So today I choose to write about me and my RedChilli exploring riding at the Paltinu Lake known as the “less known pearl of the Carpathians”.
This Turquoise colored lake is situated in Doftana Valley in which the river Doftana flows in until the Prahova river. It is a wonderful part of Romania, and very little known, almost secret and hidden to the Romanians. Probably locals from the Prahova county enjoy it more than travelers from across the country. It is located very close to the popular mountain resorts of Sinaia, Predeal and the rest, yet it is not as crowded, and to a certain point, it is even more rural.
Riding my Red Chilli trough Doftana Valley was a pleasure. The road I both encountered by twists and turns, uphills and downhill followed by flats too. On the serpentine road up to the 108 metre Paltinu dam, you will reach the lake, just before entering the Valea Doftanei village.
While cycling on the road, you can stop and drink from the natural springs which you can find on the side of the roads.
Ok, now that I got your attention, we can continue with some technical aspects about my bike:
There are two really important parts to my RedChilli WR1 bike; firstly, the carbon pedals by Shimano, as they fasten to my feet and prove superb power transfer and stability when riding. Then, it’s obviously my saddle, as I’ll be riding all day long and I want to be comfortable, so that I can perform at my best and enjoy the ride in comfort. Come on… the saddle and my seat is critical. Do you know for instance, how different saddles – like chamois pads – are designed for the very different types of bottoms 😉
The saddle I chose for my RedChilli custom build is the Selle Italia Lady Boost TI316 Superflow. It’s a top of the range race and endurance saddle, weighing only 202 grammes, meaning that like all the other components that David from RedChilli worked on with me, it’s super light and super high performance. Along with the titanium rails, it has a wide base gel padding seat, and a open channel which is designed for the female anatomy to sit comfortably for long periods, without unnecessary undue pressure. It also gives some flexibility at the front of the saddle, adding to the comfort, as we often spend long periods towards the front when riding.
It’s also a neutral saddle, which when we unpick the data means that it’s suitable for individuals with both Anterior (Dynamic Rider) and Posterior (Static Rider) Pelvic Tilt. What does it mean for me on the ride? Well…
The saddle fits my body’s geometry just perfect. The bone position on which the weight of my body falls on the saddle is comfortable in both positions in which the pelvis is tilted. The gap in the middle is it’s best feature I swear! The best invention ever.
On the flat portions of the road I have a relaxed position situated more on the back of the saddle. If I want to push the pedals harder, then I go low on my handlebars for a more aero position. On both positions it feels good – I’m kept in comfort and always with nothing to complain about, feeling good! On the uphill, when it’s a tougher pace and effort, I move a lil’ bit forward.
As I said earlier though, the Selle Italia Lady Boost TI316 Superflow is just one component. Yes, it’s a superb element of the overall custom build of my beautiful RedChilli WR1 bike, being super strong, with its Fribra-Tek cove; but it’s when I consider all the elements that the bike has, that things really come together. Getting myself properly measured was important, and I had to fine tune the seatpost when I first got the bike.
On my last bike, the position wasn’t quite right for me, I had a shorter stem to compensate the longer top tube. The handlebar size was a bit too much, causing me pain in my shoulders and my back. Also, the saddle height wasn’t quite right in comparison with the alignment of the handlebars – it was below. Now, on my RedChilli the saddle is higher in alignment with the handlebars. I actually feel much better and more aero. The top tube now is shorter and the right size. The handlebars and integrated stem fit the size of my measurements and my shoulder and back pain is gone.
Correcting my bike position has had a major impact of the quality of the rides. It is more enjoyable and more playful. Now, I have more confidence while on the road, due to the RedChilli bike. Comfort is really important while cycling; it gives pleasure by riding and that is what we cycle for – to feel joy while improving our health. Having a custom made bike just for you which fits like a glove, it is a special feeling and I feel lucky for having this opportunity – thanks to Robert here at Pedalnorth and David at RedChilli, for both bringing this all together and for building me my personal bike 🙂
Now, back to my ride. It was a route of 30km, through amazing scenery and on wonderful roads. You can easily extend the ride if you want, riding further into the valley. It’s a great short afternoon or evening ride though – especially if you’re staying nearby and just want to explore the scenery. The highlight of the ride was Paltinu Lake – closely followed by my RedChilli WR1 of course 😉
I’ll publish the ride on our website, with a link below this article, so that you can ride it – and, if you visit the RedChilli website, you can maybe ride it yourself on one of their great bikes too 🙂
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Pedalnorth Website2024-09-06 13:06:222024-11-15 10:57:02Choosing the best road and offroad cycling shoes
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Pedalnorth Website2024-03-26 10:58:302024-11-15 10:57:46Mountain Biking in Romania – Europe’s last great wilderness
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Pedalnorth Website2024-03-12 15:39:022024-11-15 10:57:47TRIADA and the Trilogy of the Trails
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Pedalnorth Website2023-09-19 13:54:322024-11-15 10:58:12Designing Cycle Shoes for Women
