Any Road Bikers?

[wattsup_kz]

I have been getting out and riding 10 to 20 miles at at time. I'm currently averaging 12-15mph. Years ago I could go 40-60 miles without hurting. I hope to get back in that kind of shape. It has been 15 years since I have put in more than a hundred miles in a year, but I haven't gained much weight since then, so I'm hopeful. It still feels good to attack a steep hill. I just can't do a big one yet.

I dusted off the 1987 Cannondale 400 this year, and discovered that my Vetta Gel saddle has turned into a rock. I guess gel has a shelf life. I ordered an E-3 gel saddle to replace it.

Who else rides? How much, how far and how fast?

Brian

[marjamar]

I try to bike to and from my shop 2 or 3 times a week. Problem is I do it in spurts. Things come up and I get side tracked and before you know it, a month goes by. It's kinda funny though cause I really enjoy the ride. My shop is only 1-1/4 miles from the house the short way, but I take the bike path along the river then take the pathway through town and back to my shop. This is about 7.5 miles one way and I go back the same way after work. It is really very scenic along the pathway and is very well maintained. I think I heard somewhere Loveland/Ft Collins has some of the best bike trails around. I know I really like em.

-Rodger

[TDisaster]

i just got a fuji from my dads friend and love it, im 14 so i ride 6 miles to and from work then go ride for fun i really enjoy it!

[Usta Bee]

I dusted off the 1987 Cannondale 400 this year, and discovered that my Vetta Gel saddle has turned into a rock.


Chances are the sidewalls on your tires have dry-rotted too. I like the fact that I can tell the age of your bike by it's components.......toe clips and downtube shifters.:D


Who else rides? How much, how far and how fast?


Road bike and MTB, usually ride 40-60 miles, speed on the road is 16-20mph. Longest 1 day ride was 137 miles.....3 months after I bought my first bike, then did a 30 mile race the next day....I was pooped. :o

I was doing 40 mile rides 5 times a week last year, but this year because of work I've cut it down to 3 times a week.

[TDisaster]

wow mines like 5 years older than his :(

[wattsup_kz]

Chances are the sidewalls on your tires have dry-rotted too. I like the fact that I can tell the age of your bike by it's components.......toe clips and downtube shifters.

The tires are still fine. I did have to disassemble the rear derailleur, clean it and re-lube because one of the pulleys had a nasty squeak.
This bike was one of the last of its kind without indexed shifting.

usually ride 40-60 miles, speed on the road is 16-20mph.
You must be in great shape!

[Usta Bee]

You must be in great shape!




....with arms like a girl. :o :D

[wattsup_kz]

Well, most road bikers are built light on the top half of their body. I am.
No barrel-chested Tour De France winners!

http://www.sites.si.edu/images/exhibits/Sports/images/Lance-Armstrong_jpg.jpg

[wvce84]

I have been riding about 10-15 miles a day weather permitting. It is rather nice after a long day of drawing lines on the computer at work.

[Karl B²]

I've been averaging about 40 miles per week this spring/summer. I rack that up usually 10-20 miles at a time, averaging 12-14 mph, 16 if it's on a rail-trail (level straight, windless runs.)

Of course, I'm not a *real* cyclist since my butt don't hurt when I'm done. ;)

[wattsup_kz]

Nice recumbent! Looks comfy. That is one loooong chain!

I got 10 miles in this evening. Avg. 14mph. Going for 20 early tomorrow morning.

Of course, I'm not a *real* cyclist since my butt don't hurt when I'm done.
You probably don't shave your legs either! :)

Brian

[TDisaster]

ur bike is bigger than ur car :D

[Bill Ervin]

Used to commute to work on my road bike for years (19 mi. one way) then go on a long (for me) 50 mi ride on one of the weekend days. Got down to 175 lbs. (240 now!) and was feeling pretty good about myself. Then a real bad wreck scared me off the bike about two years ago.

Thanks for starting this thread Brian. I just took this thing down from the ceiling today, wouldn't take much to get it roadworthy again; the bike that is...

[wattsup_kz]

Hi Bill,
250 miles a week!!! That's some riding!

You have one really nice bike there! Very light, very fast.
Get back on it. It will feel good!

Brian

[Bill Ervin]

Thanks Brian! Well, I pumped up the tires and nothing exploded so that's a good start. Now if I can find my old shoes...

Fat guys on road bikes is not a good combination but being 70 lbs. overweight is not the best thing either. That Raleigh is going to hate me when I straddle it.

