Watch out! Grandpa Gibson's got a new bike
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 522
Bikes: Fuji Rubaix 1.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Watch out! Grandpa Gibson's got a new bike
I purchased a Trek FX 7.6 last week and took it on a few trainer spins the past few days. The weather was nice today so I thought I'd try out my new wheels. Wow! I haven't ridden a bike in over forty years. Everything went fine going to the trail I've used for walking for 35 years. However that slope down on a bike is a real thriller! Before I knew it I was screaming when the trail changed to dirt and stones.... then I got to muddy ruts It was 1.5 miles of sheer hell trying to remember how to control this runaway machine until I reached the other end. I quickly got on a side street and everything was fine. Fascinating how much of a shock it was to my balance and reactions. After fifteen minutes taking the turns gradually and re-learning shifting I got the hang of it. I should have rode the asphalt roads first a while. The seat was not uncomfortable since I replaced it with a wider and slightly softer model. Despite having used an elliptic for seven years I was huffing and puffing on even the slight hills. I have a long way to go.
What a blast. Can't wait for tomorrow's ride.
What a blast. Can't wait for tomorrow's ride.
#3
Time for a change.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Posts: 19,913
Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
Stay on the road till you get used to riding again. Little rocks and soft sand etc can make trails dangerous.
Then all you have to get used to are Hills-wind- rain and PIE.
Then all you have to get used to are Hills-wind- rain and PIE.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 522
Bikes: Fuji Rubaix 1.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#5
Senior Member
I'll send you my GoPro if you promise to do that ride again and tape it.
__________________
Momento mori, amor fati.
Momento mori, amor fati.
#6
Life is good
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Not far from the Withlacoochee Trail. 🚴🏻
Posts: 18,208
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey Helix Pro
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 522 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
Do you have a smartphone?
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 522
Bikes: Fuji Rubaix 1.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This is so much fun. I need to change the stem to a greater angle to get my hands up higher; my fingers in my right hand go numb..it's just a circulation peculiarity of my right hand.
Yes, I have a smartphone. I keep it in the pouch under/behind my seat. I'm struggling with the darn Bontranger Node 1.1. Couldn't get it to start today. I thought I had it figured out. Darn.
#8
Senior Member
Bones heal. Chicks dig scars.
Glory is forever.
Glory is forever.
__________________
Momento mori, amor fati.
Momento mori, amor fati.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Wichita, KS.
Posts: 861
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 167 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
5 Posts
No thanks but I scared myself again today. I toured the outer limits of our neighborhood and finally went back on the sidewalk coming down Wakefield Chapel road...the asphalt was really bumpy and cracked running along my wheels' path. That went fine until near the bottom of the hill. The sidewalk turned into a hard gravel foot path. The front tires went sliding to the right and left. A woman walking along in front of me must have heard the crunching of the tires and looked around. Apparently the sight of an old geezer with a look of terror on his face prompted her to step back off the path. Thank you! Thank you! The path back home followed a major road. Fortunately it was asphalt paved but really steep. I was in my lowest gear peddling like mad barely making way when I stalled. I had to walk the bike to the top of the hill, but no one saw, thank goodness!
This is so much fun. I need to change the stem to a greater angle to get my hands up higher; my fingers in my right hand go numb..it's just a circulation peculiarity of my right hand.
Yes, I have a smartphone. I keep it in the pouch under/behind my seat. I'm struggling with the darn Bontranger Node 1.1. Couldn't get it to start today. I thought I had it figured out. Darn.
This is so much fun. I need to change the stem to a greater angle to get my hands up higher; my fingers in my right hand go numb..it's just a circulation peculiarity of my right hand.
Yes, I have a smartphone. I keep it in the pouch under/behind my seat. I'm struggling with the darn Bontranger Node 1.1. Couldn't get it to start today. I thought I had it figured out. Darn.
FYI - I also got some bar ends that allow multiple hand positions
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 522
Bikes: Fuji Rubaix 1.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My numbness has to do with the arteries in my wrist. Any flexion upwards cuts the circulation off. The way the LBS set up my saddle and bars I find myself putting a lot of weight on my hands. It also happens while sleeping. My left hand is ok. Thanks for the suggestion though. I bought and installed an adjustable stem today and set it full up. We'll see how that works and then maybe let it down incrementally. I'll then buy a fixed one once I determine the right angle.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Douglasville, Ga
Posts: 97
Bikes: 1997 Bianchi Trofeo - 2014? Bianchi Pista Via Condotti - 1977/78 Peugeot U08 - 2010 Quintana Roo CD 0.1 - 2014 Surly Pugsley
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Well, you are ok in my book! You keep coming back. Everything will work out. Enjoy your Trek!
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 522
Bikes: Fuji Rubaix 1.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Well, the Ergon GP2-L did the trick. No more numb fingers. So I put the bike on the trainer today and started to work on my cadence. My knee doctor (two arthroscopic surgeries for torn meniscus) warned me not to to any quad extensions or squats because of incipient arthritis. While obsessing last night I was surprised to find that my 'casual' cadence was putting more load on my knees. I was doing mid fifties. I did 40 minutes at 72 cpm (10 miles @ 15 mph on the Trek Node 1.1) and guess what went numb? This is my second seat.
It's fascinating at the variations in techniques, all of which are defended vigorously. One says tilt it forward, the other says tilt it back a bit. I did the latter and at a half hour I went numb. Actually the sit bones, the most common complaint it seems, aren't the problem; the numbness is. So, I guess I'll have to do what everyone has done and try a few more out. Sigh.
Rich
It's fascinating at the variations in techniques, all of which are defended vigorously. One says tilt it forward, the other says tilt it back a bit. I did the latter and at a half hour I went numb. Actually the sit bones, the most common complaint it seems, aren't the problem; the numbness is. So, I guess I'll have to do what everyone has done and try a few more out. Sigh.
Rich
Last edited by Rich Gibson; 07-28-13 at 04:18 PM.
#16
Senior Member
Who needs pics! I can very well imagine you screaming down the hill! I'm told that in golf it's the one great shot you make that brings you back to the golf course again and again, wanting to experience the feeling of making that great shot again. I think cycling is the same in many ways, there's always something special about each ride that brings me back the next day, and the next ...
Good for you for getting back on the bike after 40 years!
Good for you for getting back on the bike after 40 years!
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 522
Bikes: Fuji Rubaix 1.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Who needs pics! I can very well imagine you screaming down the hill! I'm told that in golf it's the one great shot you make that brings you back to the golf course again and again, wanting to experience the feeling of making that great shot again. I think cycling is the same in many ways, there's always something special about each ride that brings me back the next day, and the next ...
Good for you for getting back on the bike after 40 years!
Good for you for getting back on the bike after 40 years!
Thanks in advance.
Rich
#18
Grandpa with spunk
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: The Calumet Region
Posts: 293
Bikes: (See sig block)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts