Ooow! My Legs!

[Rick Harker]

Hi guys,

I've read elsewhere about training new muscles when bent riding.

I went for a 50 Km ride on my V2 yesterday following a 20 Km familiarity ride the previous day.
Although I wasn't pushing hard, more of a getting the feel ride, my legs felt like I had ridden twice the distance.
It wasn't until close to home I also realized that I was tending to push my toes forward to keep my feet on the pedals. This also caused my legs to lengthen and bump onto the handlebars.

Wondering if clipless pedals may be the answer and how is the transition period for those that use them.

regards,

Rick.

 

[Kamatu]

I've never ridden clipless (all we had in the bad old days was cages or spiked pedals that dug into your sneakers), but I'm planning on trying out the Power Grips first before opting for anything more expensive. Only issue I see with them is they might tend to end up strap side down, causing problems getting the second foot in.

 

[Doug Burton]

Hi RIck,

Clipless pedals help, but try this first...

A lot of folks set the TFT up too long at first, causing you to stretch your calves. This is where the "pointy-toes" feeling frequently comes from.

Try bringing the top tube adjustment in about an inch to 2 inches and ride the bike again...

Be well,

Doug

 

[Mark B]

I vote clipless pedals. If they were not all they're cracked up to be, they would have fallen out of favor years ago. Sooner or later, you're going to go, if you continue to ride.

Resistance is futile.

Know that.

Mark

 

[John Tolhurst]

I hate riding without being clipped in, as my technique is now conditioned for it. And clipping in brings greater balance to the whole set up. When you clip in and pull as well as push, you reduce the tendency for left right ocilation of the steering and you notice instead a tendency for the whole bike frame to lean left and right, which you are more easily able to balance with your arms. I became a far better rider once I clipped in.

Make sure you don't make the mistake I did, with dual platform and cleated pedals, in combination with dual walking shoe and cleated shoe. This is a mistake because the shoe binds on the platform of the pedal and so you don't always get unclipped when you think you will. :roll: But other than that, its a BIG plus.

For an emergency release, I just move my leg out and down to the ground and the cleat releases in that single motion, for either Shimano spds road shoes and pedals and for Shimano spd mtb style cleats.

Just think, if you had taken longer to learn the technique, you might not have gotten any leg pain! :geek:

 

[Mark B]

Rick Harker wrote: Hi guys,

I've read elsewhere about training new muscles when bent riding.

I was thinking about this post earlier... The thing I remember when I first went recumbent were butt cramps. You have not lived life until your butt cheek cramps! :shock: After a long day of riding, I can also get it pretty bad in the calves. But, you will develop a sick spin on a recumbent. You have to.

Mark

 

[Rick Harker]

Hi Guys,

Hindsight is a wonderful thing if only it could be remembered first. "No pain no gain".

Doug, if I shorten the TFT just 1 more inch my knees hit the bars. If I slacken my leg angle they hit the brake levers. At the moment I'm shifting combinations of seat, bars, stems to get a little extra clearance. I may need a shorter head stem or reverse the current one but it looks a little cramped that way. By the way, where did you get your barsfrom that you like in the photos?

John, I'm a little confused about the combination of pedals/shoes you're talking of. On my other bikes I use Shimano clipless pedals and Shimano MTB style shoes. I was thinking of getting the dual platform pedals, is this the one you're talking about?

And... Butt cramps!!! wooh! that would hurt and what if that occurred whilst riding. Imagine the thoughts of onlookers???

Regards,

Rick.

 

[John Tolhurst]

I like to use spd pedals with no surrounding platform, and mtb style shoes. That way I can click in and out positively.

 

[Rick Harker]

I see what you mean.
If you're clipped in with the surrounding frame around the clip it may not smoothly come out... hmmm!
Might just borrow from the other bike and try that out.

Thanks John.

Rick.

 

[drider]

Clipless pedals will smooth out the ride and gain you some power on the hill climbs (the hardest part of riding a cruzbike). I use SPD compatible commuter shoes with axiom pedals and have throughly enjoyed them on the cruzbike as well as any of the diamond backs I used to ride. When the seat is adjustred well for your body and you are clipped in you will find there is also very little butt cramping if any at all.

 

[Mark B]

drider wrote: Clipless pedals will smooth out the ride and gain you some power on the hill climbs (the hardest part of riding a cruzbike). I use SPD compatible commuter shoes with axiom pedals and have throughly enjoyed them on the cruzbike as well as any of the diamond backs I used to ride. When the seat is adjustred well for your body and you are clipped in you will find there is also very little butt cramping if any at all.

Drider,

I think you're talking about recumbutt and I don't get any of that. What I'm talking about are muscle cramps, from overuse. When I first got recumbent and was really and truly spinning, it makes you use your hamstring and glutes more than an upright. I had a few episodes of butt cramps early into it. I think now I could crack walnuts with my butt. Not that I would, and who would want to eat those? :shock: :lol: :lol:

Mark

 

[JonB]

I'm sure someone would pay good money to see something like that. The internet is a strange place.

 

[Mark B]

JonB wrote: I'm sure someone would pay good money to see something like that. The internet is a strange place.

Where do I sign up? :roll: :lol: :lol:

Mark

 

[MrSteve]

Mark B wrote:
I think you're talking about recumbutt and I don't get any of that. What I'm talking about are muscle cramps, from overuse. When I first got recumbent and was really and truly spinning, it makes you use your hamstring and glutes more than an upright. I had a few episodes of butt cramps early into it. I think now I could crack walnuts with my butt. Not that I would, and who would want to eat those? :shock: :lol: :lol:

Mark

Try to abstain from cracking black walnuts.
Not only are they very difficult to crack, but they effectively dye skin.
Permanently...until the dyed skin wears off.

Gee, this interweb really is a strange place....

-Steve

 

[Mark B]

yakmurph wrote: Gee, this interweb really is a strange place....

I say we blame Al Gore. He invented it, you know.

Mark