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Howdy from Galveston Bay

Discussion in 'Introductions' started by Flysail, Jul 7, 2011.  |  Print Topic

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Page 1 of 3
  1. Flysail

    Flysail

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    TX
    City:
    League City
    Ride:
    Stowaway2
    Name:
    Charlie
    I just joined this site. I've been riding a Trek mountain bike recently but it's just quick for me anymore. It's been several years since I last rode it. Too many hours at work and all that. I saw a man my age on a recumbent the other day while my scraped up knee recovered from the last time I totaled the Trek. So I started looking into them. I've settled on a Stowaway 2 which I ordered today. It should show up next week sometime.

    I've been retired about a year after spending 21 years working as a NASA contractor at the Johnson Space Center. The handwriting was on the wall for the future of the Shuttle Program so I went ahead and bailed.

    I'll send progress reports about an overweight guy trying to get back into shape.

    Flysail
     
    Flysail, Jul 7, 2011
    #1
  2. Buddy Bishop

    Buddy Bishop Supporter

    Region:
    NorthEast
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Greeneville
    Ride:
    Elect. Goldrush
    Name:
    Buddy
    Welcome Charlie. Glad you found this fine bunch of people. Hope you
    stay right here and enjoy yourself.
     
    Buddy Bishop, Jul 7, 2011
    #2
  3. Mtwnrocket

    Mtwnrocket Supporter

    Region:
    NorthEast
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Morristown
    Ride:
    Corsa;Rocket;C700
    Name:
    Dave
    Been a fan and Supporter of our space program since I was old enough to watch TV. One of life's biggest thrills was the Apollo 11 moon landing. Regret never making to a live launch. A serious mistake to take America from the global manned space program; heck, now we have no way to put an American in space without hitching a ride in someone else's taxi.

    Anyway, glad you joined our little forum. Lots of info and chatting. I don't talk about being overweight; I talk about being too short for my mass.
     
    Mtwnrocket, Jul 7, 2011
    #3
  4. A.D.

    A.D. #1 Custodian

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Athens
    Ride:
    Reynolds T-Bone
    Name:
    AD
    :welcome14: aboard Charlie! Seems like you've hit the ground running, by already ordering a trike.:cool9: What color did you choose? Will be interesting to hear of your progress and viewpoints along the way. :listen:
     
    A.D., Jul 7, 2011
    #4
  5. Rocketmantn

    Rocketmantn Rider

    Region:
    East
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Knoxville
    Ride:
    Strada, Corsa
    Name:
    Jon
    :welcome_to: Charlie,

    You have a lot of company with overweight guys trying to get back in shape (me included). But this is a fun group and our goal is to ENJOY our recumbents and get together to ride.

    So, keep us informed, take some pictures of your new steed and post them so we all can enjoy them.
     
    Rocketmantn, Jul 8, 2011
    #5
  6. Flysail

    Flysail

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    TX
    City:
    League City
    Ride:
    Stowaway2
    Name:
    Charlie
    It's Carolina Blue. I'm pretty excited about it.

    Charlie
     
    Flysail, Jul 8, 2011
    #6
  7. Flysail

    Flysail

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    TX
    City:
    League City
    Ride:
    Stowaway2
    Name:
    Charlie
    I talked with Tom yesterday. He has a blue ST2 in stock with 160 mm pedals. As I'm only 5'6" I decided that might not be a bad idea. Also we measured my wife's X-seam at 37 so there will probably be a second ST2 around here after we fit her to mine to see if it actually fits her.

    Maybe by next weekend if UPS cooperates.
     
    Flysail, Jul 9, 2011
    #7
  8. A.D.

