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

[simmi]

Damn you Simmi, just when I'm about to post my longest ever ride of 37.7 miles you have a 44 mile warm up!!!

Anyway, an eventful trip today including getting stopped by cows on my biggest climb & my chain coming off on my biggest decent

http://app.strava.com/activities/65126146

I don't mind admitting that was tough going today in that heat but I'm buzzing now that I've done it & recovered!

It's all relative mate, a year ago for me 37.7 miles would have seemed like climbing the north face of the Eiger.
Well done on your efforts

 

[Goonerobes]

It's all relative mate, a year ago for me 37.7 miles would have seemed like climbing the north face of the Eiger.
Well done on your efforts

You are of course correct & the joy of it is its progress that you can actually feel & see.

The next step for me will be to see if the Meccano set in my spine will let me ride a road bike given the different riding position to the hybrid I currently ride.

 

[NickJ95GB]

So last week I fractured my elbow.
Then 1 week later I sprain the same damn arm on the damn bus.
My god..

 

[spooks]

I've got a chance to do the wiggle wight ferry sportive tomorrow but the route is 75 miles and I've only ever done 54 before. Not sure whether that is too much of a push for me, expecially since I believe the IOW is pretty darn hilly. Tempted but I don't want to fail to get round.

 

[simmi]

You are of course correct & the joy of it is its progress that you can actually feel & see.

The next step for me will be to see if the Meccano set in my spine will let me ride a road bike given the different riding position to the hybrid I currently ride.

You may or may not know that all road bikes are not built the same a lot have a more relaxed geometry, look around try a few, the big ones if you can stretch to carbon are specialized roubaix, cannondale synapse, trek domane but most of the bike brands do one scott, merida, felt to name a few. The main difference is a longer head tube which gives a more upright position (see my avatar) You also want to make sure the gearing is suitable, something like 28T on the largest cassette cog and a compact crank which has a 50-34 teeth combination will get up most hills.

 

[simmi]

I've got a chance to do the wiggle wight ferry sportive tomorrow but the route is 75 miles and I've only ever done 54 before. Not sure whether that is too much of a push for me, expecially since I believe the IOW is pretty darn hilly. Tempted but I don't want to fail to get round.

Give it a go, you have done 75% of the distance the thrill and adrenaline will push you through the other 25%. Or better still get in with another group of riders, I assure you 54 on your own is harder than 75 in a group. Most of all enjoy it, I loved mine and can't wait to do my next.

 

[spooks]

Give it a go, you have done 75% of the distance the thrill and adrenaline will push you through the other 25%. Or better still get in with another group of riders, I assure you 54 on your own is harder than 75 in a group. Most of all enjoy it, I loved mine and can't wait to do my next.

The 54 was the london to brighton so not exactly on my own!! I've only done about 45 on my own. I am just having visions of being the last person out there, struggling along.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

You may or may not know that all road bikes are not built the same a lot have a more relaxed geometry, look around try a few, the big ones if you can stretch to carbon are specialized roubaix, cannondale synapse, trek domane but most of the bike brands do one scott, merida, felt to name a few. The main difference is a longer head tube which gives a more upright position (see my avatar) You also want to make sure the gearing is suitable, something like 28T on the largest cassette cog and a compact crank which has a 50-34 teeth combination will get up most hills.

Get a triple, more gear choices.Closer gearing better cadence control.

The 54 was the london to brighton so not exactly on my own!! I've only done about 45 on my own. I am just having visions of being the last person out there, struggling along.

Sure you will be fine. Just make sure you drink regular ect..

Damn f****** fairy. I would have done 37.98 mile (60Km) @ 17mph as it was I managed 16.9mph.cad 87 A.H.R. 138bpm but it was flat as a pancake, I will look at strava shortly see how i faired on the that club circuit, I am guessing about 17mph.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well it's my first ever 16+mph avg for the week, quite easier runs though, but I have been trying to work on getting my cadence up little last wk 80.42 this 83.58.
8'32" quicker on this than 3 months ago 17.5mph over 18 miles.
http://app.strava.com/activities/65205315#1242281145

15 p.b.'s up until the tyre started leaking, though not sure i would have got many more. According to strava this wasn't one.
http://app.strava.com/activities/65205315#1242281118
neither was this
http://app.strava.com/activities/65205315#1242341425

 

[Smotyn]

Well done to all of you on your rides today

My disaster saga continues LBS tried me out with proper road shoes which has helped and I found a more set back seat post but still not there. Today LBS had sourced a steel pinned back old style bmx post. Tried it at shop yep cool no pressure on my knees got home went out for a ride this evening and thankfully was not far from home as post bent like a banana ended up walking back last mile. He says he has got a replacement frame for me but it is the model below mine as mine is sold out country wide!

 

[Smotyn]

Well done to all of you on your rides today

My disaster saga continues LBS tried me out with proper road shoes which has helped and I found a more set back seat post but still not there. Today LBS had sourced a steel pinned back old style bmx post. Tried it at shop yep cool no pressure on my knees got home went out for a ride this evening and thankfully was not far from home as post bent like a banana ended up walking back last mile. He says he has got a replacement frame for me but it is the model below mine as mine is sold out country wide!

 

[Smotyn]

Oh and I have just a week till my sportive!

 

[simmi]

Well it's my first ever 16+mph avg for the week, quite easier runs though, but I have been trying to work on getting my cadence up little last wk 80.42 this 83.58.
8'32" quicker on this than 3 months ago 17.5mph over 18 miles.
http://app.strava.com/activities/65205315#1242281145

15 p.b.'s up until the tyre started leaking, though not sure i would have got many more. According to strava this wasn't one.
http://app.strava.com/activities/65205315#1242281118
neither was this
http://app.strava.com/activities/65205315#1242341425

You speed freak Nigel! at this rate of improvement I would soon have a job to stick with you.

 

[boybiker]

I managed to get out for a quick spin this evening after fitting a gator skin to the rear wheel of my bike. I cant say it feels much slower / faster but my legs were pretty dead after the first big climb!

http://app.strava.com/activities/65200072

 

[RWright]

View attachment 25790

Oh and I have just a week till my sportive!

I don't even know where to start about the situation you are in with that bike, so I won't even get started. Good luck getting it sorted. I know what I would do but that probably wouldn't be the best solution for everyone so I will keep that to myself too. I will say that it wouldn't be pretty.