The Bicycling Thread

[wildbears]

Shoe Cleat Positioning
If you use the outside/lateral aspect of your feet when you walk, you may need to move your shoe cleats outbound if you are experiencing foot pain. Ironically, the pain may be near the base of the first metatarsal head.
And you may be getting plantar nerve Irritation as the foot is rotated medially putting pressure on the nerves behind the medial metatarsal heads.

[wildbears]

Anti-cyclist sentiment has been growing, especially at the talk radio, podcast level. Some are essentially advocating "get out of the way or get run over". Part of it is due to more vehicles with more crowded pavement. And bike lanes take away even more pavement.
I don't see this getting any better.

[wildbears]

Recently had a large gravel truck that would not move over for passing clearance even though the road was empty and no double yellow. Just revving the engine. In Ohio, the law requires vehicles to pass at a minimum of 3 feet from Cyclists. Had to get off the pavement.

[wildbears]

Determination....

[955i]

I used to compete regularly in Olympic distance Tri's. There was a 1-legged vet who I could beat fairly well on the swim. Inevitably, he would come by me late in the bike or early in the run. Nice guy with good attitude about the "disability." ( At the risk of being racist, I would mention that he was a Black guy. Though more common now, 20 years ago that was not common in Tri's.

[955i]

MAN! Ijust saw that besides having no lower legs, this guy HAS NO LOWER ARMS!

[wildbears]

Matt Damon...on an E-Bike

[wildbears]

[wildbears]

Saddle Setback Issue

My new Sella Italia saddles have shorter rails than my old saddles from the last century (1990's, 1980's).

When set in mid rail position, the new ones are too far back. This was requiring more torso lean and pressure on the perineum when on the drops.

To compensate, the new saddles are adjusted as far forward as the rails permit. The seat post is a Shimano 600 from 1983.

This pic shows a side by side comparison with the Sella Italia at the top. The saddle noses and backs are matched in the vertical axes.

NOTE: The difference is exaggerated in the picture since the old saddle is closer to the camera.

[wildbears]

The older seat posts had more setback than the current ones, perhaps to make them lighter.

[955i]

I don't understand how a longer setback of the rails could be lighter.

[wildbears]

Shorter rails on the newer saddles. The rails on the older saddles went further back.
The mid position on the current saddle rails is farther forward. I incorrectly assumed that since my old saddles were clamped midway, fore-aft, on the rails, this would hold for the new ones. Not so.

[wildbears]

Radical Time Trial Bike Design

[955i]

Is this now UCI illegal? Wild looking, though.

[wildbears]

Definitely not UCI legal.

[wildbears]

The trestle goes over the east side of the Louisville Bike Trail. I've ridden under it on the trail many times. Never saw a train on the trestle though.

[955i]

Cool picture. I'd like to see a steam train on that trestle. In the past year or so, Lee & Deb have seen the Union Pacific Big Boy in action in Iowa. Cathy and I took the grandkids to see it last year when it came through Oklahoma.

[wildbears]

Poga�ar's Extreme Saddle Tilt
The saddle is set at a tilt of about 8 degrees when a stage has steep mountain climbs.
Rationale:
1. Allows him to slide forward and keep his CG over the BB when on a steep incline.
2. Prevents pressure on the perineum when forward.
3. Slightly more upright torso from moving forward, which may be helpful for spinning under load.

[Lee]

Cool picture. I'd like to see a steam train on that trestle. In the past year or so, Lee & Deb have seen the Union Pacific Big Boy in action in Iowa

We were hoping to see Big Boy go over the Kate Shelly trestle but it did not work out.
https://www.kateshelley.com/

https://bsvrr.com/

[Susan]

Interesting story on Kate Shelly. She loved dogs!

[wildbears]

Looks like the original bridge is closed judging from the aerial pics on the net.

[Lee]

Looks like you're right. The original steal bridge is no longer used. I'm glad they left the old one in place.

[955i]

Lee, thanks for the link to Kate Shelly. That was an interesting 'rabbit hole' into which I dove.

[wildbears]

Athlete's Foot, Treatment and Control
1. Treat the skin. Wash and dry regularly Apply anti-fungal topical medication.
2. Treat all footwear. Anti-fungal spray or Lysol. Lysol , and other sprays, should not be applied just prior to use as it will increase moisture when wearing the footwear and promote fungal growth. Remove insoles before spraying inside the shoes and the insoles. Let dry before reinserting the insoles.

Note: This fungus can survive in footwear for decades, even if not worn.

[wildbears]

3 Bikes, 3 Crank Lengths
Each of my bikes has different crank lengths.
Gravel - 175.0 mm.
Road - 172.5 mm.
Criterium - 170.0 mm.

Note: To have a standard saddle height across the three, this distance has to be set from the pedal axles.

[wildbears]

I had previously based saddle heights on the distance from the centers of the bottom brackets.

[wildbears]

"It's my first week working at the bicycle factory, and they already made me a spokes person."

[wildbears]

British cyclist Neil Campbell set a new world record for the fastest speed ever reached on a bicycle, hitting 175.89 mph (283.06 km/h) on October 5, 2025. The record-breaking feat took place at an airport in Arkansas, where he rode in the slipstream of a powerful pickup truck, beating his previous best mark.

[955i]

Check our tires!
Check your skin suit.
Check your balls.