I’d like my 19" bike (a Giant Iguana) if I were 170cms tall instead of 184 cms tall. I can’t go on like this, and I really enjoy biking, so what should I be looking at? I don’t want knobby tires - the only time I’d be off-road is if I crashed. I want a bike that can handle Taipei’s not-always-smooth roads. There will be a baby seat mounted on the back, although I only take the kid on my bike (around Lotus Hill’s lake) once every couple of weeks or so. I aspire to joining wookiee Vorkosigan, et al on some of their epic bike rides, and the only thing from keeping me doing it is that I don’t feel comfortable on my bike, so my future bike should be able to manage this, even if I can’t!
Do I need suspension? I don’t think so, but I’m willing to be convinced otherwise. Does anybody have any specific bike suggestions for me?
It’s time for a custom hybrid bike! Go to Jimmy’s or Allen’s and get one built. PM for details or check the bike shop section of the Formosa Fat Tires. We’ll look forward to seeing you on an epic ride soon.
I second this!
Have someone knowledgeable with you when you go to the shop and take your time in putting one together.
Hope to see you on the hills soon.
So I gave up trying to buy 2nd hand, or even in Taiwan and did my shopping in Hong Kong. I have spent a small fortune on a Cannondale race bike (Caad9 model6) which is black and red and looks very fast.
Training wise, I’m in spin classes twice a week, running 6km once a week, and in the gym doing body weight based stuff twice a week, plus 2 rides at the weekend starting this Saturday - am I going to be fit enough by mid June?
[quote=“Edgar Allen”]So I gave up trying to buy 2nd hand, or even in Taiwan and did my shopping in Hong Kong. I have spent a small fortune on a Cannondale race bike (Caad9 model6) which is black and red and looks very fast.
Training wise, I’m in spin classes twice a week, running 6km once a week, and in the gym doing body weight based stuff twice a week, plus 2 rides at the weekend starting this Saturday - am I going to be fit enough by mid June?[/quote]
what are you doing in mid-June? tour of Taiwan? you need to slowly amp up the miles on the bike to around 200 kms a week (less if you do big hills). the other stuff won’t necessarily help since you really need to get used to spending time on the bike (4 to 6 hours a ride). Only riding on the weekends might not be enough…better to do night rides than gym work unless the gym work is to drop weight.
be careful however you don’t do what i just did and ride 400 kms in a weekend…i’m in a state of regret with tendon strains in both achilles
For touring, ride the full length of the Xindian R. bike path 3x weekly on weekdays, then do either (i) two 50 km on each weekend, or (ii) one 100 km. I agree with the bear… there is no substitute for hours on the bike. I’ve seen weightlifters and even swimmers drop like flies on long bike rides. On long rides, cockpit ergos are critical. the bear’s injuries may have more to do with saddle to pedal distance and angle than overexertion.
I’m amazed that anyone could “accidentally” ride 400 kms in a weekend!
If I’m riding just once a week (or if the weather’s bad, once every two weeks), each time for roughly 2-2.5 hours/ 50km, should I worry that I start to feel really sore in the bum after three hours? Or should I be riding more often/ longer than that if I want to feel comfortable for longer rides?
(I assume I’m typical in this: what limits my rides is how long I can sit, not how long I can pedal. My main exercise for the past couple of years has been swimming, which may explain why my back doesn’t bother me as much when cycling as it used to.)
[quote=“maunaloa”] On long rides, cockpit ergos are critical. the bear’s injuries may have more to do with saddle to pedal distance and angle than overexertion.
So Maoman, what did you buy?[/quote]
cleats positioned too far forward i’m thinking but yeah the problem is ergonomic not sudden overexertion…i did more training miles than anyone else in my team.
I’m amazed that anyone could “accidentally” ride 400 kms in a weekend!
If I’m riding just once a week (or if the weather’s bad, once every two weeks), each time for roughly 2-2.5 hours/ 50km, should I worry that I start to feel really sore in the bum after three hours? Or should I be riding more often/ longer than that if I want to feel comfortable for longer rides?
(I assume I’m typical in this: what limits my rides is how long I can sit, not how long I can pedal. My main exercise for the past couple of years has been swimming, which may explain why my back doesn’t bother me as much when cycling as it used to.)[/quote]
no accident, sorry…hualien-taidong-hualien.
bum pain should improve the more you ride as your butt gets used to it. Unless you got a duff saddle that is (beware of “padded” saddles or gel covers etc.) and make sure you’re wearing proper cycling shorts. I got a san marco saddle with my new bike and at first it was a killer as its harder than my old one. but although the butt wasn’t exactly pain-free by sunday afternoon it was the same amount of pain as when i started using the saddle on 3 hour rides 3 months ago.
views? there were views? all I could see was the bike in front…
oh btw our very own Bikedan (now living in China) picked up the green jersey on Sunday (sprint winner) so well done to him. I picked up the lantern rouge (or would have if there was one) by finishing exactly bang on the cut-off time of 3 pm.
I’ve been using a gel cover for years and a couple of weeks ago it occurred to me to try NOT using it. For now, it’s a touch less comfortable, but I suspect that’ll change - it just feels more “right” somehow. I’ve got good cycling shorts.
I suspect I’m duplicating something already discussed elsewhere, but how can I choose a good seat? (The one I’ve got may already be good - I bought the bike with detailed advice from a professional cyclist.)
I need to get new cycling shoes as well. My old ones disintegrated a year back and I still haven’t got around to replacing them, so these days I’m not clipped into a more-likely-to-be-ergonomic position. I’m too spooked by the inevitable 1-2 falls that will come after I’m clipped in again.
Thanks for the tips.
Sorry Maoman for thread-jacking - good luck with the weight loss and the cycling, whichever comes first!
I’ve been using a gel cover for years and a couple of weeks ago it occurred to me to try NOT using it. For now, it’s a touch less comfortable, but I suspect that’ll change - it just feels more “right” somehow. I’ve got good cycling shorts.