Carbon Fibre Hard Shell Seat - Modifications

I've recently modified the steering of the Bacchetta Ti Aero from a stiff riser coming up straight from the fork to a tiller arrangement.  The tiller arrangement allows me to recline the CFHS seat to as low as 4 degrees. 

When the stock CFHS seat is steeply reclined the upward bump at the bottom (toward the steering) becomes a limiting factor.  The stock CFHS seat was not designed for steeply reclined positions (< 14 degrees).  That is, the rider's coccyx is sitting on the `bump,' i.e., the section of the CFHS that bends up.  Uncomfortable and awkward.  When I have to come to a quick stop while in a steeply reclined position my pelvis is raised too high for my feet to fully touch the road.  I wobble like heck in the process because my feet are too high. 

A few years ago, and again today, I sawed off that bend in the CFHS. 

I used a dremel tool to make the cut.  (Goggles and dust mask absolutely necessary). 

After I made the cut I covered the edges of the entire CFHS with a flexible plastic trim molding.  Insert the edge of the CFHS the cut (see above).  (Note: the trim molding I use is much smaller than 5/16".  See the pic below,)

I then drill very tiny holes into the CFHS and use very small cable ties to hold the molding securely to the edge of the CFHS. 

Then I put the Ventisit pad back on the CFHS.  Looks like this: 

Cutting off the upward bend at the base of the CFHS allows safer stopping and positioning on the bike. 

Compared to what?

I'm doing fairly comprehensive upgrades to my bikes.  Hours and hours of careful work.  I'm feeling guilty about neglecting other things (family, work, training).  But then this picture comes into my head:

I'm doing 31 mph on a descending 6% switchback that curves 45 degrees to the right.  A monster truck pulling a horse trailer is coming up in the other lane.  If I get a mechanical or flat tire now I'll just slide under 12 wheels of tonnage.  A mere stain in the road. 

Makes a guy patient in his work.

Aerodynamic - Pushing Air

So much of cycling has to do with pushing air.  We think it relatively insignificant because we can't really `see' the air we're pushing.  But those who cycle a fair amount know what it is like to ride into a headwind. 

At `performance' level cycling one of the major determinants of `performance' has to do with reducing your wind profile. 

I've been playing around with `getting aero' in the last few weeks.  Here are some pics of my noodling:

Below are some pics of the relatively `non-aero' position.

In the end, however, it is all about the `engine.'

Ankles are Better Than Tails

I'm gonna `pay' for this post, mates. 

---

I recently quit yet another facebook group on recumbent cycling because I got tired of insecure and crazy old men insulting one another with the geriatric equivalent of "mine's bigger than yours."  If you get my drift. 


On an initially civil series of posts from normal people about climbing on a bent a few techniques were discussed.  Relaxing the grip on handlebars; no need to slouch aero if you're doing 7 mph uphill; fast rpm for short bursts; finding your own natural rpm rhythm for those long slogs uphill; bridging to add some rest and variety to climbing muscles; ankle pedaling. 


In the past year I've found that ankle pedaling is nothing less than an amazing aid to adding speed in climbing.  (Losing 20 lbs of fat doesn't hurt, either).  It takes some careful ramping to add powerful ankle pedaling to your repertoire but it is worth it. 


Last year I was climbing the 12.4 mile nonstop incline from Skull Valley to the top of Iron Spring Road with a gaggle of uprights.  After a few miles the gaggle calmed down, having depleted their EPO and testosterone (and when THAT happens it has a diluting effect on the overwheening ego, i.e., they slow down).  Me, being of a tortoise-like temperament to begin with, I began cranking past them, one at a time.


An aside:  There is almost no greater satisfaction for a man in his 7th decade than passing ersatz testostified he-men who are panting and negotiating mortality.  I make myself close my mouth and breathe through my nose, risking oxygen starvation, blacking out, and unconsciousness, just to let them think that I'm not even breathing hard and I'm STILL flicking them off the back. 


Annnnyway.  After I'd get some distance on this gaggle I'd spy one or two accelerating to catch up to "that old fart on the cheater bike."  I'd let the lead guy get to about 5 feet from me and then I'd kick in with the ankle-pedaling.  It was cruel.  It was mean.  It was fun.  I can't wait to do it again.

I literally `felt' their ego deflating, their spirit sinking, their anger and frustration boiling over.  I felt the desire to slow down, let them come beside me so that I could say something like: "Gee!  THAT'S gotta be frustrating, huh!?"


