benphyr
Guru-me-not
Ahh. Laziness, the mother of invention and sister of efficiency.The turning was just me being cheeky to save walking back up the hill!
Vosadrian's V20 Journey - Australia
- Thread starter Bentsoup
- Start date
benphyr
Guru-me-not
The Great Wall (China) fits those criteria perfectly.What some people call limits, others call stepping stones
Another 15 minutes or so today. I got to a point where in a flatter area of the road I could do pedalling figure 8s. Not ideal because the road is a single car lane wide so the turns were tight. I started pulling myself more upright and slowly lowered myself until I was fully reclines. I feel I'm already making some ground... but going to force myself to spend a week doing drills and stuff before going on a real ride on a closed bike path (with other riders!!).
bladderhead
Zen MBB Master
Yes it is ideal. Learn the tight turns. And don't push it. What's the point of a bike if you are pushing it? It's just an inconvenient version of a handcart.
DocS
Guru
If you're riding with others, I would suggest you don't get in a paceline.
When I first took it out on the road, I stayed away from others, because sometimes, it seemed that for no reason at all, I would dart left or right... After a couple weeks, I was finally able to start riding in a more straight line...
Just remember, if you start to feel "wobbly" or unbalanced, sit up... the same is true for tighter turns... Siting up helps keep you balanced...
Blessings,
Rudy
When I first took it out on the road, I stayed away from others, because sometimes, it seemed that for no reason at all, I would dart left or right... After a couple weeks, I was finally able to start riding in a more straight line...
Just remember, if you start to feel "wobbly" or unbalanced, sit up... the same is true for tighter turns... Siting up helps keep you balanced...
Blessings,
Rudy
I agree. Especially going slow... I still occasionally shift left or right if I don't pay attention, after 3 years.
bladderhead
Zen MBB Master
The bike is looking for potholes.
No chance I will be trying to ride with others for a while. I just mean on a bike path that will have other riders on it.
I can now do loops up and down the hill close to me. I have worked out that it is actually good to push the steering from side to side with legs on the hill as a way to steer for balance. Before I had been fighting that with my arms. It seems that if you are toppling in one direction it is best to wait until the correct leg is pushing and then use that force to push the steering to catch the topple. I can also do fairly tight figure 8s, but my left hand turns are much worse than right. Anyway, will keep doing these drills for another week or so before I take it to the bike path.
I can now do loops up and down the hill close to me. I have worked out that it is actually good to push the steering from side to side with legs on the hill as a way to steer for balance. Before I had been fighting that with my arms. It seems that if you are toppling in one direction it is best to wait until the correct leg is pushing and then use that force to push the steering to catch the topple. I can also do fairly tight figure 8s, but my left hand turns are much worse than right. Anyway, will keep doing these drills for another week or so before I take it to the bike path.
ccf
Guru
Don’t sit up in a fast turn. One time I did that I lost rear-wheel traction and had a low-side crash.
ccf
Guru
I’m 178cm and got the large. It’s a little too high at the neckline for me. I have longer legs and shorter torso. I trimmed the top of it, and I’m happy with the result.
Hey guys,
After about 5 times out now I have gotten to the point were I can ride up and down this 3-5% narrow street doing tight turns at each end in each direction (though I am still pretty nervous on left tight turns and sometimes have to put my foot down so top falling into the turn). I did have a go at riding up the hill from my house which is steep (10-15%) for a few hundred metres. I was all over the road but made it up. Most riding so far has been slow. Not more than 20-30 seconds of stable riding before doing a tight turn. I feel I am OK at manouvering but will need work on stability on hills and not sure how I will go at speed. My questions is whether it is time to venture into the wild yet? I was planning on next going to a closed cycling path (no cars but a few other riders.... not busy) which is a few metres wide and has some tight turns and goes for 40km each way. Maybe start out with a 10-20km return? Am I ready?
After about 5 times out now I have gotten to the point were I can ride up and down this 3-5% narrow street doing tight turns at each end in each direction (though I am still pretty nervous on left tight turns and sometimes have to put my foot down so top falling into the turn). I did have a go at riding up the hill from my house which is steep (10-15%) for a few hundred metres. I was all over the road but made it up. Most riding so far has been slow. Not more than 20-30 seconds of stable riding before doing a tight turn. I feel I am OK at manouvering but will need work on stability on hills and not sure how I will go at speed. My questions is whether it is time to venture into the wild yet? I was planning on next going to a closed cycling path (no cars but a few other riders.... not busy) which is a few metres wide and has some tight turns and goes for 40km each way. Maybe start out with a 10-20km return? Am I ready?
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
If you can do the tight turns then I think you are ready. Just keep in mind that near other people you have to be extra careful. Slowly build up your speed and learn that even small actions you do will affect your handling, such as lightening your grip on only 1 side, slightly applying pressure to 1 side of the bars, leaning your head... All of those things are going to change your travel direction and will feel very strange at first. Once your brain has rewired stuff inside you'll be able to do those actions on purpose without your pucker factor going off the charts.
