setting for a few rides see if I settle into it, if I change thing after every ride I'll never be sure if that setting worked but didn't give myself time to adjust (my body position)

Still haven't received the above adjustable stem end, this may help with everything as my arms are still to closed in and with more extension may help hold me in the seat.

Greg
 
G

GregFork

Member
Still having trouble with my

Still having trouble with my feet slipping down the pedal, spend more time resetting them than riding.

So ive moved the seat base forward one bolt hole and left the seat as flat as possible most forward hole, hoping that with me leaning back more it will help keep more pressure on the pedals, see what happens.

Also when turning does anybody else have the feeling the back wheel is fishtailing ? or is this a quirk of the bike style ?

Greg
 
John Tolhurst

John Tolhurst

Zen MBB Master
leg length?

I clip in, the feet can't slide down the pedal then so makes it easier, but many don't.

When you adjust the seat, do you also compensate by adjusting the boom? It could be a characteristic of a boom set too short that the foot is made to be very verticle. I think for many the pedals are not vertical. I can't see what you are doing, so just a thought.
 
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GregFork

Member
Hi John,
I had the boom a bit

Hi John,

I had the boom a bit closer to see if it would help but reset it during last part of my ride.

It's looking like clip in's maybe the only solution, but haven't given up yet.

I find sometimes I'm curling my toes to help hold my feet, just another thing I need to keep my mind on not to do.

I was going to go on the RAC bike hike but 8am start and not wonting to loose it in the middle on a pack and take everybody out so maybe next year.

Greg

 
G

GregFork

Member
Still can't get the seat

Still can't get the seat position right, getting pin and needles from under side of my legs being compressed on the seat lip on full extension, maybe double cushion might help.

I had a go at turning the seat base plate around but where the back and base of the seat join it's bending the metal and would have to be forced into position didn't wont that.

If the ramp's unsweep was on a lesser angle would help or wedge shims between frame and bracket, no sure what to do,

Greg

 
John Tolhurst

John Tolhurst

Zen MBB Master
Come around for a fitting,

Come around for a fitting, Greg. We are lucky to be in the same city. I'll put you on the trainer so we can have a proper look at it.
John
 
G

GregFork

Member
Quick update ...
Finally

Quick update ...

Finally after Australia post sending my parcel back to the sender, I received my above adjustable stem/yoke thingy !

I'll fit it tonight and check it out.

Also shelled out $200 for clip in's, tried them out and they are much better, still getting a bit off numbness but more like 40-50 minutes into the ride but slowly getting there, may try leaning the seat back a bit more helpfully transfer some weight off my butt
wink_smile.gif


Greg



 
G

GregFork

Member
Hi All,
As you can see I've

Hi All,

As you can see I've finally got the adjustable yoke, I called into Clark Rubber and grabbed a foam seat pad about 40-50mm thick and lumbar support and cut it into 1/3 & 2/3 thick pieces, but after 60 minutes using the smaller piece I removed it and found it better without it, the extra seat foam seemed to help still getting numb bum but not as bad after 100+ minutes.
I'm starting to think it's me not the bike, so looking like 5 minute break every hour or so.


The lumbar support is from a dense foam inserts for lawn bowls to store there balls (no jokes ok) and they gave me the round piece they cutout, there about 100x100mm then I glued them together to make 100mm od x 200mm long piece.

Greg
 
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