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Date: 05 Feb 2005 16:47:22
From: Steve Knight
Subject: Do I want to ride my wedgie again?
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Well today I finally picked up my nice Italian racing bike from the shop where
it has been since I got hit by a car about 3 months ago. I have been riding my
bent that the insurance settlement paid for since then.
I always had some pain in my crotch from it even with 6 different saddles. Plus
since it was a racing bike I had to carry everything on my back. Plus it was
pretty stiff and rough riding for a commuter. I had debated on getting a touring
bike or the bent. Well the bent won out.
I got on the bike and it was like crap I am falling forward (G) it really felt
weird. The crank arms are the same length but it felt like I was on one of those
itty bitty bikes that the kids sometimes ride.
Plus a problem when I first got it and I thought was my shoes is that my feet
tend to tip off the regular petals. They still try to do that sometimes even in
my cycling shoes but of course they can’t.
I wanted to have it at work and ride it on errands but I doubt I can really ride
it without changing my shoes. Plus I doubt my butt can handle the seat unless I
ride a lot again.
I used to feel pretty one with that bike though but now it just does not feel
all that good. So should I sell it? there is a lot of dings in the paint but
other then that it is in great shape and has almost new wheels.
--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.
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Date: 07 Feb 2005 11:08:29
From: Dave Larrington
Subject: Re: Do I want to ride my wedgie again?
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Steve Knight wrote:
> So should I sell it? there is a lot of dings
> in the paint but other then that it is in great shape and has almost
> new wheels.
On the odd days when I need to use an upright - usually those involving
riding on the Regent's Canal / Lea Navigation towpaths - I've been using a
mountain bike, meaning that the tourer has been sitting at the back of the
shed feeling sorry for itself. So I recently converted it to a fixed wheel,
and have used it a couple of times for commuting. It's curiously
addictive...
--
Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
World Domination?
Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the
floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)
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Date: 06 Feb 2005 12:42:49
From: LioNiNoiL_a t_Y a h 0 0_d 0 t_c 0 m
Subject: Re: Do I want to ride my wedgie again?
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Steve Knight wrote:
> Well today I finally picked up my nice Italian racing bike
> from the shop where it has been since I got hit by a car
> about 3 months ago.
> ...
> since it was a racing bike I had to carry everything on my back.
I occasionally see commuters wearing a big backpack on high-zoot racing
bikes, even during the summer when it's 115F here in the Vegas Valley,
always a "WTF?!" moment.
> So should I sell it?
If you're not a racer, that would seem to be the wise course.
--
"Bicycling is a healthy and manly pursuit with much
to recommend it, and, unlike other foolish crazes,
it has not died out." -- The Daily Telegraph (1877)
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Date: 06 Feb 2005 17:57:48
From: Steve Knight
Subject: Re: Do I want to ride my wedgie again?
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>> So should I sell it?
>
>If you're not a racer, that would seem to be the wise course.
I just got attached too it. it is a cool bike and nice and nimble and fast. I
miss the feeling on a good day when the bike felt like it would zip out from
underneath me because it accelerated so well. or on a good day 0-60 crossing the
street sitting down.
--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.
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Date: 07 Feb 2005 03:05:42
From:
Subject: Re: Do I want to ride my wedgie again?
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On 6-Feb-2005, Steve Knight <stevek@knight-toolworks.com > wrote:
> >> So should I sell it?
> >
> >If you're not a racer, that would seem to be the wise course.
>
> I just got attached too it. it is a cool bike and nice and nimble and
> fast. I
> miss the feeling on a good day when the bike felt like it would zip out
> from
> underneath me because it accelerated so well. or on a good day 0-60
> crossing the
> street sitting down.
I know what I would do and that would be to keep it.
First, as you know, you don't have to be a racer to enjoy the unique
experience of riding a quality road racing bike. It's a quite different
experience from riding recumbents, and unless you have a disability that
prevents you from riding road bikes then there's no reason you can't enjoy
the riding experience provided by both bikes. I advocate bike diversity
since they all have their own unique characteristics and ride quality. Like
high quality wooden planes there's a different feel to a scrub plane and
smoothing plane. Both have their own use and both give a different feel
when used.
Finally, the resale value is nearly nil for older road bikes. That's the
main reason I have so many of them - they are so inexpensively acquired it's
hard for me to turn them down.
skip
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Date: 07 Feb 2005 19:09:27
From: Steve Knight
Subject: Re: Do I want to ride my wedgie again?
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>Finally, the resale value is nearly nil for older road bikes. That's the
>main reason I have so many of them - they are so inexpensively acquired it's
>hard for me to turn them down.
the thing is if I am to ride it on a regular basis I have to spend 50.00 on
pedals and 48 one the pedal extensions I have been needing for a long time. my
heels just touch the crank arms. so there is 100.00 and I have to change my
shoes to ride it. then I had planned on making it a triple to make hills a bit
easier.
Actually I don't think it is a problem to sell it the shop that fixed it
mainly sells used rose bikes. most of the components are pretty new on it.
plus it really hurts my rear end (G) it took quite a bit of riding to get used
to it and it was never great just ok.
--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.
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Date: 08 Feb 2005 16:11:55
From:
Subject: Re: Do I want to ride my wedgie again?
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On 7-Feb-2005, Steve Knight <stevek@knight-toolworks.com > wrote:
> the thing is if I am to ride it on a regular basis I have to spend 50.00
> on
> pedals and 48 one the pedal extensions I have been needing for a long
> time. my
> heels just touch the crank arms. so there is 100.00 and I have to change
> my
> shoes to ride it. then I had planned on making it a triple to make hills a
> bit
> easier.
