Went i did my first commute yesterday

[mjr]

If you recorded on Strava you can also use Strava routes to see a heatmap that shows you where most people cycle.

No, it'll show you where Strava clients cycle, which is not exactly the same thing. In my experience, it tends to underestimate use of urban routes where you can't ride as fast, for various reasons, including the route being busy with cyclists!

 

[Trekman083637]

rpm / cadence is the speed you pedal as said above a lot of folk when starting try to push a big gear slowly thinking they are going fast but all you tend to do is tire your legs out and struggle on hills.My rule of thumb before i got a cadence sensor ( dont use it for commuting ) was can i select an easier gear and go just as fast comfortably ?
Rule for the right cadence

Legs hurt ? go for an easier gear?
Lungs /heart ? harder gear ?
Both hurt ? About right

Haha thanks thats alot clearer

 

[Trekman083637]

It might be worth playing with Strava routes. I plotted a general Leyton to Marylebone route on RideWithGPS and on Strava. Strava was able to reduce the elevation (number of hills) by half by taking a very slightly longer route but going much further south rather than going through islington which is an uphill grind as far as I can see.

Yeah ill have to check strava out

 

[richmace]

Yeah well there you go,im a newbie lol.so what gears do i use when i on a flat surface?

I always pick a gear that allows me to cycle at a comfortable rate. I.e one that I could maintain for miles.

If my pedalling rate drops, I change down a gear. If it increases, I change up a gear.

I have three front gears. I use them as follows:

Gear 1 - really steep hills.
Gear 2 - slight hills.
Gear 3 - Flat / downhill.

With regards to getting used to commuting, I went from no cycling to cycling the 15 mile round trip to work and back in about 6 weeks. I am not overly fit either.

I started off at twice a week, and built it up slowly to 5 days over the course of 6 weeks.

I really needed those rest days. Now I can commute 5 days per week with no issue.

I also found that a soft seat helped dramatically…

Your body will adapt if you build up slowly.

 

[Trekman083637]

I always pick a gear that allows me to cycle at a comfortable rate. I.e one that I could maintain for miles.

If my pedalling rate drops, I change down a gear. If it increases, I change up a gear.

I have three front gears. I use them as follows:

Gear 1 - really steep hills.
Gear 2 - slight hills.
Gear 3 - Flat / downhill.

With regards to getting used to commuting, I went from no cycling to cycling the 15 mile round trip to work and back in about 6 weeks. I am not overly fit either.

I started off at twice a week, and built it up slowly to 5 days over the course of 6 weeks.

I really needed those rest days. Now I can commute 5 days per week with no issue.

I also found that a soft seat helped dramatically…

Your body will adapt if you build up slowly.

Yh thats really smart to start up slowly ive just been going everyday and i feel it getting easier.i did have a rest on wedneaday cox i was off which i did need since it was my first commute there and back.i think i gotten thr hang of gears now i mostly just stick to 2 and change the gear at the back normally.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Yh thats really smart to start up slowly ive just been going everyday and i feel it getting easier.i did have a rest on wedneaday cox i was off which i did need since it was my first commute there and back.i think i gotten thr hang of gears now i mostly just stick to 2 and change the gear at the back normally.

That's what I do most of the time. It works pretty well...

 

[Trekman083637]

That's what I do most of the time. It works pretty well...

The sticking to 2 at the front and changing gears at the back?

 

[vickster]

The sticking to 2 at the front and changing gears at the back?

Yep if you aren't tackling any steep / long hills where a smaller front ring is needed.

 

[Trekman083637]

Yep if you aren't tackling any steep / long hills where a smaller front ring is needed.

Ohhh right

 

[vickster]

But on hills, go with a gear that you can maintain a decent cadence and don't feel that you are mashing the pedals and your knees/quads really hard

Do you have a Strava profile of your ride as I'm not sure if there are really any big hills on that commute?

 

[Trekman083637]

Right that makes sense.i got strava but i think you need a membership to map out your route

 

[Andy in Germany]

The sticking to 2 at the front and changing gears at the back?

Yes; that works for pretty much any situation except belting downhill (big ring) and climbing §$%&/() steep hills (Emergency drop into small ring) I'm basically lazy so I'll happily find the easiest gear and trundle up a hill while more fit people pass me...

 

[vickster]

Right that makes sense.i got strava but i think you need a membership to map out your route

You should be able to share a screen shot of your route and elevation profile?

 

[Andy in Germany]

Right that makes sense.i got strava but i think you need a membership to map out your route

Two alternatives for route plotting:

https://www.bikemap.net/

https://cycle.travel/

 

[Trekman083637]

You should be able to share a screen shot of your route and elevation profile?

Lemme see the app lol