Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles

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Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles

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Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 7/30/2010 8:36:43 PM

gberg

Posts: 16
Joined: 5/22/2010
From: Johnson City, TN
Status: online

This is a follow-up to my comments on 6/27/2010 http://forum.bacchettabikes.com/forum2/tm.asp?m=68269. As I indicated, I am trying a recumbent to try and overcome sugary related issues that have made riding my kestrel 200 SCI uncomfortable after 30 miles.

Observations

•Most (not all) of the surgery related discomfort I was experiencing on the road bike has been eliminated. My longest ride to date has been 43 miles.
•I am still experiencing recumbent butt on my left buttock (not the right). I have increased the Euromesh seat recline and I have enclosed the seat foam with the seat cover (has reduced but not eliminated the recumbent butt). My perception is that the seat may be off center just a tad, but it does not appear to be any way to shift it right or left. Would wearing recumbent shorts instead of the standard road bike cycling shorts help? Any thoughts on this issue would be appreciated.
•As the miles increase, my riding is improving. I am more relaxed, more confident and handling and control has improved dramatically.
•Although I the 50/39/30 crank does not give me as much high end, I am finding that it is easier to maintain a cruising speed in the flats. I do spin out on occasion.
•The Strada is superior to the kestrel riding in to a headwind. I do not take as much of a hit in terms of cruising speed.
•My climbing has improved as I put on the miles. I am finding it easier to maintain a straight controlled path on most of the climbs. The 30/32 is currently adequate for a low gear, but as I indicated in previous post, there are some mountain runs where I will need a lower gear if I try them(Iron and Roan Mountains come to mind). Slow Joe Recumbo indicated that some folks have gone to a 26 or 24 ring. From what I have seen in posts, 26 appears to be fairly common for the small ring. What about a 28? Would this be a waste?
•I am doing a pretty good job of anticipating as I come to stop signs, which has minimized the number of complete stops that I have to do.
•My standard ride loops of 25 to 40 miles usually include either the front side of Buffalo Mountain, or the back side of Buffalo Mountain, and on occasion both sides. My average speed has ranged from 14 to 16 mph on the kestrel this year. My average speed has been improving on the Strada. For the past 2 weeks(8 rides), I have averaged no less than 15.3 mph, with the best average of 15.8 on the 30 mile loop.
•I am getting more comfortable with the speed on the descent off of Buffalo Mountain and do not hit the brakes until I get to the sharper curves. Coming off the front side of Buffalo Mountain today, I was at 47.2 mph before I hit the brakes to slow down for the first 3 curves of the decent. I hit the first curve at 40 mph and came out of the third curve at around 30 mph.
•My ability to start from a dead stop has improved. Where I still need work is starting on slight inclines. Many of the side roads have an incline just before the main roads. If I have to stop, I find that I am still having some trouble starting given the slight incline.
•Although my slow speed handling is improving, I absolutely suck on U turns. I definitely need to take the advice of kent33 and practice slow speed handling in a parking lot. I will probably go over to the ETSU campus before the fall semester starts to work on U turns.
•I have started to ride the Strada to my office on campus at ETSU. The speed bumps on campus are bone jarring. On the kestrel, I could raise my butt off the saddle. I definitely need to slow down as I go over the speed bumps.

Final thoughts:

Overall I am pleased with the Strada. The Strada has taken care of most of my surgery related riding issues. I would like to use the Strada as my commute bike and get a Corsa or CA 2 for my main road rides. Whether I do this will
depend on the feedback I receive from at my doctor’s appointment in 2 weeks.

Gary G. Berg
2010 Strada

Post #: 1

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 7/30/2010 10:01:49 PM

goatstick

Posts: 290
Joined: 6/27/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: gberg
•I am still experiencing recumbent butt on my left buttock (not the right). I have increased the Euromesh seat recline and I have enclosed the seat foam with the seat cover (has reduced but not eliminated the recumbent butt). My perception is that the seat may be off center just a tad, but it does not appear to be any way to shift it right or left. Would wearing recumbent shorts instead of the standard road bike cycling shorts help? Any thoughts on this issue would be appreciated.

