Fine tuning for the rides

Howdy, Joanne and I didn't make a lot of progress this week. We did get a chance to talk finding a reliable driver for drop off and pickup. The times need to be nailed down so the planning can get started.

Joanne and I are learning more about our bicycles. There were times when they weren't very comfortable to be on for long periods of time. We would notice it at the end of the rides or by how our muscles felt the next day.

The first improvement we both needed was to get the handlebar height within an inch of the seat height. Joanne needed to raise hers about 3.5 inches. I needed to raise my handlebars around 9 inches (yikes!). The type of stems we have do not allow for such drastic changes. It took replacing the stems with adjustable ones. Joanne's new stem did the trick for her. She was able to give it a try but I need to pick up an adjustment ring to take some of the slack out of the steering tube (the new stem was shallower than the original one).

The adjustable stems don't come long enough to make up for the 9 additional inches I was looking for. The alternative plan was for me to switch over to Joanne's Giant Sedona instead of riding my Giant Cypress. The switch was made last night and the Sedona was ready for a test ride.

It only took a few feet to realize that the Sedona wasn't going to work for me. The seat post was already one inch above the minimum mark and the seat was still too low. The alternative alternative plan... switch back to the Cypress and see how it feels with an adjustable stem added.

The bike shop was still open so I made a dash to town to pick one up. The seat is still at least 5 inches high then I would like it to be but at least it is closer now with the new stem. The Cypress is ready for another test ride. The moon saddle has been put back on, the crank adjusters too. I'll really have to focus on getting enough bend to keep moving the pedals further out with the goal of not needing them by July. Each inch I move the pedals is another inch I can move the seat down. I should be ready to ride the STP by the time they meet in the middle!