First ride on the Jamis!

[Catrin]

This ride was quite the surprise! Of course it was on pavement, and I took her to my favorite park. Obviously she wouldn't win any speed contests, not with those tires, but it was an awesome ride! Even though my other bikes are, currently, geared deeper than the Jamis, it was much easier to climb hills with her. She is very much like a mountain goat Getting started was a B*t*h, and my saddle is still much too low but I've been told to leave it where it is and one of the first things we will address at the clinic is how to start up the bike - between the higher BB + rear suspension it is going to be significantly higher than my other bikes. (I think they are concerned I might fall if I play around with the height too much or that I will be too intimidated to ride it before the clinic...)

Not only was she so easy to climb with, but I burned considerably fewer calories in that 55 minute ride than I normally would - according to my HRM of course. Heart rate was lower than usual, and it was just sweet! Unsure why it was easier though, the park is rather hilly and with those big tires...

My position on this bike is not quite as upright as my other bikes, and my biceps and shoulders were just a little sore and my hands more swollen than normal. It still felt great, and these things are quite minor. I did have a pretty hard strength training session yesterday & my trainer has really been hitting my upper body - it may have been related to that as well.

Now I need to find an attractive way to name her "billy goat", or "mountain goat" hmmmm Ms. Ram

[laura*]

Getting started was a B*t*h, and my saddle is still much too low but I've been told to leave it where it is and one of the first things we will address at the clinic is how to start up the bike - between the higher BB + rear suspension it is going to be significantly higher than my other bikes.

The "optimal" saddle height for a MTB is typically lower than for a road bike. The saddle needs to be lower so that the rider can get out of saddle for climbs, descents, and so on.

Some MTB'ers want to adjust the saddle height so often that there are seatposts whose height is adjustable from a control on the handlebars.

hmmmm Ms. Ram

Wouldn't it be Mr Ram, or Ms Ewe?

[Catrin]

The "optimal" saddle height for a MTB is typically lower than for a road bike. The saddle needs to be lower so that the rider can get out of saddle for climbs, descents, and so on.

Some MTB'ers want to adjust the saddle height so often that there are seatposts whose height is adjustable from a control on the handlebars.



Wouldn't it be Mr Ram, or Ms Ewe?

That makes sense Laura, hadn't thought about that. I just assumed that it would wind up higher. That makes sense since it is a different style of riding. I was a little low for my knees liking though - and my seatpost is much easier to adjust than my other bikes - no tool required

I think I will find out the names different mountain goat breeds

[Catrin]

Ewe Bike

I just read that mountain goats are not true goats, but more like a goat-antelope and apparently there is one breed called "Chamois". Who knew? Interesting.

Still thinking, but I like Ewe Bike I think "Ewe" is for sheep though, apparently they call female mountain goats "Nannies". I think that mountain sheep are just as agile as mountain goats though, so it would still work...

[Catrin]

Squishy Ewe Bike

[Biciclista]

in goat husbandry lingo girl goats are actually called does.
congrats on the ride. what's up with the swollen hands??????

[Catrin]

in goat husbandry lingo girl goats are actually called does.
congrats on the ride. what's up with the swollen hands??????

This is good to know, I read the wrong information this morning then...."Squishy Doe Bike" vs "Squishy Ewe Bike"...time will tell.

My hands always get swollen on the bike, though not so much on my other bikes because I've such an upright position that there really isn't any weight on my hands at all. Of course after 3 or more hours on the bike they are just going to be swollen - but not to any extreme - enough to make it difficult to get the gloves off and the glove seams do leave a mark for a little time.

My position on the Jamis is still upright of course, but not as much as I am accustomed to. My fitter (who is also a mountain biker) doesn't want to move to another stem + steeper riser bar on this bike too quickly - he is concerned if we take too much weight off the front wheel that my steering will get a bit sketchy on the trail. We will, of course, do what we need to do.

Though my hands were as swollen after that 55 minute ride as they usually are for a 3-4 hour ride, I didn't have any pain and shifting the SRAM triggers were not a problem for my thumbs. I think the swelling is from being in a less upright position and my hands just are not accustomed to it.

Obviously we are going to have to tweak the fit - and we are hoping it actually isn't too small for me, but time will tell. The fit is guaranteed so it won't be a problem if it does turn out that way.

[malkin]

I've been out of town 10 days, and you have ANOTHER new bike?!

[Roadtrip]

I've been out of town 10 days, and you have ANOTHER new bike?!

Goats travel in herds

[Biciclista]

Goats travel in herds

baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Velocivixen]

So I just googled "mountain goats" and their genus is : Oreamnos and species: americanus. You could name your bike "Ore" - short for "Oreamnos" and for the mineral "Ore". (Or for my home state of Oregon - take your pick!).

Ore makes it sound very sturdy and rugged. So that's what I think.

[Velocivixen]

@Catrin, not to go too far astray, but how do you use your Surly LHT? Do you actually tour with it or just as a general commuter bike or ???

[Catrin]

I've been out of town 10 days, and you have ANOTHER new bike?!

Goats travel in herds

baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

heheheh, yep Malkin. The Jamas Dakar just turned her sad lonely eyes on me on the computer monitor and sent begging vibes that she really wanted to be MY mountain goat. How was I supposed to resist such a plea, and this way I get to take a bike I am already familiar with to the women's mountain bike clinic

@Catrin, not to go too far astray, but how do you use your Surly LHT? Do you actually tour with it or just as a general commuter bike or ???

I've yet to go on a tour, though hope to go on a 3 day light tour of the GAP in September. For about a year my LHT was my only bike and I used her for everything. Now that my stable has, ummmm, expanded, the LHT won't be ridden so often. She won't go on club rides or anything, but she will still get to share my country roads with the Gunnar, my commuter if I do that, and certainly will be my winter and trainer bike.