Thoughts: I still can get recumbutt if I'm just tooling around. The more slowly I go, the more likely I'll get it. To totally prevent it I simply crank harder as to do this I must tilt my pelvis upwards a tiny bit which very slightly raises my butt off of the seat. The further laid back my seat is (down to about 14 deg) the better all of this works. Before I got a power meter this was an important diagnostic tool I used to indicate that I wasn't cranking hard enough. :^) I've worn all sorts of different shorts and pants and have seen no difference with this particular issue.

quote:

•As the miles increase, my riding is improving. I am more relaxed, more confident and handling and control has improved dramatically.

That's how it works! Base Miles help you solve most problems.

_____________________________

Spherical Cows, Dude! Ranch Racing
CA2.0 "SoulCrusher"
kthxbai

(in reply to gberg)

Post #: 2

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 7/30/2010 10:12:54 PM

gberg

Posts: 16
Joined: 5/22/2010
From: Johnson City, TN
Status: online

Appreciate the thoughts. I may try lowering seat one more notch.

(in reply to goatstick)

Post #: 3

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 7/31/2010 1:18:57 AM

ccroy

Posts: 43
Joined: 6/5/2010
Status: offline

Gary,

We've had our 'bents about the same time/mileage. You beat me, I'm 8 weeks 575 miles. I'm just curious, what is recumbutt? I did have soreness right below my butt when I started, seems like over time it went away.

Since I wasn't sure with a pinched nerve in my neck if or how much I could ride I went with comfort and bought a Giro 26 ATT with the big Recurve seat. It's amazing how comfortable the bike is. My longest ride so far was 60 miles (Down to Las Pulgas/Camp Pendelton for So Cal Locals) and my butt was fine my legs were toast like others have said just getting that base back.

My average speed is down compared to yours and it's hilly here too. Still, if I compare the Giro fairly, touring bike to DF touring bike I'm only ~ 1 mph off my average. The Giro is so much easier to ride on the flat I can easily maintain high teens low 20's like on my road racing bike. Hills I'm slow compared to the DF racing bike, but not far off the DF touring bike. Long hills I'm about the same as my DF touring bike, Rollers is where I really fall behind. Have to experiment with that lift off/unweighting my butt, that may prove closer to standing and hammering than I'm doing now.

I commute and the Giro with a huge Radical Designs bag is proving ideal. I think a Corsa or (gasp) CA2 (For my 50th still a few years off!) is in my future for a weekend fun bike.

Sounds like you're loving your Strada, and you live in a great place to use it. Ride On!

Chris

_____________________________

Chris

New Bent Rider, Giro ATT 26
Laguna Hills, CA

(in reply to gberg)

Post #: 4

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 7/31/2010 6:10:01 AM

gberg

Posts: 16
Joined: 5/22/2010
From: Johnson City, TN
Status: online

Chris,

Recumbutt is recumbent butt. I experience an aching sensation on left buttock. It is like a pressure point. It has diminished over time, but not completely. Overall, the Strada is easier on my body.

I am working up on ride lenght. Shooting for a 50 mile ride for this weekend.

As far as a second bent is concerned, I am drooling over the CA 2. I hope all the honey do's I am working on do not consume all my funds. If funds hold out, Corsa or CA2 (if enough funds left over) is a definite possibility.

Sounds like our experiences are very similar. Enjoy and be safe

Gary G. Berg
2010 Strada

< Message edited by gberg -- 7/31/2010 6:52:27 AM >

(in reply to ccroy)

Post #: 5

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 7/31/2010 6:31:52 AM

AeroDon

Posts: 1048
Joined: 6/18/2006
From: North Augusta, SC USA
Status: offline

quote:

Where I still need work is starting on slight inclines. Many of the side roads have an incline just before the main roads. If I have to stop, I find that I am still having some trouble starting given the slight incline.
•Although my slow speed handling is improving, I absolutely suck on U turns. I definitely need to take the advice of kent33 and practice slow speed handling in a parking lot. I will probably go over to the ETSU campus before the fall semester starts to work on U turns.

