Show us your.......newbie progress! [4 Sep 2012 - 4 Oct 2014]

[Nigelnaturist]

@Mo1959 well done on passing 2,000Km on the challenge.

I have an online savings account I keep putting the odd couple of £ in it builds up, then I can get things, but after the gps and a tyre or two, and brake blocks, should start to be able to save toward a reasonable frame, I want it to be a triple most options on the 500-800 mark tend to be compacts.
I think that how I perform on my Viking I can carry the extra weight of a triple no problem, I just want to build something I can ride on nice days and try and see if I can get over this time (2-3hrs) limit more often. Something thats a little more comfortable on longer rides too and less weight (less effort needed) would help there.
It would also be nice to see if I can improve my times on some local segments, because though I do have good times agaisnt people on bikes weighing less and costing more, I dont know if that shows how fit I am or the difference in cost/weight doesn't make much difference.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Dont know if anyone saw this from the Challenge on Veloviwer http://www.strava.com/activities/132695461#comments it one amazing ride.

He could do the race across America at his avg sp 8.8 days with 3.2 days rest ( I think its about 12 days to cover about 3,200 miles), but conditions are so different.

 

[BrianEvesham]

Happy new wheels

Are the existing ones past their best or can you keep them for winter use? I would love to be able to afford a nice light set for summer use but unless I win the lottery, which I don't even do, I can forget about that I think.

Cheers.
The front wheel is as good as new. Rear is well out of true and the bearing is needing attention and erm my gears still need fixing but will sort all that when I install the new wheels.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well I seem to have the same problems over choosing gears as some of you have over choosing bikes. The last few days my avg gear" 60 and 65 so a 40x17 is 61.8" a 40x16 is 65.75" which means I should be spinning in the 14-17 (all 1th stepping) compared with the 17-19 I am currently having to use, so after much thought, I ordered a Stronglight Dural 40th to see how it works out. (£14). My cad was 87rpm avg yesterday, compared with a week or so ago of low 80's, so hopefully this will improve things a little more.

 

[morrisman]

End of month stats:
317 miles, 14.7 mph average, 11580 ft climbed. Not as much as last month but been on hols for 8 days with no bike so really happy

 

[BrianEvesham]

http://www.strava.com/activities/135765483

Lovely sunny day here in Evesham.

 

[Cold]

http://www.strava.com/activities/135768132

Started very foggy now nice and sunny.

 

[MattMM]

My usual long undulating effort, strong headwinds but got a few PRs on the longer bits. Also managed to keep up with a roadie who dropped me going uphill, but stayed with him pace wise for a good bit on the flat bit thereafter. Pleased considering he was on a decent Cube and probably weighed about 5 stone less than me...

Really should think about a club or group ride soon as my average mph is gradually creeping up and I shouldn't embarrass myself too much. Probably should also stop wistfully scanning classifieds for road bikes....

http://www.strava.com/activities/135751884

 

[Nigelnaturist]

My usual long undulating effort, strong headwinds but got a few PRs on the longer bits. Also managed to keep up with a roadie who dropped me going uphill, but stayed with him pace wise for a good bit on the flat bit thereafter. Pleased considering he was on a decent Cube and probably weighed about 5 stone less than me...

Really should think about a club or group ride soon as my average mph is gradually creeping up and I shouldn't embarrass myself too much. Probably should also stop wistfully scanning classifieds for road bikes....

http://www.strava.com/activities/135751884

it wasn't @Colderuk by any chance he rides a Cube via Glasgow

 

[Venod]

Well I seem to have the same problems over choosing gears as some of you have over choosing bikes. The last few days my avg gear" 60 and 65 so a 40x17 is 61.8" a 40x16 is 65.75" which means I should be spinning in the 14-17 (all 1th stepping) compared with the 17-19 I am currently having to use, so after much thought, I ordered a Stronglight Dural 40th to see how it works out. (£14). My cad was 87rpm avg yesterday, compared with a week or so ago of low 80's, so hopefully this will improve things a little more.

Out of interest Nigel I compared my ride from yesterday with yours similar distance & climbing, yours slightly longer with a bit more climbing.

Your average speed 16.3 mph at a cadence of 87 rpm, average gear 63.9 (worked out at 86 rpm)

The difference in speed is down to cadence only.

