Noobs and returnees - how was 2015 for you?

[Stevec047]

Late 2015 October to be precise was when I got into cycling and I got hit by the bug almost straight away.

Unfortunately due to prior commitments with kids and work and the fact that every free day I got seemed to match up with atroshish weather I ended up doing less than 70 miles out on the road before the bike found a new home in the bedroom on the turbo.

I must say I am disappointed in myself as I know I could be doing so much more on the turbo but now Christmas and New Year is out of the way and back to work Monday I can into the training plan I set pre Christmas and stick to it.

2016 WILL be the year I loose weight, tone up and increase my well below par fitness levels with the goal of a 50 or 100k charity ride or general ride come September. I also plan to get out with a bunch of guys from the lbs who do regular coffee and cake rides most weekends just want the spring to arrive and lighter evenings so I can put more genuine road miles on the bike. Currently I feel like I have all the gear but no idea.

 

[NorthernDave]

In the early 90's I commuted to work on my Raleigh Amazon MTB, a 14 mile round trip. Then I passed my driving test, got a car and the bike got used less and less (despite the commute taking just as long in the car many days...) until eventually I passed it on to my younger brother.
Then in Feb 15, now in my mid 40's and being told my my doctor to lose weight and take more exercise, I bought a Boardman MX Sport Hybrid and absolutely loved it. I was out every weekend and was soon completing 50k rides on and off road. However, I managed to injure my knees due to a lack of experience and poor technique which meant 6 weeks of being limited to "gentle" 15 minute rides.
Sorted and back in the saddle I was wanting to go further, faster and bought a Boardman Road Comp.
I couldn't believe how fast it was compared to the hybrid, but I really struggled to get used to the different handling characteristics and get a comfortable riding position. At one point I thought I'd spent a load of money on an unrideable bike, but I stuck with it and got it sorted with advice on here and I love it now.
The road bike is my go to bike with the hybrid only used if I'm planning to go off road. Sorry hybrid...
Mileage in 2015 will be around 1,900 ( I didn't record my mileage to start with) and I'm hoping to smash that in 2016 so have set myself a target of 3,000 miles and have signed up to the Half Century Ride a Month challenge.
More importantly I've lost over 3 stone in weight and am probably the fittest I've been in 20+ years and I'm loving every minute of it.

 

[RichardB]

In the early 90's I commuted to work on my Raleigh Amazon MTB

Fine, fine bicycles (see sig).

+1 with the weight loss and fitness. Brilliant, isn't it?

 

[Snorrarcisco]

I did my first dropped handle bars ride the other day around the place I live, slowly i went around trying to get used to it.

11 miles as my final ride of 2015 - must admit i was hooked to the dropped handle bars. Cant wait for this weekend to do it again!!!

 

[mybike]

October 2014 saw my wife sell her car and reveal my son's forlorn Tesco full suspension bike at the back of the garage. Someone, probably me, had driven over the rear wheel and it looked sad. So the wheel came off, and went to the local Cycle Surgery who had a suitable one, put it all back together and tried it our around the garage area. The saddle was sooo painful!!

At about the same time my wife decided that cycling might be a good idea and bought a Raleigh ladies bike with a basket.

I got a new saddle, got the bike working and, after some chivvying accompanied her along the canal for a little. Our first recorded ride was 3.3 miles. A lot of fettling has been done since and the gears almost work properly, much better since I replaced the twist grips with Shimano Atlus (polishing the turd).

Over the last year I've done 390 miles, however the appalling state of the towpath plus a bout of a flu like virus has resulted in nothing this year so far.

Next purchase is to be a better bike, a bit lighter than the 20kg beast I'm riding at the moment. Once I've done that I may do a bit more polishing.

 

[Zeffer]

My wife and I bought eBikes in France, Summer 2014. After two rides I wanted to go faster so bought a hybrid, a gorgeous Fairdale Weekender. Not had so much fun since I last rode twenty years ago, I'm forty now. Took it to France Summer 2015 and had too much fun riding the canals, damaged my coccyx.

Turns out my GP is an extremely keen cyclist and said he never thought he'd ever tell someone to get off a bike! He'd just come back from tackling some of the French tour stages for his holiday. He then explained that the weight is distributed over three points on a road bike rather than one on the hybrid.

Best prescription ever.

So in October I got an end of season Cannondale Supersix Evo Ultegra. Gorgeous and so much fun. I genuninely get down in the dumps if I can't ride it one weekend. (Can't commute at the moment as take children to school on the way to work).

Have managed to do three 100kms, one a month and always do at least twenty miles and usually much more, even in the snow last weekend. Loving every minute.

 

[mjr]

He then explained that the weight is distributed over three points on a road bike rather than one on the hybrid.

If your weight is all on your bum, I suspect the bike's not really set up right (probably saddle too high and stem too long - EDIT: when you're pedalling, your legs should be taking some of your weight at almost all times, which is part of why it's better to spin a low gear when tired, rather than coast with your feet unpressured) but I'm glad you've found something you like!

 

[Zeffer]

If your weight is all on your bum, I suspect the bike's not really set up right (probably saddle too high and stem too long) but I'm glad you've found something you like!

That's really good to know, I'd love to get back on for those canal paths this summer. I know a good mechanic who can help me set it up right.

 

[Montydog]

got into cycling August 2015 after being challenged to do the Lighthouse challenge in July this year...100 mile around the Isle of Man...

think the chat went something like this as we sat outside the pub!!

me: "think i could do that"

friends: "really?"

me: "yep really, no probs"

friends: "ok if you do it and finish then the four of us will give £50 each to a charity of your choice....but you have to do it on a cycle not your motorbike!"

me: "ok done!"

so dusted the old bike off in the back of garage....put abit of riding in...did couple 30 mile sportives and one 62 mile in Aug and Sept then just after christmas bought a new Cannondale Synaps Ultegra 2015 had a proper bike fit....went back and got better saddle.....so now this year the training starts, sportives are nooked and roll on July and the Isle of Man!!

 

[Stevec047]

got into cycling August 2015 after being challenged to do the Lighthouse challenge in July this year...100 mile around the Isle of Man...

think the chat went something like this as we sat outside the pub!!

me: "think i could do that"

friends: "really?"

me: "yep really, no probs"

friends: "ok if you do it and finish then the four of us will give £50 each to a charity of your choice....but you have to do it on a cycle not your motorbike!"

me: "ok done!"

so dusted the old bike off in the back of garage....put abit of riding in...did couple 30 mile sportives and one 62 mile in Aug and Sept then just after christmas bought a new Cannondale Synaps Ultegra 2015 had a proper bike fit....went back and got better saddle.....so now this year the training starts, sportives are nooked and roll on July and the Isle of Man!!

Wow talk about jumping in at the deep end good luck with your quest.

 

[Montydog]

Wow talk about jumping in at the deep end good luck with your quest.

chers