Show us your.......newbie progress!

[SpokeyDokey]

No progress at all this month.

Was going quite well up to the last week of April - enjoying my rides and doing ok.

And then...we had some foul weather and other stuff got in the way and now I can't even be bothered to get out and ride.

Take today - for 4 hours I've been thinking that I should get out on my bike and I just can't do it. Wasted the afternoon thinking about it.

I know it's ridiculous but I'm really struggling to get motivated.

I'm one of those creatures who once they get on a roll then I'll happily carry on rolling but once my plans to roll are derailed eg rides planned for a certain day and then the weather is crap, it all goes to pot and I struggle to get going again.

Just sounding off....

 

[ChrisEyles]

Know exactly what you mean about the bad weather, and the loss of motivation once you lose momentum. I've often had to bully myself onto the bike (triply so when commuting at 6:45am start in winter), but I've never ever had a ride I didn't enjoy once I started. If you've got a second-best bike you don't mind taking out in the pouring rain, maybe try taking it for a spin anyway - I'll bet you enjoy it a lot more than you think

 

[Stonechat]

Did a run with some hills take at low cadence, aiming to build more leg strength
Manged as so often to no record a bit (( forgot something so went back and forgot to restart Garmin)

Total including cut off bit about 25.4 miles @ 16.2 mph
Feet climbed 1322 - (welll I take this from the descent in the climb so this is minimum figure)
Nice short session that fitted into time available.http://www.strava.com/activities/305016940

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Just bought a chain wear measuring tools as shifting was getting bad and hard to adjust

It seems my chain wear is off the scale, I had used @Nigelnaturist 's method with a ruler, and thought it was OK but unequivalently badly worn,

I can't seen any wear on the cassette or the chainwheels, but what do I know?
So I reckon I need to change chain and cassette at least.
I have ridden 5900 miles on the bike

In the old days, I rode for miles and never replaced a chain, casssette
edit - may not be true as I have an old chain tool from those days (and a more modern one)

The thing with measuring tools is they can give a false indication, as they push the rollers further apart, what you have to remember 1/16th of an inch isn't much, the only time I would have had an issue was when having covered 8,000+ miles on one chain, and you could see the cogs were worn, but I had been waiting on upgrading from the 8 to 9sp (which lasted all of about 2,500 miles, failing that though I look at replacing about 3-3,500 miles or so the last KMC lasted about 3,500 and the new Ultegra chain was fine but changed the cassette soon after, and I love the 12-23 setup, even though the gaps between 19-21 and 21-23 are now beginning to show, I can't remember the last time I was on the 28th (oh yea I can South Elmsall) though I was nearly wanting another gear on that, shortest current gear is about 33"

 

[Stonechat]

The thing with measuring tools is they can give a false indication, as they push the rollers further apart, what you have to remember 1/16th of an inch isn't much, the only time I would have had an issue was when having covered 8,000+ miles on one chain, and you could see the cogs were worn, but I had been waiting on upgrading from the 8 to 9sp (which lasted all of about 2,500 miles, failing that though I look at replacing about 3-3,500 miles or so the last KMC lasted about 3,500 and the new Ultegra chain was fine but changed the cassette soon after, and I love the 12-23 setup, even though the gaps between 19-21 and 21-23 are now beginning to show, I can't remember the last time I was on the 28th (oh yea I can South Elmsall) though I was nearly wanting another gear on that, shortest current gear is about 33"

Well have done the replacement of chain and cassette. There is no question that the chain was very badly worn. Used a quick link on the chain.

Will be riding tomorrow

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well have done the replacement of chain and cassette. There is no question that the chain was very badly worn. Used a quick link on the chain.

Will be riding tomorrow

Try the old cassette on the new chain and if it doesn't slip it should be ok, as you said very little wear can be seen this was my cassatte after 3,500 miles or so

 

[Stonechat]

Good ride this morning
Headed out through the park and Winkfield to Winnersh, which was against a headwind, then down through Yateley, where we used to live, to Frimley. From there back home via Chobham and Chertsey, and just a last sting with last w- 3 miles against wind again. Noticed another cyclist getting a tow behind me, he then took his turn and towed me along until my turn off.

54 miles @ an incredible ( for me) 16.1 mph with 1775 feet climbed (Actually 1990 on the planning)

It was the first time I have done 50 miles at over 16 mph.

Good ride and pleased at the progress

https://www.strava.com/activities/306272470

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Got off my bum today after three weeks of not riding.

43.38 miles @ 13.12mph av' and 3007' ascent.

Very windy.

The muscles at the top of my leg (front) feel sore - I probably overdid it after three weeks off but I needed to shake off the lethargy somehow.

Treated myself to an Aero Mousse (2 little pots actually) afterwards. Tut tut!

@Stonechat That's pretty rapid over that distance - hats off to you. Way outside my league.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Nice to see the new Tiagra stays a triple, I believe the ergonomics of the shifters is the same as the 105, so a left triple tiagra right 11 sp 105, and a 12-25 rear 11sp coupled with a front 28-39-50 and you get....... wait for it

@Stonechat & @SpokeyDokey nice rides

 

[Nomadski]

@SpokeyDokey Well done getting out. I know myself how hard it can be when you get plans overruled by circumstance. Can be quite deflating. Getting back on the bike and getting out is the best remedy though, like above said, once your out the enjoyment comes back.

@Stonechat Your progress is very inspirational. Your climbing, speed and mileage have come on leaps and bounds, and your doing it regularly. Very envious!

I went out with Matt to do a flat-ish 65 mile route that became an 80 mile route as we added in Richmond Park. Like a fool I paused the Garmin at Bushy Park, and didn't restart it till Egham, so have lost 15 miles. Determined as I was to hit the metric century in the upload, I did an extra loop around the block a couple of times, so in the end had actually completed 80 miles with 2,388 ft climbing at an average of 14.8 mph, though it may have risen an extra .1 with the extra mileage as it was flat.

Hey ho, stupid me.

https://app.strava.com/activities/306539985

 

[Harv]

I've been doing a bit of off road mountain biking lately. Really enjoyable and a lot more taxing than road biking.

However I'm starting to miss the road bike so will probably get back to that on my next ride.

My average speed is around 12mph. I've been asked to do a mini sportive (30km). Am I too slow for this. Don't want to embarrass myself and come in way behind everyone else.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Harv if your avg sp of 12mph is mainly from the M.T.B, I wouldn't worry, beside 30Km is only 18 miles.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I scalped a copper the other day and they are supposed to catch crooks on those bikes, funny thing is in all the miles I have done only seen two that I can recall and both of them at the same lights.

 

[Rustybucket]

For the first time & probably the last - I finished 3rd for longest ride in a week In the Cycle chat group on strava!
https://www.strava.com/clubs/cyclechat

Well chuffed!

 

[GreigM]

@Harv if your avg sp of 12mph is mainly from the M.T.B, I wouldn't worry, beside 30Km is only 18 miles.

only 18 miles might be a lot for a beginner