A not so great biking day.....(kinda long)

Well, Thursday I had cleats put in my shoes and I switched over to clipless
pedals.

I spent an hour or more on the trainer at the LBS getting used to locking
in/out. The hot lady who works there adjusted the tension so that they were
pretty easy to lock in/out -- which seemd to be what I needed at the time.
I got home, moved the bike out of the garage, locked in the left foot, then
nearly fell to my left. I managed to catch myself. I got on the bike and
rode around my small subdivision a bit while practicing locking in / locking
out.. No real problems until once I got to a stop while a car was going
by...I felt unsure....

So yesterday I did about 6 miles around my neighborhood, hitting a few hard
hills. Practiced locking in / locking out while riding -- over and over.
Didn't really stop, though. No problems. I found that working the cleats
in / out of the pedals on a real bike ride is much easier than doing so on a
trainer. I felt good about it...

That brings the story to today, my first real day of bicycling shame, I
might add. I was planning to do 45 to 50 miles, depending on how I felt.
So, I left out at first light, got through the first red light fine -- had
to stop...locked out right foot...no problems...Got to the place where I
meet my riding buddy about 4 miles from my house -- he's there ready and
waiting....so I lock out my right foot...sort coast up to him to chat a bit.
Get my right foot to the ground. Bamn! Fell to the left (while talking to
him) while left foot is locked in (Pat suggested I lock out both feet but I
forgot)...there was a slight incline near the road edge so that my right
side was lower then my left...on the fall I twisted the saddle, and knocked
off some of the seat material -- I guess a new saddle is in my distant
future. Messed up the rear brakes enough that the rear tire didn't roll
freely. Fixed all of that...

Everything was great for the next 16 miles or so, in fact, it seemed like my
speed was up, though I was pushing it a bit since I had birthday cake last
night and wanted to burn it off....at mile 20...I was coming to a stop to
meet my riding buddy, who got there ahead of me (he weighs 60 lbs less than
I do)...so this time I lock out both feet as I only had maybe 30 yards to go
to stop....Bamn! Fell to the right. Turns out, my right foot had locked
back in and I didn't even know it! That was really embarrassing as I was
talking to him and we both knew the moment I was going down. It all happens
in slow motion it seems, even though once you start to go you can't do much
about it. Glad I had my helmet on as my head hit the pavement. Talk about
the inverted pendulum problem.

Anywho...at about 25 miles out along the route, I hear this noise....had
popped a spoke on the rear wheel. Dang -- I just had popped a spoke on
tuesday on that same wheel and had to have it trued. Well, there I was with
the wheel out of true again. I could do nothing to get the spoke back in.
Some out-of-town cyclist came by to offer a hand...he was training for an
Ironman event in Florida (we're in SC)...there was nothing he could do so he
wished my a good walk home...I was looking at about 11 miles....not too bad
but at 3 mph with a bike I was not looking forward to it. My buddy was
nowhere to be seen although he was to wait for me at a certain point on the
route since he didn't know where we were going today beyond that point...so
I released the rear brake and tried to ride with the wheel out of true...it
all seemed to be working, so I made a U-turn in the middle of the road to
head for the meet point. But, alas, the rear wheel hung and --- what do you
know --- bamn! I was on the friggin pavement again! This time I felt a bit
defeated. So I just started hoofing it home. Luckily, after about 4 miles
a kindly old fellow and his wife stopped to ask how far of I walk I had...I
told them 9 miles...I did the math wrong..it was only about 7 miles...but
anyway, the fellow was cyclist...81 years old...had a bike rack on his other
car....so he went home and came back, hitched up my bike, and drove me
home....finally (after calling my riding buddies to see if he made it back),
I hurried to the LBS where the hot lady (who sold me my bike) managed to
rush my bike back so I can get it back by 3pm (hopefully, that was nice of
her to try, huh?). I discovered that my left palm is all swollen, too. Must
be from one of those falls....

Comments on how to avoid any more spills and what to do with a popped spoke
and an untrued wheel on a ride would be much appreciated. Somehow, I feel a
bit unsure if myself now....damn!

Roger Zoul wrote: {it /is/ kinda long but very entertaining...for us!}

Well, Thursday I had cleats put in my shoes and I switched over to
clipless pedals.

I spent an hour or more on the trainer at the LBS getting used to
locking in/out. The hot lady who works there adjusted the tension so
that they were pretty easy to lock in/out -- which seemd to be what I
needed at the time. I got home, moved the bike out of the garage,
locked in the left foot, then nearly fell to my left. I managed to
catch myself. I got on the bike and rode around my small subdivision
a bit while practicing locking in / locking out.. No real problems
until once I got to a stop while a car was going by...I felt
unsure....

