Breathing issue, what is wrong?

Hi, on my ride last Saturday I had difficulty breathing. It seemed my belly couldn't expand fully unless I constantly pushed my body back and was more bent. I am thinking that I need to raise the seat, but am concerned that I will put more weight on my arms. Right now I cannot ride without some weight on my arms, and I think that a proper fit would mean that I can sit fully upright. Is that true?
Also, I was wearing street clothes, including a belt to hold up my too loose jeans.

At this point, I don't know if it is my bike, my clothing, or just my belly.

I am riding an old Schwinn LeTour, a road bike with drops. The only really comfortable hand position for me is riding with my hands over the brack hoods. I am not flexible enough to ride confortably on the drops, and I don't trust myself to reach the brakes in time in any other position. Also, my bike has suicide levers, and I don't want to get in the habit of using them. As a teen, I used them exclusively, through ignorance.

Mary

Hello Mary

I think that your difficulty breathing could be caused by a number of factors, but I think you're right to start by making sure your bike fits. There are several good websites that can give you a good idea as to whether your bike is the right size or not. You can also visit your lbs to get fitted.

If you have a road bike and ride with your hands on the hoods or in the drops, your back will be bent, yes, and you may experience some muscle aches in your neck as you get used to riding that way. I suppose the sensation of being bent over could make it difficult to breathe, but it really is quite natural and comfortable as you get used to it (not haviing difficulty breathing, but riding leaning forward).

As for saddle height, when the pedals are horizontal (and your feet are on them) a plumb line dropped from the bottom of your kneecap should bisect the pedal exactly. If it's too far forward, your seat is too low. Too far backward, it's too high.

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"Right now I cannot ride without some weight on my arms, and I think that a proper fit would mean that I can sit fully upright. Is that true?"

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I CAN sit fully upright on my bike, but only if I put my hands on the bars right close to the stem, and it's not very comfortable or aerodynamic, so I rarely do it. Yeah, and I never use the suicide levers. Use the "real" brakes.

Get some cycling clothes. That should help as well.

I didn't feel comfortable riding in the drops until I had been riding for several hundred miles. When you are in the drops, your back is practically level and looking up really uses those muscles in the neck!

Hope that helps a little!

Courage!

R.

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Originally Posted by Runner13

Hello Mary

I CAN sit fully upright on my bike, but only if I put my hands on the bars right close to the stem, and it's not very comfortable or aerodynamic, so I rarely do it. Yeah, and I never use the suicide levers. Use the "real" brakes.

Courage!

R.

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What are suicide levers?

barb

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Originally Posted by kelownagirl

What are suicide levers?

barb

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http://wandel.ca/bikes/0620-170639.jpg

I didn't know that's what they were called! I used those exclusively on my very first 10-speed bike way back in the day. ;)

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Originally Posted by kelownagirl

What are suicide levers?

barb

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*nods head with puzzled frown on face*

What Kelowna said...

Do you had air quality "issues" where you live? I have had many a ride (or swim or whatever) where I felt like I just couldn't get enough air...then later discovered that the air quality was horrible. Pollen can do it too. Something to keep in mind, anyhow.

Suicide levers were the precursor to today's interrupter levers (or cross levers). Today's levers are a much better mechanical design. The suicide levers had absolutely no power to them and were made from crappy metal; they didn't work under extreme conditions.