Motivate me please!

[mrbadexample]

Have a couple of days off you've earned it...maybe even a week?

Thanks. You've been out again, I see.

I haven't been anywhere today.

 

[mrbadexample]

I think the small gods have been kind to me today. Mostly, at least.

Got home from work; horrible cycling weather. Really windy. It made me want to do absolutely nothing. Fortunately, I had a letter to post. Just a mile each way, but it got me out there. The moment I was pedalling, I knew I wanted more - especially after two days off.

The aforementioned small gods kindly turned the wind down and the sun up, so the day ended with a bit of blue sky. So I went round to see the better half - 6 miles each way. Averaged the trip there at 12.8mph, which was pretty pleasing as that's the uphill part. I knew I could bring it up over 13 on the way home. And despite getting copped by the small god of red lights just about every time I got a decent bit of momentum up, I've done the 12 miles at 13.7mph.

I sense that things are improving. Even just 5 weeks in, I know my fitness is better. I can almost see my physique changing. Come to think of it, I can almost see a physique - I've lost about 10lbs. My chest and lungs hurt less. A lot less.

So far so good.

 

[DaveyM]

Well done again mate. Still sneaking them miles in.
Now you talk about miles and speeds that I am sure (if you were anything like me) seemed like a lot, such a short time ago.

Keep up the good work

 

[mrbadexample]

Now you talk about miles and speeds that I am sure (if you were anything like me) seemed like a lot, such a short time ago.

Keep up the good work

Thanks pal. I need to get a thirty miler done though - am I allowed to stop in the middle or does it have to be all in one hit?

 

[RWright]

Thanks pal. I need to get a thirty miler done though - am I allowed to stop in the middle or does it have to be all in one hit?

Keep up the good work. I have lost 17 lbs. since the end of July. I feel much better myself.

I did a thirty miler this past Saturday. I think it counts if you stop or not. I got a little lost on a country road and got off my bike to see a direction/miles marker that was overgrown with vines and decided to take a break. I stopped for about 10 minutes but wish I would have kept riding. I kind of stiffened up and never could get back in a good rhythm. Most of the rides I do I never stop and the big majority of them my feet never touch the ground.

I am sure you will have no problem with 30 miles as long as you don't do a lot more climbing than normal. My butt got a little sore and I was ready to get off when I was done. I will keep adding a little to my daily rides and maybe try 40 in a month or two.

 

[mrbadexample]

I stopped for about 10 minutes

I was thinking more of a few hours. You know, ride 15 miles there, stop for tea and cake, ride back a couple of hours later.

Of course, I can always ride to Worcester. That's about 35 miles from home, and my mates have promised me tea, cake and a bed so I can go home the following day. Don't think I'm quite ready for 70 miles in two days yet though. I reckon I could get there if I stopped for a break half way, and it wasn't too lumpy.

 

[mrbadexample]

Darts. 12 more miles. Wet and windy on the way home. Average 13.1mph.

Actually won my match for a change too. Checked out on 106 to clinch the win.

 

[beeblemaster]

Reading your thread made me sign up, very entertaining and informative, for another newcomer - and above all else a local!

 

[mrbadexample]

Reading your thread made me sign up, very entertaining and informative, for another newcomer - and above all else a local!

Great! That's put big grin on my face this morning. Hope you're enjoying yourself out there!

 

[mrbadexample]

Managed to get a ride in this afternoon. Did what was essentially my 14 mile loop but went out a bit further to make it 15 miles, just to pick off a couple of extra places on the table.

Felt great for almost all of it. Best of all was the average speed. 15.06 miles in 1 hour 4 minutes 34 seconds, which mycyclinglog works out at 13.99mph. Much better than I've managed before, even over shorter distances. If I'd stuck at the original 14 mile loop, I think I'd have just cracked the hour. Not that I'm counting.

 

[beeblemaster]

Well done indeed! I did my 8 mile "lunchtime" loop today in 32 mins, I last did it 4 weeks ago in 50 mins. Well chuffed! Might have to go right instead of left out of the house and see if I can promote my nice 13-16 mile loop on the rural lanes (around Shenstone, Stonnal and Little Aston, if you're familiar, MBE) to my lunchtime run!

 

[mrbadexample]

Well done indeed! I did my 8 mile "lunchtime" loop today in 32 mins, I last did it 4 weeks ago in 50 mins. Well chuffed! Might have to go right instead of left out of the house and see if I can promote my nice 13-16 mile loop on the rural lanes (around Shenstone, Stonnal and Little Aston, if you're familiar, MBE) to my lunchtime run!

How long have you been riding beeb? That's a pretty decent average speed over 8 miles - 15mph. I haven't got near that yet, even over relatively short distances. I'm on the Bescot side of Walsall, and never a local (only lived here about 20 years!) so not that familiar with your bit. I know it's prettier than my side though.

 

[beeblemaster]

How long have you been riding beeb? That's a pretty decent average speed over 8 miles - 15mph. I haven't got near that yet, even over relatively short distances.

Been riding about 2 months now. I'm amazed just how quickly I seem to be progressing... I'm not sure if it is good *really*, but in my world I feel good about it and amazing myself. I've just done my first 20! 21.8 miles in 2 hours, inclusive of a couple of 5 min breaks, stopping at 8 miles (I had to, I needed to breathe!), then stopping at 15.

I'm on the Bescot side of Walsall, and never a local (only lived here about 20 years!) so not that familiar with your bit. I know it's prettier than my side though.

I'm in Brownhills, so quite lucky as I've got urban towards Walsall and the rural lanes around Lichfield, a bit muddy though at the moment!

 

[mrbadexample]

A weekend of inactivity. Bikewise, at least. I went out on Friday and had about 7 beers with a couple of friends. Saturday I ate a good fried breakfast at the Corner Cafe before purchasing replacement floorboards from Caldmore Timber directly opposite the cafe. I took them home and fitted them, stripped wallpaper for most of the day then had a nice fire in the chimnea with a few more beers in the evening. Sunday I had Shreddies for breakfast before assisting my mate in the collection of an ebay-won shed from Stoke. I got home, picked veg out of the garden and cooked treacle-coated gammon with roasted garden veg and onion gravy. I then topped up my log store with two good barrowloads of logs liberated from over the railway.

I didn't clean the bike like I've been planning to for at least a fortnight, and I've not ridden either. To be honest I can still feel the effects of the 18 miles I did on Friday, but DaveM is riding away into the distance. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow, or I will get wet.

 

[mrbadexample]

14 today. Went to the girlfriend's, but decided to do the Sedgley Hill climb when I got there. Slightly easier than last time, and new best of 35.2mph on the way back down. 13.4mph average for the trip.