Bill (the fat guy) Ervin

[wattsup_kz]

You're welcome!
Just keep that tire pressure up. :)

Brian

[trident58]

Can't decide if I prefer cycling or flying/building models. I've got 2 bikes that I ride regularly; an Aegis Trident road bike and a Yeti Profro mountain bike. Figure I've spent about $9,000 on both of them, not counting worn-out parts, etc. Think R/C is expensive?
I probably ride about 7,000-9,000 miles a year, along with a bunch of swimming and running. Nothing beats the stress of work more than jumping on your bike Saturday morning and then spending all day riding to the beach and back. Best thing is that I can then drink all the beer I want and not feel guilty. That's important when you're over 40.
When you ride a bike, life is good.
Jon

[Karl B²]

I just took this thing down from the ceiling today, wouldn't take much to get it roadworthy again; the bike that is...
Looks like a nice ride. I thought about unrusting and undusting my old road bike, but the lower back in me likes the frosted side. I mean, upright bikes kill my back.

I'm slowly getting more and more miles per week, and the biggest difference I've seen is an increase in hill climbing ability. In the first 5 miles I almost always feel like turning around, but if I push through that initial barrier it gets easier and more enjoyable. I was pacing behind a tractor (yes, a big old green John Deere) out in the sticks the other day. He pulled out ahead of me by a few hundred yards, and I would gain on every downhill but widen the gap on each climb. He was probably averaging 15 mph to my 13.

[Usta Bee]

I just did a 63 mile ride on the C&O Canal in Maryland yesterday, and finished it off with a large chocolate shake, two double cheeseburgers, and two cherry pies. :D

P.S. There are some REALLY hot looking thin female bikers out there. ;) :) :) :)

[TDisaster]

I just did a 63 mile ride on the C&O Canal in Maryland yesterday, and finished it off with a large chocolate shake, two double cheeseburgers, and two cherry pies. :D

P.S. There are some REALLY ugly looking fat female bikers out there. ;) :) :) :)
is that including u? ;)

[wattsup_kz]

You burn an incredible amount of calories in 63 miles!

I did a 20 miler this morning. 15.1 mph average. Lots of roller-coaster hills. I'm finding there is a limit to the size of hill I can "conquer". On the biggest ones I am struggling up in the lowest gear. As I ride more I want to be able to maintain average speed on any of those hills. This thread is helping me to stay motivated as some of you are posting your progress. Thanks!

Brian

[trident58]

Brian,
A good way to conquer big hills is to do something called "stomp" workouts: put your bike in a hard gear, find a moderately steep hill, and then sprint up the hill as far as you can get in that gear (pedaling out of the saddle). Also try that staying in the saddle, but using a slightly easier gear. The whole idea is to build up leg strength so that during a long, steep climb you can keep up a decent pedaling cadence. A few cautions:
1) Don't do this workout more than twice a week
2) Make sure you warm up and warm down afterwards
3) If you feel knee pain, STOP! You might need to adjust your saddle height (general rule: if the front of your knee hurts, raise the saddle; if the back of your knee hurts, lower the saddle. Don't adjust more than a 1/4" at a time)
Jon

[wattsup_kz]

Thanks for the advice Jon!

I will try that. I hadn't considered that my hill climbing limitations were due to muscle strength rather than heart/lung aerobic capabilities.

Many of these bigger hill climbs are preceded by a steep downhill so I enter the climb in a high gear going around 30mph. Your recommendation would mean I just maintain that gear as my cadence slows, expending maximum effort, right?

Also, what should warm up/warm down consist of? Those hills are between 6 and 10 miles from my house, so I have at least 20 minutes of riding on either end.

Thanks,

Brian

[trident58]

Brian,
Sounds like you've got the right idea. Your 6 to 10 miles is plenty for a good warm up/down. I don't know how serious you plan on getting, but investing in a good heart rate monitor is always wise if you are trying to get faster.
The main thing, though, is enjoy yourself. If you feel tired and miserable, just back off for a day or so.
Finally, a great goal for fitness riders is to try and train for a century ride. These are non-competitive, 100 mile rides. It sounds daunting, but riding with a bunch of other people really keeps you going. Look at www.active.com to find a ride in your area (some rides are less than 100 miles).
Good Luck!
Jon

[wattsup_kz]

I did a century many years ago when I was twenty-something. I'm 45 now. My goal currently is to be able to get out and spin off 20 to 40 miles 3 or 4 times a week at an average of around 18mph and conquer any hills I encounter like I once could. That will cut into my flying time but I think my body needs it. :)

What are your favorite online bike supply sites? Years ago (before Internet) I ordered from both Nashbar and Performance. My first recent order from Performance took 3 business days to ship and 2 weeks USPS ground to arrive. Much longer than I am used to from online retailers.

Active.com looks like a great site! Thanks for the link.

