Topic: The Cycling Thread

[Alex Simmons]

no, if those guys could walk, they would totally agree: walking is stupid.

As a leg amputee myself, I can assure you that walking is not stupid.  Mind you, I have spent circa $50k on leg prosthetics so I can walk, so maybe you're right.

[khendar]

no, if those guys could walk, they would totally agree: walking is stupid.

As a leg amputee myself, I can assure you that walking is not stupid.  Mind you, I have spent circa $50k on leg prosthetics so I can walk, so maybe you're right.

Out of curiosity, when you ride do you wear a normal prosthetic leg or do you have one with SL cleats welded to the bottom of it ?

[pandamonium]

no, if those guys could walk, they would totally agree: walking is stupid.

As a leg amputee myself, I can assure you that walking is not stupid.  Mind you, I have spent circa $50k on leg prosthetics so I can walk, so maybe you're right.

you guys are taking an off hand comment waaay too seriously.

[Alex Simmons]

Out of curiosity, when you ride do you wear a normal prosthetic leg or do you have one with SL cleats welded to the bottom of it ?

I had a cleat adapter plate made, so I could attach a standard 3-hole cycling cleat to a standard 4 hold prosthetic pyramid block:









The thin layer or rubber between cleat and the adapter plate acts like a suspension bushing, enables some lateral flex to replicate what the ankle does so I can do out of saddle efforts and have bike sway under me in a natural motion.  It means I can do full gas sprints (although I've lost some sprint power since losing the leg - about 250W less at peak power).

[khendar]

Very cool. How do you go about unclipping from the pedal ? I have a hard enough time with my SPDs, I can't imagine what it would be like trying to disengage from a prosthetic.

(Excuse all the questions, I have a fascination for the little details )

[Alex Simmons]

Very cool. How do you go about unclipping from the pedal ? I have a hard enough time with my SPDs, I can't imagine what it would be like trying to disengage from a prosthetic.

(Excuse all the questions, I have a fascination for the little details )

I just lean the knee out to the side and the force is enough to disengage.  Most regular pedals, the proper technique is to rotate the foot outwards at the heel but of course I can't do that

I don't unclip all that much as I can track stand at most stops.

[Swagomatic]

I replaced the chain on both of my bikes this week.  What a difference!  I had forgotten how nice it is to ride on a fresh drive train. 

Sadly though, I crashed into a bridge railing while riding on Saturday, and I tore a big V-shaped patch out of my baby finger knuckle.

[jaypee]

Serves you right for carrying a severed baby's finger around with you.

[Swagomatic]

Serves you right for carrying a severed baby's finger around with you.

[lonely moa]

Very cool. How do you go about unclipping from the pedal ? I have a hard enough time with my SPDs, I can't imagine what it would be like trying to disengage from a prosthetic.

(Excuse all the questions, I have a fascination for the little details )

I just lean the knee out to the side and the force is enough to disengage.  Most regular pedals, the proper technique is to rotate the foot outwards at the heel but of course I can't do that

I don't unclip all that much as I can track stand at most stops.

That's a cool bit of tech.  I'll have to ask my friend Mark how he manages as a double btk amputee as he went to the para olympics a while back, cycling.  He has been pretty lucid on artificial legs and climbing... climbed Everest a few years ago and had to have another round of mini amputations from stump abuse.

[Alex Simmons]

That's a cool bit of tech.  I'll have to ask my friend Mark how he manages as a double btk amputee as he went to the para olympics a while back, cycling.  He has been pretty lucid on artificial legs and climbing... climbed Everest a few years ago and had to have another round of mini amputations from stump abuse.

Is he that Kiwi nutter dude?   

If so we share the same bike fitter.  BTK amputees are actually pretty easy for bike fitters since one can make the leg any length you like, and the angles are all adjustable with the grub screws.

[GodSlayer]

That's a cool bit of tech.  I'll have to ask my friend Mark how he manages as a double btk amputee as he went to the para olympics a while back, cycling.  He has been pretty lucid on artificial legs and climbing... climbed Everest a few years ago and had to have another round of mini amputations from stump abuse.

Is he that Kiwi nutter dude?   

If so we share the same bike fitter.  BTK amputees are actually pretty easy for bike fitters since one can make the leg any length you like, and the angles are all adjustable with the grub screws.

if he was a nutter he'd customize a pair of those bird-looking backwards curving springy shins so he could go as a giant kiwi for halloween. would look awesome.

[lonely moa]

That's a cool bit of tech.  I'll have to ask my friend Mark how he manages as a double btk amputee as he went to the para olympics a while back, cycling.  He has been pretty lucid on artificial legs and climbing... climbed Everest a few years ago and had to have another round of mini amputations from stump abuse.

Is he that Kiwi nutter dude?   

If so we share the same bike fitter.  BTK amputees are actually pretty easy for bike fitters since one can make the leg any length you like, and the angles are all adjustable with the grub screws.

Not a nutter.  He does spend a lot of time getting prothseses to people in Nepal, though.

[DK]

So the gf finally got round to buying a helmet for her bike (got to set a good example for the kid now) and I have to say we were impressed by the shop assistant who sold it to her. She made sure that the helmet she got fitted her head right, regardless of cost. The fact is, the gf spent about a third less than she was willing to pay, but came out with the right helmet.

I do like it when shop assistants actually care more about making sure you've got the right stuff rather than try to sell you the most expensive thing in the shop.

[jaypee]

So the gf finally got round to buying a helmet for her bike (got to set a good example for the kid now) and I have to say we were impressed by the shop assistant who sold it to her. She made sure that the helmet she got fitted her head right, regardless of cost. The fact is, the gf spent about a third less than she was willing to pay, but came out with the right helmet.

I do like it when shop assistants actually care more about making sure you've got the right stuff rather than try to sell you the most expensive thing in the shop.

I bought a new bike helmet recently. It sucks. My old helmet was awesome but it was about two years old so I needed a new one.