Resound wrote:
> Karen Gallagher Wrote:
>>
>> I did try that, but as it was uphill, all of my weight was not enough
>> to get
>> going - a second foot pulling up was an absolute requirement.
>>
>> In hindsight, better fitness will help (though I am very fit for a 58
>> yo),
>> plus more experience at clipping in quickly (my top field has a nice
>> slope
>> to practice on), and also maybe going PAST the turn off, turn round
>> then
>> getting up speed downhill as I clip in (against the flow of traffic,
>> I know,
>> but I had waited patiently for a decent gap in traffic so no real
>> risk) -
>> this was a dual carriageway I was crossing, btw.
>>
>> And also the fact I'd not eaten since breakfast, a 60 km ride had
>> left my
>> energy levels somewhat depleted.
>>
>>
>> --
>> "I'd far rather be happy than right any day."
>> - Slartibartfast
>
> So standing on the pedals, in the lowest gear you have, your weight
> wasn't enough to get the bike moving? What sort of incline are we
> talking about here?! I lose traction and spin the back wheel before
> the bike stops and while I'm a good bit younger and male (35y/o) that
> happens at a very low level of effort indeed in the lowest gear. And
> when I say lowest gear, that's actually middle chainring of the
> triple, not the smallest. Is this a torque thing or a balance at low
> speed thing? You say you used to ride track so I'm guessing that
> you're an experienced rider and I'd be surprised if balance was the
> issue, but I'm equally surprised at the notion that you can't muster
> enough power standing on the pedals to get the bike moving. I'm
> honestly not trying to troll or be confrontational, I just don't
> quite understand what happened.
Steep enough to ascend in the lowest gear the bike has, even before pulling
over to wait for the traffic. I also have had a lifelong habit of _always_
leaving a bike in a good starting gear (on a road bike, the bottom gear, on
the hybrid, a reasonable gear) before dismounting or stopping - after all,
I've been cycling since the late '50's
This bike only has two chainrings - I've yet to decide whether to change the
two chainrings or add a third - the concept of three chainrings on a road
bike does not sit well with me! But clearly I must address the gearing of
this bike.
The balance problem was caused by two errors on my part - not clipping in
smart enough (& hence the foot sliding wildly off the pedal), and not
anticipating the result of a hill start producing less than adequate forward
propulsion to keep going.
Karen
--
"I'd far rather be happy than right any day."
- Slartibartfast