Brian

[Usta Bee]

To get good at climbing hills I just climb hills......multiple times....climb to the top, then repeat. I live in a hilly area, and some of the climbs are fun....2 miles long at a 15% grade......coming back down this one I've hit 62mph. :)

Longest climb I've done was on the Great Allegheny Passage of Maryland, from Cumberland Maryland to the Big Savage Tunnel in Pennsylvania....the climb is an easy 2% grade, but 19 miles long.


I use Nashbar and Performance too, internet orders I usually get within 5 days.

[trident58]

Only problem with Nashbar and Performance is that some of their stuff is pretty cheesey. Two places I like are coloradocyclist.com and excelsports.com. Problem with them is that you can get some serious sticker shock from looking at their website. However, if you look hard enough, they do have some really good deals on some great quality items.

[Usta Bee]

Only problem with Nashbar and Performance is that some of their stuff is pretty cheesey. Two places I like are coloradocyclist.com and excelsports.com. Problem with them is that you can get some serious sticker shock from looking at their website. However, if you look hard enough, they do have some really good deals on some great quality items.


Problem with cycling in general is that it's a "yuppie" sport with a lot of the prices on equiptment and clothing outrageously overinflated.......$70 jerseys......$70-$100 shorts......$150 shoes.....$130 helmets....$100 saddles....$50 tires......etc.

[trident58]

Problem with cycling in general is that it's a "yuppie" sport with a lot of the prices on equiptment and clothing outrageously overinflated.......$70 jerseys......$70-$100 shorts......$150 shoes.....$130 helmets....$100 saddles....$50 tires......etc.
You want real sticker shock, take a look at any clothing made by Assos. For the price of a jersey, you could by a complete 2-m sailplane outfit! :eek:

[checkenbach]

I build and ride bikes as my other(3rd or 4th??other hobby), and I shop all the websites for slightly out date(last years model) gear, it makes a huge difference as far as price goes, I'm a chronic sale shopper!!!!! It does help if you know what you want, and what works. I'm also a big fan of Road Bike Review, and their sister site Mountain Bike Review, lots of discussion forums to get info from. Canbria Bike, Bikeman, Nashbar are all good web stores as well. I have road, mountain,and cross bikes, but my favorite is the crosser, almost as fast as my road bike, with offroad capability as well, like a Supermoto bike!!!! Highly recommended. Chris

[Usta Bee]

My lower back didn't appreciate riding "on the drops" of my road bike handlebars, so I put a set of Scott AT-3 mountainbike handlebars on it, as well as MTB shifters and brake levers. Makes it much easier to climb hills standing up too, as the wider MTB bars give me more leverage. I made the conversion about 7 years ago, and it looks now like every bike company has gotten in on the act by selling road bikes with straight bars, and labeling them as "hybrids" or "city bikes".

[little flyer]

Oooohhhh Oooohhh Me!! I've got a old 10 speed. A single speed, which is more fun than you will ever beleive and a nice road bike as well. Pictures to follw.

Jeff

[trident58]

Well, might be slightly off topic, but since we're all roadies here, who else has been following the fiasco at the TDF this year? After last year, I swore I wouldn't watch it again, but I can't help but notice how much the sport of pro cycling has become a joke.
That said, I think I'm going to go squeeze in a 2 hr or so ride. The pain will do me good.

[wattsup_kz]

Yes, it seems as though the TDF gets dirtier every year. They need to find some way to put a stop to doping.

Still waiting for those pictures Jeff!

[Usta Bee]

Yes, it seems as though the TDF gets dirtier every year.



....And Lance won all those Tours riding "clean" while everybody around him was doping and STILL couldn't keep up with him ?. ;) :rolleyes:

[trident58]

Aahhhhh! Back from the ride. 35 miles of hard hill repeats. Makes you too tired to feel stressed.
Here's a picture of my baby.

[Usta Bee]

Here's a picture of my baby.


Nice, that looks like one of those carpet fiber bikes.



Here's a pic below I just saw on a Cumberland MD newspaper's website......I love this guys handlebar extension/riser :D ..........

[wattsup_kz]

Very nice bike, Jon!

CF is good for more than RC planes.

Usta, I don't think that riser is CPSC approved! :)
What would be the purpose of that? It's not like he is using drop bars.

[Karl B²]

There's room for all of the doping cyclists in MLB.

[checkenbach]

Nice baskets on the girls' bikes, Usta. Undoubtably for carrying Pops contraband.

[trident58]

So, anyone have any good, epic rides this weekend? Yesterday I did about 75 miles all-out. Had some guy drafting off me so I killed myself trying to drop him. Didn't help that it was 95 degrees and windy. I was almost too tired to eat when I got home. But did I enjoy myself? Absolutely!

[wattsup_kz]

Not I. I went camping with the kids. Hopefully I will get out for a few evenings this week.

