It's just how we roll - Regular Ladies Rides

Hmmm. Think I might defect to Miche!

miche don't use metal, they use a hardish cheese, avoid.

Glad you had a good ride, I was really jealous when you all came through lmnh.

Awww...! Well, it was fun, thank you very much! There was a hill I still can't figure out why I couldn't get up - that must have been Hangman's Hill. It looked like nothing! We'll have to go back and do it again, not fixed. ; )

Stupid question but how do I know what lenght cranks I have/need...suppose I should just go measure them?

Not silly. There's some math involved that I don't know but Sheldon Brown will have something to say about it. I was using 167.5 but it turns out I would be better suited to 170. You're short, though, so maybe you need 165?

Next one will be **November the 5th, **southside.

I'll definitely be at this one!

Would be good to get a good ladies (and some bad ladies!) contingent out representing for the next Cambridge Ride on the 12th November...bit of a longer distance, but good social pace and mostly flat as...http://www.lfgss.com/thread74324.html

I'll have to have a think about this one and see if I can get the dude to join me if I decide yes.

I can confirm that I'm still knackered this morning.

Ms.Chris thanks for the pic of the 4th hand tool. Added to my shopping list.

Hmmm...so that didn't quite go to plan...just got home after one of my cranks sheered off halfway down Kingsland Road. I don't remember Homerton a&e being on the route but after what happened to Digger, am lucky to just have gotten away with a bad sprain and some quite spectacular bruising.

Gutted to have missed the ride though : ( Hope everyone is having an ace time!

yikes... sorry to hear that. hope the sprain and bruises heal up quickly. Hope Ed's OK too.

Glad everyone else enjoyed the ride; sounds ace. I can't make the next one (btw poots you are supposed to be throwing yourself down a bypass in Bristol that day!) but will be there for the next next one, as long as I'm not doing something else stupid that day.

isn't the cambridge ride on the 20th?

crank length is a mystery to me too... does 2.5mm really make that much difference? pretty sure they are different on my bikes but I haven't decided if one is better than the other, just *different. *

It can do, longer cranks mean your feet are drawing a larger circle - crank length is radius, so double that 2.5mm.

I rode with 172.5 cranks and didn't realise that they were awkward until I rode with 165's. My knees were no longer coming up so high. The 165's are really comfy. The correct crank length improves efficiency of your pedalling.

There is an increased risk of pedal strike with longer cranks but I've never really had a problem.

Julia is spot on, the correct length cranks improves the efficiency of your pedalling and also provides more of a lever when hill climbing. Obviously it will reduce your pedalling efficiency if you use cranks that are too long.

In terms of whether you notice a few mm difference here and there, the answer is yes. Each time I switched between 170 and 175mm cranks I could not longer clip in as easily because my muscle memory of where my pedals were was 5mm out!

All of my bikes are 175 now. As long as you don't filter next to tall curbs or lean whilst going over a speed bump there really is not much of a chance of pedal strike.

To be honest, I don't think I notice the crank length difference, from 175 to 165, it's just a matter of getting used to.

As for photos (and I will write more soon, still very sore in the morning), let me know if some of you can able to see this photos set as I've made it public;

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150334604096923.344082.505766922&type=1

edit - damnit, it's not, give me a moment.

So Facebook and Google + can't show album to those who don't have access to facebook/google, fuck sake...

You will notice 172.5mm cranks on a 49cm frame if you like going around corners.

Toe overlap being the main exception, I did notice that on my bicycle as well (170mm).

Good to meet everyone yesterday. Was my first ride so was absolutely exhausted after it but managed to keep up and had loads of fun. Thanks to Ms Chris for leading and Bernie for his massive bag of warm clothes, drinks, chocolate bars etc!

(btw poots you are supposed to be throwing yourself down a bypass in Bristol that day!)

Oh yeah...is that the Bristol alleycat type thing? the train fares put me off somewhat, I must confess!

You still doing it?

You're more likely to have pedal strike with longer cranks if you're riding a fixed road conversion due to the BB height being not as raised as a track specific.

Rosie mean the front wheel/pedal interface.

The BB height can be solved (just) by using clipless pedal that's short and small enough to not get strike on the tarmac.

You will notice 172.5mm cranks on a 49cm frame if you like going around corners.

Toe overlap being the main exception, I did notice that on my bicycle as well (170mm).

I hadn't thought about that. I've only used 175s on 60cm frames.

Oh yeah...is that the Bristol alleycat type thing? the train fares put me off somewhat, I must confess!

You still doing it?

Poots, I've got a lovely route to Bristol...only hilly at the end. I was thinking about riding it soon.

I'd be interested in that route Stonehedge, how many miles is it?

Oh yeah...is that the Bristol alleycat type thing? the train fares put me off somewhat, I must confess!

You still doing it?

err... technically although I've just remembered my leg doesn't work anymore. Maybe though!

So Facebook and Google + can't show album to those who don't have access to facebook/google, fuck sake...

Yes they can, make a Google+ album public, then you can provide a link to it.

I think I found a way, give me a few minutes to upload them all to a G+ album...

Zing, it work;

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/114376510837421003054/albums/5667038115058563185

Ed the photos look great! Really wish I could have come on this.. Stupid knee knack.

I don't know what happened to you but hope that you're healing up! And Poots too!

Poots, I've got a lovely route to Bristol...only hilly at the end. I was thinking about riding it soon.

O rly? Hmmm....interested indeed!