[streetsmarts]

2016
Went from approximately 0 rides and miles to getting on my bike(s) 101 times for 839 miles (I didn’t start til the end of May). Wow. and I enjoyed it!!
Made bike-y friends. 😎
Had a great bike mentor! (Komorebi thanks for showing me the around!)
Attended numerous coffee clubs.
Biked in the rain.
Bought good lights & conquered my fear of riding on dark trails and streets.
Biked in the semi-cold! (i know it’s not *really* cold yet).
Stuffed envelopes at WABA. (Finally made it to the WABA office).
Rode 49 miles in one day – to & including the Cider ride – on a mountain bike!
Went to a bike maintenance class and changed a tube.
Biked in Vermont, Rhode Island, DC, MD, and VA.
Bought N+1.
Got a couple Bike Snob books (funny, thanks for the suggestion Steve O). Though this forum provides hours of entertainment if you know where to look!!
Wiped out on the trail; 2 stitches and road rash, but nothing broken.

2017
Ride at least as much as this year.
Ride in more /different states.
Try new routes (Haven’t been on the Custis, nor on the W&OD much, or on the Capital Crescent). Or the C&O….
Ride to work 3/5 days – at least April to November ish.
Run more errands and fun trips by bike.
Help out with WABA and other bike groups more.
Look for a newish cyclist to help along – maybe another new commuter.
Get my new bike adjusted so I don’t have numbness and tingling after I ride.

[streetsmarts]

I will be there

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[streetsmarts]

I won’t make it tonight but you all be careful. I just walked home and portions of sidewalks were s still icy! Have fun. Take pics!

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[streetsmarts]

Not mine but one I saw walking (with microspikes on) this morning.

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[streetsmarts]

@Steve O 150447 wrote:

We played a little Cards Against Velocipedes. ArlingtonRider crushed us.
Here was one of our favorites:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]12959[/ATTACH]

Darn. Sorry I missed it . Probably was hilarious!

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[streetsmarts]

Thanks. I might ride the old one for a while, and get it better fixed up for daily riding (Narrower tires, etc.). But I’d also like to fix the new one.

So much $ I don’t want to spend on *more* bike gear, but on other fun stuff. I thought if I followed the N+1 theory, all my problems would be solved and I’d have to spend no more money! Ha!!

[streetsmarts]

@hozn 150009 wrote:

Yeah, while riding. You should be able to (with considerations for safety) remove your hands from the bars and keep holding your riding position.

In practice, I don’t find that comfortable at all to do for more than a fraction of a minute, but it is a good way to tell how much weight you are putting on your hands.

Raising your bars (e.g. get a steeper stem, flip the stem if it is not flipped up right now) helps. Core strength certainly helps one maintain a more aggressive (weight more forward) position more comfortably. You can move your saddle back, but there is an optimum position for the saddle relative to the pedals so that probably isn’t the best option if you can fix the fit by moving the bars.

Lowering pressure is a good idea, but would be surprised if that is the problem. For 35c tires, I run 40-50psi on pavement (less off road) and I weigh ~180lbs, so I would drop those down. Maybe to 45psi to start and see how they feel. If they feel squirmy, raise the pressure; if you can’t tell a difference, try lowering it to 40, then 35, 30…. Front can probably be 5psi less than the rear.

You know, that rings a bell! re riding position. I do think on my mountain bike, ii could ride with no hands for a few seconds and be ok. Not so much on my new bike. In fact, I think I cannot hold my position at all – I thought it was an issue of balance, but maybe it is of fit, etc.

I appreciate everyone’s help here.

I also, in giving this more thought, think I’ve ridden to much too fast. I went from 0 miles a week to many miles a week, trying to keep up with the Joneses , i.e. all you more experienced /badass riders (on Strava, at coffee club, etc).

I think I will lower tire pressure, go back to the LBS and ask about fit and raising the stem (I still have to learn what all these parts are). Stem, spacer. I think they did raise the stem with one spacer when I bought the bike.

[streetsmarts]

You know, that rings a bell! re riding position. I do think on my mountain bike, ii could ride with no hands for a few seconds and be ok. Not so much on my new bike. In fact, I think I cannot hold my position at all – I thought it was an issue of balance, but maybe it is of fit, etc.

I appreciate everyone’s help here.

I also, in giving this more thought, think I’ve ridden to much too fast. I went from 0 miles a week to many miles a week, trying to keep up with the Joneses , i.e. all you more experienced /badass riders (on Strava, at coffee club, etc).

I think I will lower tire pressure, go back to the LBS and ask about fit and raising the stem (I still have to learn what all these parts are). Stem, spacer. I think they did raise the stem with one spacer when I bought the bike.

[streetsmarts]

@vern 150006 wrote:

What hasn’t been addressed is whether you have these symptoms doing anything else, maybe to a lesser extent, but do you have them? If so, it’s not just the bike, and then, yes, time to go to the doctor (hello, carpal tunnel syndrome). If not, then it’s the bike and you can try some of the other suggestions made in this thread.