It must be almost impossible to drop a guy drafting who is near your fitness level!

[Trisquire]

I do about 8 hours a week on the bike path. I never calculated the mileage. I go back and forth a few times. Down to campus, up north to the outer belt, etc. I'm only on actual roads when there's path maintenance or flooding.

Tom

[Karl B²]

So, anyone have any good, epic rides this weekend?
35 miles of urban trail hell and one flat in the city on Saturday, 15 miles of country roads on Sunday, then two back-to-back flats on a 12 mile short loop yesterday.

Flats have all been in different spots, different types, but it's getting darn frustrating.

[Usta Bee]

35 miles of urban trail hell and one flat in the city on Saturday, 15 miles of country roads on Sunday, then two back-to-back flats on a 12 mile short loop yesterday.

Flats have all been in different spots, different types, but it's getting darn frustrating.


Unless it's from thorns/punctures you might wanna jack up the air pressure in your tires, "snake bite" and pinch flats are the most common from running too low air pressue.

[Usta Bee]

So, anyone have any good, epic rides this weekend?



66 miles on Monday (21 miles of it up a 2% grade) , and 50 miles on Tuesday......followed 6 "biker chicks" for about a mile on the C&O Canal before they heard me behind them, some of 'em were really cute. :) :D

[wattsup_kz]

Flats! :(
None yet, but I just bought a new frame pump and patch kit because I know flats are inevitable with 115 psi 25C tires.

[checkenbach]

I had a few flats from "snakebite" before I went to Continental Duraskin + K(Gatorskin) tires on the roadie bike, haven't had one since. Higher thread count per inch(TPI) makes a huge difference as well, better tires = less rolling resistance. Chris

[Karl B²]

Unless it's from thorns/punctures you might wanna jack up the air pressure in your tires, "snake bite" and pinch flats are the most common from running too low air pressue.
No punctures, no snake bites, all on the rear and all but one have happened where the tube contacts the edge of the OEM rubber spoke strip. I'm running a 20x1.95 Maxxis Hookworm tire (heavy, very thick tread) at its rated max 110 psi.

Just picked up a new tube and some Velox rim tape. One of the leaks was from a "sticky" no-glue patch that came with a pump I recently bought. That patch held for exactly 1 mile. :rolleyes:

[checkenbach]

I use urethane rim strips. Waaaaaaaaaaay better than Velox, just wait till you have to take it off to do some spoke work. EWWWW!!!!!!
Chris

[Usta Bee]

I use urethane rim strips. Waaaaaaaaaaay better than Velox, just wait till you have to take it off to do some spoke work. EWWWW!!!!!!



I've never had a problem with Velox, no glue residue on the rims and I've had it off many times replacing broken spokes.

[wattsup_kz]

Chances are the sidewalls on your tires have dry-rotted too.


Well, today I was stranded 9 miles from home, not by the tire, but by the rear tube leaking around the valve stem. I guess 15 years is too long. :p

Nashbar is having a good sale on tires right now so I ordered 2 tires and 2 tubes.

My wife was not too happy about getting up early to rescue me. :o

Brian

[Usta Bee]

Nashbar is having a good sale on tires right now so I ordered 2 tires and 2 tubes.



free shipping too until the 13th :)

[ashdec87]

I just bought myself a shiny new Schwinn fastback. Its my first road bike, and the first bike i've bought with my own money. Its a great bike, fast, light and fairly cheap ($650). I take it along the lakefront bike path in Chicago and my longest rides have been 26 miles with an average of around 16-18 mph. I'm really trying to hit an average of 20 mph.

Do you guys ride on the streets?? I would love to, but especially here (chicago)... that can be a bone jarring ride at 20-25 mph.

Also anyone have problems with litterly twisting the entire rear brake mechanism. I think i might have braked in such a way and it torqued the brake out of alignment. It now constantly rubs on the rim. Easy fix, but did not expect it.

I really do love biking, great exercise, great way to get around... Wish the nice ones werent so expensive..lol

ash

[Usta Bee]

Wish the nice ones werent so expensive..



Wait, are we still talking about bicycles here ?. ;) :D

[Usta Bee]

Also anyone have problems with litterly twisting the entire rear brake mechanism. I think i might have braked in such a way and it torqued the brake out of alignment. It now constantly rubs on the rim. Easy fix, but did not expect it.




http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=14&item=OBW%2D3

[wattsup_kz]

Do you guys ride on the streets?? I would love to, but especially here (chicago)... that can be a bone jarring ride at 20-25 mph.

ash

Around here the streets are in pretty good shape. Most of the roads have 2 feet of asphalt to the right of the white line that makes a fine bike lane. Drivers are usually courteous, giving me plenty of room as they pass.