> Actually I don't think it is a problem to sell it the shop that fixed it
> mainly sells used rose bikes. most of the components are pretty new on it.
> plus it really hurts my rear end (G) it took quite a bit of riding to get
> used
> to it and it was never great just ok.
Hmmmm.....I reread your original post and now I wonder if this is the right
bike for you. It sounds to me as if the bike is not sized correctly for you
or there are some other major fit issues at play. Your butt shouldn't be
hurting for more than a few days at the beginning of the riding season or
after you start riding again after an extended absence. After trying six
saddles it would be a good bet that's not the problem. Most likely you are
riding too upright (like on one of those so called comfort bikes) and are
concentrating most of your weight on your butt. On a road bike your weight
should be distributed over the trunk of your body, borne priily by your
arms and legs, with you arms and legs also acting as shock absorbers. The
saddle should basically act as "perch" or support for your butt - not a seat
that you "sit" on. Ask the folks at you bike shop to check out your bike
sizing, setup, & fit to identify the problem.
Not sure about your pedal / shoe issues. There's a benefit to keeping all
that as compatible as practical. The same shoes should work for both bikes,
with the exception being for off road biking that would require a more
robust shoe.
Converting to a triple? Generally this isn't a practical conversion on a
racing bike because of its tight geometry.
Italian racing bikes are what the are and attempts to convert them into
beasts of burden or commuter bikes are seldom successful. Of all the bikes,
I think they are best left as they are. You can get an old hybrid, mt.
bike, or tourer for almost nothing and make a neat commuter that you could
use at certain times rather than your recumbent. Bike components, bits, and
pieces are easily and inexpensively available on eBay.
Here's an example of a commuter bike made up from a 80's hybrid:
http://www.geocities.com/cochise_20009/features/rk.html
But don't expect a bike like this to have the tautness, quickness, and rapid
acceleration that you feel on your racing bike.
skip
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Date: 08 Feb 2005 09:15:17
From: Steve Knight
Subject: Re: Do I want to ride my wedgie again?
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>Hmmmm.....I reread your original post and now I wonder if this is the right
>bike for you. It sounds to me as if the bike is not sized correctly for you
>or there are some other major fit issues at play. Your butt shouldn't be
>hurting for more than a few days at the beginning of the riding season or
>after you start riding again after an extended absence. After trying six
>saddles it would be a good bet that's not the problem.
my sitbones where fine but there was always pressure on my crotch. this could be
because of my weight as I started at 265 and got down to about 213 while riding
it. but actually I found going upright helped more. I could not handle the bars
lower then the seat. I think the bike was the right size but I am just not
suited to a racing bike. it always gave me heartburn to ride it bent over.
that's something the bent took care of.
>Converting to a triple? Generally this isn't a practical conversion on a
>racing bike because of its tight geometry.
>
yep this was why after the accident I was thinking of getting a touring bike
though then I got more money then planned on.
>Italian racing bikes are what the are and attempts to convert them into
>beasts of burden or commuter bikes are seldom successful.
yes this is what I was thinking and the reason to sell it. I sure loved how it
handled but even when I get skinny it may not work for me.
>
>But don't expect a bike like this to have the tautness, quickness, and rapid
>acceleration that you feel on your racing bike.
this is what I miss on my bent and I can't afford one that comes close to this.
well I can get used to that (G) a heavier bent will give me more of a workout.
--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.
|
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Date: 06 Feb 2005 17:12:02
From: nget
Subject: Re: Do I want to ride my wedgie again?
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Steve Knight Wrote:
> Well today I finally picked up my nice Italian racing bike from the sho
> where
> it has been since I got hit by a car about 3 months ago. I have bee
> riding my
> bent that the insurance settlement paid for since then.
> I always had some pain in my crotch from it even with 6 differen
> saddles. Plus
> since it was a racing bike I had to carry everything on my back. Plu
> it was
> pretty stiff and rough riding for a commuter. I had debated on gettin
> a touring
> bike or the bent. Well the bent won out.
> I got on the bike and it was like crap I am falling forward (G) i
> really felt
> weird. The crank arms are the same length but it felt like I was on on
> of those
> itty bitty bikes that the kids sometimes ride.
> Plus a problem when I first got it and I thought was my shoes is tha
> my feet
> tend to tip off the regular petals. They still try to do that sometime
> even in
> my cycling shoes but of course they can’t.
> I wanted to have it at work and ride it on errands but I doubt I ca
> really ride
> it without changing my shoes. Plus I doubt my butt can handle the sea
> unless I
> ride a lot again.
> I used to feel pretty one with that bike though but now it just doe
> not feel
> all that good. So should I sell it? there is a lot of dings in th
> paint but
> other then that it is in great shape and has almost new wheels.
>
> --
> Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
> Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
> See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and orderin
> instructions.
Sure you want to ride your old race bike but a few miles on the roa
usually that is enough to bring back the true memories of why it ha
all the dust on it.These old up rights do good to stay in their corner
and just look good.Most of us can never go back to something that w
have to work at to be anywhere near comfortable on.Don't stress ove
the past but move on to better things
--
nget
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Date: 06 Feb 2005 10:24:39
From: Steve Knight
Subject: Re: Do I want to ride my wedgie again?
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>Sure you want to ride your old race bike but a few miles on the road
>usually that is enough to bring back the true memories of why it had
>all the dust on it.These old up rights do good to stay in their corners
>and just look good.Most of us can never go back to something that we
>have to work at to be anywhere near comfortable on.Don't stress over
>the past but move on to better things.
I just wish I could afford the bent that would equal the weight and handling.
but selling it would not get me that bike (G)
--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.
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