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

[welsh dragon]

Dilemma.......a local women who added me on Strava has asked if I want to join her for a biggish ride on Friday (around 60 miles)

a) I have never ridden with anyone else before and
b) I am not the greatest conversationalist and think I would struggle with small talk for that length of time.

Friday does look like a really nice day though and I am slightly tempted.

I think youll do fine with small talk. Besides you'll be so knackered neither of you will be able to talk.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Thanks. They are great. The improvement in they're health is amazing. They look, feel and act like normal, kids now. The only problem they, will have is if they get a serious infection, but hopefully the antibiotics will be able to take care of any infection they may contract in the future

I know how bad I am when I have these bouts, and you just want to curl up into a ball ect.. and I have quite a high tolerance to pain, so to see little ones suffer isn't nice, glad to hear things are good.

 

[stevey]

Dilemma.......a local women who added me on Strava has asked if I want to join her for a biggish ride on Friday (around 60 miles)

a) I have never ridden with anyone else before and
b) I am not the greatest conversationalist and think I would struggle with small talk for that length of time.

Friday does look like a really nice day though and I am slightly tempted.

Do it @Mo1959 it was my first time last sunday as you know, was great fun

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Dilemma.......a local women who added me on Strava has asked if I want to join her for a biggish ride on Friday (around 60 miles)

a) I have never ridden with anyone else before and
b) I am not the greatest conversationalist and think I would struggle with small talk for that length of time.

Friday does look like a really nice day though and I am slightly tempted.

what sort of speed does she average? It is nice occasionally cycling with other people, but I find I tend to end up holding them up (though occasionally it is the other way around which kill's my breathing cycle and asthma superbly!) and holding them up makes me uncomfortable...

As for talking - well you will find plenty to talk about, but you do need to agree on who does what if you are cycling side by side and a car approached from front or back.. which one of you slows down & drops back and which one of you speeds up and goes in front. Both hitting your brakes together does not work and 2 riders used to cycling alone often learn that one the hard way - how I managed to keep my balance and stay on my bike when hit by a 17.5 stone male rider I was cycling with defeated both of us, but off-roading on a road bike with 25c tyres and on soft soil, with a barbed wire fence or massive oak tree looming towards you does focus your skills superbly! I didn't hit the (by now) stationary car on the single track road when I got back to the road but it was a case of brakes were not going to stop me alone and feet had to be deployed. I ended up about 1 foot from her bonnet - so very glad she stopped. I did say thank you afterwards but I have to say that all 3 of us were expecting me to come off and all 3 of us were somewhat surprised when I didn't!

otherwise the only thing you will need to really worry about is the person on the outside not seeing that the person on the inside needs to come out for a bad grid/pothole and you will need to watch the road surface further ahead than normal and comment that you need to come out. If they are riding behind you then you need to give warnings also like 'hole' or 'grid' or 'something dead/dead thing'... because you will be blocking their view of the road ahead. Also agree a 'climbs' policy. wait at the top for the other person to catch up is usually the best option and both climb at your own speed. Go and enjoy the company even if it is only the once!

 

[morrisman]

So as the morris dancing season looms on the horizon (starts on 1st May for the uninitiated) it is necessary to deliver a poster to the pubs we are dancing at to warn the locals to avoid that night. Normally I print them off and get whoever lives nearby in my morris side to deliver them but this year it will all be by my bike

So today involved a 30 mile round trip Wendover, Aldbury, Studham, Eaton Bray, but it seems to have grown by another 40 miles as the sun is shining

In the end it came out at 58 miles with 2400 ft of climbing ended up feeling a bit more knackered than I should. Seem to be having a bit of trouble controlling my blood sugar levels, I think my diabetes medication is a bit over the top since I have lost weight and become so much fitter. But due for a check up soon

 

[Mo1959]

Thanks guys. I think I will give it a bash. We seem reasonably close speed wise so should be ok, plus the route she has mentioned has a couple of bail out points if it isn't working out. Friday is currently looking like a gorgeous day too which helps. I will need to take tomorrow off to try and get some of the tiredness out of my legs though.