    A.D. #1 Custodian

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Athens
    Ride:
    Reynolds T-Bone
    Name:
    AD
    My guess is you'll love it. I'm 5'9", but have a long torso and ride with 150mm, or 155mm cranks myself. It was one of those moments when I realized: "Wow, this is a lot better." :biggrin:
     
    A.D., Jul 10, 2011
    #8
  9. Buddy Bishop

    Buddy Bishop Supporter

    Region:
    NorthEast
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Greeneville
    Ride:
    Elect. Goldrush
    Name:
    Buddy
    Well, I'm no engine-ear, but a farm boy knows and uses leverage.
    Started with recumbents with 130mm cranks and one season of
    just 3100 miles could hardly walk. Have a knee that clicks when
    palpated over 130mm. Solution: Don't ever palpate and install
    the longest crank I can find. So, with 175mm cranks, me and the
    knee are doing quite well. And too, joints will love you when you
    use miles judiciously. One thousand fun filled miles a year is fine.
    Now if you are a young skinny, 140 pound nurse and live in Ga.,
    Things may be different. I don't know. Ward has to ride fast or
    some normal person will get a chunk of him for that greyhound
    attitude of his.

    BTW, I have a tap and die set that I haven't used in years...I may
    as well let it go. I have no plans to ever shorten cranks again.

    Another BTW, I'm 5'8" with a 43" x-seam, if that means anything.
    Oh yes, and 210 pounds, that definitely means something. Vegan
    too. Ward points out that hippos are vegan also.
     
    Buddy Bishop, Jul 10, 2011
    #9
  10. A.D.

    A.D. #1 Custodian

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Athens
    Ride:
    Reynolds T-Bone
    Name:
    AD
    :thumbsup: Agreed, and now for the rest of the story...(i.e. leverage vs. strength)

    At first, I was at puzzled when I heard about 'shorter' crankarms. I thought, "Geez, I don't have enough leverage to hardly get UP some of the hills I climb now. How could I (living in hilly TN), use a crarnkarm that was any shorter?!" :rant2:

    Then, Art Hagood explained more of the physics to me. Imagine someone had crank arms that were twice as long, or 340mm.(i.e. 2x170mm) Pedaling with them should be twice as easy, but in fact it's not and here's why...

    While someone is standing, have them crouch down (by only bending at the knees) so the top of their head is now 3" below where normally is. In this stance, using their (mostly straight) legs, they have a maximum amount of strength available to them to lift heavy objects.(Note the relative angle of the knees in this position.)

    Now, have that same person squat all the way down until their buttocks rest directly upon the heels of their feet. Squatting in this position (knees mostly bent), they have an absolute minimum amount of strength available to them in order to lift heavy objects.(Now note the angle of the knees in this position.)

    Vice-Grips work on the exact same principle. When the jaws are far apart, you have very little force between the jaws themselves. However, right before the handles become parallel and 'lock' into place is when you can apply the greatest force directly between the jaws.

    That said, when your legs are outstretched (and relatively straight), is when you have the most strength to apply to the pedals. In the above example of someone using 340mm crankarms, yes they would have more leverage by doing so, however they would be trading off their available strength since their legs are bent more during a full revolution of the pedals.(i.e. knees bent to a greater angle)

    So, what's all that mean and why do so many bicycle manufacturers only market 170mm cranks? In my opinion, it's simple: TO SAVE :money:

    No bicycle mfg wants to 'have-to' make crankarms in different lengths, just as no car manufacturer ever wanted to paint their cars anything but black in the beginning. But times change, as consumers begin to express their wants and needs, which in time, Evolve on into demands.(i.e. "I want a blue truck, or I won't purchase one from your company.")

    Yes, a one-size-fits-all toboggan does an adequate job, because it adapts to the size of the wearer's head. However, a one-size-fits-all shoe doesn't cut it in the market place, because folks know they can find a better fit for themselves. :thumbsup:

    Essentially, I think that's where we're at with crankarms on bicycles now. People are just beginning to learn there is a difference between pedaling with 150mm, 160mm and 170mm crankarms. And depending on their stature (or x-seam really), they're right in thinking some are just too long, or too short. :gripe:

    As I said, the first time I rode with 155mm cranks it just felt right. :heelclick: Later, I picked up a set of 150mm crankarms and they also feel better to me than 170mm crankarms. I don't know that 150mm or 155mm is perfect for me, but I think it feels more natural and comfortable for 'me' when cycling.