The area in which I ride is probably much more rural than yours. I live in town, but can go east and be in the country in five minutes.

Brian

[ashdec87]

Usta- hehe.. well depends.. but i found a nice one who gets mad if i spend too much money on her. :) and thanks for the link.

Brian, ya i'm in the city... kinda rough streets.. no shoulder, but at least the cars move out of the way, most of the time. Prolly should stick to the biek path.

Hey what kind of seat do you guys use? The stock seat that came with my bike was rock hard. The new seat i got is better, but the relief depression isnt enough. Any particular ideas? My bike store is nice and lets me exchange them until i find the right one...

[wattsup_kz]

I just replaced my old Vetta Gel saddle with this one. (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=20854&subcategory_ID=5210) It looks harsh but gives good sit bone support without restricting pedaling.

[trident58]

The saddle is a very underrated piece of equipment. Back in 1992, I got a Selle Italia Flite titanium saddle. I've had that saddle on my last 3 road bikes, and it's outlasted them all. Best of all, my butt has outlasted all those bikes. Don't hesitate to try a few different saddles until you find one that cooperates with your rump.

[Usta Bee]

I use a Terry Liberator saddle on my MTB, the one with the big hole in the center...had to get it because my willy was going numb from the pressure of sitting while riding. :o One advantage is that I can check the tread wear of my back tire while riding by looking down through the hole. :D

[ashdec87]

oo i like the way that one looks. I"ll see if i can find that one in my bike shop. thanks!!

[Bill Ervin]

For comfort I've found these can't be beat. It's made by John Deere and I found it used at the local farm supply house. There are many options available but you have to be willing to think outside the box.

The only downside, if you want to call it that, is that it will triple the weight of your typical Colnago road bike.

[ashdec87]

hmm that'd be interesting trying to pedal on...hehe prolly weighs more than my bike

[milesperpound]

Hello fellow raodies,

I too am a cyclist with a flying problem. I live in the same town as Cannondale. I have been riding for about twenty years MTB, Road, and Triathlon. I will ride anywhere from 50-200 miles a week. I only get to fly about an hour or so a week but there is something about slicing through the air on a bike or a plane. Here in Bethel we have a summer Tuesday night crit series. It is a blast. It is like a Bowling league for cyclist’s, points and such.

Flats- flats come in threes, there is a flat god and you need to pay homage every once in a while. Seriously fresh tires some talc and the right tire pressure keeps the gods happy.

Bill Nice seat, Good for downhill :eek:

I just got a GPS computer for my bikes. I am loving it. It got me to thinking. It is light and kinda small so I was going to put it one of my planes and see speed, altitude, map all that data for a flight or two. Just a thought.

Anyway keep the rubber side down,

Mark

[Usta Bee]

I tried doing a crit....ONCE.....got my :censored: handed to me, then I took a turn too wide, hit the curb on the outside, and destroyed my back rim. It's fun to know you can get tunnel vision through oxygen deprivation too. :rolleyes:

[trident58]

Mark,
Sweet looking bike! Is that thing full Dura-Ace 10 speed?
Jon

[milesperpound]

Yes it is. Love it. I also have it on my E-5, three years and still just as crisp. Just the rider that needs tuning up....


M

[ashdec87]

wow that is a nice bike.... lol

hey i have a little problem for you guys.. just wondering if anyone faced this same issue.

I'm a fairly lightweight guy. Before i started biking i tipped the scales at oh about 143 ish on a good day. But after i started biking 30 miles and such i dropped nearly 7+ pounds and last time i checked i was about 133. This happened over the course of about 3 weeks maybe even less. My question to you is.. is there any special diet i should consider after i bike or something. I love to bike, but hate being this thin. I'm cursed/blessed with a metabolism that's so high i can eat all day nonstop and sit on the couch and put on maybe a pound or two over a couple of weeks (ive tried this). The down side is if i do any major activity i drop weight like a brick.

I probably should see a doctor about this.. but i wanted to get your guys' opinion also.

ash

[milesperpound]

Ash,

Are you weighing yourself at the same time of day? It is not uncommon to loose a few ponds after a ride.

AFA recovery there are several recovery drinks/ bars to choose from. It is important to "refuel" after every ride as your muscles crave protien to rebuild.

To gain weight short of emulating "SUPER SIZE IT" (the movie) you could include weight training. Muscle weighs more than fat.

You may not like the thin look but it will be difficult to put it back on with a regular exercise routine. I had a friend that ran across America 20-40 miles a day at that rate of excursive he could eat anything and nothing would stick. I know that is a little more than what you are doing, It is just your body adjusting to your routine, a good thing that is.

