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

[welsh dragon]

Hi. Well done. I did not go on a bike for 45 years. It doesn't matter how far you go, or how long it takes. Just enjoy it. Even if you only ever go say 10 miles max, dont worry. Its still better than a lot of other people do.
And well done for cutting down on the ciggs. There is a smoking no more thread if ever your interested. People there always support each other.
its bloomin cold here today Nigel. what a differance to yesterday. a day for staying inside drinking coffee i think.

 

[matth411]

I am slowly getting rid of my vices, one at a time. Smoking will probably be next.
Not a nice headwind this morning on the way home (I work nights) and very nearly had my first clipless moment. Decided to change the route at the last minute and forgot about the steep climb, not a hill it is far too small to be a hill but its steep, forgot to change down a gear after the straight and very nearly came to a standstill. So glad that that nobody was around!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@matth411
@welsh dragon Cold is good I have a nice warm Jacket and leg warmers, need to change those two cogs this morning, then going to try racking up some miles, I cant do the challenge on veloviewer 60+miles a day for the next 10 days is just to much with the lack of time I have been out, however the one on strava is still possible 17 days 728Km 43Km (27 miles) a day

 

[welsh dragon]

@matth411
@welsh dragon Cold is good I have a nice warm Jacket and leg warmers, need to change those two cogs this morning, then going to try racking up some miles, I cant do the challenge on veloviewer 60+miles a day for the next 10 days is just to much with the lack of time I have been out, however the one on strava is still possible 17 days 728Km 43Km (27 miles) a day

Have a good day Nigel. Hope it goes well for you.

 

[Mo1959]

@matth411
@welsh dragon Cold is good I have a nice warm Jacket and leg warmers, need to change those two cogs this morning, then going to try racking up some miles, I cant do the challenge on veloviewer 60+miles a day for the next 10 days is just to much with the lack of time I have been out, however the one on strava is still possible 17 days 728Km 43Km (27 miles) a day

So much for two or three months off I take it things have erm....healed up quicker than expected

 

[Nigelnaturist]

So much for two or three months off I take it things have erm....healed up quicker than expected

We will see, I still had a little pain, but nothing really bad. @welsh dragon Thanks compared with the fight I have with my mental health, physical ones I can usually over come, though age is begining to tell a little in the bones

 

[welsh dragon]

We will see, I still had a little pain, but nothing really bad. @welsh dragon Thanks compared with the fight I have with my mental health, physical ones I can usually over come, though age is begining to tell a little in the bones

I know what you mean. I'm older than Mo and you I think.

 

[RWright]

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

I had one pass me several months ago on a country road but I was lucky it was quiet out there and I knew he was coming long before I saw him. I knew he was moving fast by the engine rpm's. I was approaching the end of a long straight and saw his light and heard him wringing the throttle out. I was glad I had my small lens mirror so I could watch him the entire time. It is quite an experience to have a screaming motorcycle blow by you at well over 120 mph.

I was also fortunate that I had experienced it a couple of times before standing by the fence at motorcycle road races. Before that I had only been on the bike doing it to drivers and didn't realize how much it can startle someone. I would always just smile when I saw the drivers jump but after being exposed to the other side of it I understood how freighting it sounds. If anyone riding a bicycle knows one is coming and moving really fast, be prepared, it will probably still startle you when it goes by. Just hold on and stay steady.

@Mo1959 let us know how the ride goes with another rider. I have only ridden by myself except for a few miles with guy I saw out on the road. I am also not a really chatty until I get to know someone (hard to imagine I bet), but it would be different and might be fun. I think the part about having to pay attention to what someone else is doing would be the hardest thing for me to get used to. When I am riding I am used to just concentrating on....well, nothing.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Gears are done though I had to adjust the high setting and use a longer threaded lock nut, which seems a little strange.

 

[Mo1959]

@Mo1959 let us know how the ride goes with another rider. I have only ridden by myself except for a few miles with guy I saw out on the road. I am also not a really chatty until I get to know someone (hard to imagine I bet), but it would be different and might be fun. I think the part about having to pay attention to what someone else is doing would be the hardest thing for me to get used to. When I am riding I am used to just concentrating on....well, nothing.

Yes, I think that might be the hardest bit. I had forgotten it is Easter Friday so the roads will be quite busy, especially compared to the early rides I usually do.

 

[Triban5riderGD]

@matth411
@welsh dragon Cold is good I have a nice warm Jacket and leg warmers, need to change those two cogs this morning, then going to try racking up some miles, I cant do the challenge on veloviewer 60+miles a day for the next 10 days is just to much with the lack of time I have been out, however the one on strava is still possible 17 days 728Km 43Km (27 miles) a day

Im glad that you are feeling better Nigel. Enjoy your ride, but don't go over doing it.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Im glad that you are feeling better Nigel. Enjoy your ride, but don't go over doing it.

Thinking about that, I am not going out, tad more pain than yesterday so, not keel over screaming pain but enough not to bother, but 25 miles at a reasonable pace last night is enough to keep ticking over, I will see how I am later and maybe a short road test of the gears.

 

[Mark1978]

Haven't managed to get out this week due to being on call and putting in some 24 hour stints. However, tonight i'm doing a 10 mile warm up ready for tomorrow morning when I'm hoping to do a 30 or 35 miler. Undecided on which, as ive only just gone over 20 miles. Not felt exhausted at the end of 20 miles so feel like I could do the step up. Also not sure whether to start at home and do a route, or drive somewhere and do a route. Decisions decisions....

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Haven't managed to get out this week due to being on call and putting in some 24 hour stints. However, tonight i'm doing a 10 mile warm up ready for tomorrow morning when I'm hoping to do a 30 or 35 miler. Undecided on which, as ive only just gone over 20 miles. Not felt exhausted at the end of 20 miles so feel like I could do the step up. Also not sure whether to start at home and do a route, or drive somewhere and do a route. Decisions decisions....

Save the planet and ride from home ,
I ride everywhere, unless things need picking up that are to big to go on the bike, well I do when I can ride, unless your in a biggish city, there arn't many places in the U.K. where you cant get out of the major built up bits within 5-10 miles even then places like Birmingham 10 miles ( as the crow flies) would put you in the country (in some directions) and smaller cities like Leeds 5 miles has you in the country a ride to Leeds for me is only 13 miles. I get a bit fed up with the same training rides but not much I can do about that.
Just my two penath

Good luck with your ride however you do it.

EDIT mind you if its off road of a sorts, then I can understand loading the bike on to a car.

 

[stevey]

even then places like Birmingham 10 miles ( as the crow flies) would put you in the country

How very true didn't know these places exsisted till i started cycling further away