 

[Triban5riderGD]

Todays ride was 34 miles in a very large loop of small back lanes that lead us round the back of Brands Hatch then up onto the North Downs and back to our starting point in Orpington. Loads of traffic owing to the M26 being closed, which in turn bought the M20 to a standstill which meant that those with local knowledge were all using the rat runs. Not a good day to be a motorist, but for us cyclists the sun was shining and it was great to be on two wheels.
Total mileage is now 627.and counting.

 

[Triban5riderGD]

Thanks guys. I think I will give it a bash. We seem reasonably close speed wise so should be ok, plus the route she has mentioned has a couple of bail out points if it isn't working out. Friday is currently looking like a gorgeous day too which helps. I will need to take tomorrow off to try and get some of the tiredness out of my legs though.

Go for it Mo. Could be a new best friend. Hope you both enjoy your ride.

 

[MattMM]

So, back after a short absence, long holiday weekend in the Highlands with no mobile signal, internet or bike. Had to give a ride a miss yesterday despite gorgeous weather owing to an unforeseen recurrence of a long dormant arthritic big toe joint. Feeling better this morning so got out nice and early pre brekkie to do my usual long flat route of preference, so I didn't aggravate the toe climbing.

Don't know if it was doing the ride in a fasted state, the nice weather, the few days rest or the fact that I managed to do my ride minus a shell jacket and just in a jersey (more aerodynamic you see... ) but had my best ride ever on the route with 24 PRs. Well chuffed

http://www.strava.com/activities/130771576

 

[Nomadski]

@Nigelnaturist - You have had some rotten luck with the cycling these last few months. Hope you get back on the road as this thread loses a big chunk of daily riding mileage without your contribution, saved mostly by SuperMo and SuperChris and SuperBob recently!

@Mo1959 - I saw the Strava message and I would say go for it. It's normal for many people to feel cautious about riding when theyve done it for so long by themselves, and I know you appreciate your peace and quiet. The trick is, you dont have to talk! You can just ride, taking it in turns to be the leader. And maybe pass the occasional pleasantry to each other when, or if, you feel like it. If they shoot off too fast, let them go and carry on. She seems to be a similar speed to you, so hopefully once that awkward initial contact is over and you decide on your route, you can just enjoy the ride.

You may find you will enjoy it more than you think. I rode with @themosquitoking last year and we have been out many times since, its good fun, and you can learn new routes. We dont talk a huge amount while we are on the bikes (pretty much enforced on us by the traffic) but the odd chat here and there and a cuppa halfway round can do wonders for the ride.

Dont be shy, your too nice a person for someone not to enjoy your company!

Went out today to Richmond Park as it was absolutely gorgoeous outside (sorry @Nigelnaturist). Had a snag a mile out when I saw my speed / cadence sensor stil wasnt working, even though I had replaced the battery. I noticed the magnetic spoke sensor had slipped yet again so tried to place it properly again and tightened and found the plastic housing was splitting. Im guessing thats why its moved on the spoke a number of times these last few rides. Will have to replace but I dont think Evans would do it under warranty as there appears to be physical damage to it.

Anyone know if they are purchasable serperately? Its for the Garmin official Speed / Cadence sensor...GS10.

Anyway, switched it off on my Garmin, booted up the Strava phone app as backup and off I went.

On my first lap of Richmond Park I saw a couple having issues and when asked if they were ok, they asked if I had a hex key. So a 15 minute stop while we tried to fix her rear caliper which had a loose cable causing the left side brake to not move. Quite similar to issues I had last night with my friends bike. Couldnt fix again (hate cabling issues) but got the rear brake away from the wheel so it wouldnt rub, so she could at least get home ok. And carried on my way.

Decided I was going to try for a fast second lap, and got a PR shaving 30 seconds off, which Im very happy about but still cant break the 25 minute barrier.