Yeah, the cycle path I use is probably the best cycle path in Australia... definately Sydney. Not the most scenic, but great quality isolated cycle path that you can ride very quickly (I have done it on my DF bike at just under 40kph average). It runs by a motorway and is almost 40km uninterrupted each way. It is so long that it is never that busy except a Saturday morning with good weather. It is fairly hilly, but nothing steeper than 10% and mostly under 5% and all fairly short (up to a couple minutes of climbing, but mostly 30 seconds). Also fairly technical corners (going through tunnels under the motorway exits etc.). It should be perfect to try it out. I'll just pick a time that is not very busy like a week night evening.
And is the best way to get stable at low speed steep hills just to go out and do it? I presume there is no drills you can do on a flat surface to prepare for that.
I think I'll keep the clipless pedals off for a while yet until I can do a few rides without having to catch myself on a tight left corner.
A question about the headrest. My bike came with the performance adjustable headrest but I decided to first try the standard headrest. I find when I adjust this so it supports the crook of my neck, that I am often having to tilt my head forward for visibility and balance. I am not that tall, so I have it in a fair way and that probably results in a more layed back head position. I feel I want my head more upright and not so layed back, but I can't see a way to achieve that adjustment with the standard headrest... Initially I went with the standard headrest to simplify the setting up... but I suspect I need to run the adjustable headrest to get my head more vertical. Anything I am missing on how to adjust the standard headrest?
And is the best way to get stable at low speed steep hills just to go out and do it? I presume there is no drills you can do on a flat surface to prepare for that.
I think I'll keep the clipless pedals off for a while yet until I can do a few rides without having to catch myself on a tight left corner.
A question about the headrest. My bike came with the performance adjustable headrest but I decided to first try the standard headrest. I find when I adjust this so it supports the crook of my neck, that I am often having to tilt my head forward for visibility and balance. I am not that tall, so I have it in a fair way and that probably results in a more layed back head position. I feel I want my head more upright and not so layed back, but I can't see a way to achieve that adjustment with the standard headrest... Initially I went with the standard headrest to simplify the setting up... but I suspect I need to run the adjustable headrest to get my head more vertical. Anything I am missing on how to adjust the standard headrest?
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
I am not sure about the S40, but for my V20, the closest I can get to perfect for me is with the performance adjustable headrest. I have to slide the bars all the way in, and then adjust the height of the headrest so that it is forcing my chin as far down as possible so I can (1) see where I am going, and (2) to not let air pass under the bottom edge of my glasses/lense. I am almost to the point of bending the headrest for that last bit of help.
DocS
Guru
Glad to hear that you're feeling a bit more comfy on the bike! Nobody can tell you if you're ready, but I rode in a parking lot once, then headed out alone... I think my first ride was a pretty uneventful 10 or so miles. I twitched some, especially at slower speeds, but for me, speed helped with stability...
The faster I rode, the more stable I felt and more comfortable...
As for hills, my strategy is to attack them (I know not everyone does this). I gain speed until I hit it and use momentum to help carry me up, continuing to spin and downshift as I go.
I use the Suspension Headrest https://cruzbike.com/products/suspension-adjustable-headrest and have never tried the stock one.
I adjust it so that it's at the base of my head. I tend not to use it when climbing, sprinting or on rough patches of road (Famous Texas Chip-seal).
If you decide to go, just play... have fun and let your body/brain get in sync. As you ride, you'll gain confidence.
Mashing the pedals (especially at first) causes pedal steer, so try to spin... You'll figure out how to use your power later... I'm not the best spinner, but my average cadence is something like 87-89rpm.
I pray blessings on your first real trek brother!
Blessings,
Rudy
The faster I rode, the more stable I felt and more comfortable...
As for hills, my strategy is to attack them (I know not everyone does this). I gain speed until I hit it and use momentum to help carry me up, continuing to spin and downshift as I go.
I use the Suspension Headrest https://cruzbike.com/products/suspension-adjustable-headrest and have never tried the stock one.
I adjust it so that it's at the base of my head. I tend not to use it when climbing, sprinting or on rough patches of road (Famous Texas Chip-seal).
If you decide to go, just play... have fun and let your body/brain get in sync. As you ride, you'll gain confidence.
Mashing the pedals (especially at first) causes pedal steer, so try to spin... You'll figure out how to use your power later... I'm not the best spinner, but my average cadence is something like 87-89rpm.
I pray blessings on your first real trek brother!
Blessings,
Rudy
chicorider
Zen MBB Master
I am also not very tall. I put a bend in the standard headrest to bring it more forward (after building a jig for my vice, so that the tubing would bend instead of folding). The pad hits the knob at the base of my skull and puts my head in a more upright position. I've ridden this way for years now. Good view of the road and good comfort.
Don1
Guru
Swap to the adjustable Headrest and set it like the boys said. Go out go slow (20-25k), you'll be nervous, relax your neck shoulders. Relax your grip. Don't go too fast until your brain gets it. Sounds like that bike path is recumbent heaven. You'll be amazed the aero carry you have going over lumps compared to your roadbike. If you get wobbly, drop your feet and sit up.
jond
Zen MBB Master
Headrest to get your head more vertical eyes not looking up at the sky let the headrest out. Sounds counter intuitive but it’s correct. On the vendetta mm matter. Doing turns low speed laid back move your head and outside shoulder to the outside of turn. Hope it stops raining. Also recline the seat now.
