“PPCC Communication”
February 2022
Hi all….Welcome to the February 2022 edition of the PPCC Communication.
January 2022:
Great weather for riding with good numbers out for all riding days. A little bit of wind around and warmer weather but generally not too bad when riding the ‘two loop’ course.
The course change seems to be accepted by all with the majority of riders leaving with Gary at 9:00am but there are some issues with some of the ‘faster’ riders breaking away throughout the ride which then on occasions has had some of the group chasing them which in turn splits up Gary’s group.
Remember…..If you leave with Gary, the ride is at his pace and you should finish with his group. For those faster riders who are not content with Gary’s pace, leave later and ‘chase’ the front group. Please, gather at Gary’s as per normal prior to the ride so that groups and rides can be discussed prior to heading off. Lately we have seen the ride route change and a good example of this is when the wind is favourable, the ‘phone box’ ride (5km past Cockies Crossing) has been preferred.
‘Illness’ is amongst us again with Clem and JD not having the best of health. Get well soon guys and hopefully we will soon see you back on your bike and at our after ride get together and coffee.
January was particularly sad with the passing of one of our members, Graham Fitzgerald. I am sure we all have a special memory of Graham during his time as a member of the PPCC. RIP Graham.
We are yet to see Michael (our ‘new’ rider) out with us yet but with the Covid restrictions and varied school start times for the New Year, we can only guess how busy he is with teaching. I’m sure it won’t be too long before we see him out with the group.
I have also been contacted by a recently retired gentleman expressing interest in joining the PPCC. Roger has recently retired and will be hopefully joining us around the 22nd February for his first ride to meet with the group. In Rogers’s words, “I am a keen, but not especially strong cyclist”. I am sure he will be welcomed and well looked after by the group.
Welcome to both Roger and Michael to the PPCC and we look forward to seeing you both soon.
Unfortunately the ‘pandemic’ continues with the ‘omicron’ variant spreading throughout the state and around our own home town area. Immunisation, hygiene and face masks are still the key to keeping yourself, family and friends safe. The 1.5m social distancing rules still apply as do masks in high risk areas but fortunately home gatherings have been changed from 10 to 50 people.
REMEMBER….if you are feeling unwell or have minor cold like symptoms, stay home, get a rapid antigen test done and follow the isolation instructions to be sure you do not have the virus before coming in contact with the group.
PPCC New Cycling Kit:
All eligible PPCC member cyclists have now been ‘sized’ for their new club kits. The kits have been ordered this week with a delivery date to Adelaide in about 5 weeks. (Last week of March)
BlackChrome will let me know when they have been delivered to their Adelaide office and I will go down and pick them up.
5 tips for finding the perfect saddle: (Ride Shimano Magazine, 5 tips for finding the perfect saddle)
I came across this article on finding the ‘perfect’ seat for your bike. Not sure if there is such a thing but it’s a good read!
“Enjoying your bike trip to the full without saddle sores. Read here the five tips for finding the perfect saddle.
How do I find the perfect saddle? A question that every cyclist will be familiar with. After all, whether you are a keen MTBer, road racer or triathlete, everyone wants to ride comfortably, without pain and get the best out of their bike. We help you on your way with five tips for finding your ideal saddle.
1. Find the saddle with the right shape
No two people are the same. Which is why there are so many different saddles available. In the first place, the shape of your saddle depends on your gender. Usually ladies sit better on a wider, specific female saddle.
But the shape of your saddle also depends on the type of cycling you do. Do you race under extreme circumstances, like downhill for instance? Then you will need a different kind of saddle than an MTBer who wants a saddle that is as light as possible, or a road racer who has to sit on the saddle for hours in a row. So when looking for the right saddle, it's important to find one that fits your discipline.
2. Take account of your flexibility and your position on the bike
Test your flexibility. You do this by sitting on the ground and seeing how far you can reach with your hands. How far do you get? Do you struggle to even reach forwards? Then you are less flexible. Can you touch your toes? Then you are very flexible. If you are around half way, then you are flexible. People who are less flexible have the tendency to shift around on their saddle. A more rounded saddle is better for them. A flexible cyclist has a more stable position on the bike and tends to sit more comfortably on a flat saddle that provides more freedom of movement. The very flexible cyclist actually benefits more from a slightly curved saddle.
Whether you sit comfortably on your bike depends to a large degree on your riding position. Some cyclists prefer an upright position, but others would rather maintain a more sporting or even aerodynamic position. The further you bend forwards, the more pressure you put on the forward part of your pelvic area. And that can lead to pain or numbness. Choose a saddle that suits your riding position and lightens the pressure on crucial parts of your body. That's how to prevent saddle pain.
3. Measure the width of your sit bones
Saddles come in different widths. If you know which type of saddle you're looking for and your riding position, then choosing a saddle is straightforward. But bear in mind that saddles are sold in various widths. The width of your saddle depends on the distance between your sit bones. By measuring this, you can discover exactly which saddle is best for you. It's very easy to measure the distance between your sit bones. The better bike shops have handy tools to help you. Find PRO Bikegear dealers here.
4. Set the saddle to the right height
Now you've found the perfect saddle, the next step is to set it to the correct height. This contributes to a more efficient pedal stroke and helps to prevent irritating symptoms from arising. Since determining the correct saddle height is important we advise to do a professional bikefit by bikefitting.com to determine your correct inseam so you are no longer guessing, since the numbers tell the tale!
5. Saddle position
Ensure your saddle is horizontal. If the nose of your saddle is pointing too far up or down, then you may experience discomfort in certain undesirable areas. If your saddle is too far forward or too far back, this can lead to problems with your neck, lower back or arms. If you set both your pedals in the horizontal position, then drop a plumb line from your knee, your saddle is in a good position when the plumb line runs past the shaft of your pedal. You can then play around with setting your saddle forwards or back. But don't make these changes too large, just make minor adjustments to your position.
Would you like help in the fine adjustment of your bike? Then we recommend arranging a bike fitting. Many professional athletes have done this already. During an extensive dynamic fitting session, your ideal riding position is calculated to the millimetre.”
(Ride Shimano Magazine, 5 tips for finding the perfect saddle, https://rideshimano.com/global/en/5-tips-for-finding-the-perfect-saddle/)
BikeSA:
Please check your BikeSA memberships as it’s about this time of the year you may find it is up for renewal. Renewal can be completed on the BikeSA website, by phone or ‘snail mail’. As per previous years, forward your receipt to our Treasurer for reimbursement of the fees.
As a Bike SA member you can participate in their organised rides. Contact Bike SA or check their web site.
(08 8168 9999) (office@bikesa.asn.au)
Have your say:
This is your newsletter as well so email your article to me and I will add it to the monthly newsletters and our web site.
Ie: Coming events, cycling news articles, items for sale/wanted etc. Please email me anything you would like to contribute’
Be safe, consider others and enjoy your riding.
Cheers,
Brenton
0417823057
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