JedidiahStolzfus
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Lancaster, PA
I adjust my brakes.
Pre-/Post-Ride routine?
- Thread starter Avg_Joe
- Start date
chunk
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
My rides are seldom planned, i kinda don't like schedules and commitment. When I decide to ride, I just grab my helmet, mobile phone, HT, and some water and i'm in the wind. I'm definitely a spur of the moment type. But I always give the bike a quick once over before I leave, tires, chain, etc.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
well you cant get arrested for that.
Djangodog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Claremont, NH
If I know that I will riding I make sure that I am hydrated and have a good store of slow burn energy on board without overeating. If the ride is going to be hot, long or hard I use an energy drink. Water is fine for short or easy rides . I also make sure that I have enough liquid with me, (or carry enough money to buy additional fluid). I do a gentle pre-ride stretch while I inspect our bikes. Post ride I stretch for about five minutes and get some more fluids on board followed by a good, post ride cup of coffee.
The bikes always get a once over and a brake and tire check before and after riding. Sundays are my bike service day, so they are gone over thoroughly every week.
Like you Joe, I have pedal assist only and I use minimal assistance. I ride mostly for enjoyment and fitness, so a reasonably light class 1 is plenty for me. I vary my cadence while riding. Intervals are good for improving strength and endurance.
The bikes always get a once over and a brake and tire check before and after riding. Sundays are my bike service day, so they are gone over thoroughly every week.
Like you Joe, I have pedal assist only and I use minimal assistance. I ride mostly for enjoyment and fitness, so a reasonably light class 1 is plenty for me. I vary my cadence while riding. Intervals are good for improving strength and endurance.
Taylor57
Well-Known Member
Viva Los Padres!
m@Robertson
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Just coming back to this thread after my one post months ago, and seeing @Avg_Joe 's response to mine about the necessity of a warmup, I was going to post ... this. But you beat me to it. This is one of the benefits of the 'e' in 'ebike'. You can deal with the knees and whatnot by taking it easy on the opening portion of the ride via cadence and reduced effort, which comes from the lower gearing and maybe bumping up the assist a couple of notches if you have to get somewhere in a reasonable amount of time vs. sightseeing.
I have to warm up and into the real hard work on a bike. I guess I take that for granted. But especially nowadays with electric assist there's no requirement to do that off the bike.
6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Northeast Pennsylvania
I sit on a soft cushion after every long ride.
Last edited:
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Perhaps too much of your body weight is distributed onto the saddle?
6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Northeast Pennsylvania
Over the last 50 years or so, I've tried every conceivable combination of saddle, suspension, handlebar, stem & seat height, grip, glove and padded clothing you can think of to deal with arthritis, back & butt pain, wrist & hand numbness as well as circulation issues. I've had several LBS "experts" tweak the adjustments to what they say is optimal but I find the best approach is trial & error.
Everyone is different here. I find if I lower the bar height and adjust the seat so I lean forward and take pressure off my butt, it just transfers the pain to my back, wrists & hands.
So far, I've minimized everything but the "buttitis". Due to crotch numbness, (my wife says I'm numb in the head as well for spending so much on bikes) I have to use split saddles which, although they prevent numbness, are not known for their general comfort. I have tried every split saddle on the market and found the Spiderflex on top of a Kinekt or Redshift suspension post works best in my case.
I suppose I just like to complain about butt soreness but It's been reduced to a relatively minor issue and only shows up after 50 miles or so.
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
Been the same route, and plan my trips at no more than 20 miles due to a sore butt. I'll take that over sore wrists or numb hands any day. Point being, I agree that it's a balancing act, and YOU are the best judge of YOUR priorities.....
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
On long rides butt pain is inevitable as it isn't built for dampening during movement. The only thing that helps is lifting off the seat as much as possible, like over bumps or standing and stretching on a down hill. I'm usually fine once off the bike.
Euro_experts always want to blame the rider or their bike set up... but in my opinion they may fair better as they have many years of conditioning their butts for a pounding... both on and off the bike.
