UK and Europe · Public discussion

Re: cranks...

Steph Peters · 2004-05-10T19:02:23+00:00

Velvet of blueyonder (post doesn't reflect views To start from this position, get the cranks horizontal again, with the foot that is still on one pedal pointing forward. As you stand on the pedal to get your other foot off the ground you will start moving forward. Once you've got your other foot on the pedal, then plonk your bum on the saddle. By the time you've sat down the bike should be moving at a reasonable rate. Yeah, see, this is where I don't seem to have time to get on the saddle before the speed's disappeared. Or my shorts catch on the saddle nose. Etc. This contribution comes from another shortie, I'm 150cm and have proportionately short legs, so my inside leg is ridiculously short. I certainly can't sit on my saddle unless there's a kerb of 10cm or so to rest my foot on. My way of starting is to try to be in a middling gear for the terrain - so I use a higher gear when starting downhill and a lower gear when starting uphill. I'm trying to get a decent amount of speed from the initial push off; being in too low a gear can make starting as impossible as too high a gear. I have my right foot on the pedal at about 1-2 o' clock. I start by pushing the pedal down, simultaneously pushing off with the other foot from the floor. It seems to be easier for my floor foot to find the second pedal if I move my upper body slightly forwards towards the bars. If I do find that pedal, then I can get bum onto saddle and continue pedalling. I too have speared my shorts with the saddle nose, but this isn't a big enough problem to stop me pedalling, and can be sorted out when I've got enough speed up to freewheel a little. I can't manage Graeme's suggestion of starting from horizontal cranks, the first push off doesn't go far enough too give me enough time to find the other pedal. All I can suggest for Velvet is try starting on the flat 1 or 2 gears up from your normal choice, to see if it's easier. And SPDs definitely help. -- Men get laid, but women get screwed. Quentin Crisp Steph Peters delete invalid from [email hidden] Tatting, lace & stitching page

Started by Steph Peters · 10 May 2004 · Last activity 12 May 2004 · 4 posts · 698 views

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Original section: UK and Europe
Published: 10 May 2004
Last activity: 12 May 2004
Original author: Steph Peters
Posts: 4
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 698
Views / 30 days: 0

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Original post
Steph Peters
Archived post

10 May 2004, 19:02 UTC #1

Velvet <[email hidden]> of blueyonder (post doesn't reflect views
of blueyonder) said:
Graeme said:
To start from this position, get the cranks horizontal again, with the
foot that is still on one pedal pointing forward. As you stand on the
pedal to get your other foot off the ground you will start moving
forward. Once you've got your other foot on the pedal, then plonk your
bum on the saddle. By the time you've sat down the bike should be moving
at a reasonable rate.
Yeah, see, this is where I don't seem to have time to get on the saddle
before the speed's disappeared. Or my shorts catch on the saddle nose.
Etc.
This contribution comes from another shortie, I'm 150cm and have
proportionately short legs, so my inside leg is ridiculously short. I
certainly can't sit on my saddle unless there's a kerb of 10cm or so to rest
my foot on. My way of starting is to try to be in a middling gear for the
terrain - so I use a higher gear when starting downhill and a lower gear
when starting uphill. I'm trying to get a decent amount of speed from the
initial push off; being in too low a gear can make starting as impossible as
too high a gear. I have my right foot on the pedal at about 1-2 o' clock.
I start by pushing the pedal down, simultaneously pushing off with the other
foot from the floor. It seems to be easier for my floor foot to find the
second pedal if I move my upper body slightly forwards towards the bars. If
I do find that pedal, then I can get bum onto saddle and continue pedalling.
I too have speared my shorts with the saddle nose, but this isn't a big
enough problem to stop me pedalling, and can be sorted out when I've got
enough speed up to freewheel a little.
I can't manage Graeme's suggestion of starting from horizontal cranks, the
first push off doesn't go far enough too give me enough time to find the
other pedal.
All I can suggest for Velvet is try starting on the flat 1 or 2 gears up
from your normal choice, to see if it's easier. And SPDs definitely help.
--
Men get laid, but women get screwed. Quentin Crisp
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email hidden]
Tatting, lace & stitching page <http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>

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JBB
Archived post

10 May 2004, 20:53 UTC #2

">
Quoted message said:
This contribution comes from another shortie, I'm 150cm and have
proportionately short legs, so my inside leg is ridiculously short. I
certainly can't sit on my saddle unless there's a kerb of 10cm or so to

rest
Quoted message said:
my foot on. My way of starting is to try to be in a middling gear for the
terrain - so I use a higher gear when starting downhill and a lower gear
when starting uphill. I'm trying to get a decent amount of speed from the
initial push off; being in too low a gear can make starting as impossible

as
Quoted message said:
too high a gear. I have my right foot on the pedal at about 1-2 o' clock.
I start by pushing the pedal down, simultaneously pushing off with the

other
Quoted message said:
foot from the floor. It seems to be easier for my floor foot to find the
second pedal if I move my upper body slightly forwards towards the bars.

If
Quoted message said:
I do find that pedal, then I can get bum onto saddle and continue

pedalling.
Quoted message said:
I too have speared my shorts with the saddle nose, but this isn't a big
enough problem to stop me pedalling, and can be sorted out when I've got
enough speed up to freewheel a little.
I can't manage Graeme's suggestion of starting from horizontal cranks, the
first push off doesn't go far enough too give me enough time to find the
other pedal.
All I can suggest for Velvet is try starting on the flat 1 or 2 gears up
from your normal choice, to see if it's easier. And SPDs definitely help.
--
Men get laid, but women get screwed. Quentin Crisp
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email hidden]
Tatting, lace & stitching page

<http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>
Quoted message said:
I find all this a bit puzzling - I'm fairly short 5' 3" and I can't recall
ever having any problems starting off. Really its just a case of not trying
to do too much at once. Stand astride bike. Left foot at 12.00, push off
with right and push down with left, hands on brake hoods, find right pdal
with foot, pedal a couple of revolutions before clipping in or adjusting
toe-straps. Maybe it's just a question of practising without an audience
somewhere soft to fall off? I learnt to ride on my brothers's bike on our
back lawn at the age of 10 when falling did'nt hurt/matter as much.
Julia

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Dave Kahn
Archived post

11 May 2004, 12:23 UTC #3

"JBB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
I find all this a bit puzzling - I'm fairly short 5' 3" and I can't recall
ever having any problems starting off. Really its just a case of not trying
to do too much at once. Stand astride bike. Left foot at 12.00, push off
with right and push down with left...
12 o'clock is a bit high as it's in the dead zone around TDC. 2
o'clock will be much more effective and reduce the amount of pushing
off you have to do with the other foot.
--
Dave...

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JBB
Archived post

12 May 2004, 21:42 UTC #4

"Dave Kahn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
"JBB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I find all this a bit puzzling - I'm fairly short 5' 3" and I can't

recall
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
ever having any problems starting off. Really its just a case of not

trying
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
to do too much at once. Stand astride bike. Left foot at 12.00, push off
with right and push down with left...
12 o'clock is a bit high as it's in the dead zone around TDC. 2
o'clock will be much more effective and reduce the amount of pushing
off you have to do with the other foot.
--
Dave...
Yes, I suspect I may start a bit further forward than 12 o'clock! However
what I was trying to say was that I've only ever had a problem if I try to
do to much before the bike got up to speed, e.g when I ride with toeclips I
don't bother if I have to do a few pedal strokes "squashing" the clip. Then
when I'm comfortable I can flick it round and putmy foot in. Hope that's a
bit clearer...
Julia

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