A technique that will help you in both of these situations is to sit upright on the seat. Whenever I start from a stop or have any situation require precise low speed handling, I sit upright, rather than laying back on the seat. By doing this, you will find you have better balance and can apply a little body english. It is much more like riding an upright bike. This technique helps A LOT in performing U-turns.

One other comment....don't get carried away with the recline angle. (Goatstick's 14 deg. recline is quite extreme.) If you live in the hills as I do and it sounds like you do, too much recline hurts your power for climbing. It makes for great land cruising, but you just can't climb nearly as well. In dialing in my CA2, I dropped the recline to 21 deg. and felt a difference in both the flats (good) and the climbs (BAD). I returned to my old angle of 23 deg. and can climb much better. YES, small angle changes make a difference. (If you want to know your angle, just take a photo of the bike, straight on from the side and measure it with this free ap: http://www.mycnknow.com/eruler.htm )

_____________________________

AeroDon
CA 2.0 700c
Ti Aero
TEAM BACCHETTA

Father of the ADEM headrest
http://ademhr.com

(in reply to gberg)

Post #: 6

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 7/31/2010 6:49:35 AM

gberg

Posts: 16
Joined: 5/22/2010
From: Johnson City, TN
Status: online

AeroDon,

appreciate the suggestion. I will give it a try.

< Message edited by gberg -- 7/31/2010 6:52:54 AM >

_____________________________

Gary G. Berg
2010 Strada

(in reply to AeroDon)

Post #: 7

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 7/31/2010 12:01:25 PM

KellyinTx

Posts: 23
Joined: 7/16/2010
Status: offline

This post has been really helpful to me! I have had my Strada just one week. It is my first 'bent after a long while on DF's. After I did my last century a few weeks ago on my DF I decided I needed to make a change.

My observations -

* I have been taking shorter rides - in the 20 to 30 miles range. I have noticed it does take a very differant muscle group then my DF. Yes my butt does get sore - a fatigue I did not feel on my DF, not a soreness from a saddle. I am trying to focus on staying smooth rather than speed. I am averaging just over 16 MPH on my rides - not as fast as my DF rides but I think that will come with time.

* I am focusing on having a very light touch on the bars and relaxing to avoid too tight a grip and oversteering.

* Spinning up a hill is still a challenge - I need to get in climbing gears sooner and spin faster. We have a big one on my usual 'training' run that I use and on my DF I would run up it around 10 - 12, on my Strada it has been 8-10 so I need to work on that for sure.

* Overall, it has been a blast and I can't expect too much too fast or I get discouraged. I have a 65 mile ride coming up in early September and plan on that being my first long organized ride.

* I plan on getting together and riding with a couple of the folks down here to get some tips from them on riding my Strada the right way.

* I put Shimano A530 peddles on it and I love them. I like the wide platform and the fact I can ride without clipping in or flip the peddle over and clipin. I have NOT been clipping in - I need a little more time and practice to feel comfortable enough to do that.

_____________________________

Peace from Kelly in Texas

*****

2010 Strada XL

(in reply to gberg)

Post #: 8

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 7/31/2010 5:55:44 PM

goatstick

Posts: 290
Joined: 6/27/2009
Status: offline

I think both of these statements need to be qualified. I personally find it much easier and terrifically faster to launch under all conditions where I can see properly (no cars blocking, etc) while laid back and I make **FAR** more power in the laid back position than in a more upright, closed one, especially when climbing. I regularly do (usually fairly short) 15-20 percent climbs with my *double* crankset - 39-53 with an 11-32 or 11-28 cassette that way. I did all of my pulls during RAAM using the 11-32 on a Renn disc wheel with the double up front and saw no real reason to use something different. I suspect it's primarily an issue of how you train, not some basic limitation. You practice it enough (as in every day) and you learn how to manage your power to just do it. Yes, when you start out, it's most likely easier to do so in the closed position, but you don't need to remain there. Plus when you are laid back that far you get to go a LOT faster.

