Re: Oh, that's great... really...

On 2005-10-11, Satya <satyap@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Tue, 11 Oct 2005 19:36:37 GMT, Jasper Janssen wrote:
>> without knobbly bits. Perfectly smooth is ideal, but if you can't get that
>> then tyres with cosmetic thread only.
>
> I'm afraid I'll slip.

Believe it or not, you'll slip less with slicks than with tread on a
bike. Aquaplaning only becomes an issue at relatively high speeds: cars
might aquaplane, but only at the upper points in their speed range (say,
60 kph plus, perhaps). It's a real problem for aeroplanes; Boeing has
spent a lot of money and effort trying to alleviate the problem. At
typical bike speeds, you won't aquaplane.

As for the loss of traction on wet surfaces: that's because of the
nature of the road-tyre interface. Having tread doesn't alter that in
the slightest.

>> That's another thing, a bike that actually fits you will be quite a bit
>> faster and less tiring than one that doesn't. Also less likely to cause
>
> No kidding. My knees hurt. The saddle is as high as it will go, and I
> still can't straighten my leg. I do like to let my leg hold me up
> without leaning the bike over. Can't have it both ways.

You need a bigger bike.

> I must get a new saddle.

No, you need a bigger bike (frame, anyway). A proper bike frame, fitted
to you, will leave about an inch or so between the top bar and the
family jewels when you are standing astride it (feet on the ground, not
on the pedals.) From there, you need to adjust the saddle so your leg is
almost -- not quite, but almost -- straight at the bottom of the stroke.
This will do marvels for your knees.

> It seems I prefer to mash. Maybe it's a side-effect of not being able to
> straighten my leg, so I want maximum power near the top and not so much
> near the bottom.

Get a properly fitted bike. This is an absolute *must*. Don't put up
with the pain. And spend your money at a good bike shop; you'll save
yourself a hell of a lot of aggro. I'll tell you now, I'd rather spend
a thousand on a bike at the LBS than five hundred on the same at my
local Kmart (but if there's that much price disparity, I would be asking
questions of the LBS.)

Other nice stuff, like toe clips, clipless pedals, and the like, are
much less important than a properly fitted bike. It's funny, though, how
I can't stand toe clips these days, having used clipless pedals for the
past *thinks* eight or nine years.

--
My Usenet From: address now expires after two weeks. If you email me, and
the mail bounces, try changing the bit before the "@" to "usenet".
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Rear-ended first day out
    ... The bike moved forward about 10 feet and fell to ... pinning my leg against the curb. ... that I see are because the driver was yakking on the cell phone, playing with the kids, or having a conversation with the passenger while giving eye contact and using their hands to emphasize points. ... you have to be much more alert and aware all of the time than a car driver. ...
    (rec.motorcycles)
  • Re: Rear-ended first day out
    ... The bike moved forward about 10 feet and fell to ... pinning my leg against the curb. ... > peg and break lever broken. ... 1978 Triumph Bonneville ...
    (rec.motorcycles)
  • Re: Damn Deer
    ... engine area by my now bent backwards foot pegs on my engine crash bars. ... The bike quit running on impact, so I'm amazing I am not dead. ... I have a softball size knot on my left leg below the knee cap, ... The state trooper says bikers rarely walk away from a hit like that. ...
    (rec.sport.football.college)
  • Re: Rear-ended first day out
    ... Most especially because the only riding experience I have under my ... The bike moved forward about 10 feet and fell to ... pinning my leg against the curb. ... >peg and break lever broken. ...
    (rec.motorcycles)
  • Rear-ended first day out
    ... The bike moved forward about 10 feet and fell to ... pinning my leg against the curb. ...
    (rec.motorcycles)