Just my .02's

M

[ashdec87]

M, thanks.. I'm not talking about jsut a few pounds.. i'm talking about 10 lbs easy... lol

I'll try some type of recovery drink and see what happens. I know for a fact i've burned off every last bit of fat on me...kinda funny and annoying at the same time...

I know oats and such are good for the long lasting "fuel".. any other suggestions?

thanks

ash

[Usta Bee]

Protein and carbs....think lots of pasta, stuff like bagels instead of bread, lean meat like chicken or turkey, etc.

If I go on a 60-70 mile ride I'm hungry for the next 3 days afterward.

Don't forget to eat to refuel within 1-2 hours after exercising too.

"Eat before you're hungry, and drink before you're thirsty" is the common mantra of what you should be doing while riding to prevent the bonk or dehydration.

[TDisaster]

yea, i have (well, now had :rolleyes:) to do that for football, i hate eating/drinking before you want to, it makes me feel sooo sick...
mike

[wattsup_kz]

Ash, I'm guessing you are in your early 20's or younger. I had the same weight issues as you at that age when I was riding 100+ miles a week. Enjoy that time. If you are like me you will need to limit second helpings and desserts when you hit your 40's. :)

Some of the best healthy, calorie-dense foods are nuts and seeds.

Brian

[ashdec87]

Brian, you're right. I'm 19. Im also told that i should enjoy this time...cuz it wont be long till i have the opposite problem..hehe

thanks guys for the advice, i'll keep all this in mind next time i go out..

[ashdec87]

hmm hey anyone have the foam tape stuff on their handle bars tear?? I leaned my bike against a tree.. bike slipped a little and ripped the foam.. any clues how i should fix that??

[wattsup_kz]

On mine I used electrical tape of the same color. That was near the stem, so it's not where my hands usually go.

[checkenbach]

You may be able to slip a short length of innertube on the handlebar if you have access to the tear.
Chris

[Usta Bee]

Always wear a helmet :o ......


Riding my road bike tonight on the local Rail Trail, and it was getting late so I decided to make up some time by riding faster. Slowed down for three guys and a dog walking on the trail, then decided to sprint all out after I passed them. I "think" my left shoe must have released from the pedal as I was sprinting.... I really don't remember it. I have a vague memory of my bike laying on the ground with one water bottle popped out of it's cage, and I think somebody helping me to find the lens that popped out of the right side of my perscription sunglasses and was laying somewhere on the ground, and me popping it back in after they found it. Judging by how the handlebars are bent downward, and the torn up tops of the bar ends, I'm guessing I flew over the handlebars when the pedal released.

For my trouble I've got road rash on me left forearm, and upper shoulder, and a nasty gash up through the middle of my right eyebrow and sideways across the bottom of it....I'm guessing where my face hit the limestone trail surface, and the lens gashing over my eye as my glasses came off. I do remember somebody saying I had a gash over my eye. Not only did I have blood running down from the gash over my right eye and down my face, but also some running across to my left eyebrow, then down my neck on the left side....I must have had my head leaning to that side either on the ground, or after I sat up trying to fix my glasses.

So by this point you must be wondering what ol' Usta did THEN......somehow I got back up on my bike, don't remember it, but DO remember seeing the handlebars knocked down. I don't remember if anyone was around me when I started back off (in the Tour De France tradition) with blood running down my face, to finish the last 7 miles of the trail in near-dark, then throwing the bike in the car and driving back home. The gash looks like it almost might need stitches, but it's more of a sideways flap type gash, and it's not really hurting or bleeding that much after I cleaned it and put Neosporin on it. Needless to say I won't be plucking/shaving my eyebrows anytime soon, or sleeping on my right side. :rolleyes:

If I quit posting soon it'll probably mean the concussion/brain injury did me in. :o :rolleyes:

[Bilbobaker]

Always wear a helmet :o ......


Riding my road bike tonight on the local Rail Trail, and it was getting late so I decided to make up some time by riding faster. Slowed down for three guys and a dog walking on the trail, then decided to sprint all out after I passed them. I "think" my left shoe must have released from the pedal as I was sprinting.... I really don't remember it. I have a vague memory of my bike laying on the ground with one water bottle popped out of it's cage, and I think somebody helping me to find the lens that popped out of the right side of my perscription sunglasses and was laying somewhere on the ground, and me popping it back in after they found it. Judging by how the handlebars are bent downward, and the torn up tops of the bar ends, I'm guessing I flew over the handlebars when the pedal released.

For my trouble I've got road rash on me left forearm, and upper shoulder, and a nasty gash up through the middle of my right eyebrow and sideways across the bottom of it....I'm guessing where my face hit the limestone trail surface, and the lens gashing over my eye as my glasses came off. I do remember somebody saying I had a gash over my eye. Not only did I have blood running down from the gash over my right eye and down my face, but also some running across to my left eyebrow, then down my neck on the left side....I must have had my head leaning to that side either on the ground, or after I sat up trying to fix my glasses.