Good question.

The symptoms began only after I got a new bike. At first it was just numbness in the hand and fingers. Then due to (long story…) circumstances, first I took a break from biking for a couple weeks, and then I had to ride my old bike.

I’ve been back on the new bike for about a month now, and it’s gotten worse. For ex., I haven’t ridden since Friday, but have had the symptoms off and on since then.

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[streetsmarts]

Indexing? Friction shifting??! I appreciate the help but I’m a beginner. These terms are way over my head. And dismal I think you’re suggesting more spacers to bring up the handlbars- correct?

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[streetsmarts]

@mstone 149984 wrote:

Unless you’re really heavy that’s a crazy high pressure for a 35c front tire. I start at like 40 and adjust from there. 70 is the pressure after which they won’t guarantee that it won’t blow off the rim, not the pressure at which it should be used.

You might also try working up to longer rides on the new bike (good practice in general). But if you’re putting too much weight on your hands the only real fix is to change your weight distribution. That might be a matter of moving the seat back a tiny bit, or it might be a major reconfiguration. If you’re willing to tinker your can, or you can pay someone to figure it out. One way to get an idea of whether your weight is too far forward is to try to hold your position without touching the bars–if you can’t, that’s your problem. (In theory you could also strengthen your core enough to hold yourself easily in any position, but that’s not what most people are looking for in a commuter bike.)

And when you say hold your position how would you do that? With someone holding the handlebars…and leaning forward? Or do mean while actually riding?

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[streetsmarts]

One way to get an idea of whether your weight is too far forward is to try to hold your position without touching the bars–if you can’t, that’s your problem. (In theory you could also strengthen your core enough to hold yourself easily in any position, but that’s not what most people are looking for in a commuter bike.

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[streetsmarts]

@mstone 149984 wrote:

Unless you’re really heavy that’s a crazy high pressure for a 35c front tire. I start at like 40 and adjust from there. 70 is the pressure after which they won’t guarantee that it won’t blow off the rim, not the pressure at which it should be used.

You might also try working up to longer rides on the new bike (good practice in general). But if you’re putting too much weight on your hands the only real fix is to change your weight distribution. That might be a matter of moving the seat back a tiny bit, or it might be a major reconfiguration. If you’re willing to tinker your can, or you can pay someone to figure it out. One way to get an idea of whether your weight is too far forward is to try to hold your position without touching the bars–if you can’t, that’s your problem. (In theory you could also strengthen your core enough to hold yourself easily in any position, but that’s not what most people are looking for in a commuter bike.)

Newish cyclist that I am, I went to a roadside maint. Workshop at my LBS.

I asked the instructor what tire pressure I should use. I believe she said since I’m on the light end of the weight range (145) I should use the higher presure. Don’t have the bike here but I think that is 70.

Hopefully above you see the schwalbe list of (“results vary. Tailor to your situation”) recommended tire presures.

I agree it’s a big change from knobby wider tires and mtn bike to this bike and tires. Maybe I did too much too soon .

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[streetsmarts]

why is it always “Strengthen the core”? kidding. But after years of running, dancing, hiking – free of any injuries, I turned a little over 50 and… bam. had back problems after dancing and hiking ! Strengthen your core they said. I worked on it, did some PT and core strength work. and it got better. But , I failed to keep up the work.

And started biking – hoping just biking itself would strengthen the core too! (not really)
ARRGH. I guess I’ll go do some sit ups, twists, blah blah…

Seriously.. thanks. Hope it will help.

[streetsmarts]

So I’m trying to assimilate everyone’s advice – I’m having arm pain/numbness.
I’ve read threads that have been on here over the years .

I’m sure the pain and numbness is due to improper fit or changing from a mountain bike with knobby tires to my new commuter bike (which I like, other than this problem).
(It’s a “touring bike, a Kona Rova”). I used to ride an old mountain bike. I ride 7.5 miles, hopefully about 3 days a week or more, one way to work.

My new bike has
drop bars
no handlebar tape other than what it came with
a spacer to make it a little more upright
Schwalbe Road Plus w/Puncture Protect 700x35c (per the website)

I have gloves, with not much padding.

I’m taking a few days off because it’s scary to have pain, numbness and tingling in my hands. and I type all day!

So much advice is offered here on the thread.

What would you do *first*? (also – is it true that for every person I ask, I’ll get a different answer?!)

1. go to the bike shop where I bought it and ask them to add/change things to help me to a better fit? Expect to spend money on tape, spacers, etc.?
2. Ride with less air in the tires? I think the max is 70, and I’ve been using about 70.
3. spend $175-$200 for a bike fit? Not sure this is the answer before # 1.
4. See a doctor.
5. Do exercises? Stretch, strengthening.

What would you do?

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