So yesterday I did about 6 miles around my neighborhood, hitting a
few hard hills. Practiced locking in / locking out while riding --
over and over. Didn't really stop, though. No problems. I found
that working the cleats in / out of the pedals on a real bike ride is
much easier than doing so on a trainer. I felt good about it...

That brings the story to today, my first real day of bicycling shame,
I might add. I was planning to do 45 to 50 miles, depending on how I
felt. So, I left out at first light, got through the first red light
fine -- had to stop...locked out right foot...no problems...Got to
the place where I meet my riding buddy about 4 miles from my house --
he's there ready and waiting....so I lock out my right foot...sort
coast up to him to chat a bit. Get my right foot to the ground.
Bamn! Fell to the left (while talking to him) while left foot is
locked in (Pat suggested I lock out both feet but I forgot)...there
was a slight incline near the road edge so that my right side was
lower then my left...on the fall I twisted the saddle, and knocked
off some of the seat material -- I guess a new saddle is in my
distant future. Messed up the rear brakes enough that the rear tire
didn't roll freely. Fixed all of that...

Everything was great for the next 16 miles or so, in fact, it seemed
like my speed was up, though I was pushing it a bit since I had
birthday cake last night and wanted to burn it off....at mile 20...I
was coming to a stop to meet my riding buddy, who got there ahead of
me (he weighs 60 lbs less than I do)...so this time I lock out both
feet as I only had maybe 30 yards to go to stop....Bamn! Fell to the
right. Turns out, my right foot had locked back in and I didn't even
know it! That was really embarrassing as I was talking to him and we
both knew the moment I was going down. It all happens in slow motion
it seems, even though once you start to go you can't do much about
it. Glad I had my helmet on as my head hit the pavement. Talk about
the inverted pendulum problem.

Anywho...at about 25 miles out along the route, I hear this
noise....had popped a spoke on the rear wheel. Dang -- I just had
popped a spoke on tuesday on that same wheel and had to have it
trued. Well, there I was with the wheel out of true again. I could
do nothing to get the spoke back in. Some out-of-town cyclist came by
to offer a hand...he was training for an Ironman event in Florida
(we're in SC)...there was nothing he could do so he wished my a good
walk home...I was looking at about 11 miles....not too bad but at 3
mph with a bike I was not looking forward to it. My buddy was
nowhere to be seen although he was to wait for me at a certain point
on the route since he didn't know where we were going today beyond
that point...so I released the rear brake and tried to ride with the
wheel out of true...it all seemed to be working, so I made a U-turn
in the middle of the road to head for the meet point. But, alas, the
rear wheel hung and --- what do you know --- bamn! I was on the
friggin pavement again! This time I felt a bit defeated. So I just
started hoofing it home. Luckily, after about 4 miles a kindly old
fellow and his wife stopped to ask how far of I walk I had...I told
them 9 miles...I did the math wrong..it was only about 7 miles...but
anyway, the fellow was cyclist...81 years old...had a bike rack on
his other car....so he went home and came back, hitched up my bike,
and drove me home....finally (after calling my riding buddies to see
if he made it back), I hurried to the LBS where the hot lady (who
sold me my bike) managed to rush my bike back so I can get it back by
3pm (hopefully, that was nice of her to try, huh?). I discovered that
my left palm is all swollen, too. Must be from one of those
falls....

Comments on how to avoid any more spills and what to do with a popped
spoke and an untrued wheel on a ride would be much appreciated.
Somehow, I feel a bit unsure if myself now....damn!

Some day you'll look back on this and laugh. {Pause for cursing to
commence.}

Sorry you had such a rough time of it out there; at least no serious injury
or bike damage.

Sounds like you'll get the hang of the clipless thing pretty soon (pain is a
great motivator in that regard). As for the wheel, it's possible you
damaged the spoke in the falls and close calls, but you may want to consider
having it rebuilt anyway since you'd broken a different spoke quite
recently. Ask the LBS?

Some people carry those kevlar (?) emergency spokes, but I would have done
what you did (open brakes and try to ride -- maybe even remove them if
necessary -- possibly trying to true the wheel, too, although I'd be afraid
that I'd screw up the spoke tension too much).

One last thought about the pedals/cleats: check your shoes to make sure no
rubber sole material is interfering with engagement (and more imp.
DISengagement!); and tighten the screws to ensure no cleat movement (sure
death!).

