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

[MattMM]

Tried to do my first big hill today and failed miserably 1/2 of the way up and couldn't do anymore.
I was too ashamed to look at the old lady walking up it on the way back down.

Here is the hill
http://www.strava.com/segments/3851135

If it's any consolation, I got beat by a few hills 5 months ago when I started, there's nothing more satisfying in terms of progress than beating a hill and setting a PR. Keep going, be unafraid to granny gear and you WILL defeat the the hill.

 

[L14M]

Well, im still on holiday, looking forward to getting into more cycling when im back home

Liam

 

[Mr_K_Dilkington]

If it's any consolation, I got beat by a few hills 5 months ago when I started, there's nothing more satisfying in terms of progress than beating a hill and setting a PR. Keep going, be unafraid to granny gear and you WILL defeat the the hill.

Granny gearing is surely better for 100% of newbies anyway climbing long steep hills - really important to keep that cadence up and not try and grind for extended periods of time.

 

[Mark1978]

Absolutely exhausted after this....

//ridewithgps.com/trips/2495827

Happy though, although i think that's pretty much the limit of what I can handle at the moment. Was pretty breezy out, and there was a hill about 5 miles from home that nearly killed me but im extremely satisfied that i did it with a moving time under 3 hours. Also had to do my first inner tube change before i set off, pulled the valve while i was pumping up the rear and it tore. Guess it wasnt far off death anyway.

 

[g0kmt]

I can't remember when I last posted in this thread. It seems like ages, it probably is ages, well more like 8 months.

I last rode my bike in anger last August. when I did the Blackpool Ride the lights. If your in the Blackpool area at the end of August, when its on, just go on it, its madness. Thousands of cyclists, no cars just going where they want to, or that's what its like.

I was going to put a couple of trips to work in this week. Not the whole way, that's 17 miles through busy roads or 20 round the sea front. I need to build up to that. But failed miserably due to laziness.

Today I just rode out to Cleveleys from Fleetwood and back. According to the Garmin it was 9.25 miles and took an hour and 8 minutes. A lot further than I thought I would be able to do.

Going out was pretty easy, no wind I thought. None of the mountains I have to climb (gentle slopes really) caused any issue. The only problem is the pedestrians. The outer prom is shared pedestrian/cycleway. Its a bank holiday and the grockles are out in their hundreds - walking 3 - 5 abreast with their dogs and toddlers. Thus speed is definitely not the goal here. Just the exercise.

Did I enjoy it? too right. Hopefully the gale force winds of 5mph plus will stay away :-)

 

[MattMM]

Granny gearing is surely better for 100% of newbies anyway climbing long steep hills - really important to keep that cadence up and not try and grind for extended periods of time.

Agree 100%. Seated, spinning and granny gear is the way to go. Standing and grinding it like some pros isn't the best way for newbies. Quite a good vid on the subject from GCN on YT :


View: http://youtu.be/SZ3RSUW47yk

 

[morrisman]

So after a morning of prevaricating about the bush finally got my ass in gear and went for a quick 10 miles. Seemed much warmer inside, bloody freezing on the bike in shorts

 

[Supersuperleeds]

So after a morning of prevaricating about the bush finally got my ass in gear and went for a quick 10 miles. Seemed much warmer inside, bloody freezing on the bike in shorts

Similar here in Leicester, the sun is shining but it is a bit on the cool side.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Two and a bit months into cycling, having not done any exercise for years before - this morning I did 20 miles in under an hour at Hillingdon circuit with quite a strong headwind on the slight uphill northern drag. Feel like I could have gone harder also (having cycled for such a short amount of time, I still haven't found my limits, so pacing can be a little off at times), maybe to 21 or 22mph over the course of the hour, especially if there was less of a wind up.

Strava link here: http://www.strava.com/activities/131457606/overview

Feeling really good about my progress

Time I quit then, 2 1/2 months and avg of 20mph+

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

So after a morning of prevaricating about the bush finally got my ass in gear and went for a quick 10 miles. Seemed much warmer inside, bloody freezing on the bike in shorts

Similar here in Leicester, the sun is shining but it is a bit on the cool side.

Looking at the sun this morning I debated on short sleeves and shorts but wimped out and used arm warmers and leg warmers too. By the time I got home the sun had gone in and it was rather chilly, so I was pleased I had them on

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

n+1 arrives tomorrow morning, with the surrender of n-1 and £695...
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/new-road-bike-required.154343/post-3034278

 

[welsh dragon]

n+1 arrives tomorrow morning, with the surrender of n-1 and £695...
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/new-road-bike-required.154343/post-3034278

That's quickk

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

That's quickk

needed something so I was mobile by Tuesday... so had to be really!

 

[welsh dragon]

needed something so I was mobile by Tuesday... so had to be really!

We need photos of course

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

We need photos of course

of course. but that will have to wait until I collect it tomorrow am... in the meantime... this is the best I can do - but mine will have my Fulcrum Racing 7 CX wheels on it so won't tie in with the colour scheme as well but they are black & white only so should be fine...

http://www.fujibikes.com/bike/details/finest-11-c