Thread: Well bugger me!!!

Triples are un-pimped!

Thanks for all the advice guys. I am keen to try out some XC stuff with you Scallops, also Pete has shown some interest. Just keep in mind that I am a complete unco (sp?).

So I have now clocked up just over 10ks on the bike and the gearing isn't really bothering, was just something that I noticed and did enjoy on the old bike. I guess it wasn't maximum speed I was after more just high load, slow rotation normal speed stuff (40km). At 60km I am probably gonna be poopin my pants

One main thing that is of concern is my butt hurts already...

Pics... will snap some with my camera phone and see if I can upload em shortly.

Sorry for the crappy phone pix...
Just noticed my chain is meant to be the KMC X10-SL (gold) but its not. Seem to be a shimano HGX10, Will ask Dave about that.


Can see my trusty riding thongs



This is the self amalgamating tape I installed to protect the chain stay. Hard to see but it's there.

Ah, yes, the elite athlete's seat.... ow! Get a comfy one, your bum will love you. Get a harder saddle to suit once your bum has hardened up.

Originally Posted by Grimace

Thanks for all the advice guys. I am keen to try out some XC stuff with you Scallops, also Pete has shown some interest. Just keep in mind that I am a complete unco (sp?).

So I have now clocked up just over 10ks on the bike and the gearing isn't really bothering, was just something that I noticed and did enjoy on the old bike. I guess it wasn't maximum speed I was after more just high load, slow rotation normal speed stuff (40km). At 60km I am probably gonna be poopin my pants

One main thing that is of concern is my butt hurts already...

Pics... will snap some with my camera phone and see if I can upload em shortly.

Noooooooooo, please, don't post photos of your sore butt. I know it doesn't happen without pics, but that is taking it too far.

Cheers, Mick.

It's no wonder your butt hurts! Tilt the seat back more, especially if you are running it a bit low. How tall are you?

Gearing - try working on spinning a bit more. You really want to aim for an absolute minimum of 60rpm, but somewhere around 80 or 90 is better. This will increase your cardiovascular fitness and do far less damage to your knees and hips in the long term. Just step up the revs a little bit at a time.


James.

Originally Posted by Grimace

So I have now clocked up just over 10ks on the bike and the gearing isn't really bothering, was just something that I noticed and did enjoy on the old bike. I guess it wasn't maximum speed I was after more just high load, slow rotation normal speed stuff (40km). At 60km I am probably gonna be poopin my pants

One main thing that is of concern is my butt hurts already...

Grimace,

40km per hour on a mtb is moving pretty fast. I would have thought 25 -30km per hour would be closer to a decent average speed for a mtb.

I commute on a Roadie and seem to manage around 30 km as an average and can catch and past 90% of commuters on my ride.

Sounds like gearing is not an issue for you now but you could always get a big chain ring (can purchase just the big ring on it own) which will let you roll decent speed without a high cadence. But as rainman said it is better all round to find a cadence around 90 -100 and get the legs spinning. I know I find anything above 100 hard to maintain and below 90 gets to be a grind.

With the seat, get a spirit level and as a minimum set it dead level and then play around from there.

Best solution to a sore butt

1. get a decent sect of padded knicks;
2. do more miles 3rd or 4th ride you will not notice it.

Enjoy and thanks for making sure your riding thongs go in the picture


George

Originally Posted by bee utey

Ah, yes, the elite athlete's seat.... ow! Get a comfy one, your bum will love you. Get a harder saddle to suit once your bum has hardened up.

Yeah i was thinking that but I managed to clock up a total of just over 17ks yesterday and although my butt tingles it wasn't noticeably sore when I got home from Squash last night.

I think I might try some minor seat adjustments but I think considering my efforts I am feeling pretty good after yesterdays adventures.

Spewing it is raining today as I was keen to ride to work again, o well there are plenty of days ahead of me

Originally Posted by rainman

It's no wonder your butt hurts! Tilt the seat back more, especially if you are running it a bit low. How tall are you?

Gearing - try working on spinning a bit more. You really want to aim for an absolute minimum of 60rpm, but somewhere around 80 or 90 is better. This will increase your cardiovascular fitness and do far less damage to your knees and hips in the long term. Just step up the revs a little bit at a time.


James.

I am not tall - About 172cm I believe, and I just weighed myself yesterday at 75kg?? Not sure about the whole tilted back seat thing, it seems odd to transfer the main contact point closer to my balls

Either way I might have a fiddle around with the height as I feel I could raise it an inch, and also move the seat position on the post rearward about 10mm.

Interesting what you mention about knees and hips as mine are not the best.
I just find that 80% of the time if I am not in the top gear it feels like I am peddling and nothing is happening, or it is just two easy???

Originally Posted by DiscoWeb

Grimace,

40km per hour on a mtb is moving pretty fast. I would have thought 25 -30km per hour would be closer to a decent average speed for a mtb.

I commute on a Roadie and seem to manage around 30 km as an average and can catch and past 90% of commuters on my ride.

Sounds like gearing is not an issue for you now but you could always get a big chain ring (can purchase just the big ring on it own) which will let you roll decent speed without a high cadence. But as rainman said it is better all round to find a cadence around 90 -100 and get the legs spinning. I know I find anything above 100 hard to maintain and below 90 gets to be a grind.

With the seat, get a spirit level and as a minimum set it dead level and then play around from there.

Best solution to a sore butt

1. get a decent sect of padded knicks;
2. do more miles 3rd or 4th ride you will not notice it.

Enjoy and thanks for making sure your riding thongs go in the picture


George

Thanks for the info George, your definitely right in your assumptions, I meant 40km would be my top speed. I certainly could have worded that better, sorry for the confusion.

I worked out that I generally cover 1 kilometre in just above 3 minutes, all at steady pace (I didn't push myself yesterday)
So that puts my average speed somewhere about 18km/h.

As for cadence and stuff it's all knew to me but I assume that is direct relation to leg RPM. I figure once I start riding with others more in the know I can aim to match speed and learn the cadence & gears from there.

I'll try over the next couple of weeks to set a cadence of 90 and see how I feel. I have no idea what sort of cadence I am working at now but I do know that I rest a lot and I am generally in the highest gear often.

Another thing for all to keep in mind, and to help understand my level of fitness and terminology;
I have never been to a gym, never really had any work out routine.
I eat semi healthy but I also find a lot of time for fast foods.
I used to do push ups and sit ups when I was 16-17 (over 10 years ago), and about two years ago I tried to do the 100 push ups in six weeks challenge but gave up after just 4 days
But given the above I did improve extremely fast on my last bike and got a 24minute initial ride down to 7 minutes in just over two weeks.

I worked out yesterday that I completed that same trip in about 16 minutes, and it was fairly easy (80% of it). I just completely died in the arse on the main hill in the last third of the trip, which added at least 2 minutes to my time. I seem to recover quickly thou, much quicker then I used to. I can only put this down to a much lower consumption of alcohol over the last year?

Any ways looking forward to improving & learning all the lingo. As well as the all important socialising. Also looking forward to placing my order at CRC