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
I adjust the olives before being seated.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
what I hate is that my sitbones have been beaten into submission. but when I am tried or lack energy they hurt more. all last week they hurt even on my commute and as usual if I ride so often when they hurt I start to get these blisters. then as I feel better they go away.
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
Sometimes a break from riding is what's needed.
Just as it was designed as an exit only... It was not designed to support your torso in motion.
The euro_experts seem to have no problem using it out of specifications... but will go on a tirade if you put a stem riser on your bike as it wasn't designed that way.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
Kind of depends on the ride, really. So there isn't much of a routine.
For a short ride (say up to about 90 minutes) I don't need to do a lot but preflight the bike and go. I'll still go pretty easy for at least the first thirty minutes.
Longer rides require more preparation, and usually I will drink until I am about to pop before the ride (the most efficient place to store water is in your body). The first hour or so I am again taking it easy and might make several stops, adjust stuff to get everything dialed in, and pee like a racehorse. There is also a lot more fussing with layers during that first hour. Usually during the second and third hours I am really hitting the groove. That is of course on top of the preflight, which usually is a bit more elaborate for a longer ride.
It also depends a lot on the terrain. A serious uphill or downhill right at the start is much harder on your body than gentle terrain or rollers.
I will sometimes do some stretches before a ride or during a stop. But I note that stretching is something most people don't know how to do and the "stretches" they do manage to do end up not helping much. If you think you need it I'd recommend talking to a physical therapist who rides a bike and get some advice. It also helps if they can do a bike fit for you.
For a short ride (say up to about 90 minutes) I don't need to do a lot but preflight the bike and go. I'll still go pretty easy for at least the first thirty minutes.
Longer rides require more preparation, and usually I will drink until I am about to pop before the ride (the most efficient place to store water is in your body). The first hour or so I am again taking it easy and might make several stops, adjust stuff to get everything dialed in, and pee like a racehorse. There is also a lot more fussing with layers during that first hour. Usually during the second and third hours I am really hitting the groove. That is of course on top of the preflight, which usually is a bit more elaborate for a longer ride.
It also depends a lot on the terrain. A serious uphill or downhill right at the start is much harder on your body than gentle terrain or rollers.
I will sometimes do some stretches before a ride or during a stop. But I note that stretching is something most people don't know how to do and the "stretches" they do manage to do end up not helping much. If you think you need it I'd recommend talking to a physical therapist who rides a bike and get some advice. It also helps if they can do a bike fit for you.
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
If it were not for an occasional break here and there, I couldn't even make 20 miles!!Sometimes a break from riding is what's needed.
Just as it was designed as an exit only... It was not designed to support your torso in motion.
The euro_experts seem to have no problem using it out of specifications... but will go on a tirade if you put a stem riser on your bike as it wasn't designed that way.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Not bad at all! I'm glad I do not need to "ride in your shoes" though.
I used to suffer all the bad symptoms (numb hands, sore neck and back as well as "buttosis" -- of which the latter was the worst) for a long time (three years). At some phase of my riding Vado SL, I realised I hated excessive air drag on that low power e-bike. As an experiment, I did everything possible to lower the bars, increase the reach, and also installed Innerbarend grips. To my sheer surprise, all my aches were gone... except the butt pain. I thought to myself: "Perhaps that narrow and firm stock saddle was not that bad at all?" and tried it. What a relief! Now all my aches have gone! No blisters anymore, either.
Later, I modified my Vado 6.0 in a similar fashion; the only thing I could not do for technical reasons was extending the reach. Now, Vado SL is my most comfortable e-bike, and Vado 6.0 is quite comfortable.
I guess one of the reasons of (past) numb hands as well as neck and back aches (as well as dizziness) was compression of my backbone when I was riding in a relaxed upright position; and my weight was mostly distributed on my butt. The wide "comfortable" saddle was exerting stress on my perineal area, too, and was responsible for groin blisters.
I do not say my solution is applicable to anyone else. Those helped me to the extent I could return from a 147 km Vado SL ride smiling
On a 111 km gravel group ride.
A 147 km ride on a low power e-bike.
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
.... and of course gratuitous stats with pictures at every post possible.
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