At Richmond Gate roundabout I sat waiting for traffic to turn right, and when I saw a gap I went forward, then almost got ridden off the road by a mature chap who decided he was going to cut on the inside, over the cobblestones at speed on my left as I set off.... He did apologise though, so all good.

Hit my usual Wimbledon traffic on the way home, but quite happy with the average speed, considering I am still coughing a lot, it was sunny and warm (sorry Nigel), traffic and issues and I did 2 laps rather than my usual one etc

At 2 rides in the last 7 days, this has also been the most productive week for cycling in 2014 for me too.

Edit: Oops forgot the linky - http://app.strava.com/activities/130883080

Hope everyone is well. And enjoy the ride @Mo1959

 

[morrisman]

Scary moment of the day - a very loud motorcycle popped a wheelie as he overtook me at a gazzilion mph, nearly had to change the lycra

 

[Stonechat]

Dilemma.......a local women who added me on Strava has asked if I want to join her for a biggish ride on Friday (around 60 miles)

a) I have never ridden with anyone else before and
b) I am not the greatest conversationalist and think I would struggle with small talk for that length of time.

Friday does look like a really nice day though and I am slightly tempted.

YEs definitely go for it
A few of my rides in Windsor great Park have had a little company and Saturday's effort was a group ride
It all adds to the experience
Yes I am basically a solitary rider
Have been known to tuck in behind someone to get relief from the wind though

 

[fivepence]

Wee Blast this evening , won't mention the weather as it will wind up Nigel

http://www.strava.com/activities/130962123

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Todays ride was 34 miles in a very large loop of small back lanes that lead us round the back of Brands Hatch then up onto the North Downs and back to our starting point in Orpington. Loads of traffic owing to the M26 being closed, which in turn bought the M20 to a standstill which meant that those with local knowledge were all using the rat runs. Not a good day to be a motorist, but for us cyclists the sun was shining and it was great to be on two wheels.
Total mileage is now 627.and counting.

You be passing me soon.

@Nomadski any magnet will work, I have one I butchered as a cad magnet, there are many on the net Halfords sell them Evans, not even sure if my sp magnet is original. I am using a GS10 sensor and a garmin H.R. monitor with a Bryton GPS.

Well what a revelation that extra gear is, hardly notice it changing from any gear from 13-17 i.e. 15 to 16 not much from 17 to 19 or 19 21 but 21- 24 and 24-28 are to big, I am going to change it back to 21-23-25 I would do 26 but I haven't got a 8 or 9 sp 26th cog.

Well I got out for a couple of short trips one to a friends the other back home, over the two rides I was 0.72mph quicker than the last time I was out (mind you I was in pain) over a slight more difficult route but a little shorter.
First ride steady 15.4mph http://www.strava.com/activities/130979779
2nd much the same but more uphill gradient. http://www.strava.com/activities/130979781

Total 25 miles @ 15.43mph, 828ft (RWGPS)

 

[matth411]

Hey guys, thought I would finally get in on some the threads on here. Been a member since September and only done one message! Anyway, yeah, I have just restarted riding again for the second time.
I hadn't been on a bike for over 8 years when I hopped on one to commute in July, 5.4 miles so nothing serious. First one was 48 minutes, and a distinct lack of breath! In January, however, I was tempted to hit the 50 mile mark and at about 8 miles my knee clicked loudly and painfully. This resulted in me hardly being able to walk. And 2 months off the bike.
In March I plucked up the courage to get back on the bike, not knowing how my knee would hold up. And wouldn't you know it.... it was fine. So while I was off work, I got some miles in the legs, and couldn't walk afterwards. But I am back to commuting again (and leisure rides when I am off) First one back was a steady 32 minutes, and in 2 weeks have got that down to an average of 21-23 minutes. Feeling stronger every time, and trying to change routes to get more miles in. Yesterday's commute was 5.8 miles in 21.34.
I should note that while I was off the bike, I quit energy drinks which I had been addicted to for over 3 years, and considerably cut down on the nicotine.