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

[bororider]

Got up this morning with the intention of doing my first 50 miler and I done it

http://app.strava.com/activities/153282378

Felt good for 25-30 miles then hit a wall at 35. My legs wanted to stop but had to carry on. The last 6 miles were a struggle and I could have happily dumped the bike and walked from there.

Well happy to have done it, just not sure I want to do it again!

My new pedals make a big difference to how i ride and i didn't have to unclip once all the way round.

Had a new bottom bracket fitted this week so nice to ride with a silent bike too!!

 

[welsh dragon]

Got up this morning with the intention of doing my first 50 miler and I done it

http://app.strava.com/activities/153282378

Felt good for 25-30 miles then hit a wall at 35. My legs wanted to stop but had to carry on. The last 6 miles were a struggle and I could have happily dumped the bike and walked from there.

Well happy to have done it, just not sure I want to do it again!

My new pedals make a big difference to how i ride and i didn't have to unclip once all the way round.

Had a new bottom bracket fitted this week so nice to ride with a silent bike too!!

Congratulations. Well done.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Lol.....you must be like me. I have a terrible sense of direction and get lost very easily. Can't afford a higher range Garmin at the moment...maybe one day.

You can pick up good 705's on ebay for around the 80-120 mark. They do go higher with cad and HR stuff, I got a quarter turn adapter for it so I could use the spare garmin mount I have, but I got a Outfront type it all works quite well, though my unit needed a little sorting, but nothing that was overly difficult.

 

[moo]

We've nothing to match that down here. Maybe 0.5 miles at 10% and nothing over 500ft. It's a case of turn around and do it again, and again, and again.

Indeed. Living in London I've had it easy upto now. Just started doing some category 4 hills (all we have) and discovered just how unfit I still am

 

[Goonerobes]

Got up this morning with the intention of doing my first 50 miler and I done it

http://app.strava.com/activities/153282378

Felt good for 25-30 miles then hit a wall at 35. My legs wanted to stop but had to carry on. The last 6 miles were a struggle and I could have happily dumped the bike and walked from there.

Well happy to have done it, just not sure I want to do it again!

My new pedals make a big difference to how i ride and i didn't have to unclip once all the way round.

Had a new bottom bracket fitted this week so nice to ride with a silent bike too!!

Well done on your first fifty, I'm fairly sure you will want to do it again & more!

I notice that you still finished that at a good average pace so I'm guessing you started out quite quickly? It may be worth starting a little slower & pacing yourself for the first 20-30 miles & then if you've got anything left in the tank at the end go for it on the last 5.

 

[bororider]

Well done on your first fifty, I'm fairly sure you will want to do it again & more!

I notice that you still finished that at a good average pace so I'm guessing you started out quite quickly? It may be worth starting a little slower & pacing yourself for the first 20-30 miles & then if you've got anything left in the tank at the end go for it on the last 5.

That sounds good advice actually. I rode from the off how I normally would when doing 30 or less so I will bear that in mind if I do it again.

So tempted to upgrade my hybrid for a road bike aswell atm but funds preventing it just now

 

[Kins]

We've nothing to match that down here. Maybe 0.5 miles at 10% and nothing over 500ft. It's a case of turn around and do it again, and again, and again.

Any time you need a hill, just ask, I'll courier one over and swap it for some flat! Nice ride Mo, I don't mind those that are constant steady spins, its the ones that like to stick a really steep bit in the middle, especially on bends that I have trouble with.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@bororider as @Goonerobes says it is best to start out slower, its usually why I head south for most rides as that way I get a mile flattish to start, most other directions, I have to start with a climb after about 1/2 mile nothing major but 100ft in a mile is not the nicest thing to start with on longer runs, but even then if you pace it it stands you well for the rest of the ride.
You will also find by doing this you can put more effort into the ride as you go on, I did Tuesday ride on nothing more than 1 500ml bottle of water and a couple of flapjacks, but it was quite a difficult ride I was still setting good time towards the end a 3rd best on this only 20's behind my best http://app.strava.com/activities/151843438/segments/3497165260 this only about five to three miles from the end, I have done the local roads so many times its difficult at best to get a p.b. so I was pleased as I was getting tired

 

[Stonechat]

Only concerned with one hill at present Ditchling Beacon on the L2B tomorrow

+
Some of the gradients are hard - but should be quite ok

 

[Stonechat]

That sounds good advice actually. I rode from the off how I normally would when doing 30 or less so I will bear that in mind if I do it again.

So tempted to upgrade my hybrid for a road bike aswell atm but funds preventing it just now

Yes I found when I started 40+ mile rides I needed to pace myself more. I have done one fifty where I went for it more, it was a lot harder and I felt the effects- though part of that was doing 46 miles r so the day after!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I am getting a little fed up waiting for parts, and as I wrote little there was a knock on the door and my new RD has arrived (and some Clarke's brake blocks can't afford koolstops this month), just the wheel to sort now and that is getting intolerable, over a week just for a nipple, I wont be getting any more shimano wheels though

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Only concerned with one hill at present Ditchling Beacon on the L2B tomorrow View attachment 47708 +
Some of the gradients are hard - but should be quite ok

With what you have been doing Bob you will be fine, you have some slight recover time on the dips, i wish you well with it.

 

[Mo1959]

Only concerned with one hill at present Ditchling Beacon on the L2B tomorrow View attachment 47708 +
Some of the gradients are hard - but should be quite ok

How far on in the course is that climb Bob? I find I have to be careful not to overdo things earlier in a ride if I know I have a biggish climb coming up. Like Nigel says though, you have put in the work and I am sure you will be fine. All the best and enjoy the ride.

 

[Stonechat]

How far on in the course is that climb Bob? I find I have to be careful not to overdo things earlier in a ride if I know I have a biggish climb coming up. Like Nigel says though, you have put in the work and I am sure you will be fine. All the best and enjoy the ride.

Oh it's near the end of the ride!! Abput 47 miles
After Ditchling it's downhill all the way int Brighton though
Going for a short loosener this afternoon - v easy
This and the ride tomorrow will likely not be on Strava until Monday - Mrs Stonechat has now headed off to the S Coast
My stuff including the Garmin Cable is with her!

May also have a ride MOnday from Brighton to Pevensey where we are staying a week
Edit
Don't know if this is viewable publicly
http://ridewithgps.com/trips/2812615
2nd Edit
Did I say I have to cycle to the start first?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I have read loads of reviews how upgrading a RD (or any other bit) is better, now up until the spoke braking it hadn't had a problem with the RD,
There is defiantly more movement on the pivots on the sora, return spring is strong but age wears a spring, so I actually wonder how many like to like reviews compare actually take into account that even slight wear on the pivots can effect shifting and how much is down to chain and cassette, the 105 GS is 50grms lighter than the Rd 3300 Sora GS not that this will make much difference, the jocky wheels wore well.