My average speed 18.2 mph at a cadence of 96 rpm, average gear 63.9, I use a compact 50/34 with 12,13,14,15,17,19,21,24,27,30 at the back.I tend to use the 30 at the front for hill climbing only and didn't use it on this ride, most of my riding round our local roads is 50/ 17,19,21,24, I even use the 27-30 with the 50 on occasions.

 

[Cold]

it wasn't @Colderuk by any chance he rides a Cube via Glasgow

Bit to far away for me

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Out of interest Nigel I compared my ride from yesterday with yours similar distance & climbing, yours slightly longer with a bit more climbing.

Your average speed 16.3 mph at a cadence of 87 rpm, average gear 63.9 (worked out at 86 rpm)

The difference in speed is down to cadence only.

My average speed 18.2 mph at a cadence of 96 rpm, average gear 63.9, I use a compact 50/34 with 12,13,14,15,17,19,21,24,27,30 at the back.I tend to use the 30 at the front for hill climbing only and didn't use it on this ride, most of my riding round our local roads is 50/ 17,19,21,24, I even use the 27-30 with the 50 on occasions.

Take no notice of strava it lies, my stats were 38.67 miles with about 1092ft elevation(even strava says this if you plan it on there route planner), in 2:21:09 or 2.35hrs @ 16.44 avg cad 87rpm gear 63.48" which basically is the 42x17 on the current set up, but I find the jump from 17 to 19 a little large sometimes, so making the front middle a 40th I lower the gearing by one gear (near enough) so I would then have been on the 42x16 (roughly @Mo1959 ), I will use the 30th if that means I have better control the 30x15 gives me 52.6" same as 42x21 but with better options (going lower) likewise moving to the 52ring 52x16 is 85.48" 42x13 84.97" so again finer control.
Before I changed it from 8sp (13-15-17-19-21-25-28) to 9sp (13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25), I found sometimes the gaps a little large, sometimes to high or low, with nothing between.

All this doesn't make me any faster (see previous posts about weight, my bike is at best 12Kg), just more efficient with what I have without changing the overall range. I did try and keep an eye on when on the 42x-14-13 (13 giving me 84.97") I didn't really use it, I know I will have to go on to the 52th on anything other than a moderate decline, but I think the overall benefits will be better.

I have sometimes used bigxbig, but the chain noise lets me know about it.

 

[Stonechat]

End of month stats:
317 miles, 14.7 mph average, 11580 ft climbed. Not as much as last month but been on hols for 8 days with no bike so really happy

YEs mine is 352 miles, 12,356 feet of climbing. 14.1 mph
LEss mileage and less speed, but some good long and hilly outings
No excuse really for doing less

 

[Stonechat]

Take no notice of strava it lies, my stats were 38.67 miles with about 1092ft elevation(even strava says this if you plan it on there route planner), in 2:21:09 or 2.35hrs @ 16.44 avg cad 87rpm gear 63.48" which basically is the 42x17 on the current set up, but I find the jump from 17 to 19 a little large sometimes, so making the front middle a 40th I lower the gearing by one gear (near enough) so I would then have been on the 42x16 (roughly @Mo1959 ), I will use the 30th if that means I have better control the 30x15 gives me 52.6" same as 42x21 but with better options (going lower) likewise moving to the 52ring 52x16 is 85.48" 42x13 84.97" so again finer control.
Before I changed it from 8sp (13-15-17-19-21-25-28) to 9sp (13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25), I found sometimes the gaps a little large, sometimes to high or low, with nothing between.

All this doesn't make me any faster (see previous posts about weight, my bike is at best 12Kg), just more efficient with what I have without changing the overall range. I did try and keep an eye on when on the 42x-14-13 (13 giving me 84.97") I didn't really use it, I know I will have to go on to the 52th on anything other than a moderate decline, but I think the overall benefits will be better.

I have sometimes used bigxbig, but the chain noise lets me know about it.

Yes thought I should use the elevation from route planner

There's lies, damn lies and statistics, ... and Strava

 

[L14M]

Due to the train strike I had my first ever commute today!
http://www.strava.com/activities/135820511
and on my way back.
http://www.strava.com/activities/135820516
Not bad 12.8 mile round trip!
Liam