Biking anyone?

[LeeD]

You DO know that when seated, you are not supposed the reach the ground on both sides, right?
When seated, and right pedal is aligned with the seat tube, your right foot should be close to a level position.
And you do know, horses are smarter than cows, so they don't bother looking at you, knowing you are not threat. A cow can't figure out what you are.

[vive le beau jeu !]

impressive stuff...

Robert Marchand sets new 100-kilometer speed record
By Agence France PressePublished 23 hours ago


Robert Marchand sets a record for fastest 100km by a centenarian on Friday in Lyon. Photo: Philippe Desmazes | AFP

LYON, France (AFP) — At 100 years old, Robert Marchand on Friday established a centenarian record for the fastest 100 kilometers by bicycle. He set the record of 4:17:27, with an average speed of slightly more than 23 kph (14.3 mph), in Lyon, France.

Marchand had already established another record earlier this year in Switzerland when he completed 24.251 kilometers in an hour.

He completed 300 laps on the track this time, a challenge followed by many media and broadcast live on France 3 Rhône-Alpes.

“I did a little better than I hoped,” he said. “However, the going was tough in the last few kilometers.”

Marchand said shortly before the start that he was not stressed and had slept and eaten well.

“I’m going to set the world record for the over-100 age group over 100km,” he declared Thursday in the Parc de la Tête d’Or Velodrome, where he tested the track, dressed in the colors of his club, Ardéchoise.

“I feel like a guy who is a hundred years old, I feel good. I’m an ordinary guy,” he said. “I rode a bike for 52 years, it is not new today. I started cycling at age 14, there was the war, and after I have been abroad.”

Marchand, who has lived in Canada and Venezuela and whose professional life has included stints as a market gardener, show salesman and wine dealer, said he only took to cycling again when he bought his first bike in 1978.

The age category of over-100 was specifically created for Marchand in February, when he set the hour record in Switzerland.

Marchand, who stands five feet tall and weighs 112 pounds, has raced eight Bordeaux-Paris, four Paris-Roubaix, and twelve Ardéchoises, but he does not want to be “treated as a phenomenon.”

“On September 2, I made the last 100km of Paris-Cambrai. I did the last 50 kilometers of Paris-Honfleur, too,” he said, before saying it was “no secret” to explain his good shape.

“All my life, I used all but I never abused, I have never smoked nor drank except for festive occasions, and in women I did not indulge too much,” he said before the start, laughing under his helmet.

from: http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/...-record_240211

guys, let's keep biking !

[quest01]

I just finished road biking 35 miles through Panther Lake, it was a fun, scenic route. I rode through a bunch of corn fields, farms, a lake, pond, leaves changing color, saw a fox, a beaver in Panther Lake and took a few pictures of the lake including the beaver. I was chased by a few dogs including 5 puppies. Overall it was a nice ride and the second time doing this route.

[diggler]

I've really upped my cycling in the past couple of years. 10 miles each way commuting. I've run out of knee cartilage so it is a good non impact sport.

[vive le beau jeu !]

Originally Posted by quest01

I just finished road biking 35 miles through Panther Lake, it was a fun, scenic route. I rode through a bunch of corn fields, farms, a lake, pond, leaves changing color, saw a fox, a beaver in Panther Lake and took a few pictures of the lake including the beaver. I was chased by a few dogs including 5 puppies. Overall it was a nice ride and the second time doing this route.

please share the beaver with us !

[LeeD]

Strange how I can't run, can't jog, my knee snaps when I walk (limp around), yet when riding the bikes, I can go close to 40 miles training once every two weeks, and everything seems just fine. My butt hurts (even with the best riding pants), my neck hurts, and my triceps hurt, but the legs only get tired normally.

[veloduffer]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Strange how I can't run, can't jog, my knee snaps when I walk (limp around), yet when riding the bikes, I can go close to 40 miles training once every two weeks, and everything seems just fine. My butt hurts (even with the best riding pants), my neck hurts, and my triceps hurt, but the legs only get tired normally.

Cycling is low impact on the legs and is often the first part of rehab from knee surgery. If your knees do hurt (tendonitis), the rule is:

-- if the pain is in the front kneecap, you're seat is too low
-- if the pain is in the back of the knee, you're seat is too high.

As for your other body parts, it sounds like you are too stretched out on your bike: (1) either seat height vs handlebar height is too great a disparity; and/or (2) handlebars are too far away.

As for your tush, you might need to try a different seat. Initially it will hurt until you ride regularly. But there is no best seat - one man's pleasure is another man's pain -- and is a bit of trial and error. Also, some seats feel great until you get into long rides (40+ miles). Some bike shops have demo models to try on your bike - Specialized dealers used to have such a program but I don't know if they still do. Once you find a saddle that works, I have always bought extras to use on all my bikes (I've got and in case they break and become discontinued (they invariably do).

FWIW, I've ridden (and formerly raced at amateur level) road bikes for over 25 years.

[LeeD]

I appreciate your advice.
My bike is '11 CannondaleCaad8-6, size 56, and I'm 5'11" in height.
Caad8 is a rec easy rider, with handlebars about 1.5" below the seat. Toptube length is normal, but stem is close to 4", a little more than what I've used in 4 previous road bikes.
I"m 63 years old. Have tons of shoulder injuries in the past. My triceps hurt until I start riding later in the season, like more than once every 2 weeks.
Neck, my bad. I surfed shortboards for 25 years, and 20 years ago, after I stopped surfing, I already had neck problems.
Butt. Stock seat, slight recess in the middle, fine if I ride more than once every 2 weeks.
G/f is an ex Cat111 rider (7 years ago), who can still ride metric centuries in under 4 hours, training once a week for 40 miles. Me, I ain't riding on no rainy day with 30 mph crosswinds.

