OMG Buzzin!

[Hockeynut]

Ok, first, sorry for a lame quote from the girl on Big Brother, but I am buzzin!

Secondly, this will seem very meagre to most of you and you may wonder what I'm so excited about.

Well,
1. The longest ride I'd done before was about 4 miles.
2. I've only done about 10 miles total since I got my bike.
3. I've not had or ridden a bike since I was a teenager, which is about 14 years ago.
4. I've never commuted to work on a bike, well, not a push-bike anyway.... only the motor type!

This morning I commuted the 8.7 miles to work, on my mountain bike, and it took me about 45 minutes... Which is only about 10-15 minutes more than it takes me by car.
So anyway, as you can probably tell, I'm still a little wired!

At the moment I feel like I could do the ride straight back and still be fine.... however, I have a feeling that I won't be feeling like that towards the end of the day.

What I really like at the moment is how awake and alert I feel this morning at work.

Btw, any ideas/tips so I don't suffer to badly in a bit?

David

 

[Maizie]

YAY hockeynut!!
Tonight you may feel very tired, but you'll probably sleep better than you have in years. In a couple of weeks you will be used to it and find you don't ache so much or get so tired (but you do still sleep well). My job just moved sites so I now have a 27 mile round trip - completely unimaginable when I first dusted off my bike and went on some epic just-over-4-mile adventures Back to being completely exhausted but will get used to it pretty quickly!

 

[gemsno4]

Well done on starting on the bike. That is a nice distance, far enough to get the blood flowing, but not so far you are likely to take the car, esp. if its nearly as quick by bike.

I know what you mean on the awake feeling - I am struggling today as I am working from home and haven't had any fresh air. Maybe I should have gone for a ride anyway?

 

[jdrussell]

Nice work, I remember when I did the same for the first time. Great feeling

 

[Arfcollins]

Hope you keep it up. My first commute on the bike was over 2 years (and 6000 odd miles) ago and I know that I can never return to using the car. On the rare occassions (less than 10 in that time) that I have to use the car there is something missing from the day.

I still get the buzz, even in refreshing rain and the freezing winter.

Most of my clothing is Aldi or Lidl which is very cheap and, I think, terrific value. Apart from my Shimano trekking shoe style SPD shoes my most expensive item of clothing was my Sealskin waterproof socks. I can't imagine a wet winter without them, and I may well buy their waterproof gloves this winter. Unless someone can suggest a better option!

 

[BentMikey]

Nice one!

p.s. avid inline skater here, love hockey too.

 

[2Loose]

Well done mate, give it a few more rides in to work, then come in to work on the route you originally planned.

(I must say that I thought I would have heard it directly from you, instead of reading it on here!)

You'll be doing it in under 35 minutes within a fortnight I bet.

 

[Hockeynut]

Thanks everyone, I do hope to make it a more regular thing. Although I will reserve judgement until I see what I feel like in a bit!

However..... I think now I understand the road bike reasoning. lol Nevermind, only another 11 months on this one before I can get road bike on the cyclescheme!

 

[jdrussell]

Thanks everyone, I do hope to make it a more regular thing. Although I will reserve judgement until I see what I feel like in a bit!

However..... I think now I understand the road bike reasoning. lol Nevermind, only another 11 months on this one before I can get road bike on the cyclescheme!

haha, I am in exactly this predicament now. Am I going to wait for the cycle scheme (we can only opt in once a year and at the start of the year only).

I got a hybrid the first time around and now I am desperate for a planet x

 

[BinBag]

I did exactly the same, as most of us probably.

I staretd on a MTB and did 1 day a week, which lasted a week, the upped it to 2, 3 and four as I got fitter. Now it's the maximum 5 when I can and a bit at the weekends. I plumped for a road bike (not on the CTWS) and just paid the pennies - as you get more choice. I had to buy from Halfords which wasn't on my list!

But well done - it's agreat feeling isn't it?

I piece of advice, start some record keeping like I've done - and you'll soon see the numbers going in your favour.

 

[HLaB]

Nice one Hockeynut. I don't know if it has been said (or you might have all ready done it) if its on road/ paths put smooth rolling tyres on that'll make it a lot easier, something like Schwalbe Marathon Plus always get a good review. And if its a front suspension mtb try locking that out.

 

[DrSquirrel]

Ok, first, sorry for a lame quote from the girl on Big Brother, but I am buzzin!

Secondly, this will seem very meagre to most of you and you may wonder what I'm so excited about.

Well,
1. The longest ride I'd done before was about 4 miles.
2. I've only done about 10 miles total since I got my bike.
3. I've not had or ridden a bike since I was a teenager, which is about 14 years ago.
4. I've never commuted to work on a bike, well, not a push-bike anyway.... only the motor type!

This morning I commuted the 8.7 miles to work, on my mountain bike, and it took me about 45 minutes... Which is only about 10-15 minutes more than it takes me by car.
So anyway, as you can probably tell, I'm still a little wired!

At the moment I feel like I could do the ride straight back and still be fine.... however, I have a feeling that I won't be feeling like that towards the end of the day.

What I really like at the moment is how awake and alert I feel this morning at work.

Btw, any ideas/tips so I don't suffer to badly in a bit?

David

Probably would have been best to do tester rides to work if that is the furthest you have been.

In time you might get that time down to the same as your car journey.

Get some slick tyres. Lock your suspension (or set as hard as possible).


Question is though - will you survive the winter?

Well done.

 

[Hockeynut]

The reviews on those tyres are great Hlab, thanks for that. I will give it a few more goes before I commit to something like that, but I certainly enjoyed this morning.

Question is though - will you survive the winter?

In all honesty? Probably not no! lol Or I can't see it at this early stage.

Time will tell.....

 

[jdrussell]

Nice one Hockeynut. I don't know if it has been said (or you might have all ready done it) if its on road/ paths put smooth rolling tyres on that'll make it a lot easier, something like Schwalbe Marathon Plus always get a good review. And if its a front suspension mtb try locking that out.

Would those tyres be better than the continental ones I have on my Scott Sub 20 ?

 

[HLaB]

Would those tyres be better than the continental ones I have on my Scott Sub 20 ?

Depends what type of Conti tyres you have at the moment, I use conti tyres, Contacts (for commuting) and wouldn't change them but my brother had knobblies on his mtb and changed them for Marathon Plusses and found it made a significant difference (its used on road and paths mainly and light tracks with the kids).