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Yesterday I had a one-hour (well, for me, the fast guys did it in a little over 30 minutes...) and during the descent I had horrendous pain in my fingers and wrists, and my right wrist and forearm is still murdering me. I'm sure losing forty pounds or so would help (both ways), but should I consider upgrading my Tektros to Ultegra-level calipers, or is something wrong with my fit causing this pain?

It wouldn't have been so bad if I was alone, but when you're twice as fast as everyone on the downhill you have to brake the whole time.
 
when you're twice as fast as everyone on the downhill you have to ... wait for them at the bottom.

Sounds like something is wrong with the angles if you're experiencing horrendous pain. Different brakes won't make horrendous pain go away. Could be that your brake lever position and reach need need improvement, but can't diagnose that by text. Have you ever been fitted on that bike?
 
What model Tektros? The ones I had were rubbish on any descent, and caused me a lot of pain to get the braking power I needed. Swapped them for Shimano 105 5700 callipers and braking was at least 105 times better.
 
R580s front and rear. I have hear mixed reviews on Tektros in general. Either they're comparable to Shimanos or trash.

I was fitted, but it was over three years ago, and I was only fitted in so far as choosing a frame size based on what was too big, and a basic saddle height/position fitting on a turbo trainer.

Honestly I would probably be better served by a stem about 10 mm shorter.
 
On second thoughts, just replacing the pads could give much better performance, and is also much cheaper. Kool Stop Salmon pads are probably a good bet.

If that doesn't work out, if you get the chance try test riding a bike with different brakes. I hear a couple of TCC guys are out early most mornings training on the Arakawa.
 
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Mostly drops, since hoods don't give enough leverage.

I already changed the pads from Tektro to Shimano, which helped a bit if memory serves.
 
If budget is an issue, set of BR-4600 (Tiagra) brakes is ¥5,250 at Asahi. Ultegra (BR-6800) brakes cost a bit more than that each.

I have descended many mountains on Tiagra brakes with no problems - usually on the hoods - and I'm heavy. Performance might be reduced with non-matching levers, though. What levers do you have?

Stem - ¥3,000 or so. If it is going to improve your comfort and safety I think it's a sound investment.

Another possibility is that your handlebars are the wrong width. I see this a lot. It really messes with the rider's alignment for sustained braking and stability. I am currently trying to persuade a friend to abandon her stock Scott bars for something 60mm less wide. ("But they're so pretty and they match the rest of the bike…")
 
It normally wouldn't have been as much of a problem except that the people in front of me forced me to essentially brake for 20 minutes straight, and the road was too twisty/steep/narrow to allow me to pass the guys who were only slightly slower than me until we finally hit the 1-2% downhill mainroads (what a relief that was).
 
Get yourself a set of 105. Cheap as chips and they are a great brake. I rode 105 all last year and never once felt like I needed more power. I've moved over to DA now and I prefer the hoods of the DA as they are slightly smaller and more ergonomic but quite honestly, they don't feel any more powerful than my 105 did.
DA look much cooler, which of course is the most important part.
 
FFUUUUUUC....GE Shimano prices just went up 28% percent. The front wheel I just bought cost me more than the rear wheel I bought three weeks ago.
 
Wasn't sure where to post this question but here seems as good a place as any.

I need a doctor of some sort to sign a medical release form to enable me to take part in an international cycling even in France later this year.

In England I'd ask my GP but what do I do here in Japan? I only know of one doctor but he is a paediatrician.

Other people who have been through this trial or have an opinion about my options please reply and let me know.
 
Can anyone recommend any good back Doctors in Tokyo/ Saitama? I need to get an MRI and re assessment….??
 
Can anyone recommend any good back Doctors in Tokyo/ Saitama? I need to get an MRI and re assessment….??
My wife goes to a back/neck specialist who fixed most of her chronic (although not debilitating) neck pain in three visits. I know he does sports stuff too, primarily for judo guys who fuck up their backs and necks constantly. I was going to go for my shitty back problem but after three weeks of being a stupid dick and not going to a doctor, it's somehow sorting itself out. Anyway, he seems well regarded and diagnosed my wife's issues very quickly indeed.
I know you live in vaguely my area (Oizumi) - the doctor is down near Kamiigusa IIRC. I'll ask the missus for the name and website stuff when I get home. Not sure whether he does MRIs though.
 
Excellent, let me know!

My wife goes to a back/neck specialist who fixed most of her chronic (although not debilitating) neck pain in three visits. I know he does sports stuff too, primarily for judo guys who fuck up their backs and necks constantly. I was going to go for my shitty back problem but after three weeks of being a stupid dick and not going to a doctor, it's somehow sorting itself out. Anyway, he seems well regarded and diagnosed my wife's issues very quickly indeed.
I know you live in vaguely my area (Oizumi) - the doctor is down near Kamiigusa IIRC. I'll ask the missus for the name and website stuff when I get home. Not sure whether he does MRIs though.
 
Doctor who specialises in children & babies health. In the paedophile scare in the UK a few years ago one got driven from their home by a mob who didnt know the difference.
Children have feet!


"Fawlty Towers classic!"
Thank you!
 
Well, it turns out the paediatrician is a family doctor but having exclusively used his services for my boy I did not know this.

He happily signed and stamped the form and asked that I bring in some photos when I'm done.

Much easier than I thought and it wasn't some massive "I used my hanko so I can charge you an arm and a leg!" debacle like I suspected it might be.
 
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