Now I just feel silly...

[Bikingmomof3]

Me too -- there's definitely a road bike somewhere calling my name! "Right now" I'm thinking about getting the clipless pedals, cuz then I'd be used to using them when I DO get that road bike some day, and I'm thinking about those slick tires for this bike (they'd be fat slicks....) but after taking a week off due to travel, I feel pretty certain that there's SOMETHING wrong with the fit (I think I'd be at the bike shop right now if it wouldn't be too hot to ride back home after!), and that makes me wonder how much work/money/etc. do I want to put into this bike, when I could put it into that road bike... (it's probably something minor, like seat adjustment and/or handle bar adjustment, which isn't necessarily a good thing at all!)

Meanwhile, I'm practicing too! (neighbor lady said she rode so much farther so much easier soon as she hopped on her new road bike, though..... GOSH it's tempting!)

It is indeed tempting. Fortunately (or not), the boys have school starting soon and any money for new bike goes towards school clothing, supplies, and sporting fees. So as tempted as I am, it is not in the budget.

I do like your idea of new pedals, to become used to them. Great idea. I am trying to find creative ways to push myself with this bike and prepare myself for next summer when I can hopefully buy a new bike.

[CorsairMac]

Pascale: my first "get back into biking by commuting" bike was a Trek Navigator 200 - a comfort bike. I was just so thrilled to be riding it never occurred to me that it wasn't "built" to ride like that! I rode 60 miles a week on that thing, avg spd of 11-12 mph and climbed my cute (read NOT) mountain every night going home on that thing. I also did 25-30 mile rides on the weekends on that baby. By the spring I was "pining" for a road bike and in just a matter of like 4 wks I ended up with a vintage road bike, a MTB and withint 6 wks a 2nd vintage road bike! So hang in there, the road bike for you will come out and you'll love it! and one day you'll climb back on that comfort bike and think "Holy Smokes how did I RIDE this thing for so long?" lol

[Over50Newbie]

Okay Pascale,

My nose is also behind the handlebars. The only time I feel like I am a little too forward is when I stand up to climb a hill.

My LBS told me that my Terry had three different saddle positions. They ended up putting me in the middle one. The front one was too forward for me, and with the back saddle position, I felt like I had to stretch too much to reach the handlebars.

Also, maybe you should try to ride the next size up - the 17.5"? I tried that size and with the seat in the forward postion, it felt okay. It is just that the 16" felt better.

I still say... get thee to a bike store that will do a professional fitting for you. Maybe you have a long torso for your height, but you won't know for sure until you are fitted properly.

Good luck!

[HappyAnika]

That is amazing you've been putting that kind of mileage on that bike!

When I bought my road bike, they said when I'm in riding position with my hands in the hoods if I look down toward the handlebars they should line up with the hub of the front wheel. If you see the hub in front of the handle bars you are too far forward, if you see it behind the bars, you're too far back. Just a guideline, hope this helps.

[Pascale]

That is amazing you've been putting that kind of mileage on that bike!

When I bought my road bike, they said when I'm in riding position with my hands in the hoods if I look down toward the handlebars they should line up with the hub of the front wheel. If you see the hub in front of the handle bars you are too far forward, if you see it behind the bars, you're too far back. Just a guideline, hope this helps.

Yes, that helps a lot, thank you!

I rode a Giant OS3 today to get an idea of size and the XXS fit me much better than the Terry did yesterday, I didn't feel as though I was too far forward on it, although I'd have to upgrade to the OS1 to get the brakes/shifts that can be fitted to my paws. What a difference in ride from my comfort bike - wow! Even so, I'm still drooling over that Bianchi Giro!

Until then, I will do what I can with my comfort bike - I did replace the big 'ole cushy saddle on it today, so hopefully the change will take away some of my sit bone and hip pain.

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

[maillotpois]

Sorry, I can't focus on this discussion because I am so distracted by how pretty your borzoi is....

[Pascale]

Sorry, I can't focus on this discussion because I am so distracted by how pretty your borzoi is....

Thanks That was Spice, my first borzoi and my heart dog (dog people know what I"m talking about). She lived almost 7 years and cancer took her a year ago this month, but she's alive in my heart and I love having that picture of me wherever I go

I have two others presently - and I think they are fabulous, but they'll never be my Princess

[Kano]

I do like your idea of new pedals, to become used to them. Great idea. I am trying to find creative ways to push myself with this bike and prepare myself for next summer when I can hopefully buy a new bike.

My understanding on these pedals is that we can move 'em to the new bike when we find it, too. That makes them a bargain even though they're not cheap, right?