_____________________________

Spherical Cows, Dude! Ranch Racing
CA2.0 "SoulCrusher"
kthxbai

(in reply to AeroDon)

Post #: 9

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 7/31/2010 7:19:41 PM

ccroy

Posts: 43
Joined: 6/5/2010
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: KellyinTx

* I put Shimano A530 peddles on it and I love them. I like the wide platform and the fact I can ride without clipping in or flip the peddle over and clipin. I have NOT been clipping in - I need a little more time and practice to feel comfortable enough to do that.

Kelly one thing the shop recommended to me was at 1st clipping just one foot in at 1st. It only took me a couple of short rides to get comfortable with stopping and starting. I find being clipped in makes coasting down hills real nice, just relax your whole body in your mobile easy chair (feet just sorta hang) and enjoy the view.

_____________________________

Chris

New Bent Rider, Giro ATT 26
Laguna Hills, CA

(in reply to KellyinTx)

Post #: 10

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 8/1/2010 8:22:19 PM

gberg

Posts: 16
Joined: 5/22/2010
From: Johnson City, TN
Status: online

Kelly,

I found it was not to hard getting used to clipless pedals. I use look pedals and found that using the clipless pedal makes a world of difference. I did go to the lightest pedal tension setting. Figured it would make life easier to dismount. I used the cul de sac across the street to practice clipping in and dismounting. I think you will find that your flat cruising speed will increase and climbing will improve when you go clipless.

_____________________________

Gary G. Berg
2010 Strada

(in reply to KellyinTx)

Post #: 11

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 8/6/2010 6:22:28 PM

Paul M

Posts: 4
Joined: 7/14/2010
Status: offline

Gary, I've been riding my Strada for around 6 weeks too. A recent 60 mile riding was a step up for me and brought up the kind of issues you detail, as well as a lot of smiles. Getting into London surburbs with a need to beat nightfall forced a jump in traffic confidence, but I still saw the need for some car park seesions, espeically for tackling roundabouts. This actually proved a lot more fun than I expected; there something quite zen about whizzing around in circles trying to muscle memory map exactly when heel strike starts to occur. I got a feel for the U turn radius where sitting up becomes preferable. Whilst I usally start reclined, I found that if I need to guarantee no 'lane wandering' , as when traffic is close alongside, I'm best to do the first 'powerstroke' reclined then sit up to ensure no wobbling - albeit this limits my accleration. Conversly on a step gradient start I need to stay reclined for power. So if I'm close to a truck AND on a hill start I'll wait for a gap...
I can already feel these situations becoming less stressful and things are really starting to click. But it sure takes some commitment to get over the high racer learning curve and you can see how riders could get scared off. Having ridden a bike all your life your ego tells you that adaption shouldn't take more than a few rides - which can lead to setbacks that you then blame on the bike.

Have fun
Paul

< Message edited by Paul M -- 8/7/2010 11:11:07 AM >

(in reply to gberg)

Post #: 12

RE: Strada observations after 6 weeks & 675 miles - 8/7/2010 6:10:28 PM

gberg

Posts: 16
Joined: 5/22/2010
From: Johnson City, TN
Status: online

Paul,

You have me beat on long ride. My longest ride to date is 52 miles. Like you, if traffic is an issue for me, I wait for big gaps in the traffic when starting. I want a large margin for error if I screw up on the start.

Enjoy.

_____________________________

Gary G. Berg
2010 Strada

(in reply to Paul M)

Post #: 13