Are you comfortable yet?
08-11-14, 07:22 PM
#76
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in order to be a cyclist, one must practice the art of cycling. that takes time that too many well-heeled may not have; time with a bike, time with others that have and dispense knowledge. but the money buys a fantastic bike, a professional fitting, accessories that promise comfort but they forget to buy the time and chase an ephemeral feeling that never comes.
comfort really is a product of experience, of adaptation, of effort and of patience. As a rider with other obligations I miss my younger self that could spend 20-24hrs a week in the saddle. I miss tempo work at 40 km/h. I wish I appreciated the glut of riding time that I had more of then.
At 48, I'm still faster than most, and the comfort I have is a result of the accumulation of years but the comfort I desire could return with those 700km weeks.
comfort really is a product of experience, of adaptation, of effort and of patience. As a rider with other obligations I miss my younger self that could spend 20-24hrs a week in the saddle. I miss tempo work at 40 km/h. I wish I appreciated the glut of riding time that I had more of then.
At 48, I'm still faster than most, and the comfort I have is a result of the accumulation of years but the comfort I desire could return with those 700km weeks.
08-11-14, 07:48 PM
#77
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Time was when winter was for getting fat and spring was for saddle sores.
There was no internet to whine on, and you sure weren't telling your riding buddies that your spring legs felt like jelly after the first overpass, your saddle sores were raging after 40 miles, and you couldn't feel your naughty bits after a century.
Now winter is for increasing your FTP, and comfort gets more attention. I don't see any reason to complain.
There was no internet to whine on, and you sure weren't telling your riding buddies that your spring legs felt like jelly after the first overpass, your saddle sores were raging after 40 miles, and you couldn't feel your naughty bits after a century.
Now winter is for increasing your FTP, and comfort gets more attention. I don't see any reason to complain.
08-11-14, 07:55 PM
#78
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Time was when winter was for getting fat and spring was for saddle sores.
There was no internet to whine on, and you sure weren't telling your riding buddies that your spring legs felt like jelly after the first overpass, your saddle sores were raging after 40 miles, and you couldn't feel your naughty bits after a century.
Now winter is for increasing your FTP, and comfort gets more attention. I don't see any reason to complain.
There was no internet to whine on, and you sure weren't telling your riding buddies that your spring legs felt like jelly after the first overpass, your saddle sores were raging after 40 miles, and you couldn't feel your naughty bits after a century.
Now winter is for increasing your FTP, and comfort gets more attention. I don't see any reason to complain.
08-11-14, 08:12 PM
#79
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Ya, we're definitely in the Information Age. We've got tons of data to process, combined w/ social intermingling to keep us looking constantly (I have no fewer than 3 bookmarks to the BF subforums & might add another here soon).
Fact of the matter is there's nothing wrong w/ being comfy. If you're really uncomfortable, it's not going to be enjoyable. Rewarding is another word but rewarding in pain is not that great.
As a runner, I can appreciate a good burn, but the pain cave is something I appreciate in the foyer. I'm not out to kill myself on either the run or the bike. I want to "want" to come back & do it again & again!
Last edited by loimpact; 08-11-14 at 08:16 PM.
08-12-14, 02:54 PM
#80
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You come across as one of those callous types that believe a given person’s ailments are deserved and proof of his weakness. Sure, ultimate responsibility lies with the individual, but Big Food makes it tough to stay healthy in this country for a lot of people. It never hurts to extend sympathy and give people the benefit of the doubt. Wouldn't you want the same from them?
08-12-14, 03:35 PM
#83
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Did a search for "comfort" in the title. 169 threads just in the road section 
https://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=9516296
https://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=9516296
08-12-14, 08:14 PM
#84
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In post #19 you said the phrase "fat people hate discomfort," was "right on the money." What does the above say about your tolerance for discomfort?
You come across as one of those callous types that believe a given person’s ailments are deserved and proof of his weakness. Sure, ultimate responsibility lies with the individual, but Big Food makes it tough to stay healthy in this country for a lot of people. It never hurts to extend sympathy and give people the benefit of the doubt. Wouldn't you want the same from them?