Anyhow, this week, new "slick" tires on Thursday -- decided that on that other thread. I think next week is the week for new pedals. We have a hilly ride with a group of people over the weekend, and that's probably not an ideal day to be a pedal newbie. By then, the stuff I've improved about the bike will be just about half the initial cost of the bike....

(Sunday was going to be our day for pedals, but then the bike shop that we could have biked past on our way home was going to be closed, it being Sunday and all, so we didn't go to another bike shop either. Could be a "while we're out" this weekend, since the bikes will be on the car already!)

Karen in Boise

[Bikingmomof3]

What type of pedals are you planning on buying?

[Kano]

What type of pedals are you planning on buying?

That's a question for my bike shop guy! I'm not sure, but they'll work with my shoes, and they'll be the easiest possible to get out of !!!!!

My shoes are Specialized Taho, which are like the cheapest shoes that would go onto my feet, and even though I have no real objection to yet another pair of shoes in my shoe stable, it would be nice to be able to use them. The guys at George's seem to be partial to the ones with an "spd" type widget? Or, maybe since we're riding the low end bikes, they're suggesting the low end pedals????

It's a whole other thread, I know -- but maybe someone on the list has suggestions for us newbies breaking our bodies in to this sport???

Karen in Boise

[Geonz]

And if a road bike really doesn't feel right, you can get a "fast hybrid" that will be comfy, too, if you put skinnier tires on it. I put a couple thousand miles on my hybrids each year, and the "slower" one is a little more comfortable over the long, long haul (so I took it on the week-long tour); the fast one is great for one-day centuries (7500FX Trek).
WHo knows, you may be able to tweak the comfort bike so that at least it's comfortable over the longer distances. Then, indeed, when you get a lighter steed it will FLY because of the strength and endurance you've built up - and in the meantime, as you get stronger, you will get to make some of thsoe folks on the really lightweight stallions who don't pu tin your mileage feel a little sheepish...

[Pascale]

Ok, so yesterday I got the new saddle for my Specialized Crossroads Comfort beast and decided to test ride it today. Meant to go for a short ride - maybe 5-10 miles.

Well, 5 eventually turned into 30. Generally I ride the rail trails (which are flat, and nicely devoid of traffic), but I didn't have the car today, so I rode locally. So, this was the first time I've EVER had to ride hills! That was exhausting!

Some things I've learned by visiting bike shops recently is that I am not pedaling correctly. I didn't realize there was a way to pedal incorrectly (newbie alert!). I've ALWAYS placed the arches of my feet center on my pedals - ever since I was a kid. Then I start visiting bike shops and I start seeing the special shoes that attach to the pedals (are you KIDDING? would I tie myself to the saddle of my horse??????????? ok, so that was my first reaction...). So they tell me, no, I should be using the ball of my feet to pedal. Which makes me raise my seat height. But now my feet slip off the pedals (ok, so now I see why you attach the feet to the pedals! LOL). So, it's been a HUGE learning experience.

The saddle seemed very comfortable for the first 25 miles - the last 5 I was getting sore. I'm NEVER sore really on my sit bones though - it's my tail bone that KILLS me. Even now, an hour after my ride, I'm sore to just sit. My knees always hurt as well (stairs are not welcome for 12 hours after a ride).

But heck, I'm sure having fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bikingmomof3]

Some things I've learned by visiting bike shops recently is that I am not pedaling correctly. So they tell me, no, I should be using the ball of my feet to pedal. Which makes me raise my seat height. But now my feet slip off the pedals (ok, so now I see why you attach the feet to the pedals! LOL). So, it's been a HUGE learning experience.

I had absolutely no idea I was to be using the ball of my foot, not he center of my foot. I learn at least one thing new every day.

[Kano]

The saddle seemed very comfortable for the first 25 miles - the last 5 I was getting sore. I'm NEVER sore really on my sit bones though - it's my tail bone that KILLS me. Even now, an hour after my ride, I'm sore to just sit. My knees always hurt as well (stairs are not welcome for 12 hours after a ride).

But heck, I'm sure having fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pascale -- tail bone rather than sit bones... That may change now, though you'll need some time to feel better first! I had tail bone problems too, for a while, until I got rid of that comfort saddle they put on our beasts! It was a few days after I wasn't sitting on it anymore that it was okay to be on my butt again, so you'll get better now! (I won't promise, since you could have different results!)

And knees -- gosh, that sounds SO familiar! The 5-10 rides are no problem, but when I get going for longer distances, it's not that they hurt, but I know they're there by the time I'm done, and then stairs.... You got that right! I was thinking it's a muscle thing, until I unwillingly gave the muscles a week to rest (bike in Boise, Karen several hours west of Boise). Came back, and they started right in again... After two months of at least four days a week, they should be over that nonsense, unless I'm challenging myself significantly more and more each week????

Karen in Boise