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OK, so that was over-ambitious
May. 5th, 2010 01:19 pmI cycled into town. I cycled back again. I am still alive. I learnt a few things, and won't be trying that again in the near future.
It's not the distance, or the hills - yes, I was shattered, but that's OK. It's the control. Starting from stationary still involves much undignified (and uncontrolled) wobbling as I try to get the second foot onto the pedal. I can more or less manage it if I'm supposed to be going in a straight line (like when leaving our drive), but pulling out at a T junction, or even from the side of the road - no. I can't afford to wobble like that in traffic, and that means that if I have to come to a stop, I also have to get off and walk until I can find a safe place to start again. Not good.
I'm not quite sure what my problem is: it seems to be very hard to get the second leg bent enough to get up to find the pedal at the top of the stroke, without the foot already being on there and being pushed up by the pedal. First foot pushes first pedal to the bottom, second foot then has to find its pedal at the top, and I can't get it there! There must be a technique to this. Maybe get the foot in place faster, before the pedal goes out of reach?
Also, I can't yet signal and pedal at the same time without wobbling all over the road. I have to free-wheel, and that isn't always possible (uphill).
Putting my handbag in the front basket was probably a mistake, it's quite heavy, and increases the wobble.
Stopping: these brakes seem to be either off or on, no "feathering" possible, so stopping currently involves rapid contact with the handlebars, and having to get back onto the saddle afterwards (see previous comments about finding the pedals).
On the whole, I think letting me out in traffic is a bad idea, for now. I'll try to do some more circuits for fitness purposes, and practice general control of the thing. This all used to be instinctive, and it no longer is :(
It's not the distance, or the hills - yes, I was shattered, but that's OK. It's the control. Starting from stationary still involves much undignified (and uncontrolled) wobbling as I try to get the second foot onto the pedal. I can more or less manage it if I'm supposed to be going in a straight line (like when leaving our drive), but pulling out at a T junction, or even from the side of the road - no. I can't afford to wobble like that in traffic, and that means that if I have to come to a stop, I also have to get off and walk until I can find a safe place to start again. Not good.
I'm not quite sure what my problem is: it seems to be very hard to get the second leg bent enough to get up to find the pedal at the top of the stroke, without the foot already being on there and being pushed up by the pedal. First foot pushes first pedal to the bottom, second foot then has to find its pedal at the top, and I can't get it there! There must be a technique to this. Maybe get the foot in place faster, before the pedal goes out of reach?
Also, I can't yet signal and pedal at the same time without wobbling all over the road. I have to free-wheel, and that isn't always possible (uphill).
Putting my handbag in the front basket was probably a mistake, it's quite heavy, and increases the wobble.
Stopping: these brakes seem to be either off or on, no "feathering" possible, so stopping currently involves rapid contact with the handlebars, and having to get back onto the saddle afterwards (see previous comments about finding the pedals).
On the whole, I think letting me out in traffic is a bad idea, for now. I'll try to do some more circuits for fitness purposes, and practice general control of the thing. This all used to be instinctive, and it no longer is :(
