[mom_of_3_ts]

Ok So I raised my seat so that now I actually have to use the peddal to get on but my knee is stright when in the 6 o'clock position and i've always heard that's how it should be. so please tell me if i'm wrong. rode a little over 12 miles today. and I also pushed the seat back.. it never accured to me to do that till i read it on here. so I went looked at my seat and low and behold I was able to move it. but it's still not correct. and my hands still hurt really bad but I'm going to try and get new hand grips tomrrow and see if that helps.
I want to thank everyone for the encouragment and suggestions and help. this weekend we are going to do a long ride just to see where where I'm at and how much work I need to do
oh and by raising my seat I've also increased my speed by 2 mph may not seem like a lot to some but I"m impressed if no one else is lol .. and I can almost stand up and peddle and now if I can just get the hand pain under control I'll be a peddeling fool!! thanks so very much guys!!!!!!

Another question for ya...
I have noticed that ( not sure what it is called) but where the peddles come togther with the chainrail ... should there be any play in that as in should I be able to move the entire peddle and sprocket assembly side to side? not a lot and I did tighten up the big nut but it still has some move ment. I noticed when I shift to the large gear ( 3) the chain hits the derailer but adjusting it is kind of useless because of this movement?? suggestions please ..

[Poolie]

Congratulations on your improvements. Bike fit is everything. I don't remember your exact speeds before but 2 mph is probably a 20% or so improvement which is a lot

I can't help you with the tech question, but I'm sure someone here can. As part of the bike purchase, my LBS does all the adjustments so if I hear noises I just take it to them... I plead ignorance.

[mom_of_3_ts]

haha I like to plead ignorance also but most of the time I don't get that option. well my speeds befrore ( and no laughing) were like 8-10 now they are more like 10-12 and i'm. I'm still not real steady on side walks or close to anything that I can run in to or fall off of but I dont think that has anything to do with the bike I'm like that when I walk also lol

[blondebond]

You are just trucking along aren't you?! Congratulations!!!

I'm still too scared to ride anywhere but park paths at this point. After I get physically comfortable, my next goal is to be comfortable enough with my skills to ride on the road instead of having to lug my bike somewhere to ride.

12 miles? YOU are doing great! Keep it up.

[mom_of_3_ts]

Thank you very much and oh I'm all for taking the bike and going to ride, but I don't have a car to load it up on to take. And there are just not that many bike paths in Indiana that do not involve cars. I did find one here in town but its only about 3 miles long. and I hate riding between things I'll just get off and push it through so I don't crash into them. I pretty much have to ride in the street and hope no one hits me. but actually here cars are pretty good about crossing over into the other lane to go around and staying behind you till they are able to get in to that other lane. This weekend my boyfriend will be here and we plan going as far as we can. We are going to try for the entire 50 which is going to Columbus that's 20 miles and then they have the people trail which is 11 and then 20 back home so that would give us our 50 and if i can do that then I'm going to start working my hills. even as a kid i had a hard time going up hills on my bike. and if I can do that then I'll not worry at all about any of it and if we don't make it then I guess we will have to find a tree to set under and take a nap till we can haha.

[LarryM]

With the pedal down and the ball of your foot on the pedal, your leg should have a slight bend rather than being fully extended. Check this article from REI Fitting Your Bike: Expert Advice from REI
And this from Sheldon Brown: A Comfortable Saddle

A good starting point is to have full extension when your heel on the pedal. That gives about the right amount of leg bend when your foot is in a normal pedaling position.

[mom_of_3_ts]

ok i'll check it again. it is not perfect yet so I'll be adjusting it again today and just saw where we are to get storms hmmm don't like storms they make riding a nasty mess at times

[photosbymark]

Its sounds closer mom, but if its totally straight its probably a bit too high. Sounds closer, and with your knee history you want it as close as you can get. Drop it just a little bit. Make the adjustments at this point small. It doesn't take a big adjustment to make a big difference as you found out.

[mom_of_3_ts]

yes it's closer then I shall go to work on my hands arthitis and them going numb is bad. at about 4 miles I have to stop and get the feeling back but moving the seat did help some as it changed the position. but not perfect yet

[Poolie]

Originally Posted by mom_of_3_ts

ok i'll check it again. it is not perfect yet so I'll be adjusting it again today and just saw where we are to get storms hmmm don't like storms they make riding a nasty mess at times

According to the official rules, if you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a bada$$. Refer to this thread for more info on the Rules.