So by this point you must be wondering what ol' Usta did THEN......somehow I got back up on my bike, don't remember it, but DO remember seeing the handlebars knocked down. I don't remember if anyone was around me when I started back off (in the Tour De France tradition) with blood running down my face, to finish the last 7 miles of the trail in near-dark, then throwing the bike in the car and driving back home. The gash looks like it almost might need stitches, but it's more of a sideways flap type gash, and it's not really hurting or bleeding that much after I cleaned it and put Neosporin on it. Needless to say I won't be plucking/shaving my eyebrows anytime soon, or sleeping on my right side. :rolleyes:

If I quit posting soon it'll probably mean the concussion/brain injury did me in. :o :rolleyes:
Ouch.
I feel your pain. :eek:

[Mister UHU]

Usta Bee
"Keepin' It Surreal"


Riding my road bike tonight on the local Rail Trail,
and it was getting late so I decided to make up some time by riding faster.

Slowed down for three guys and a dog walking on the trail,
then decided to sprint all out after I passed them.



Dogs can be dangerous,
Long strong pumps are useful as weapons.

Walkers can be very unpredictable, random and dangerous,
I always assume they will do something stupid until proven otherwise.

Usta Bee sorry to hear about your accident,
your avatar logo is ominous.

Looks like you will have to time your sprints more carefully,
where the terrain is safer.

Do you remember what caused the accident ?
Or were you knocked out ??

[Usta Bee]

your avatar logo is ominous.

Been there, done that before....usually though I can remember exactly what happened


Looks like you will have to time your sprints more carefully,
where the terrain is safer.

The sad thing is that the trail I was riding on was perfectly smooth, straight and level. :o



Do you remember what caused the accident ?

I'm guessing my left shoe popping out of the pedal, I don't remember though.


Or were you knocked out ??

Could have been....????......I don't remember what caused it, hitting the ground, getting back up, or the first few miles after I started riding again. Normally after a crash I can replay the whole incident in my mind, sometimes as if in slow motion as it happened, this time I don't remember anything but "snaphots" of the aftermath, and very vaguely at that. I could have been on the ground for awhile for all I know. The three guys that were walking the dog "probably" helped me, because I remember asking someone to find the lens to my glasses and someone telling me about the gash over my eye, but I don't remember them being around when I was on the ground, or after I started back up. :confused:

Luckily I WASN'T wearing a helmet at the time :o ......or else I'd be out $40 for the price of a new one. :rolleyes:

[Mister UHU]

Could have been....????......I don't remember what caused it,
hitting the ground, getting back up,
or the first few miles after I started riding again.

Luckily I WASN'T wearing a helmet at the time :o
......or else I'd be out $40 for the price of a new one. :rolleyes:


So you don't think your brain is worth even $40 !


Sounds like you were a bit concussed,
if you have medical insurance, or want to spend thousands of dollars,
you could get an MRI scan, or even a fMRI test (for brain function).

Sounds like you might have suffered light bruising to the brain,
against the inside of the skull.

I would advise taking it easy for a week at least,
there may be some swelling inside the skull,
that may cause some brain performance issues,
it would take some time (days) for the swelling to go back down.

And of course check your bike over for damage.
If your pedal/shoe malfunctioned then inspect (clean)
to try to find the cause of the problem (was it wear ?).


I often found having a crash would unsettle me for days afterwards,
and cause me to make mistakes, and be clumsy.

Sometimes the errors made after the crash
were worse than the effects of the initial crash itself.

[ashdec87]

I agree about the walkers being dangerous. I was biking along the lake front here in chicago. I was on a bridge passing over the river, going about 10 mph because there were people around. Well there was this lady walking ahead of me so i tried to pass her to the left.... just so happened that she decided to go to a set of stairs on the left side of the bridge.. see where this is going. I saw her turning so i swung to the right to pass behind her. Just as i did that she saw me and jumped back to the right. I then tried to go back to the left... she saw i had moved to the right so she jumped to the left... right into my path...lol. Now this all happened within 1-2 seconds. I wasnt used to the position of the brakes so i wasnt able to fully apply them. Needless to say i ran into her going about at a brisk walking pace... which was enough to knock her over. Thankfully she wasnt hurt and i didnt fall off my bike. I did stop to help her out (obviously).. i oppologized profusely.. even tho i didnt think it was entirely my fault. But we went on our respective ways.. Definately taught me to expect the unexpected and to realize people will do dumb things..lol

ash

PS I always ride with a helmet...

[Usta Bee]

.....

