Comments on: Getting some mileage http://digitaldame.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/getting-some-mileage/ or, Diary of a Mad Suburbanite Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:03:45 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Digital Dame http://digitaldame.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/getting-some-mileage/#comment-395 Digital Dame Sun, 17 May 2009 16:28:12 +0000 http://digitaldame.wordpress.com/?p=591#comment-395 Hey McB! Good to hear from you. I can't stand riding into the wind either. It's been pretty windy here lately, too, which is annoying, although probably not as bad as what you have to deal with. Spring and fall tend to be very windy here. My mentor was on a long ride with a group out in the Columbia River Gorge a couple weekends ago, and he said they were into a headwind the whole way. Luckily he's a strong rider, but even he felt it. The Gorge is famous for being windy, windsurfing is a huge sport out there. I think they hold national competitions in windsurfing there, but I'm not really plugged into that scene. I don't envy you riding in that heat. Anything over 80 degrees and I pretty much wilt ;) We are finally, just this weekend, seeing 80-degrees, and it will be dropping back to the upper 60s and low 70s most of the coming week. I think I would pull my knees if I pedaled with my knees sticking out like that, that sounds very awkward. Hey McB! Good to hear from you.

I can’t stand riding into the wind either. It’s been pretty windy here lately, too, which is annoying, although probably not as bad as what you have to deal with. Spring and fall tend to be very windy here. My mentor was on a long ride with a group out in the Columbia River Gorge a couple weekends ago, and he said they were into a headwind the whole way. Luckily he’s a strong rider, but even he felt it. The Gorge is famous for being windy, windsurfing is a huge sport out there. I think they hold national competitions in windsurfing there, but I’m not really plugged into that scene.

I don’t envy you riding in that heat. Anything over 80 degrees and I pretty much wilt ;) We are finally, just this weekend, seeing 80-degrees, and it will be dropping back to the upper 60s and low 70s most of the coming week.

I think I would pull my knees if I pedaled with my knees sticking out like that, that sounds very awkward.

]]> By: McBloggenstein http://digitaldame.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/getting-some-mileage/#comment-394 McBloggenstein Sun, 17 May 2009 15:53:52 +0000 http://digitaldame.wordpress.com/?p=591#comment-394 I've heard of that method of pedaling with one foot before, but I've never tried it. I just imagine it as being so awkward that it would be difficult to perceive the improper pedal stroke... but people say it works, so I'm sure it's worth trying. I missed bike to work week too. I've also missed our moderate temperature spring time for the most part, and have managed to begin my riding season at the beginning of the sweltering heat that has already arrived in TX. My problem with getting started earlier in the year is that the spring is terribly windy, and I HATE wind on a ride. I would rather endure freezing temps or extreme heat than get knocked around by the wind. Another pedaling tip that I believe increases your efficiency and strength (and also makes you look more like you know what you're doing) is to keep your knees going straight up and down so that your entire leg is on the same plane as the pedal crank. A lot of people that don't ride much or haven't had a mentor probably don't realize they are doing it so when they have to push harder or are getting tired, they flare one or both knees out at the top of the pedal stroke. Take notice the next time you're behind someone (the ones doing this remind me of a kid on a big wheel). It means they need to work out their hip flexor muscles, and their thigh adductors are probably underdeveloped compared to their abductors... Something Suzanne Somers' Thigh Master would have been good for afterall =) Ride on! I’ve heard of that method of pedaling with one foot before, but I’ve never tried it. I just imagine it as being so awkward that it would be difficult to perceive the improper pedal stroke… but people say it works, so I’m sure it’s worth trying.

I missed bike to work week too. I’ve also missed our moderate temperature spring time for the most part, and have managed to begin my riding season at the beginning of the sweltering heat that has already arrived in TX. My problem with getting started earlier in the year is that the spring is terribly windy, and I HATE wind on a ride. I would rather endure freezing temps or extreme heat than get knocked around by the wind.

Another pedaling tip that I believe increases your efficiency and strength (and also makes you look more like you know what you’re doing) is to keep your knees going straight up and down so that your entire leg is on the same plane as the pedal crank. A lot of people that don’t ride much or haven’t had a mentor probably don’t realize they are doing it so when they have to push harder or are getting tired, they flare one or both knees out at the top of the pedal stroke. Take notice the next time you’re behind someone (the ones doing this remind me of a kid on a big wheel). It means they need to work out their hip flexor muscles, and their thigh adductors are probably underdeveloped compared to their abductors… Something Suzanne Somers’ Thigh Master would have been good for afterall =)

Ride on!

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