    On the flip-side, your experience in having gone down to 130mm cranks tells me there's a point when one can go too far. For me, 130mm cranks would raise my natural cadence too high and make me feel akin to a hamster on a running-wheel. :wink9: (i.e. It would be too fast of a cadence for me.)

    Sorry for going :offtopic: here, but I think it's an important issue for each cyclist to be aware of. And until I had it explained to me, I just couldn't grasp the concept of leverage vs. strength in this situation. :confused9:

    Btw, I purchased my shorter crankarms from Mark Stonich. He has a good website, that explains a lot of the differences between shorter and longer crankarms.(i.e. With a higher RPM there is less time for sinovial fluid to be squished out from under the patella, etc.) See also Check Your Cranks.

    Also, some other good information can be found on the following websites:
    Bicycle Crank Length: A Formula
    Optimum Bicycle Crank Length
    How to find the correct crank length for your bicycle
    Bicycle Crank Length: Derivation of the Formula
     
    A.D., Jul 10, 2011
    #10
  11. WardJ

    WardJ

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    GA
    City:
    Columbus
    Ride:
    Windcheetah SS #481
    Welcome to the board Charlie from Ward the 150 LBS nurse (anesthetist) from Ga. Good to hear you and your wife are going to be triking with us.

    Buddy I'm with you, a 175mm crankarm is perfect. However, my wife loves her 165's, and her a long legged thing too.

    Hey Buddy, are cookies Vegan? :confused9:
     
    WardJ, Jul 10, 2011
    #11
  12. Buddy Bishop

    Buddy Bishop Supporter

    Region:
    NorthEast
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Greeneville
    Ride:
    Elect. Goldrush
    Name:
    Buddy
    Ward, the ones Mary makes for me are. They are made with dates,
    and raisins as natural sweeteners and oatmeal. Real good and will
    put a hippo behind on in short order. Lots of calories.
     
    Buddy Bishop, Jul 14, 2011
    #12
  13. altozwei

    altozwei

    Region:
    North
    State/Country:
    TX
    City:
    Oak Cliff
    Ride:
    Catrike
    Name:
    Patti
    Hi Charlie,
    Has the new trike arrived yet? I waited over a month for mine and thought the wait would kill me. We finally left to go on vacation and it showed up while we were gone. I got the call on my cell phone but had to wait another 1 1/2 weeks to get back home and pick it up.

    Are you familiar with a ride called Pedal Palacios? Some of us from the Texas Catrikers group are planning to attend this year. If you would like to join some other trikes for a ride, plan on coming to Palacios in October. Here is the link:

    http://www.pedalpalacios.org/

    Also, we are already working on plans for the 2012 Heart of Texas Recumbent Rally, March 2-4 in Austin. Hope you can come ride with us.
     
    altozwei, Jul 15, 2011
    #13
  14. Flysail

    Flysail

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    TX
    City:
    League City
    Ride:
    Stowaway2
    Name:
    Charlie
    I apologize for not responding to Ward and Altozwei sooner. I hadn't realized the thread had gone onto a second page. It's kind of ludicrous when you think about. I was a software engineer before I retired. I ought to know this stuff.

    Pedal Palacios sounds great. We'll see what kind of shape I'm in come October. I figure I should at least be able to do the 12 mile loop by then. Thirty six might have to wait until next spring. At least it's possible to ride year round down here. I used to live in Cambridge, MA. Up there, winter was completely out of the question

    The trike is supposed to arrive next Thursday. I feel like a seven year old boy and its still eighteen days until Christmas.
     
    Flysail, Jul 16, 2011
    #14
  15. Flysail

    Flysail

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    TX
    City:
    League City
    Ride:
    Stowaway2
    Name:
    Charlie
    Buddy, I originally missed your post about a tap and die set. What sizes do you have?

    My other passion is live steam railroading. I have put together a little machine shop in my garage, lathe, milling machine, metal cutting bandsaw, drill, and a welding table along with all that goes with such a setup. Of course, just like bikes, a shop is never finished.
     
    Flysail, Jul 16, 2011
    #15
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