[fundrazer]

Planned on doing a 23 mile ride today, but stomach ache and other things derailed the plan. Still put in 17 or so, but boy did I suffer. I dunno if it was not riding for a few days, or the fact that I forgot about the one hill added on, but it was not fun for about 10 minutes

[Gonzalito17]

Did the GW Bridge down to Times Square run, that is a nice ride.

[LeeD]

So you're in the BigApplie, but residence in Fl?
Don't think I'd ever ride a bike thru NYC traffic, but you're braver than me.
Assuming GW is WashingtonBridge?

[veloduffer]

Originally Posted by LeeD

I appreciate your advice.
My bike is '11 CannondaleCaad8-6, size 56, and I'm 5'11" in height.
Caad8 is a rec easy rider, with handlebars about 1.5" below the seat. Toptube length is normal, but stem is close to 4", a little more than what I've used in 4 previous road bikes.
I"m 63 years old. Have tons of shoulder injuries in the past. My triceps hurt until I start riding later in the season, like more than once every 2 weeks.
Neck, my bad. I surfed shortboards for 25 years, and 20 years ago, after I stopped surfing, I already had neck problems.
Butt. Stock seat, slight recess in the middle, fine if I ride more than once every 2 weeks.
G/f is an ex Cat111 rider (7 years ago), who can still ride metric centuries in under 4 hours, training once a week for 40 miles. Me, I ain't riding on no rainy day with 30 mph crosswinds.

The frame is the right size for you (I'm the same size and ride 56/57cm bikes). You may need to change the stem to something shorter and with more angle to raise the bars closer to your saddle height. From what it sounds like, your previous injuries preclude putting much weight on them. It would be interesting to see your position on the bike (got a pic?).

[LeeD]

Back is about 45 degrees, much higher than any of my other road bikes, and a little higher than my mountain bikes. I've always had road bikes where the seats are 3" higher than the bars. Now barely 1.5" and the hoods are only .5" lower than the bars, almost a recreational touring bike setup.
CaaD8 is a detuned road race bike, has a longer steering tube, for an upright riding stance.
I'm just old and injured. I cannot raise my left hand over my head. Try that physical condition playing tennis.

[veloduffer]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Back is about 45 degrees, much higher than any of my other road bikes, and a little higher than my mountain bikes. I've always had road bikes where the seats are 3" higher than the bars. Now barely 1.5" and the hoods are only .5" lower than the bars, almost a recreational touring bike setup.
CaaD8 is a detuned road race bike, has a longer steering tube, for an upright riding stance.
I'm just old and injured. I cannot raise my left hand over my head. Try that physical condition playing tennis.

Do you ride your other road bikes? And if you do, do you experience the same issues? In your earlier post, you said that the C'dale is a bit longer. Can you replicate the fit of your other bikes (if they don't cause any problems)? You'd be surprised how little differences (1 cm) can make a big difference in comfort/pain. If you think about it like shoes, if they were a little tight, they don't bother you walking a block or two. But if you had to walk 5 miles in those shoes, you'd suffer. Similarly with the bike and 25 miles.

Fitting your bike takes time. Professional fitters can help can you to the right point but sometimes further adjustments are needed. Your position will evolve as you get more "bike" fitness and flexibility. A lot of racers start the spring season with their handlebars slightly higher as they are less flexible from the off-season, and lower the height as the season progresses.

[LeeD]

Problem here is that summer is my off season for tennis and bike riding. The season for tennis and biking is Nov thru April, for me. Windsurfing takes precedence over everything right now.
I"m riding a 38 miler once every 2-3 weeks, with no riding in between. NONE.
Once I get a dozen rides in, even the tricep pain starts to go away.
And yes, the other bikes with lower bars hurts both my neck and triceps much more, as my torso is leaning much farther forwards.
Mountain rides, even though the bars a lower, I'm standing more peddling and downhill, and rides are usually 2/3's as long in distance and time.

[813wilson]

Gents,

My nephew sent this link to me because he knows how much I like to ride. This is AMAZING!

http://thechive.com/2012/10/11/when-...-happen-video/

[quest01]

Originally Posted by vive le beau jeu !

please share the beaver with us !

[GRANITECHIEF]

^^ Awesome!. Here is another amazing trials cyclist:

http://unofficialnetworks.com/danny-...sco-hd-106168/

This one will blow your mind!

http://unofficialnetworks.com/fat-fl...e-ouch-108646/

& from another angle,

http://www.zapiks.com/cam-zink-crash-rampage-2012.html

and the winning run from that contest!

http://unofficialnetworks.com/winnin...ampage-108602/

Fun stuff!

[veloduffer]

You also do a lot of tricks on a $10K carbon road bike:

http://youtu.be/7ZmJtYaUTa0

[steebo]

I just noticed this thread, and have read a few posts, and will read more when not at work.
I love the ride home on a summer afternoon after a hard tennis match. It is only 4-5 miles but is a good cool down.
Any recumbent riders here?