best position for spinning bike image
JRSmith
My friends ask me to ride 75 mile bike ride and I haven't rode a bike any significant distance in years. Is this something I should even attempt or do you have to work yourself up to something like this. I'm 41 years old so I'm not a spring chicken but I'm not a coach potato. My friend is like 58 years old in great shape and he does this every year. Just wondering if I have what it takes to finish.
Answer
When is this 75 mile ride coming up? If it's within the next month or two...forget it. Try again next year. You're going to need some serious training. So much to learn. Two biggest problems most newbies have is saddle height & cadence.
Your legs should extend to the point where there is a slight bend in the knee at the 6 o'clock position. The ball of the foot should be on the center of the pedal. If anything more than a slight bend...raise the saddle.
A good pair of toe-clip pedals or Shimano SPD pedals with those special shoes would be extremely helpful. This will give you power on the up-stroke & the down-stroke. Beware...you'll be using muscle groups rarely used & may wind up getting a 'Charley Horse' or two, or three.
Read up on 'spinning' vs. 'pushing' or mashing on the pedals in too high of a gear. Shoot for a cadence between 70 to 90 rpm at all times. Raise the cadence level even more for hill climbing, but probably in a lower gear or gears. The faster you can 'spin', the easier it is to pedal.
Good stuff from the late Sheldon Brown & Bicycling.com on the links.
When is this 75 mile ride coming up? If it's within the next month or two...forget it. Try again next year. You're going to need some serious training. So much to learn. Two biggest problems most newbies have is saddle height & cadence.
Your legs should extend to the point where there is a slight bend in the knee at the 6 o'clock position. The ball of the foot should be on the center of the pedal. If anything more than a slight bend...raise the saddle.
A good pair of toe-clip pedals or Shimano SPD pedals with those special shoes would be extremely helpful. This will give you power on the up-stroke & the down-stroke. Beware...you'll be using muscle groups rarely used & may wind up getting a 'Charley Horse' or two, or three.
Read up on 'spinning' vs. 'pushing' or mashing on the pedals in too high of a gear. Shoot for a cadence between 70 to 90 rpm at all times. Raise the cadence level even more for hill climbing, but probably in a lower gear or gears. The faster you can 'spin', the easier it is to pedal.
Good stuff from the late Sheldon Brown & Bicycling.com on the links.
How to make a shit bike worth riding?
The Bees K
I'm 17, 5'2" and I wanted to have a bike to ride around town, less than 10 miles at a time at the very most. My boyfriend gave me this old Huffy Stone Mountain bike somebody gave him and he had to fix the back tire. I know the bike is probably shit, especially for road rides, but how can I make my ride better? I took it out for a short ride yesterday and the bottom of my butt took a beating, right on the bone. I have no idea how big the frame is buy the way. How can I make this little-bike-that-could better suited for a road ride? Also, I have to do this as cheaply as humanly possible. Help!
Answer
The
make sure the seat s at a correct height. When seated, your legs should almost be straight when your pedals are in the six o'clock position. Second, realize that you are out of shape. Just like in a gym, when you first start out you are toning to,get sore. So DON'T over do it! It is easy to ver do it on a bike.
Lastly, get a good pair of padded s cycling shorts, either road or mtn bike shorts. There is a reason that they have been around for over one hundred years virtually unchanged.
Do not pedal,at a slow rate WITH high (hard) pedal pressure. You should spin the pedals at about 70 rpm with a MODERATE pedal pressure. Read up.... Or ask here about "spinning".
Soccerref
The
make sure the seat s at a correct height. When seated, your legs should almost be straight when your pedals are in the six o'clock position. Second, realize that you are out of shape. Just like in a gym, when you first start out you are toning to,get sore. So DON'T over do it! It is easy to ver do it on a bike.
Lastly, get a good pair of padded s cycling shorts, either road or mtn bike shorts. There is a reason that they have been around for over one hundred years virtually unchanged.
Do not pedal,at a slow rate WITH high (hard) pedal pressure. You should spin the pedals at about 70 rpm with a MODERATE pedal pressure. Read up.... Or ask here about "spinning".
Soccerref
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