Show us your.......newbie progress! [4 Sep 2012 - 4 Oct 2014]

[Nigelnaturist]

I only bought my bike last week. I havnt been on a bike for 45 years and after giving up smoking last year wanted to get fit. Have put on about 40 pounds over the years. First bike ride lasted about 20 minutes. My bum and legs were in bits. Since then I have used my bike every day as a trainer. Once my legs and bum stop hurting, and I can feel them getting beter already, then I will go out on the road proper. I am not going to quit, no matter what. Its nice e to hear other peoples stories. It gives me confidants that I can and will succeed.

Welsh Dragon, good to hear it, one of the first pieces of clothing are padded shorts, if you haven't already.
You will find plenty of motivation in this thread as almost everyone has started in the last year or so and are a friendly bunch.

 

[welsh dragon]

Thank god for that as I will need all the help I can get

 

[Nigelnaturist]

knackered i was lol.

done 22 k today in 1 hour 10 mins. feeling ok so far.
bit of advice needed here i feel. now i took up the bike to keep fit. walking just didnt cut it for me any more. i cycle around a local lake 5 k in distance. few moderate hills. now i have the bike in 21 gear which is as far it goes having a 21 gear bike ! i try to get the best work out i can so changing down gears i tend to do as least as i can. am i fooling meself doing this or should i change down gear as soon as i slow down on any up ward paths ? at a lost i am ?

If you don't know cadence is the rate at which you pedal measured in r.p.m. try to aim for above 80, count the number in 15's x4 for a rough idea. The faster you spin in a low gear is easier to maintain, but it does take some practice, as Chris pointed out less stress on human components.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Thank god for that as I will need all the help I can get

Any questions, we will try and help.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Right messed up with my mileage so I have to go out again, got to go do shopping anyway.

 

[Mo1959]

Any questions, we will try and help.

@welsh dragon Just don't let Nigel blind you with science with all his data jiggery pokery
Remember, Nigel, us females usually don't have very mathematical type brains.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@welsh dragon Just don't let Nigel blind you with science with all his data jiggery pokery
Remember, Nigel, us females usually don't have very mathematical type brains.

I wont mention a thing I promise.
It's all quite simple really, I just don't explain it very well.

 

[Tenandra]

The Strarva app for my journey home, in future i will keep it to one post per each day i cycle rather than the two today.

http://www.strava.com/activities/76919074

 

[Nigelnaturist]

The Strarva app for my journey home, in future i will keep it to one post per each day i cycle rather than the two today.

http://www.strava.com/activities/76919074

It doesn't matter in here really, if your pleased with a ride (or not and want to have a moan about it), feel free.
Oh and

 

[welsh dragon]

It must be a man thing. Like a man drawer. They have to be precise whereas women just estimate very badly.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

It must be a man thing. Like a man drawer. They have to be precise whereas women just estimate very badly.

I estimate, almost to the correct 500 yards every ride I do. To many breaks in todays rides, hence the reason to have to go do another 13.04miles

 

[Mo1959]

I estimate, almost to the correct 500 yards every ride I do. To many breaks in todays rides, hence the reason to have to go do another 13.04miles

Hmmm, sorry that's just wrong. Does it honestly bother you that much? I often finish rides knowing that if I just went round the block it would round it up but it doesn't really bother me. Still, if it keeps you happy.

 

[AndyPeace]

Just a few mellow rides today, no big miles...though my legs really want to keep going. I don't know if it was being lost yesterday but I felt a little mentally fatigued and thought it's best to know your limits, so short rides till Sunday, more so as I'm at work tomorrow. How @Supersuperleeds does the miles he does and works full time is a tribute to his forum handle! Double super for sure! Even whilst being off work, I've only just managed to stay close to those miles! All the same, I'm over 50% through the current challenge, with two more days before the half way mark, so feeling very proud!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Hmmm, sorry that's just wrong. Does it honestly bother you that much? I often finish rides knowing that if I just went round the block it would round it up but it doesn't really bother me. Still, if it keeps you happy.

I was being funny Mo, sorry it didn't come over that way , I general just have an idea where I want to ride, I try and do 50Km, but sometimes I need to do a couple of short local loops that make it up to that.

 

[electric eel]

cheers guys for advice. tbh im happy enough on flat to moderate ground in high gear 21 . on the route theres steady inclines which catch me out a bit. but once going up hill i change down afew gears then lift meself out of saddle and try to stay straight ! this might be ok now but id hate to been unseen damage to my legs. bigger distances i wouldnt be in top gear but at the min im happy with doing 20 k.