[udogigahertz]

Helmets on a bicycle are for people who take very warm showers.

BTW: They look terrible.

[wattsup_kz]

Helmets on a bicycle are for people who take very warm showers.



I agree. I instead put the helmet on my head to prevent a head injury in the event of an accident. ;) I'm overly careful like that. I go so far as to wear a lap/shoulder belt when I am driving my car.

[Usta Bee]

I agree about the walkers being dangerous. I was biking along the lake front here in chicago. I was on a bridge passing over the river, going about 10 mph because there were people around. Well there was this lady walking ahead of me so i tried to pass her to the left.... just so happened that she decided to go to a set of stairs on the left side of the bridge.. see where this is going. I saw her turning so i swung to the right to pass behind her. Just as i did that she saw me and jumped back to the right. I then tried to go back to the left... she saw i had moved to the right so she jumped to the left... right into my path...lol. Now this all happened within 1-2 seconds. I wasnt used to the position of the brakes so i wasnt able to fully apply them. Needless to say i ran into her going about at a brisk walking pace... which was enough to knock her over. Thankfully she wasnt hurt and i didnt fall off my bike. I did stop to help her out (obviously).. i oppologized profusely.. even tho i didnt think it was entirely my fault. But we went on our respective ways.. Definately taught me to expect the unexpected and to realize people will do dumb things..lol

ash

PS I always ride with a helmet...


I just read a story in recently about a cyclist going 10-14mph on a bike trail who hit a woman who walked out in front of him........when he hit her she fell, hit her head on the ground, and she died.

[udogigahertz]

I just read a story in recently about a cyclist going 10-14mph on a bike trail who hit a woman who walked out in front of him........when he hit her she fell, hit her head on the ground, and she died.
Well, bicycles are dangerous! Should be banned by law.

[ashdec87]

Well, bicycles are dangerous! Should be banned by law.

No people are dangerous, and dumb and ignorant...lol

Kinda off topic but went to the lincoln park zoo the other day and was watching the rino and this guy comes up and starts waving toilet paper to try and get the animal's attention. Obviously it ignored him... but really?? I dont understand people sometimes. That's why i get nervous biking around walkers..

[wattsup_kz]

After a long winter of relative inactivity I have been riding to work, and on my lunch break. This is an earlier start than last year, so I should make more progress physically. Right now averaging 14mph takes a lot of effort.

Any other northerners getting some miles in?

Brian

[TDisaster]

In my time off from Lacrosse I ride. It got alot harder, I need to get back in shape, but lacrosse is helping me with that :). I still have to post a picture of my bike. Its an old Fugi, but its purple so its crazy cool ;),

[Usta Bee]

Any other northerners getting some miles in?



Yeah, on crutches....I've got three broken bones in my leg now from a hiking accident.

The good news is that I'm saving lots of money by not having to buy gasoline to go to work, because I can't work. :rolleyes:

Saves alot of wear and tear on the bicycle too.

[wattsup_kz]

Ouch! how long until the leg heals up enough to ride?

[Usta Bee]

Ouch! how long until the leg heals up enough to ride?



Usually 6-8 weeks for it to heal. Whether or not my ankle still functions properly or not is a different story, I won't know until then. I've got four screws holding it together, and can't put any weight on it now.

I probably won't be doing any bicycling this year because I'll most likely be working all the time to pay off the medical bills. I think I'm permanently through as far as mountain biking goes....can't risk the chance of messing it up again.

[Blackhawk3D]

Well, most road bikers are built light on the top half of their body. I am.
No barrel-chested Tour De France winners!

http://www.sites.si.edu/images/exhibits/Sports/images/Lance-Armstrong_jpg.jpg

I'm a road cyclist but I've been hitting the gym for upper body something fierce lately because I know I'm not going to be a TdF winner, and I'd rather look and feel good for myself and for the ladies :cool: :D

[wattsup_kz]

I like the fact that I can tell the age of your bike by it's components.......toe clips and downtube shifters.:D


Well, say goodbye to the toe clips. I just ordered clipless pedals from Nashbar.
I am hoping the cleats will mount to my old Detto shoes.

[Usta Bee]

I just ordered clipless pedals from Nashbar.

Which ones ?.

[wattsup_kz]

These (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000108&subcategory=60001123&brand=&sku=17884&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Road%20Clipless%2 0Pedals)

[Usta Bee]

These (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000108&subcategory=60001123&brand=&sku=17884&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Road%20Clipless%2 0Pedals)



The Nashbars are made by Wellgo, I have their SPD style MTB pedals on my road and MTB bikes.

Price Point sells them too under the original Wellgo brand name.......

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/14778-240_WEL405-3-Parts-399-Pedals/Road/Wellgo-W-40-Road-Pedals.htm