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

[Stonechat]

I have one like that near me and it has 30' drop into a fast running river. I have imagined being knocked off my bike and over the parapet on more than one occasion when a car just has to try and squeeze through.

Hope you are not too badly cut.

I think drivers sometimes expect cyclists to be closer to parked cars than is safe in the event of a door opening

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I think drivers sometimes expect cyclists to be closer to parked cars than is safe in the event of a door opening

I sometime ride too close to parked cars in the event of a car door opening, but then I usually check to see if anyone is in the car.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I think drivers sometimes expect cyclists to be closer to parked cars than is safe in the event of a door opening

I've been doored by a parked car before, it is not a pleasant experience.

Whats the rain got to do with not riding, no excuse.

26 miles last night in the rain, was slightly damp when I got home

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I've been doored by a parked car before, it is not a pleasant experience.


26 miles last night in the rain, was slightly damp when I got home

Ditto, last Friday was worse here at least last night I got to keep my feet dry, Friday couldn't have been wetter if I had been swimming, but Friday I set a nice collection of p.b.'s nothing at all yesterday but to be fair I have ridden those roads so many times it will take something special to break one I think.

 

[Paulg04]

Did my first ride in the rain, all went well for the first mile then had to go through a puddle which completely soaked my feet then half a mile from the house a bus went by and completely soaked me. Was pretty funny as I was already wet through.

Used strava for the first time as well an quite liked the aspect of looking to see my times on certain segments when I got home

 

[RWright]

This past week I have noticed a couple of different people mention how wet it has been here. I haven't noticed it so much. I have been timing my rides very well and riding nearly every day. I have been caught a couple of times but was sort of expecting it most times. Today I rode early because there is a greater chance of showers this evening. Today's ride was sunny and warm....actually hot, but breezy. Things are supposed to cool down here this weekend.

 

[fatCyclist]

After a day's rest I went out for another ride. Same route as before, but now with less wind.
http://www.strava.com/activities/81981933

Average speed is up a notch and I took 2 minutes off my time, but I attribute that to the lack of wind. Only real difference is my quads aren't as sore, probably due to raising the saddle 15mm. An odd thing, I did exactly the same route, but Strava has tracked .2 miles less. I supposed I swerved about in the wind a bit too much first time around

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Did my first ride in the rain, all went well for the first mile then had to go through a puddle which completely soaked my feet then half a mile from the house a bus went by and completely soaked me. Was pretty funny as I was already wet through.

Used strava for the first time as well an quite liked the aspect of looking to see my times on certain segments when I got home

Thats the fun bit, and its nice when you manage to beat a p.b. This one really isn't influenced by the wind much and there wasn't much today anyway. It#s not much of a climb at 2.8% avg over 0.2 mile but I did manage over 15mph avg for the first time.
http://app.strava.com/activities/81987246#1666957777
And this 6.5mile loop @ 17.7mph new p.b.
http://app.strava.com/activities/81987246#1666957798

 

[Nigelnaturist]

After a day's rest I went out for another ride. Same route as before, but now with less wind.
http://www.strava.com/activities/81981933

Average speed is up a notch and I took 2 minutes off my time, but I attribute that to the lack of wind. Only real difference is my quads aren't as sore, probably due to raising the saddle 15mm. An odd thing, I did exactly the same route, but Strava has tracked .2 miles less. I supposed I swerved about in the wind a bit too much first time around

I am not saying anything else about strava, well done on the increased speed and reduced time.

 

[fatCyclist]

I am not saying anything else about strava, well done on the increased speed and reduced time.

Thanks, Nigel (and for the kudos). The main thing for me is how much better my legs feel post-ride. I think having the day rest between rides is the way to go. My diet is pretty clean and high protein, so I'm hoping that'll help the muscle repair and grow quickly. I'll change up my route on Saturday and come back to this other one in a week's time and see if there's any progress. That's definitely a nice feature of these GPS apps: being able to get some metrics on improvements, even if it's a tiny improvement it's encouraging.

 

[marknotgeorge]

I must admit I've been slacking a great deal. This is my first 'big' (> 5km) ride. I plan to slowly build up to riding as far as work (15 miles) as a first goal. But today I went to the supermarket, which does at least use some of the route. Observations:

• Kids do play in the street! About 1.7km in, a girl and a little boy were playing in the street. The lad pretended to block me, and ran in the garden when I pretended to aim at him!
• Nearly came off right near the supermarket when the front wheel tramlined in a crack by a bus lay-by and the rest of the bike (including me) didn't. Getting a bit of a rubbing noise from the front now. Hope it isn't out of true...
• It gets dark quickly right about now. I definitely need a seeing light, as my Cateye is definitely a be-seen light.
• Bloody gears need sorting again! Think I'll take it to the LBS and get it sorted properly, then I can adjust as necessary.

There... http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/marknotgeorge/da5shtrrt41kjaiu
...and back again. http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/marknotgeorge/92e4ckjrcddqe399

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Thanks, Nigel (and for the kudos). The main thing for me is how much better my legs feel post-ride. I think having the day rest between rides is the way to go. My diet is pretty clean and high protein, so I'm hoping that'll help the muscle repair and grow quickly. I'll change up my route on Saturday and come back to this other one in a week's time and see if there's any progress. That's definitely a nice feature of these GPS apps: being able to get some metrics on improvements, even if it's a tiny improvement it's encouraging.

Y.W.
If you hurt lots rest, if not so bad ride, but not so intense, but the rest days are important each time I take 4 or 5 days off (I didn't quite stop altogether last week, as I had appointments) I usually come back fitter and faster week before last avg sp for 327miles was 15.87 this week for 205 miles is 16.36mph

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I must admit I've been slacking a great deal. This is my first 'big' (> 5km) ride. I plan to slowly build up to riding as far as work (15 miles) as a first goal. But today I went to the supermarket, which does at least use some of the route. Observations:

• Kids do play in the street! About 1.7km in, a girl and a little boy were playing in the street. The lad pretended to block me, and ran in the garden when I pretended to aim at him!
• Nearly came off right near the supermarket when the front wheel tramlined in a crack by a bus lay-by and the rest of the bike (including me) didn't. Getting a bit of a rubbing noise from the front now. Hope it isn't out of true...
• It gets dark quickly right about now. I definitely need a seeing light, as my Cateye is definitely a be-seen light.
• Bloody gears need sorting again! Think I'll take it to the LBS and get it sorted properly, then I can adjust as necessary.

There... http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/marknotgeorge/da5shtrrt41kjaiu
...and back again. http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/marknotgeorge/92e4ckjrcddqe399

I get this, some area its adults playing, though the kids have more sense.
Rubbing, loosen the wheel nuts with the wheel on the ground re-tighten, sometimes an axle can move slightly and cause rubbing, happened to me last Sat, though I dont know why it happened.

 

[fivepence]

Just a short run this evening and a lesson learned. Wandered a bit too far off beaten paths in the moorlands and got completely lost my bearings as to where i actually was. Found a village which i never knew existed , been living here 10 years. Couldn't find an area to stop safely to check Google Maps on my phone. As Darkness began to approach and the rain began to fall i came across an old farmer out with his sheep dog who told me how to get back to civilisation tho via Hell. A 4 km or so stretch of road with about 70 to 80 speed bumps and the usual moorland classics of undulating roads , sweeping blind bends and high ditches. An adventure in under 20 KM

http://www.strava.com/activities/81967058

 

[Boon 51]

First ride on this route which kept me on my toes..

http://app.strava.com/activities/81914903
Most enjoyable I think?