Re: New Bikkel Bike - Enormous Wheels

"Elisa Francesca Roselli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote in message
>
> I don't think my knees were bent on the old bike, at any rate, they were
much _less_
> bent, and it was possible to stand tip-toe to mount the bike. The whole
setup was an inch
> and a half closer to the ground. My balance isn't up to standing on pedals
or standing
> while moving. My method for mounting is to tip the bike way over so that
the seat is low
> enough to sit on, straighten to tip-toe and take off from there. If I had
to get clear
> off the bike at every traffic light I don't think I'd have much luck
getting on it again.

You shouldn't have to tip over the bike or get clear of it at every
intersection. You might try this technique for starting: straddle the bike
with the right pedal in the 2:00 position (two caveats here - I say right
pedal because most people are right-leg dominant; the 2:00 position as
determined from looking at the bike from the right side and placing the
right pedal just above horizontal pointing forward). Place your right foot
on the pedal. In one smooth motion, press down on the right pedal and lift
yourself onto the saddle. This will get the bike rolling forward and put you
in the right position to slide onto the saddle. The lift your left foot up
to the left pedal and start pedalling away!

With some practice, it will become second nature.

As has been said before, your knees shouldn't be bent when the pedals reach
their lowest position. This keeps you from generating the maximum power and
can lead to burning and cramping in your thighs. If you can't generate
adequate power (because your knees are bent), then you can't get the bike
rolling forward efficiently from a stop and you won't be comfortable riding
the bike at speed, which also makes you wobbly.

Raise the saddle to the appropriate height and raise the handlebars as well.
Get the relationship between the bars and saddle as close as possible to
your old bike while ignoring the distance from the ground. Once the
pedal-saddle-handlebar relationship is set right, then you will be more
comfortable on the bike and you can work on your starting/stopping problem.

Good luck!
-Buck