hurt my wrist cycling

[dadams14]

I am a 60 year old man who used to run but found my sons bicycle in the basement. It is a trek 21 speed offroad and I fixed it up.
The first day on it I was 12 years old again . I forgot how much fun it was to ride. It was like my first J C Higgins with the big balloon tires and coil shocks, but a lot lighter. I used to find excuses not to run , but I want to ride every day..
After a week or so my right wrist was getting sore.. I was resting too far forward (I think) and causing some discomfort.. I have moved my seat about 10 times to get more comfortable... It is a lot better... I had my seat too far forward and way too low.
It is still not perfect.
Also I wear a heart monitor just to see if I am overdoing it, well it is hilly where I ride and some hills I can peak my heartrate to 163...for about 30 seconds. Is this too high for my age and should I cool it???....
I like to leave the gears higher and stand up to pedal, but this causes my heatrate to soar...
I get passed by some runners going up hills
Oh well
I am about 2 months into this hobby and don't want to quit.
Any advice would be of course welcome,
Ps my old bike had a rear view mirror and a basket for groceries on the front.
and don't forget I would clothespin a sports card so the spokes would hit it and make it sound hot
Thanks in advance
Dennis

 

[g8r80]

Welcome, Dennis! There are a bunch of things that you need to address:

After a week or so my right wrist was getting sore.. I was resting too far forward (I think) and causing some discomfort.. I have moved my seat about 10 times to get more comfortable... It is a lot better... I had my seat too far forward and way too low.
It is still not perfect.

Either get a professional fitting at a bike shop (preferred) or tell me your height inseam (from the pelvis bone to the floor while standing) and I can give you some preliminary adjustments.

Also I wear a heart monitor just to see if I am overdoing it, well it is hilly where I ride and some hills I can peak my heartrate to 163...for about 30 seconds. Is this too high for my age and should I cool it???....

If I knew you were under a cardiologist's care and was okay with that level of effort, obviously you would be fine. Are you under a cardiologist's care? Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad things that can happen to the heart of a 60yo guy (or 47yo guy in my case). That said, 163 is a high heart rate for a 40yo.

I like to leave the gears higher and stand up to pedal, but this causes my heatrate to soar...

That's called mashing the pedals and you need to stop it. It is inefficient, hard on the knees and spikes your heart rate. You want to ride with a cadence of at least 80 rpm, 90 is better.

 

[dadams14]

Hurt Wrist cycling

Thanks very much for the much needed advice.
Firstly I am not under a cardiologists care. I had an annual checkup and all was well, I am also a runner and I have always been able to operate comfortably in the high 140s to low 150s
I am planning to keep it below 150 , but just today I hit 150 and my alarm went off and I slowed down.
As for the seat , my inseam from pelvis to floor is 33 in .
I moved my seat up again this week.
I use my toes on the pedals and my leg does not get completely straight when I pedal


As for standing, I get uncomfortable sitting all the time , I like to stand for a few seconds , if just to get to stretch... No mashing of pedals..
Also I don't know what 80 to 90 rpms is ...Is there a way to count like 1 and 2 and 3 and 4. ?
I go for 1 hour , I have no idea how many miles that is...
I like to get out every day, but usually I get 6 out of 7 each week.

It is very hilly though.
Thanks
Dennis