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

[Nigelnaturist]

A bit better today 37.29miles (60Km) @ 16.54 mph, but its one of the easiest 60km loops I have.
4 p.b.'s which I am pleased with though 3 of them are pretty much the same bit of road just different lengths of it.
The ride http://app.strava.com/activities/131574463
This segment 2.4miles @19.2mph ok slight downhill grade and a little tailwind
http://app.strava.com/activities/131574463/segments/2976073193.

As for the gears I think my overall speed says it all, it was very easy to keep a cadence of between 85-90, just need to get use to them now, as its difficult to tell when you have changed gear especialy between 13-17 and not much more difference between 19-25, the ratios are 13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25 on a triple front 52-42-30.

 

[L14M]

Well, almost over on my holiday and so far have 2k climbing in 10 miles. All ive been doing is going up and down hills :S
I fly back on sunday,

Regarding the N+1, i've been researching and for the £350 i'd loose after trading in i'd be better off to upgrade the zelos greatly. I could get a 105 full set and a carbon fork.. That's better than all bikes in that price range, though this is what i'm thinking:
Shimano r501 front wheel and rear one added.
Carbon fork
Tiagra groupset
Then frame at some point?

This also means i'll have a custom bike that i can choose bits for, aim is to get a sub 10kg bike..

Liam

 

[morrisman]

Proud Father Moment

Darling Daughter has just posted a piccy of her new bike on t'Internet

Cambridge and its environs had best look out.

ps Admonished her for posting non-drive side photo.

 

[fivepence]

Second bash of the day wasn't as much fun as the first as all the traffic I avoided by setting out a bit later on bash 1 all came back to haunt me on bash 2.
Anyways that's a few miles of Staffs and a wee bit of Cheshire seen for the Easter holidays - Derbyshire tomorrow -- Shropshire I won't forget you but U 'll be last

http://www.strava.com/activities/131553703

 

[Louch]

Just over a year ago I went on my first cycle chat ride. This week I have went two 50+ mile rides with two different members and enjoyed every suffering minute. This is best place for any beginner to learn, meet new people, and be supported every step of the way.

 

[Mo1959]

Just over a year ago I went on my first cycle chat ride. This week I have went two 50+ mile rides with two different members and enjoyed every suffering minute. This is best place for any beginner to learn, meet new people, and be supported every step of the way.

Totally agree. I go through spells when I struggle and just being able to read what others are doing and follow their progress keeps encouraging me to keep at it on the days when I sometimes don't feel up to it.

Even that bloomin Strava is quite motivational I have to admit.

I've been cycling around 18 months now but only really consistently for about the last year and have been amazed at how much progress you can make, even as a rider of more mature years!

Managed my longest ever run yesterday of 86 miles. Possibly if parts of me weren't getting a bit tender and I didn't have a dog waiting on her walk I could maybe have made the 100, but I am just quite happy with getting out most days. It will definitely be a very gentle spin on the hybrid this morning to ease the old muscles.

 

[matth411]

Morning guys. Just been out to test ride the tyres, after reading multiple threads on here about which ones to go for I chose the Schwalbe Marathon +. My old tyres have suffered quite a few slices in them because drunken people insist on throwing their glass bottles on the floor and I didn't see it quick enough. These Marathons are something else though. Even though they say they are the same size 700x32c, they look a bit thinner but not by much. They are much, much more grippy than the stock ones I had (Specialized Nimbus) and they seem more comfortable than them too. On the Nimbus tyres I felt absolutely every stone that was out of place on the road, but the Marathons seem to iron them all out, not sure if its because they are running at a lower PSI or the puncture protection rejects anything that can cause deflation. I am very happy with this purchase, even more so because I can now go around a corner at speed without feeling the bike move beneath me! I only did 8.4 miles for the test, but got a top 10 on a strava segment.

 

[stevey]

Of to the not so local lbs to look at some bikes try and get an idea on some different groupsets...

like in big kid in a sweet shop I am

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Of to the not so local lbs to look at some bikes try and get an idea on some different groupsets...

like in big kid in a sweet shop I am

know the feeling! now have new bike home but pictures will have to wait until my broadband is back up and running! nothing too fancy or expensive but have treated myself to a new cycling jersey in the same color scheme

 

[g0kmt]

Just got back from what was supposed to be a 15 mile ride. I got onto the prom and turned eastwards only to discover there was a 12-14 mph ENE wind blowing. I battled against that for a mile and got to a gentle slope, which I had no problems with yesterday. Today I got 2/3 of the way up and had to get off to push it the rest of the way up. Energy had all gone. 3 mins rest and I set off back, Wind was behind me so it wasn't a problem, but as soon as I turned back into the wind again, it was murder. In all I managed 2.3 miles today.