Bill "was planning a ride but maybe yoga safer?!?" S.

S o r n i wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote: {it /is/ kinda long but very entertaining...for
:: us!}
::
::: Well, Thursday I had cleats put in my shoes and I switched over to
::: clipless pedals.
:::
::: I spent an hour or more on the trainer at the LBS getting used to
::: locking in/out. The hot lady who works there adjusted the tension so
::: that they were pretty easy to lock in/out -- which seemd to be what
::: I needed at the time. I got home, moved the bike out of the garage,
::: locked in the left foot, then nearly fell to my left. I managed to
::: catch myself. I got on the bike and rode around my small
::: subdivision
::: a bit while practicing locking in / locking out.. No real problems
::: until once I got to a stop while a car was going by...I felt
::: unsure....
:::
::: So yesterday I did about 6 miles around my neighborhood, hitting a
::: few hard hills. Practiced locking in / locking out while riding --
::: over and over. Didn't really stop, though. No problems. I found
::: that working the cleats in / out of the pedals on a real bike ride
::: is much easier than doing so on a trainer. I felt good about it...
:::
::: That brings the story to today, my first real day of bicycling
::: shame,
::: I might add. I was planning to do 45 to 50 miles, depending on how
::: I felt. So, I left out at first light, got through the first red
::: light
::: fine -- had to stop...locked out right foot...no problems...Got to
::: the place where I meet my riding buddy about 4 miles from my house
::: -- he's there ready and waiting....so I lock out my right
::: foot...sort
::: coast up to him to chat a bit. Get my right foot to the ground.
::: Bamn! Fell to the left (while talking to him) while left foot is
::: locked in (Pat suggested I lock out both feet but I forgot)...there
::: was a slight incline near the road edge so that my right side was
::: lower then my left...on the fall I twisted the saddle, and knocked
::: off some of the seat material -- I guess a new saddle is in my
::: distant future. Messed up the rear brakes enough that the rear tire
::: didn't roll freely. Fixed all of that...
:::
::: Everything was great for the next 16 miles or so, in fact, it seemed
::: like my speed was up, though I was pushing it a bit since I had
::: birthday cake last night and wanted to burn it off....at mile 20...I
::: was coming to a stop to meet my riding buddy, who got there ahead of
::: me (he weighs 60 lbs less than I do)...so this time I lock out both
::: feet as I only had maybe 30 yards to go to stop....Bamn! Fell to
::: the right. Turns out, my right foot had locked back in and I
::: didn't even know it! That was really embarrassing as I was talking
::: to him and we both knew the moment I was going down. It all
::: happens in slow motion
::: it seems, even though once you start to go you can't do much about
::: it. Glad I had my helmet on as my head hit the pavement. Talk
::: about
::: the inverted pendulum problem.
:::
::: Anywho...at about 25 miles out along the route, I hear this
::: noise....had popped a spoke on the rear wheel. Dang -- I just had
::: popped a spoke on tuesday on that same wheel and had to have it
::: trued. Well, there I was with the wheel out of true again. I could
::: do nothing to get the spoke back in. Some out-of-town cyclist came
::: by
::: to offer a hand...he was training for an Ironman event in Florida
::: (we're in SC)...there was nothing he could do so he wished my a good
::: walk home...I was looking at about 11 miles....not too bad but at 3
::: mph with a bike I was not looking forward to it. My buddy was
::: nowhere to be seen although he was to wait for me at a certain point
::: on the route since he didn't know where we were going today beyond
::: that point...so I released the rear brake and tried to ride with the
::: wheel out of true...it all seemed to be working, so I made a U-turn
::: in the middle of the road to head for the meet point. But, alas,
::: the rear wheel hung and --- what do you know --- bamn! I was on the
::: friggin pavement again! This time I felt a bit defeated. So I just
::: started hoofing it home. Luckily, after about 4 miles a kindly old
::: fellow and his wife stopped to ask how far of I walk I had...I told
::: them 9 miles...I did the math wrong..it was only about 7 miles...but
::: anyway, the fellow was cyclist...81 years old...had a bike rack on
::: his other car....so he went home and came back, hitched up my bike,
::: and drove me home....finally (after calling my riding buddies to see
::: if he made it back), I hurried to the LBS where the hot lady (who
::: sold me my bike) managed to rush my bike back so I can get it back
::: by 3pm (hopefully, that was nice of her to try, huh?). I discovered
::: that
::: my left palm is all swollen, too. Must be from one of those
::: falls....
:::
::: Comments on how to avoid any more spills and what to do with a
::: popped spoke and an untrued wheel on a ride would be much
::: appreciated.
::: Somehow, I feel a bit unsure if myself now....damn!
::
:: Some day you'll look back on this and laugh. {Pause for cursing to
:: commence.}

I'm already laughing, to be honest. Everytime I think about it just make it
that much funnier.

