Messages

1

General Discussion / Minimally handicapped touring

« on: February 19, 2005, 05:54:13 pm »

I'm a long-time Adventure Cycling member who is slowly becoming more handiapped by post-polio syndrome.  I want to keep touring, but need to avoid routes and rides that are too strenuous -- I just don't have the muscle strength or endurance for long climbs, or for eight hours of hilly terrain.

Is thare any group that attempts to arrange tours for folks in my situation?  I'm not talking a 20-mile-a-day inn-to-inn tour, but real touring (possibly self-contained).  Just less challenging routes.


Dan Hicks
danhicks@ieee.org

2

General Discussion / I'm thinking of starting a bike club at my school

« on: February 19, 2005, 05:59:49 pm »

Contact the League of American Bicyclists -- http://www.bikeleague.org/index.cfm .

They have coordinators in every state who try to encourage cycling, and will have literature and ideas for you as well.

Dan Hicks
danhicks@ieee.org

3

General Discussion / Anyone tried both Phil Wood and Chris King hubs??

« on: February 19, 2005, 06:19:24 pm »

Dunno about these hubs in particular, but in general it's not unusual for a bearing to have more drag unloaded than loaded.

Also, unless you're doing time trials, I doubt that the difference in drag between two similar hubs can make any difference (and certainly not more than tire choice).  For both touring and off-road you want a robust hub that can take shock and throw off dirt.  Weight and drag are minimal considerations.

Dan Hicks
danhicks@ieee.org

4

General Discussion / Knee injury

« on: February 19, 2005, 06:10:26 pm »

Usually having the seat too low is more likely to cause knee problems than having it too high.  (Though too high can cause problems in some cases.)  But being in too high a gear and pedaling too slow is more often the major problem.  As a rule, even when cycling casually you should maintain a cadence of at least 60 RPM, and when touring somewhere in the 70-90 range.  Adjust the gears, not your cadence, as the terrain gets easier and harder.

What you're probably suffering from is "patello-femeral pain", a condition where the area between the kneecap and the knee bone becomes inflammed, often at least in part because the muscles pulling on the kneecap are pulling off-center.

A visit to a sports rehabilitation therapist is probably in order, but there are a few simple exercises that usually help.  The simplest of these is to lay on your back, keep the knee perfectly straight (odd as that may seem) and do leg lifts, lifting your foot 6-8 inches off the ground.  Work up to about 100 of these a day, on each leg (even if both aren't bothering you).

There are other exercises, but they need to be taught by the sports rehab guy.

This isn't usually a serious problem, but tending to it right away can get you back in the saddle faster.


Dan Hicks
danhicks@ieee.org