First trip on the Agattu!

[StrangeFish]

Hi everyone! Well, I have just got back from my first trip on the new leccy bike, and although it wasn't very far, it was certainly eventful! Bearing in mind that I haven't ridden any sort of bicycle for many years, it was a slightly traumatic experience. I wobbled off down the road for the first 100 yds. or so before I was more or less in control. I didn't inconvenience other road users until I came to my first "major road junction". Then I almost fell off, with a car driver patiently waiting behind me! Well the handlebars gave way when I pressed down on them to get away,(since tightened). I arrived at the newsagents, bought the paper, and rode off-cycling all over the pavements, but I just couldn't bring myself to carry on doing it, and got back on the road.
There was another "incident" also, but I won't bore you all with that, suffice to say, although the young man shouted at me in the "between the houses" lane I was travelling in - I didn't actually hit him!! That was less than 1 mile round trip! Think I'm gonna need a lot more practice before I start commuting to work and back!
Can anyone tell me please, is it the usual thing for one's knees to come so far up whilst pedalling, or is this the normal situation with a diamond shaped frame? I can't really take the saddle up any further, my toes just about touch the floor on either side as it is, which I am quite happy with!

 

[Ian]

Your experience sounds very much like my return to cylcing after a very long break break. I found I quickly gained confidence, I'm sure that you will too and you'll soon be amazed at just how agile a bike can be.

If your knees are coming up high it does sound like your saddle height is on the low side, ideally your leg should be almost fully stretched at the bottom of the pedal stroke. It's probably best to keep your saddle at a height you feel safe with for now, you can always consider raising it when you gain more confidence.. keep practicing, it will soon come.

 

[Kal]

Hi everyone! Well, I have just got back from my first trip on the new leccy bike, and although it wasn't very far, it was certainly eventful!
Can anyone tell me please, is it the usual thing for one's knees to come so far up whilst pedalling, or is this the normal situation with a diamond shapeed frame? I can't really take the saddle up any further, my toes just about touch the floor on either side as it is, which I am quite happy with!

Hi StrangeFish I also posted to you to-day here: Just Registered? Introduce yourself here!

Congratulations on getting your new Agattu! And thanks for the warning that your out and about on the roads around Bristol. I've got family that drive around there so perhaps I should warn them too.. only joking. But do be careful, it hurts if you hit the road.

I'm only a tiddler so can't comment on your size problem. Saddles can usually be slid back an inch or two.

Bike Size Charts here:
How to determine your bike size

Kal

 

[StrangeFish]

Your experience sounds very much like my return to cylcing after a very long break break. I found I quickly gained confidence, I'm sure that you will too and you'll soon be amazed at just how agile a bike can be.

If your knees are coming up high it does sound like your saddle height is on the low side, ideally your leg should be almost fully stretched at the bottom of the pedal stroke. It's probably best to keep your saddle at a height you feel safe with for now, you can always consider raising it when you gain more confidence.. keep practicing, it will soon come.

Hi Ian! ..Thanks for that, but my legs are almost fully extended on the pedals! I think I have forgotten just how much the knees really do bend during normal cycling activity! I have dodgy knees anyway, and it's been sometime since they were asked to bend that much on a regular basis lol..

 

[StrangeFish]

Hi StrangeFish I also posted to you to-day here: Just Registered? Introduce yourself here!

Congratulations on getting your new Agattu! And thanks for the warning that your out and about on the roads around Bristol. I've got family that drive around there so perhaps I should warn them too.. only joking. But do be careful, it hurts if you hit the road.

I'm only a tiddler so can't comment on your size problem. Saddles can usually be slid back an inch or two.

Bike Size Charts here:
How to determine your bike size

Kal

Hi Kal ! Thanks for this, it's hard to find a relly good chart! The thing about the Agattu however, is that the 49cm frame equates to 19" but the wheel size is 28". That's the reason I can't have the saddle any higher you see? It's just about right with the suspension saddle post/pillar at it's lowest. I think it's just me not realising about the knees etc.. (see my last post).