I also put some slicks on the bike last night, Schwalbe City Jets. I had Continental double fighter II on before, they were good, I didn't expect much difference in them, but there is a slight difference in rolling resistance. The Continentals will probably be my winter tyres, if I do any cycling in winter....

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Just got back from what was supposed to be a 15 mile ride. I got onto the prom and turned eastwards only to discover there was a 12-14 mph ENE wind blowing. I battled against that for a mile and got to a gentle slope, which I had no problems with yesterday. Today I got 2/3 of the way up and had to get off to push it the rest of the way up. Energy had all gone. 3 mins rest and I set off back, Wind was behind me so it wasn't a problem, but as soon as I turned back into the wind again, it was murder. In all I managed 2.3 miles today.


I also put some slicks on the bike last night, Schwalbe City Jets. I had Continental double fighter II on before, they were good, I didn't expect much difference in them, but there is a slight difference in rolling resistance. The Continentals will probably be my winter tyres, if I do any cycling in winter....

Come the winter you will be use to the wind in this country avg wind speed I ride in is 10mph thats the average for everyday I ride, the secret is to use a couple of gears less, dont fight it you will never win, so just spin in a low gear and accept your speed will be lower, that way you will not get to exhausted, also a N. to E. winds always seem worse than the wind speeds would imply.I was out in a 6mph E.N.E. yesterday felt a damn sight more.
Besides it likely to be 2.3 miles more than I do today, so well done on getting out.

 

[Mo1959]

know the feeling! now have new bike home but pictures will have to wait until my broadband is back up and running! nothing too fancy or expensive but have treated myself to a new cycling jersey in the same color scheme

You do believe in keeping us in suspense. I have been sitting here patiently waiting on some pics and now you have dashed my hopes! Maybe by the time I give the dog a long walk in this lovely sunshine there might be pics up?????

 

[Effyb4]

I know the feeling g0kmt. I went out in a 12mph north easterly wind today. It was also a fairly hilly (for me in flat Essex) route and I had to get off and walk for a short bit on one of the hills. I reckon I need a bit more practise.

 

[BBikey]

I'd been looking at purchasing a bike for a while and found this thread a couple of weeks ago. It forced me to shove all my doubts aside and go for it. I only bought a cheap hybrid from Halfords but it does the job just fine for me.

After discovering I have high blood pressure and with Arthritis and Diabetes being hereditary ailments heading my way coupled with being 10 Stone+ Overweight for my height I decided a change was needed. I've been trying to get in shape for the past month, healthy eating a few work outs on the exercise bike etc. Which helped me to Lose a stone in 3 weeks.

I started cycling last Monday, just on the Canal and Tow paths (Roads are not for me) The first day was hard.. not even a mile in I wanted to give up and go home, but I persevered and battled on. I don't think I've made huge miles/speed but on a personal level I have made A LOT progress in the past 6 days. Below is my current results.

Day 1 Morning - 4 Miles, 3.5mph
Day 2 Morning - 2.5 Miles, 4.7mph
Day 3 Morning - 4 Miles, 5mph
Day 3 Evening - 2.2 Miles, 4mph
Day 3 Evening - 3.5 Miles, 6.3mph
Day 4 Morning - 2.8 Miles, 6mph
Day 5 Morning - 3.8 Miles, 7mph
Day 5 Evening - 2.9 Miles, 7.1mph
Day 6 Morning - 7.8 Miles, 7.6mph

I'm hoping to keep this up to get strong, faster and lose weight. On the first day I was exhausted, gasping for breath and constantly stopping. This morning I completed 7.8 Miles, it wasn't easy but I was able to go far only stopping twice for some water breaks. After looking back at the figures I have almost doubles my progress within 6 days. I feel great. I'm hoping to complete my first 10 mile ride within the next week.

I'm just hoping that with posting this there will be someone in a similar situation to me who needs to lose a LOT of weight who are also trying to overcome the excuses and find the right bike and most importantly CONFIDENCE to just get out there, not care what people think and DO IT.

 

[fivepence]

Not exactly too bothered bout the low speed of this route as I stuck a wheel into Derbyshire. The terrain was a tad lumpy - Distinct lack of sunshine also
http://www.strava.com/activities/131819687