Doing this over and over again to the same guy is even more fun.  More hostile.  Even more cruel. 


It's soooooo good.


Ankle pedaling.  I think it is better than having a tail.

I know.  I know.  I'm gonna `pay' for this blog post.  Have at it, mates.

Bicycle Helmets

Helmet companies hate me.  I think the last time I bought a new helmet was when I had hair. 

I keep my helmets, too.  In the event one just rots away from the inside out.  Then I can switch to something that might look like a .... 

Most helmets seem to have more holes for ventilation than `stuff' for protection of your head. 

"I'm looking for a good helmet that protects my head and ventilates when it is hot."

"Sure.  We have the `all hole' helmet.  Just a set of straps that go over your head and under your chin, like a brassiere for a single ... "

Recently the straps on my latest helmet became so stiff and frayed that I figured it was time to look into another helmet.  Twenty-first century and all.  The only problem was that most helmets seemed to be built to ventilate rather than protect. 

So now I had a fundamental problem:  How do I get a helmet that really protects without making me suffer the insufferable sweat and salty eyes?





A friend (Allan Duhm) who is usually several steps ahead of me in terms of equipment, performance and all around human sociability (the latter isn't a big stretch) recently purchased something that seemed to fit the bill.  The Giro Air Attack Shield.  (Who makes up these names?  Air attack?  Shield?  What is this, third grade?!!)

 

After much searching and reading I purchased one. 

Matte Black and White

 

I'm somewhat timid about looking like a fashionista on a bike.  For years I avoided fancy bike clothes and gear, wearing instead cutoff jeans and sneakers.  But I wasn't going to pay a lot of money for a helmet that was mostly holes and designed in such a way that if I DID fall on it my neck would twist and sever my head.

 

Today I wore the new helmet.  I like it.  I'm glad I bought it.

 

It was cold and windy up here in the mountains.  It was very sunny today.  The helmet provided protection from the cold without sacrificing ventilation.  I'm also glad that I didn't have to lather up my very bald pate with sunblock. 

 

The `shield' is better than a visor in many ways.  It is both a windblock and a shade against a glaring sun.  I was worried that the `shield' would blow off on a fast, windy descent.  Nope.  Designed with perfect wind ergonomics. 

 

Something worth considering for yourself. 

 

 

SRAM X01 Grip / Twister Shifter

Living in the uppy-downy switchback thick terrain of Prescott I do a lot of rear cassette shifting.  But not so much FD shifting.  As much as I like the SRAM TT900 lever it has become both a small danger and annoyance. 
 
Shifting to a lower gear means that I have to pull on the lever, having a slightly destabilizing effect on the steering.  As well, pulling on the lever requires me to move my right hand off the handlebar, position the lever in the palm of my hand, push/pull up on the lever and then replace my grip on the handlebar.  That may sound like a minor step but when you're navigating switchbacks, up and down, it can be ... slightly dangerous and certainly annoying.
 
Hence my recent replacement of the SRAM TT900 right lever with the SRAM X01 Grip Shifter.  A mountain bike shifter.  Properly installed it allows for quick, one motion, shifting.  And to my surprise it is incredibly light. 
 
- d
 
https://www.sram.com/sram/mountain/products/sram-x0-grip-shift
 

A Few Pictures from my Training Route

Immediately south of the city of Prescott is a section of the Prescott National Forest.  This section of Arizona is known as the `transition zone.'  That is, where the Colorado Plateau peters out and drops off into the `central basin,' the desert.  In the not so distant past there was a great deal of volcanic activity NE of the Flagstaff area.  Further southwest, near Prescott, the earth simply sunk 4,000 or more feet over a 150 miles. 

So ... what this means is that my training route is very hilly, sometimes steep, always windy.  This is the RWGPS link to the 28.3 out and back I did Sunday, May 3rd.  http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4565503

For half of the out and back I'm descending.  That means, if the total climbing was 2,800 feet it was accomplished over 14 miles, for an average of 200 feet of climbing per mile.  Mighty steep. 

This was taken at the highest point: 6100 ft elevation.

 

An indication of the endless switchbacks.  Motorcyclists use this road to run into one another or off the cliffs.  Twenty-two road shrines on 14 miles of road -- all motorcyclists. 

 

Always nice to get a preview of the road below.