Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: More old age and riding
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2025 23:18:11 -0400
Organization: A noiseless patient Spider
Lines: 39
Message-ID: <1022vdl$3jak1$13@dont-email.me>
References: <1022657$39biu$1@dont-email.me>
Reply-To: frkrygow@gmail.com
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Injection-Date: Sun, 08 Jun 2025 05:18:13 +0200 (CEST)
Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="4f571e637d1cb19dd6835b82ab473736";
	logging-data="3779201"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org";	posting-account="U2FsdGVkX19IYSwkiwDBsn5MJsmVRh6z1N0e9P36C8s="
User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird
Cancel-Lock: sha1:6RGFm1BYVZxKQ5xILkKCS2s8v64=
Content-Language: en-US
In-Reply-To: <1022657$39biu$1@dont-email.me>

On 6/7/2025 4:07 PM, Mark J cleary wrote:
> It occurred to me lately that as I ride I notice my ability to do 180 
> degree turnarounds is not what it once was. I would say a few years ago 
> I never have it a thought. I would out riding the narrow 2 lane chip 
> seal that exist in Illinois. It is not really wide enough that 2 cars 
> passing in opposite directions can take a full lane. You need to mover 
> to the edge of the road.
> 
> In a car that is fine but no narrow bike tires I don't want to go in the 
> soft stuff got to say on pavement. I used to decide to do a turn around 
> and get a place where the road was wider at point and then just do the 
> 189. I notice now that the balance on the bike is not the same. I really 
> have to be careful and ideally it is probably better to just stop and 
> physically turn the bike around.
> 
> I even notice now that dismounting is not quite the same. Granted it is 
> not problem but I can tell the reflexes and general aches of the body 
> respond slower. Even the act of un clipping is not quite as smooth. I 
> use shimano road shoes and like being clipped in but it seems never to 
> be as smooth as I think It should.
> 
> ANyone of you oldsters have notice this? Invent and app that can track 
> your smoothness on the bike? DO they exist.

I know of no such app, but while I don't have your problems, I'm sure 
such things will eventually inflict us all. Age happens.

About clipping in: I've mentioned that in about seven decades of avid 
riding with hundreds of various cycling friends, I've personally known 
only one guy killed in a bike crash. It happened when he was coming to a 
stop, topped at zero speed and hit his (helmeted) head. His widow 
strongly suspects it was because he couldn't unclip. His clipless pedals 
had been giving him some problems.

Is there a lesson? If nothing else, do what's necessary to make clipless 
work perfectly. Otherwise use some other pedal style.

-- 
- Frank Krygowski