John the Plumber
Well-Known Member
Fuji Bighorn A 32 is the biggest I can put on...
Better, stronger, faster.....
- Thread starter bigW
- Start date
bigW
Well-Known Member
Whoops. Somehow missed all this.
On the gravel bike I’m doing a mix of paved/gravel and only small amounts of single track I run anything from 42:14 to 42:18 ( 3:1 and 2.3:1 ). You will need to be close to 2 to 1.
Curious how you handled the chain tension…
On my SS bike the axle slides but I only have the range to support three different cogs without changing the chain length…
Ideally it would be 15,16,17 but on my frame that would require use of a half-link…
bigW
Well-Known Member
Just had my first physical in 16 months seems like a good time to post something. Back on the bike/gym/trainer for five or six months post heart surgery and things are ok.
My GP is a nutrition phreak so I’m adding some supplements and going to tweak my diet to have more plant protein and really push the lentils/beans rather than rice/starch. Let’s see how it goes.
Took a needed break after a year of zillions of doctors and will now get a consult on foot issues ( no feeling in left foot and Morton’s Neuroma in right foot ) and also a consult for Ulnar nerve damage to right arm.
Crappy winter weather has me on the trainer often and my Zwift FTP is back up to 300 which for me is good enough. I have not ridden single speed very much at all so while Cardio is ok my leg strength is way way down. Definitely want to get back to SS for all my solo rides and maybe some of the slower group road rides. Have road/gravel trips booked for AZ in March and Montana in May. Hoping to do a few multiday PA bikepacking trips in April as well. ✌️
Back to winter…
-W
My GP is a nutrition phreak so I’m adding some supplements and going to tweak my diet to have more plant protein and really push the lentils/beans rather than rice/starch. Let’s see how it goes.
Took a needed break after a year of zillions of doctors and will now get a consult on foot issues ( no feeling in left foot and Morton’s Neuroma in right foot ) and also a consult for Ulnar nerve damage to right arm.
Crappy winter weather has me on the trainer often and my Zwift FTP is back up to 300 which for me is good enough. I have not ridden single speed very much at all so while Cardio is ok my leg strength is way way down. Definitely want to get back to SS for all my solo rides and maybe some of the slower group road rides. Have road/gravel trips booked for AZ in March and Montana in May. Hoping to do a few multiday PA bikepacking trips in April as well. ✌️
Back to winter…
-W
bigW
Well-Known Member
Thanks Pat!
bigW
Well-Known Member
One mistake I see folks make with SS is that they try to use a cog that will get them up the steepest hill on the ride. Very often that means that the cadence is too high on the flats. Instead I’ll use a cog that works optimally for 99% of the ride and leg it as needed. 🧐 Nothing freaks (geared) people out more than when they’re climbing some steep wall is to hear somebody on foot thundering up on them. 😂
good luck with these, my wife had a mortons nueroma (also known as dancers nueroma apparently) removed several years ago(pre-covid), she thinks its starting to come back so thats fun prospect.
She also had an ulnar nerve release done which never really fixed it so following along for any insight you come up with on the nerve damage and treatment as that is one though on what is going on there :/
John the Plumber
Well-Known Member
Thanks, I have a 30 on there right now so with the 2 to 1 I will pick up a 15. Just been at the gym strengthening the separated shoulder. Haven't been on the bike since October. No surgery it was a grade 3 going to get back out in a couple of weeks when my wife starts driving after her knee replacement.
qclabrat
Well-Known Member
Do you have another MTB with gears? Trying out the gearing you're planning to use on the Fuji, don't use your shifters. I thought I wanted 16/17s but I'm probably better off with 18/19s for where I ride. That way you don't have a bin of cogs. At 50 a pop, an experiment can add up. Good luck and keep us posted where you landed John.
bigW
Well-Known Member
My expectations on medical help are modest at this time. Ulnar nerve had 16 months to heal and it’s still not right, expecting a shrug and a useless PT script.
I did see a sports medicine Dr years ago for the neuroma in both feet and got nothing useful but advice against surgery and a useless PT script.
I came up with using metatarsal 1/4” pads in all my hiking/biking footgear and that was a game changer but far from perfect.
With the left leg injury I can no longer feel the bottom of my foot and neuroma pain went away so maybe surgery on the right foot would have merit…
bigW
Well-Known Member
IMHO if the chain tensioning is done in a manner that is easily adjustable it’s nice to have a few cogs around. I will very often switch cogs just for a different ride profile. With disk brakes a ‘conversion’ often involves a tensioner that looks like a rear derailleur, with rim brakes it’s easier but changing cogs will then alter how the pads contact the rim.
w
JDurk
Well-Known Member
Good advice with figuring out SS gearing with a geared bike. But, what cogs are $50 a pop? Surly cogs are pretty much bomb proof and around $35ish. I've got a collection of them from 17t - 21t that I use with 32t or 34t chainrings.
Own 2 Boone Ti cogs (18 & 19) that I purchased when they were reintroduced to the market a few years ago. Got both for around $65ea., however they have gone up in price and are priced according to size. I will say that I haven't used either in awhile because I've found they are very sensitive to wear of chainring and chain, as well as chainline needs to be dead perfect. Surly cogs are much more forgiving.
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qclabrat
Well-Known Member
I have a few Surly and agree they are great, with the exception of no color options. To satisfy that, I'm usually on Endless cogs. But I have a number of stamped steel cogs for putzing around. Still have a bucket list to ride a keirin track one day in Japan. Not a race, just an experience with the moto pacing...
thegock
Well-Known Member
Vacation?
bigW
Well-Known Member
Indeed. Escape from winter. Meandered south visiting folks in Pittsburgh PA, Lexington KY, Atlanta GA. Did a few days on the Florida Trail and chilled at Daytona Beach. Autotrain home now.
Will Bikepack it next year.
Huracan 300 Bikepacking Challenge — Singletrack Samurai Productions
The ultimate bikepacking challenge in the state of Florida. Come ride the finest singletrack, gravel and forest roads in the state of Florida.
www.singletracksamurai.com
W
bigW
Well-Known Member
Looks like my Cardio fitness has improved since November.
Slightly faster up the first half of Mt Lemon with HR 34 BPM lower.
2 hours and 31 minutes at 197 watts with HR AVG 123 BPM.
Now I just need to get the leg strength back.
Certainly enjoyed the 45 minute downhill. 👍👍
W
iman29
Well-Known Member
wow great to see after all the other stuff you dealt with healthwise. Impressive!
bigW
Well-Known Member
Campsite options on my chosen route were not placed well for me.
I will likely do this again in the reverse direction so as not to do most of the suffering on the first ‘half day’.
If I went UP the Rail Trail 45 miles to Tiadaghton and camped on the river. Then the following day did all the climbing and descended Slate Run to camp in a State Forest site on Slate Run for the second night and roll out for an easy 35 miles back to the car.
I will likely do this again in the reverse direction so as not to do most of the suffering on the first ‘half day’.
If I went UP the Rail Trail 45 miles to Tiadaghton and camped on the river. Then the following day did all the climbing and descended Slate Run to camp in a State Forest site on Slate Run for the second night and roll out for an easy 35 miles back to the car.