pure joy...with a few questions

[mtnmunch]

Latelatebloomer,
Thank you so much for the support, every little bit helps :-) :-)

Runnergirl,
Good info, thank you. I will definitely pick up the slicks I was looking at. Specialized Nimbus.

I have a heart rate monitor which I love. It was one the best investments I've ever made. I'll definitely be making sure I'm working up to my THRZ. I'm looking forward to being able to ride to my favorite techno songs.

Cindysue,
Thanks for the support :-) I think I am going to talk to the guys at my LBS, they've been very helpful and supportive. And see if they have any suggestions.

[Irulan]

no need to pay someone to adjust your brakes.
Get out your handy set of allen wrenches. Get a copy of Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike maintenance. ($25) There are diagrams in there to adjust the reach by bringing the levers closer to the handlebars, and the angle that the brakes leversl sit on the handle bar. The second adjustment is just a matter of loosening the allen screw, rotating the levers ( usually down) in increments unitl they feel more natural.

As for where your seat is, that is a matter of preference, and bike geometry. The classic XC race position is that the seat is an inch or two above the handle bars, but there is so much room for variation that there are no correct answers. More importantly, is the seat height correct for you, and is the handlebar height and stem length comfortable? With the seat lower than the handlebars, that gives you a fairly upright, recreational position which is fine for just tooling around, but not great for more agressive, technical riding.



I.

[anne_77]

I noticed you said you love your heart rate monitor. I've been thinking about purchasing one. What do you use? Why do you like it?

[mtnmunch]

Irulan,
Thank you for the recommendation of Zinn's book. I keep meaning to buy it. I figure if I can work on my car, I can work on my bike.

I believe I have finally found a seat height I like. At the bottom of my pedal stroke my knee is at a very slight bend. I love my clipless pedals.

As far as stem height, this is another part I'm interested in. My wrists still get a bit sore at the end of long rides. Am I resting too much on my hands? or could stem height affect this?



anne_77
I use a Polar A5. It was 99.00 at the Sports Authority. I'm quite happy with it. You enter your weight, height, age and gender. It then calculates your THRZ. You can also do a walk test which I think will give a more accurate Target Heart Rate Zone.

When you go to use it, if you have the audio on it beeps slowly when your below your THRZ and is silent when in it, and then beeps fast when you go above. It has quite a few variations on seeing where you working at, how long and how many calories your burning.

I wore it to work the other day, and on really busy crazy days here in corp america, I'm actually working in the bottom of my THRZ

[Irulan]

Irulan,

As far as stem height, this is another part I'm interested in. My wrists still get a bit sore at the end of long rides. Am I resting too much on my hands? or could stem height affect this?

yes and yes. You should be "riding light", not depending on your arms to hold you up. Stem height, type of handle bars, all that can affect how the upper body feels.

have you checked out my mountain bike tips? See my sig.

[mtnmunch]

yes and yes. You should be "riding light", not depending on your arms to hold you up. Stem height, type of handle bars, all that can affect how the upper body feels.

have you checked out my mountain bike tips? See my sig.

I checked out your link, and actually that was where I had read to ride lightly and adjusting the brake levers was possible That is a really great page you have put together.

I definitely do not have a death grip on the handles. DH and I are going riding both days this weekend, have to take advantage of the unseasonably warm good weather. While out there, I'm going to have him take some pics of me, so I can see what my form is. I'll post too, and would love some feedback. This could be scary.

[mtnmunch]

I was working on my bike tonight and took two pics. I know posting a pic is not a replacement to taking my bike to the shop to get fit.

I checked the position of my seat tonight. A member from the forum here told me about checking the distance between the nose of the seat and the middle of stem. I tried her suggestion and it was right on and according to it my seat is the right distance from the headset.

I also checked my seat height again tonight. And when I'm sitting on the seat, there is a very slight bend in my knee with my foot on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke. I think that's the right thing.

I ride mainly dirt roads and some rails to trails. With a few double track rides scattered here and there. Hopefully next year this will be different.

Anyways...here's a pic of my bike, should I be making any other adjustments.