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

[Biggler]

Your not supposed to be able to touch the floor whilst sat on your saddle

I am nowhere near even being able to touch the ground even on tiptoe on any of my bikes. It's not a good indicator of correct saddle height.

Maybe I will have to rethink that then

It did feel a touch high when stopped though, maybe I'm dismounting wrong or something. I'm not too sure what I was doing but I'll pay more attention to it next time I'm out.

 

[Harv]

Just did my longest ride to date.

First time over 20 miles:

http://www.strava.com/activities/136970037

My previous best was just over 17 miles.

Man my legs hurt. Currently got an ice pack on my knee. Think I over did it.

 

[Melv]

http://www.strava.com/activities/136763930

MY first attempt at logging a ride on Strava, borrowed my Wife's Iphone. I was pretty happy with the ride, only my fourth time out but I'm definitely getting quicker up the hills.

 

[fossyant]

Caught two little fish .

We need a fishing smiley

The very name makes me nip.

Hook, line and sinker !!!

 

[Stonechat]

People should think less about the technicalities and more about just having fun. I don't care about hr, cadence, times, yada yada. For me, its about enjoyment. It doesn't matter how far or long it takes, or how short your journey is. Just enjoy.

On one level I agree
On another level I am trying to improve my fitness
I am following a training plan (at least as far as the L2B in a few weeks)
However I do not follow to the letter so I am somewhere in the middle

 

[welsh dragon]

On one level I agree
On another level I am trying to improve my fitness
I am following a training plan (at least as far as the L2B in a few weeks)
However I do not follow to the letter so I am somewhere in the middle

Good for you. I just pootle along enjoying myself.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@welsh dragon I just ride and like messing with bikes.

I went out for a wee spin, I think I might have the same problem as last July so I cut it short. I just couldn't get going at all and after about an hr decided to come home.

 

[welsh dragon]

@welsh dragon I just ride and like messing with bikes.

I went out for a wee spin, I think I might have the same problem as last July so I cut it short. I just couldn't get going at all and after about an hr decided to come home.

Theres no harm In that. At least we make the effort to get out and do something rather than nothing like a lot of people. Everyone's a winner

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well thats the data in the database, on bryton, rwgps, garmin and strava

 

[stevey]

Theres no harm In that. At least we make the effort to get out and do something rather than nothing like a lot of people. Everyone's a winner

I think you're right whatever your riding style whether training for l2b or serious club rider or just a casual cyclist you are out in the fresh air getting some exercise and keeping your heart healthy.
Unlike dare I say it.... The majority of the population.

 

[welsh dragon]

I think you're right whatever your riding style whether training for l2b or serious club rider or just a casual cyclist you are out in the fresh air getting some exercise and keeping your heart healthy.
Unlike date I say it.... The majority of the population.

Exactly

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Maybe I will have to rethink that then

It did feel a touch high when stopped though, maybe I'm dismounting wrong or something. I'm not too sure what I was doing but I'll pay more attention to it next time I'm out.

You will get use to the height and mounting and dismounting it will become second nature, try adjusting the tilt of the bars slightly I have mine tilted up a little (but I need to reposition my brakes), just because it comes from the shop ect. like it is it doesn't mean its the right position for you, a lot is mentioned about saddle height but not so much about bars, they may also be to wide or narrow, even the curve maybe wrong for you, the bars that came with the Viking I never got on with on the drops, I had to change them last year (stripped a thread in the stem) and what a difference, I as happy on the drops or the hoods, my shifters make being on the drops a little awkward but I can reach the thumb shifters with out to much trouble one day I will get better shifters but it all works for now.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Its one thing being out getting fitter even tough its hell sometimes, but another if you suddenly dont feel well as can happen with me, last July I ended up on the A1 major dual carriage way leading to the A1(M) I was so disorientated, I thought it was a completely different road, dont know why as they are totally different, all I could think was turn right at it, ended up having to do nearly another 14 miles more than I would have, and this happened in the space of 10 mins from being fine to not really having a clue apart from basics, so in the event of that I cut my ride shorter.

 

[Exile]

Lovely ride this morning with the O/H. Eleven and a bit miles, sun on our backs, no particular plan or goals and stopped from a burger halfway through (the Garmin reckons I had used enough calories to justify it ). Always nice to ride at a more relaxed pace rather than the rush-rush-rush of a commute, and great to see cyclists of all shape, sizes and ages out and about too. Had a bit of a knowing smile on overhearing a small child ask his mum "Why can those men ride without stabilisers but I fall off?". Thought about stopping to tell them we still fall off every now and then but I was going uphill and, well, momentum is a precious thing and not to be wasted.

Will likely use tomorrow as a rest/mechanical day as the O/H has an epic gym session planned for Monday which will see him working out for about 3 hours, giving me a nice big window to put some miles in before we regroup for the ride home. All in I'm probably looking at about 4 hours on the bike including getting to and from the gym with him, so even at my somewhat sluggish pace a half-century looks rather doable. Now that would be some proper newbie progress on my part!

 

[morrisman]

Off to London tomorrow for a 20 odd mile loop on my Tern folder including a visit to the Olympic Park. Should be fun.