Hi All - From Essex coast

[Philtofit]

Hi

I was new to biking, up to four weeks ago; other than the odd outing over the years. I having been loosing weight for over a year, along with exercising; but got fed up doing my exercise in front of the TV on Wii Active.

Started to use my old bike, liked being out and about. Went out and brought a new Giant Escape 4 and added mug guards and a rear rack; making it an Escape City. The bike is great and I'm able to do miles on it, finding it a bit addictive.

I need to get fit ready for an operation in the new year, adding my recovery; along with making cycling a long term hobby.

I need a training plan for a 58 year old, still a bit over eight, hoping to be able to do a 50 mile ride next July. I will be out of action for Jan and Feb next year.

I have brought Cateye Loop lights, the front is no good for dark lanes, so need a good front light.

Also looking for a winter jacket, panniers and a better helmet.

Started questioning if I should have got a road bike, to try and cover more miles.

This has turned out to be a long winded hello.

Phil

 

[wayneo]

Hi phil, welcome.

 

[JohnTCC]

Hi

I was new to biking, up to four weeks ago; other than the odd outing over the years. I having been loosing weight for over a year, along with exercising; but got fed up doing my exercise in front of the TV on Wii Active.

Started to use my old bike, liked being out and about. Went out and brought a new Giant Escape 4 and added mug guards and a rear rack; making it an Escape City. The bike is great and I'm able to do miles on it, finding it a bit addictive.

I need to get fit ready for an operation in the new year, adding my recovery; along with making cycling a long term hobby.

I need a training plan for a 58 year old, still a bit over eight, hoping to be able to do a 50 mile ride next July. I will be out of action for Jan and Feb next year.

I have brought Cateye Loop lights, the front is no good for dark lanes, so need a good front light.

Also looking for a winter jacket, panniers and a better helmet.

Started questioning if I should have got a road bike, to try and cover more miles.

This has turned out to be a long winded hello.

Phil

Welcome also from Essex

 

[Dayvo]

And hello from another Brentwood boy!

50 miles come next year will be a doddle. Just build up your distances slowly.

Hope your ops go OK. And don't be afraid to ask for advice; there's planty of it (and advice) here!

 

[Philtofit]

Hi

Just done 16.8 miles, with a break at 9 miles; never done that before. May be 50 miles is doable come July, thinking of doing the London to Southend run.

Phil.

 

[dellzeqq]

Hi

Just done 16.8 miles, with a break at 9 miles; never done that before. May be 50 miles is doable come July, thinking of doing the London to Southend run.

Phil.

ahem..........why wait? You're 58, which is no age at all. If you've no underlying health issues, then it's about making the bike as free-running as possible, and building up, which could be rapid. It's a question of making sure that the thing fits you, and you're not doing anything silly. The best thing you could possibly do is to get in touch with this lot http://essexcycling....group/index.php They'll give you a steer (geddit?) on your riding technique and give you advice on your bike that may save you money (CTCers are good at saving money). And then, who knows, you may be up for this on the 9th December....


in Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.

History does not record the inspiration for this epic. Some critics have misguidedly referred to Coleridge’s naughty habits, but I think it’s fairly obvious that the stately pleasure dome is none other than the Southend's Kursaal Ballroom (allowing a little latitude for time and space) and the ‘Alph’ a dead ringer for Old Father Thames. Some say that the ghost of the great Khan lives on still, working the rides at Adventure Island…….


I could go on, but what would be the point? One can read Coleridge, or one can live him, and there’s no finer way of living him than to join that happy band of land-mariners, that make up the Friday Night Ride to the Coast!

The 9[sup]th[/sup] December ride takes us past the bright lights of the Embankment, and along the still-wide-awake way from Aldgate to Stratford, Ilford and Romford. This is followed by a rural interlude, leading to Brentwood, one of Essex’s most civilized towns. We then go along sweet country lanes to Stock, where refreshments will be taken in the village hall – the profits raised by The Excellent Tully Family going to a worthy cause.


From there it’s the joy that is Old Stock Lane and a turn south to estuarine Essex, crossing the Crouch at Battlesbridge. There’s a bit of adagio up to Rayleigh and then we zip down Tattershall Gardens, with the wonderful view of the Thames, Hadleigh Castle and the oil refinery at Coryton spread out ahead of us. The final triumphal chorus runs past the hanging gardens of the Western Esplanade (ridiculous cycle path to be ignored). I think we’ll get to Southend about seven o’clock, and the Rose Restaurant will be waiting for us.

It’s a flat-ish route (although not as flat as the ‘old route’ via Junction 31) and only 54 miles. There will be a ‘splash and dash’ stop just west of Romford.

The March FNRttC to Southend was a cold one, and we had to vary the route to avoid the worst of the ice. This time I’m hoping not only to go through Padham’s Green, but to take the Cinder Path from Leigh, and enjoy the clack-clack-clack made by the wind in the rigging of a thousand small boats.

The Southend ride isn’t everybody’s cup of tea (click on this http://www.youtube.c...3o&feature=fvst for the excellent Sam W’s take on it, but not if you’re easily offended) but it’s by far the easiest of our rides and is ideally suited to beginners. I’ll be keeping a close eye on the weather, and advising accordingly, but, after this month’s balmy (13deg) sortie to Whitstable, I’m full of hope.

Registration for non CTC/Fridays members by 26[sup]th[/sup] November please, and CTC/Fridays members coming with us for the first time by 2[sup]nd [/sup]December. There are, as ever, five spaces for LCC/BC members, but these will fill quickly.

The provisional dates for 2012 are up at http://fnrttc.blogsp...2012-dates.html Destinations include Morecambe, Ramsgate, Southsea, Southwold and, hopefully, Nice!

This is the last ride of 2011. We’ve had a splendid year, seeing a lot of new faces on rides going to familiar and novel destinations. We went to Brighton, Felpham, Whitstable, Southend, Swansea, Blackpool, Hull, Paris and Harwich, and forty five of you turned out to marshal the Martlets ride. The FNRttC is still the odd, mixed bunch of bikes (and trikes), ridden by an odd, mixed bunch of people that, one suspects, would never meet each other any other way. It’s been the sweetest pleasure going out with you. I’m hopeful that 2012 will be every bit as wonderful.

Simon

 

[Philtofit]

Hi. I will not be ready for a 50 mile ride by December, but I'm building up the miles and would like to do a group ride as soon as I feel ready. I have just brought a Trek 1.5, and excited about getting used to it. I will look into the South Essex Club, would like to find someone local to ride with.

 

[coffeejo]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[wakou]

Hi from Chelmsford...

 

[re84uk]

Hi from sunny/murky Southend!

 

[Pedal pusher]

Hi from Scotland. I'm in the medical world and my colleagues recommend cycling and swimming to help get people back to full fitness. Take all advice from your consultant and GP Good luck and hope all goes well.