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Originally Posted by kumar2007 If your feet touch the ground when on the saddle, your saddle is too low. It's as simple as that, and you can ask any cyclist and he will tell you the same. |
A BMX cylclist might not accept that assertion!
Though in that case: (A) in competition, of course, your bum never touches the saddle; (B) In alternative U.S. urban ghetto use, cruising slow and knees riding up high, the rider will moreover be young enough to be a few decades away from worrying about any injuries; (C) those ghetto-riders determined to apply the correct "inseam" rule have been known to fit two-foot-long seat posts (we Americans are an "interesting" lot)...
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Originally Posted by Jeroen a standard bike tends to be a compromise on a few things. What is important is that you feel comfortable and safe. |
Undoubtedly, as just about every mass-market item has compromises.
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Originally Posted by Jeroen In the Netherlands you will see that just about everybody uses a bicycle to commute...even our prime minister rides to work on his bicycle. If you go to a fancy party at night, people would not even think twice to ride their bikes there too, dressed in a cocktail dress and or smart suit...Just because you ride a bicycle in the Netherlands doesn't mean anything specifically, it doesn't set you apart one way or the other because everybody does it and it is just very convenient. |
Great insights on cycling and culture. I was deeply impressed on traveling to your country in the early 90's - indeed, every public parking was absolutely filled with cycles (interestingly, near-identical ones, to my eyes). The scene was very different back then, I'm told - there was apparently not much demand for "hundreds, if not thousands" of models at the time, and I can't remember in my weeks there (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Kroningen (sp?) ever seeing anything but the most standard of the standard styles of old european-style bikes (in the U.S. in the 70's, we called them "English bikes"): very conventional frames, full-fendered and probably mostly single-speed (the "flatness" of the land is literal, beyond the figurative socio-economic meaning provided), much along the lines of
India's venerable Hero Royal!!! This at a time when the hobbyist/sport cycling (your assessment is largely correct) scene was already very well established in the U.S., and the abundance of styles/models in common usage testified to the more "enthusiast" leanings.
How it applies to the now-on-hold debate re: saddle height: My perception/observation was that in Holland at that time anyway, cycling was mostly done at a relatively leisurely pace, even when commuting. That and the lack of many hills probably reduced serious strains on the body for the overwhelming majority of riders, and precluded the prevalence of knee/other injuries of the type kumar2007 might be more justifiably concerned about in other contexts.
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The debate in this case might be voluntarily closed between the two parties, but I'm going to be looking into the question, since A) my knees aren't too great to begin with; and B) just bought a second-hand MTB with the intention of improving cardio-vascular and general strength (not overweight); and believe me, these hills will do that for you:
Merida Matts 20 - seems a pretty decent device. Came with an air pump, under-seat tool bag (hex keys and puncture kit), head and tail lamps. Need a better bell/horn than what's on there. Only done a little test riding thus far; will need a chain and maybe sprockets, but otherwise tight. Only irritation is the sheer number of logos on the thing -
I counted the word "Merida" pasted/stuck/painted/molded no less than 39 times all over the bike - UNBELIEVABLE! For me, free brand advertising / crass commercialism gets in the way of the ideal purpose of owning/riding a MTB - which for me would be to get deep enough into a more natural environment that you can escape it all (along with a lot of other sensory offenses). Bad decision and bad taste here on Merida's part, though their company is likely not the only offender here (
eight on each rim/tyre combo??? You've got to be kidding...! In the photo, about ten logos (tyres/wheels/forks) have already been removed, and I'm thinking about what to do with about 16 others...
Main reason I got the bike pretty cheap is that the forks were totally seized up (besides a badly stretched chain). Former owner wasn't really interested in having shock action and had kept them locked out, so never noticed. Local bike shop (Mall Road, Manali) couldn't get them apart despite a couple days of Zorrik88 and considerable effort. Having bought it, I spent a couple hours myself and with several, eh, "creatively" applied tools (and non-tools) and almost certainly some divine assistance, finally got it done. Not easily, and in the face of considerable risk there (particularly of breaking the bridge). BAD, scaly rust/pitting in abundance, but managed to get it cleaned up some (phosphoric acid helps), and it'll work for now (big-time jugaad, I suppose). My guess is that the bike got into deep water (or dropped in it) at some point and it seeped in (probably less sealing/easier entry on the side with the lockout) and it just SAT in there for a few years...
Greased up liberally, it rides well now. Despite the damage, not too much clearance / play there, and action is smooth.
-Eric