You come across as one of those callous types that believe a given person’s ailments are deserved and proof of his weakness. Sure, ultimate responsibility lies with the individual, but Big Food makes it tough to stay healthy in this country for a lot of people. It never hurts to extend sympathy and give people the benefit of the doubt. Wouldn't you want the same from them?
"Fat people hate discomfort. That's why they're fat - they can't stand the thought of being uncomfortable for a mere 30 minutes a day just to stay healthy."
The human body is the most valuable asset any human will own in their lives, and for now it is beyond value because it cannot be replaced. I don't have any respect for someone who doesn't make an effort to keep it in good shape. Considering this is the Information Age, the only reason they don't know how is because they either don't want to know or don't care.
08-12-14, 08:19 PM
#85
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Did a search for "comfort" in the title. 169 threads just in the road section
https://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=9516296
https://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=9516296
08-12-14, 09:05 PM
#87
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I keep thinking of more examples. Wider tires. Did you see the width of the tires they were riding in the 80s TDFs in the Lemond-Hinault special on ESPN? Probably only 18 or 19 mm. I rode 19 and 21mm wide tires for years at 120 psi or more. I cannot say I find 23s at 90 front and 100 rear more comfortable. Yet there are posts right now at the top of the 41 thread list talking about all the comfort that tubeless and wider tires provide. Just another thing to wonder about.
Now I have 23s on all my bikes. I got a Cannondale off the Bay that turned out to have 20s. Turns out, 20s with an AL frame is a bad idea, especially with the crappy roads we ride on around here.
08-13-14, 06:18 AM
#89
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Do people universally have access to that information? What about people who can't read either because they're uneducated, or too young to learn? And speaking of the young, does this vehemence extend to obese children? How about obese teens that were obese children. How about obese teens that were obese children, who go to schools that don't offer physcial education, who live in neighborhoods where it's unsafe to play outside? Are there people who don't own computers? Is there any disinformation included in all that information? Are there people in economic circumstances that cannot afford to eat healthy? A double cheeseburger from McDonald's is a dollar. Are you familiar with the term "food desert?" Some Americans, without reliable transportation, have many establishments that deal in unhealthy food closer to them than the nearest carrot. Do any of these questions factor into your image of the slovenly, deservedly obese, lazy American?
08-13-14, 07:29 AM
#90
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Do people universally have access to that information? What about people who can't read either because they're uneducated, or too young to learn? And speaking of the young, does this vehemence extend to obese children? How about obese teens that were obese children. How about obese teens that were obese children, who go to schools that don't offer physcial education, who live in neighborhoods where it's unsafe to play outside? Are there people who don't own computers? Is there any disinformation included in all that information? Are there people in economic circumstances that cannot afford to eat healthy? A double cheeseburger from McDonald's is a dollar. Are you familiar with the term "food desert?" Some Americans, without reliable transportation, have many establishments that deal in unhealthy food closer to them than the nearest carrot. Do any of these questions factor into your image of the slovenly, deservedly obese, lazy American?
08-13-14, 07:51 AM
#91
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There's a lot of truth to that. You could argue that all the other stuff going on is just micro adjusting.
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08-13-14, 08:41 AM
#92
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To be honest, I think the whole comfort thing is the bike industry's way of marketing to fat people. Look at the comfort bikes- they all have super high headtubes so fat people don't have to bend over too much. When more than half of the US is fat, it's a smart move on their part.
Fat people hate discomfort. That's why they're fat- they can't stand the thought of being uncomfortable for a mere 30 minutes a day just to stay healthy.
Fat people hate discomfort. That's why they're fat- they can't stand the thought of being uncomfortable for a mere 30 minutes a day just to stay healthy.
08-13-14, 08:55 AM
#93
Senior Member
I would think the well-heeled are FAR more likely to have the time to spend endless hours in the saddle going nowhere in particular, with no purpose other than to pursue "the art of cycling". The working stiff generally doesn't have a spare 20-24 hrs available week in and week out. Not in my experience, anyway. Not if he or she has any kind of life outside of cycling.