::
:: Sorry you had such a rough time of it out there; at least no serious
:: injury or bike damage.
::
:: Sounds like you'll get the hang of the clipless thing pretty soon
:: (pain is a great motivator in that regard). As for the wheel, it's
:: possible you damaged the spoke in the falls and close calls, but you
:: may want to consider having it rebuilt anyway since you'd broken a
:: different spoke quite recently. Ask the LBS?

I'm going to see them at 3pm, so I'll ask.

::
:: Some people carry those kevlar (?) emergency spokes, but I would
:: have done what you did (open brakes and try to ride -- maybe even
:: remove them if necessary -- possibly trying to true the wheel, too,
:: although I'd be afraid that I'd screw up the spoke tension too much).

I'm going to study up on this....luckily I bought a book on bicycle
machanics plus visit those websites. Learning to care for my own bike can't
hurt, and certainly learning what i can do to be able to ride home is really
important!

::
:: One last thought about the pedals/cleats: check your shoes to make
:: sure no rubber sole material is interfering with engagement (and
:: more imp. DISengagement!); and tighten the screws to ensure no cleat
:: movement (sure death!).

So far, movement hasn't been a problem. I think part of what happened today
is that I was talking to my riding buddy when I should have been paying more
attention to getting unlocked! And in that U-turn I didn't have much speed
and I think I had a reflex action of jerking into the turn. I should have
turned while locking out. While I think I can get in and out with relative
ease, doing so is still something that I have to think about. But I'll
check the cleats anyway, and the lady at the LBS wants me to bring the
shoes, so she probably wants to adjust them.

::
:: Bill "was planning a ride but maybe yoga safer?!?" S.

Some of those yoga movements can get you in trouble! Thanks.

Roger Zoul wrote in part:

... Bamn! Fell to the right. Turns out, my right foot had locked
back in and I didn't even know it! ...

Those inadvertent clip-ins are the worst. We've all been there.

That cleat-related floundering will be a thing of the past before too long.
More worrisome is the fact that your spokes keep breaking. That should not be a
regular occurrence. Probably you have a poorly-built wheel or a wheel that is
simply not built to handle the girth. What kind of wheel are you riding?

If you pop a spoke on a ride, it should be possible to straighten the wheel
enough so it clears the stays by adjusting adjacent spokes with a spoke wrench.
Maybe the hot chick at the LBS could show you how...

Robert

R15757 wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote in part:
::
:: ... Bamn! Fell to the right. Turns out, my right foot had locked
:: back in and I didn't even know it! ...
::
:: Those inadvertent clip-ins are the worst. We've all been there.
::

Believe it or not, that makes me feel better!

:: That cleat-related floundering will be a thing of the past before
:: too long. More worrisome is the fact that your spokes keep breaking.
:: That should not be a regular occurrence. Probably you have a
:: poorly-built wheel or a wheel that is simply not built to handle the
:: girth. What kind of wheel are you riding?

I bought this bike in September 2003. I only had 200 miles or so up until
April 17. Since then, I've put on 600 miles. My wheel is a Specialized
"Rolf design 700c twin spoke design high performance wheel set", whatever
that means.

http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkMode...t snk7.j27002

My tendency is to blame it on my weight -- I'm 235 to 240 or so.
::
:: If you pop a spoke on a ride, it should be possible to straighten
:: the wheel enough so it clears the stays by adjusting adjacent spokes
:: with a spoke wrench. Maybe the hot chick at the LBS could show you
:: how...

Plus, maybe they'll sell me a spoke wrench, too. I'll see her at 3pm. I
don't really understand how the spokes work to keep the wheel straight, so
I'll be reading up on that. Thank.

Roger Zoul wrote in part:

I bought this bike in September 2003. I only had 200 miles or so up until
April 17. Since then, I've put on 600 miles. My wheel is a Specialized
"Rolf design 700c twin spoke design high performance wheel set", whatever
that means.

http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkMode...sionIdroot=2a2
0htsnk7.j27002

My tendency is to blame it on my weight -- I'm 235 to 240 or so.

