3000 and minus 28

[EltonFrog]

I'm not sure of this should go in the beginners bit, but anyway...

I started cycling again on March 19th this year, after a very long break. I weighed a tad he over 14st, I bought a new carbon bike, Gawd knows why but I did, I looked like Jabba the Hut poured all over it, it's a smashing bike and I love it, anyway yesterday I tuned over 3000 miles and this morning I tipped the scales at 12stone. Yay! Do I get prize?

Most of my riding is local, riding a 30-40 mile loop, but I have also been on a small tour along the Kennet and Avon Canal, on my Hybrid ( which I also bought this year, I know I'm a fool to meself) I've ridden four Sportives, ridden 350 miles up down and around the Canal Du Midi in the south of Fance, and in October did a bit of cycling around the Lake District including going up and down and up and down again the Kirkstone pass.

It's been a lot of fun, I wonder if I can get in another 2000 miles by 19th March 2013.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well done, cant see why not. its only 66 laps or less. or 16 miles a day or 32 every other day. Good luck if ypu go for it, I guess it would be weather dependent between now and then
I have done 2500 since 23rd of June, though nothing as ambitious as your rides.

 

[EltonFrog]

Well done, cant see why not. its only 66 laps or less. or 16 miles a day or 32 every other day. Good luck if ypu go for it, I guess it would be weather dependent between now and then
I have done 2500 since 23rd of June, though nothing as ambitious as your rides.

That's blumen good going!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Thanks a lot was on flattish roads when I first started, though this last 2 months I have been doing more climbing up from 30-35ft per mile to 50-60ft per mile however my speed as dropped abt 14mph to to 12.44 on my last 4 rides (avg)

 

[Eribiste]

That's very good going I reckon. I haven't done anything like the distance you've achieved, nor done individual rides with either distance or ascent. Nevertheless, I've gone from a bit over 14 stone to 11 stone 8,mostly as a consequence of regular riding (minimum 3 x 9 miles per week).
This has happened not because I particularly wanted to do this weight loss, better for me though I know it to be, rather it's happened as a by product of enjoying the cycling.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

That's very good going I reckon. I haven't done anything like the distance you've achieved, nor done individual rides with either distance or ascent. Nevertheless, I've gone from a bit over 14 stone to 11 stone 8,mostly as a consequence of regular riding (minimum 3 x 9 miles per week).
This has happened not because I particularly wanted to do this weight loss, better for me though I know it to be, rather it's happened as a by product of enjoying the cycling.

This is what I dont understand, Even though the Garmin gives calories lost I suspect its a little on the high side, the lowest figures I have found give about 40 calories to the mile (which I believe is close to what is used) using that figure in the 2583 miles I have done I should have lost 2st 2lb, now there is no doubt I have lost weight as I now fit a 34 waist compared to 36, but I doubt its over 2st in nearly 5 months. I weighed about 14st something (I guess), never been one to weigh myself often, and I haven't in all these months.

 

[Devonshiredave]

I think that deserves a and most definately a Carl. I'm trying to work out a good training loop that keeps me off the local main roads if possible. How far out do you go?

 

[EltonFrog]

Here' a typical route.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/242938615#.UKfGZo9osTs.mailto

 

[Devonshiredave]

Crickey Carl, that's a good stretch. I planned a route on bikehike I think it was. Brackley, Helmdon, Sulgrave over to Farthinghoe, Charlton, Hinton, home. 20 miles but over 700 ft climbing. Maybe Brackley Bicester a few more times to build on? Any good pubs over your way?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Crickey Carl, that's a good stretch. I planned a route on bikehike I think it was. Brackley, Helmdon, Sulgrave over to Farthinghoe, Charlton, Hinton, home. 20 miles but over 700 ft climbing. Maybe Brackley Bicester a few more times to build on? Any good pubs over your way?

If you want a good route planner try this http://ridewithgps.com/routes/new, it doesn't however export well to the Garmin Edges, as the V.P. thing doesn't work right, though it will give you turn by turn with roads (there are ways to overcome the V.P. thing)

 

[Devonshiredave]

Cheers Nigel, I'll take a look. I don't have a GPS yet, I ride with strava on my phone. There was an article in Cycle Plus I think this month about these gizmos. I may pick one up after Crimbo, but my needs are for a decent front light. I'm still undecided about which to go for even though you Cree T6 write up was very good. It's those bloomin' leads n battery pack I'm not sure about!

 

[Peteaud]

Well done

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Cheers Nigel, I'll take a look. I don't have a GPS yet, I ride with strava on my phone. There was an article in Cycle Active I think this month about these gizmos. I may pick one up after Crimbo, but my needs are for a decent front light. I'm still undecided about which to go for even though you Cree T6 write up was very good. It's those bloomin' leads n battery pack I'm not sure about!

Thanks, if you leave the cable in the cable as it comes just secure the battery pack to the handle bars, there other alternatives, using the same L.E.D. but they only take single batteries or maybe two.
Dont be put off using Ridewithgps, I was just showing you the route planner its the best I have found, also if you wish you can export from strava and import in to ridewithgps. also if you down load your files you also have your own copy of them to use in anything you want to.
I had a Bryton Rider 35 but I wasn't happy with it, even though it tracked for the most part better than the Garmin does, the Garmin is much more functional, also almost every site connects with garmins

 

[EltonFrog]

Crickey Carl, that's a good stretch. I planned a route on bikehike I think it was. Brackley, Helmdon, Sulgrave over to Farthinghoe, Charlton, Hinton, home. 20 miles but over 700 ft climbing. Maybe Brackley Bicester a few more times to build on? Any good pubs over your way?

I don't know whether their any good or not 'cos I don't go in them, but there's the Butchers Arma in Fringford, the Red Lion Stratton Audley, there's often a few bikes outside these pubs, I think the Bicester Millenium Cylce Club meets at the Red Lion sometimes, I have never noticed any other pubs, I'm usually looking for cake stops. Theres a couple of nice cafes in Buckingham, and thers a good cafe at Boycott farm near Stowe School, and Stowe Gardens has a good cafe too. In Silverstone, at the race circuit theirs a good bike shop and and cafe at the Silverstone information ctr.

 

[EltonFrog]

If you want a good route planner try this http://ridewithgps.com/routes/new, it doesn't however export well to the Garmin Edges, as the V.P. thing doesn't work right, though it will give you turn by turn with roads (there are ways to overcome the V.P. thing)

I don't use a gps to plan a route, I just use it to record what I've done. I usually just look at a map to plan a route, I find that easier.