The cycling thread

[D41]

I've had the same Seller Italia Flite saddle (with perforations!!) on three different bikes now.... the thing must be 25 years old, if my reckoning is correct.

[Cav]

I commuted to work and came home via a 800ft climb and 6 mile diversion through the woods and trails. I did 2 trails before carrying on home including the one which I crashed on before. I CONQUERED that bastard trail!

[Kwacky]

Great photos.

Did you adjust the seat?

[D41]

Nice kickstand.
That thing has some major ground clearance at the B/B.
What's all that green stuff sticking out of the ground??

[Cav]

I didn't adjust the seat. I did, however, notice that I was getting a LOT of undercarriage discomfort and numbness so I checked underneath and could feel that my sitbones were not on the saddle. I need a wider saddle.

In the top picture, nearby was a load of wild garlic. The other stuff is called grass. And thanks for the kickstand

[Perkles]

just ride it and your arse will adjust,my hands hurt if I have along break from cycling they soon toughen up
My Colnago C64 arrived today and is being built tomorrow, I am very excited !

[Cav]

Happy new bike day!!!

The saddle won't adjust to being too narrow though. It is what it is.

[Kwacky]

I need to use my bike, but as I'm so unfit I don't enjoy riding it and I've no motivation to use it.

[Cav]

You could try riding somewhere different? It might just be you didn't enjoy riding it where you were riding before. I quickly got bored of canal paths and now I enjoy a mix of wooded XC or trail riding.

[Kwacky]

I'm surrounded by steep hills. That's the biggest problem. There's no options for a gentle ride to get my fitness up unless I throw it in a car and drive somewhere

[Cav]

Ah I see. Yeah that's a problem. I find myself chucking the bike in the back for the most part for exactly that reason. Is there any common land or woods near you with dog walking paths that are suitable for bikes? That would be a nice fitness builder most likely.

[Kwacky]

Yep but there's no gentle slopes. I could do with an of road version of a nursery slope

[Cav]

Haha I definitely agree with you there! You could always look at Komoot or Trailforks and filter routes near you based on their difficulty and riding type, you may find something suitable

[Perkles]

Yep but there's no gentle slopes. I could do with an of road version of a nursery slope

i confirm its bloody hilly round by you no flat route at all

[D6Nutz]

Do what I do kwacky. Enjoy rolling down the hills then ride up as far as you can then walk the rest. Just make sure each time you try to get a little further up the hill.

You had good base fitness, it won't take long to come back. Would probably give you some much needed head space as well.

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[D41]

Some stretching beforehand, and 10-15 minutes warmup - doesn't have to be on a bike, although it helps... will get you into the zone enough to get you climbing. Start slow & in a gear you think you can make it up the entire hill with.

[kiwikrasher]

I’m with Kwacky. I rode regularly, had a road bike and two mountain bikes. Moved up to where I am now which is extremely hilly. My street has 16% gradient. I’ve barely touched the bikes in 10 yrs as I have to pack it into a car, drive minimum 10 km away to get something rideable. I actually gave away my road bike last week.

[D41]

I lack the motivation, plain and simple.... but I've felt like that for a while when it comes to cycling....or anything else really physical, TBH....I just don't have that drive in me anymore.
Having said that, I did get out for a while yesterday, and I'll be going out again for a bit in the morning.... but I'll be knackered & close to death afterwards. Auld crone.

[Cav]

I went for a ride in the woods again yesterday. Fitness has already improved a little which is nice although I still chose to walk up the hardest bit which enabled me to peddle the next hardest bit. It's progress!

Unfortunately I lost all my confidence and headed home after 1 run. I nearly forced myself to do a 2nd run but I decided against it.. "1 last run" is almost always the phrase uttered before a trip to A&E.

Everything went fine on the run I did do. I stopped and assessed every feature I wasn't sure about, pushed back up then nailed the feature. Immediately afterward I felt great but by the time I got to the top again, I didn't want to do it.

I'm just going to keep trying and look for some more minor trails in the hope it brings me less to concentrate on and therefore more enjoyment and confidence.

Oh, bib shorts.... life saver!

[Kwacky]

I've decided to do my own version of couch to 5k.

This week I'll do one lap of the estate. Then I'll go up by one lap a week until I think I'm fit enough to hit the hills. At least this way there's no excuse for me not to go out.