Peter C. or one of the other wheel gurus on .tech
would be of more help, but IMHO it sounds like the Rolf is not going to be
enough wheel for you. You might need something more conventional (like Mavic
Open Pro, Ultegra hub, 36 spokes) to get you home consistently on wheels rather
than on foot. It might also be the case that a bigger tire (28c) could solve
the problem. 28c's can be hard to find these days. The good news is if you
decide you need to ditch the Rolfs they will be worth something, or you could
keep 'em for races and such. Good luck.

Any other big guys on this NG ride Rolfs?

Robert

R15757 wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote in part:
::
:: I bought this bike in September 2003. I only had 200 miles or so
:: up until April 17. Since then, I've put on 600 miles. My wheel is a
:: Specialized "Rolf design 700c twin spoke design high performance
:: wheel set", whatever
:: that means.
::
::
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkMode...sionIdroot=2a2
:: 0htsnk7.j27002
::
:: My tendency is to blame it on my weight -- I'm 235 to 240 or so.
::
:: Peter C. or one of the other wheel gurus on .tech
:: would be of more help, but IMHO it sounds like the Rolf is not going
:: to be enough wheel for you. You might need something more
:: conventional (like Mavic Open Pro, Ultegra hub, 36 spokes) to get
:: you home consistently on wheels rather than on foot. It might also
:: be the case that a bigger tire (28c) could solve the problem. 28c's
:: can be hard to find these days. The good news is if you decide you
:: need to ditch the Rolfs they will be worth something, or you could
:: keep 'em for races and such. Good luck.
::
:: Any other big guys on this NG ride Rolfs?

So Rolfs have a rep for racing, I take it...so going to a new wheel means
replacing the hub too, right? Geez...that sucks since I got this bike in
September. Obviously, having to hoof it home ain't gonna work....and I do
intend to keep riding...will a 28c tire fit on my curent wheels?

I post over in .tech, too. Thanks.

"Roger Zoul" wrote in news:10bi0ni29d7ka97
@corp.supernews.com:

Rolf design 700c twin spoke design

If you do decide to have a wheel built, I would recommend a 36 hole hollow
section rim with a three cross lace for the spokes. I like Mavic, Sun, or
Velocity rims personally. Maybe go with a mountain hub. Yes that's kind
of old school, but it's also bombproof. A good hand built wheel can take
wheel-killer potholes and remain true. You definitely want to choose the
builder carefully. A good builder will want you to bring the bike in after
about 100 miles or so to retension the wheels. Depending on what parts are
chosen, $160 should cover it. Ready built wheels might be available for
about that or even a little cheaper. I know that sounds like a lot but I
suspect that the wheels that were spec'd with your Specialized would cost
about that bought separately.

Mike

Roger Zoul wrote:

So Rolfs have a rep for racing, I take it...so going to a new wheel
means replacing the hub too, right? Geez...that sucks since I got
this bike in September. Obviously, having to hoof it home ain't
gonna work....and I do intend to keep riding...will a 28c tire fit on
my curent wheels?

You don't need a new wheel. Have the bike shop fix your current one, since
they sold it to you and it's (apparently) failing after very little use. (I
say apparently because you COULD have damaged this last broken spoke during
your falls.)

I suggest having them replace this spoke, TENSION AND STRESS-RELIEVE the
wheel after truing, and then if any more problems either replace it under
warranty or rebuild it from scratch.

Not sure about the 28 mm tire. Should work AFAIK, but I think you should
stick with 25s.

Bill "lucky with my road wheels so far; mtb wheels another story" S.

Roger Zoul wrote:

Plus, maybe they'll sell me a spoke wrench, too. I'll see her at 3pm. I
don't really understand how the spokes work to keep the wheel straight, so
I'll be reading up on that. Thank.

Wheel truing: definitely worth some time to "get the feel"
on how to do. And actually quite simple.

During a RAGBRAI a couple years ago, I was behind one of
the ladies on our "team" riding along. It was the last
day of the ride and the first time I'd ridden with her for
so long a stretch.

I noticed the rear wheel seriously moving back and forth
laterally as she pedaled along. I know she'd had some
spokes break during the previous 6 days.

The wheel was so far out of true that it alternately rubbed
up against the brake pads on its most extreme lateral
wandering, effectively applying the brake every few moments.

She had simply gotten used to the constant, iterative brake
application for most of the ride! Took me a couple minutes
to straighten the wheel enough for it to spin freely.

Your road bike might take more time to true than the hybrid
from the above story, but you should be able to true a wheel
even with the tight spaces of a road wheel, in just a few
minutes while out on the road.

It's a skill well worth learning!


SMH