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

[Nigelnaturist]

I think I could get up it if it was at the start of the ride. I've already got the biggest range cassette that I can without changing the rear mech and it does mostly get me up the hills. Next time I go back there I will get up it!! Or maybe I'll try going up Haytor next time (the descent at the end) and then it's mostly downhill after that.

Change the rear mech, I did, though the poor thing deservers retirement. It wasn't designed for the purpose I put it to.
But then I have never been conventional.

 

[TheLegend]

Hi guys, I started cycling a month ago, My first ride was 7 miles and when i got home i could barely walk.
The next day i done 11 miles then 21 miles the day after. was working for a week then the following week I done 23, 26 and 16 miles. I then challenged myself to do a loop where I live, its 41 miles. So in my first month i have done 145 miles.
I am looking to shift a bit of weight (2 or 3 stone) and increase my fitness!
On the 41 mile ride I started to cramp up on the last 3 miles, from what I have read this is due to not enough fuel in my body, be that water or proper food.
Any help to build up miles, loose the weight, and increase the fitness would be great thanks.

 

[Stonechat]

I know mileage this month (185 to date)
However I do not know mileage since I have been cycling again. However there were fewer big runs, only one estimated at 265 miles over 20 and a couple over ten.
I did not have cycle computer or use Strava until then

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I know mileage this month (185 to date)
However I do not know mileage since I have been cycling again. However there were fewer big runs, only one estimated at 265 miles over 20 and a couple over ten.
I did not have cycle computer or use Strava until then

So long as you have an idea, it doesn't matter, the overall point I think is to enjoy, being out on a bike and getting fitter at the same time, I do what I do because I don't really have much else to do at the moment.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Hi guys, I started cycling a month ago, My first ride was 7 miles and when i got home i could barely walk.
The next day i done 11 miles then 21 miles the day after. was working for a week then the following week I done 23, 26 and 16 miles. I then challenged myself to do a loop where I live, its 41 miles. So in my first month i have done 145 miles.
I am looking to shift a bit of weight (2 or 3 stone) and increase my fitness!
On the 41 mile ride I started to cramp up on the last 3 miles, from what I have read this is due to not enough fuel in my body, be that water or proper food.
Any help to build up miles, loose the weight, and increase the fitness would be great thanks.

Just keep doing what your doing, make sure the saddle ect are set right. It's not always about increased distance, distance helps improve endurance, shorter more intense rides can be just as beneficial if your working hard. Select a gear or two lower than you think and try spinning the pedals faster.

 

[Stonechat]

Hi guys, I started cycling a month ago, My first ride was 7 miles and when i got home i could barely walk.
The next day i done 11 miles then 21 miles the day after. was working for a week then the following week I done 23, 26 and 16 miles. I then challenged myself to do a loop where I live, its 41 miles. So in my first month i have done 145 miles.
I am looking to shift a bit of weight (2 or 3 stone) and increase my fitness!
On the 41 mile ride I started to cramp up on the last 3 miles, from what I have read this is due to not enough fuel in my body, be that water or proper food.
Any help to build up miles, loose the weight, and increase the fitness would be great thanks.

Well done. Your fast progress makes me look like a tortoise!
Not an expert on nutrition, but eat carbs - oats or pasta beforehand and have energy bars/gel/flapjack after 1 hour cycling
And keep drinking little and often (particularly if hot out)

 

[Stonechat]

I know mileage this month (185 to date)
However I do not know mileage since I have been cycling again. However there were fewer big runs, only one estimated at 265 miles over 20 and a couple over ten.
I did not have cycle computer or use Strava until then

Just keep doing what your doing, make sure the saddle ect are set right. It's not always about increased distance, distance helps improve endurance, shorter more intense rides can be just as beneficial if your working hard. Select a gear or two lower than you think and try spinning the pedals faster.

Yes I have also been trying a lower gear, sometimes it seem like less effort, and you feel you're slower (wrongly). I really like having 24 gears compared to the 10 that I had years ago

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Just been looking at chainrings and chainsets triples dont seem to come in anything other than 30-39-50 these days.

Yes I have also been trying a lower gear, sometimes it seem like less effort, and you feel you're slower (wrongly). I really like having 24 gears compared to the 10 that I had years ago

It helps having more options, to be in the right gear. This is why I like triples over doubles, though yesterday I could actually see the concept in a compact double especially a 10 sp.

 

[Tafster]

Hi all

Returning to cycling after many years away, took my bike out a few weeks back and rode 9.88 miles in 50 mins, then yesterday had a nice ride 10.39 miles 53.39 mins and then back again total 21 miles. Started to get tired the last mile back, perhaps I was too ambitious at this early stage, lots of lessons learned (make sure I charge my iphone next time, make sure my water bottle is full, take an energy bar or snack and also make sure I have some money on me)

My quads were aching last night so much so I couldn't get comfortable in bed, took 2 ibuprofen and that did the trick, woke up this morning no soreness or stiffness.

I am going to as previously mentioned here explore the cycle paths in my area and make up a few routes to vary my rides.

I am keen to get out more often and not just on the weekend and was wondering how often you recommend a beginner should ride per week/

 

[Stonechat]

Not an expert but I would have thought you follow how your body feels in length of your rides

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Like Mo said really well done, I have never done more than about 50 miles in one ride (there's accuracy for you @Mo1959 ) but did do 2 50 ish in one day.

You posted a 63 miler the other day on Strava, or did you stitch the days rides together? I saw that ride and it inspired me to go do my metric century on Monday!

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Nice to see some new names appearing on this thread and some very impressive rides being put in as well.

to all

 

[Tcr4x4]

Going to aim for 25 miles today..pretty short by most of your standards, but to date my furthest is 23miles, and I'd like to beat that before going on holiday on Thursday.

Now, where to go that doesn't involve a huge hill? :-D

 

[Nigelnaturist]

You posted a 63 miler the other day on Strava, or did you stitch the days rides together? I saw that ride and it inspired me to go do my metric century on Monday!

I did two 100Km days one was a single ride. http://app.strava.com/activities/76174563, the day before I did a 40 something mile ride and a 20 something.
I tend to only stitch the ones that I do whilst away from home, i.e. to the photo group and then the ride back ect.. though it has been know that I have stitch whole days, even if I have been home.
I am glad it inspired someone Chris, was it your first !!, I would have thought with the riding you do you would have already done, or did I miss something or forget (which is more likely).

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Going to aim for 25 miles today..pretty short by most of your standards, but to date my furthest is 23miles, and I'd like to beat that before going on holiday on Thursday.

Now, where to go that doesn't involve a huge hill? :-D

If you have done 23 miles, 25 miles will be easy! Take plenty of fluid with you, if your weather is anything like what it is in Leicester, you will need it.

Make sure you post the ride when you get back