A hello from a newbie, with a few questions......

[GTTTM]

I did say hello briefly this morning on the welcome mat - but it seems a bit, well, quiet over there so though I'd barge straight in and make myself comfortable in the rest of the house.

So I have a bike for the first time in 12yrs, did lots of cycling in my late teens in Zimbabwe and one fabulously memorable ride from just south of Haut Bay to Cape Point in SA. Anyhow, that was a long time ago, I was a lot younger, a lot fitter and hadn't had 3 children.......

So - now my two eldest boys can ride their bikes, and the youngest I hope will "get it" soon I decided to buy myself a bike and get back on one. So 11 days ago I picked up my new bike, nothing flashy, but it seems to be doing the job. Been out on 3 rides so far, the first very exubarent one the day after I got it was 8 miles, took me 1 1/2hrs (but I got lost on the way and ended up having to lug it over gates and across farmers fields

), 2nd was a quick zip up the road to pick up a small parcel, didn't even time that/measure it. Then another this morning of 6 miles, in 50 minutes

Okay, I warn you now I waffle on a lot, please feel free to skip the boring bits and look straight for the key points (if you can find them ;-) ) Right so I'm going to list a few questions/comments/queries/call them what you will. Please feel free to answer none (and just sit there behind your screen and PYSL at the daft blonde that's arrived on the forum), a few or even all. TIA

1. Be honest, 6 miles in 49 minutes not great is it? Or is it not too bad for someone that hasn't been on a bike for donkey's years and doesn't do things like go to the gym......

2. Re the above 6 mile ride (I like that route going to do it regularly I think to get back in the groove) what sort of time should I try and aim for with it, it's slightly undulating, a little on road, and a little off road with a few hard surface cycle bits thrown in.

3. I'm well out of practice of cycling, skills, it's a long long long long time since my cycling proficiency, is there anywhere that does kind of "refresher" courses for adults?

4. Cycling proficiency for kids - oldest 2 have been told under no circumstances are they coming with me until I am happy that they know how to signal/manoeuvre/ check behind without wobbling and swerving across etc. I know the Bikeability does a course in YR6 (the year my oldest is in) at the school in the summer term....but that's ages away, and my middle one still has 3yrs before he gets it. So really as No. 3 - anywhere I can go/look to get them confident to go on "proper" bike rides (as opposed to hurtling round the bandstand in the park).

5. My 4yr old, he's the PITA (ok he's lovely really - but he does pose a problem for family trips out) . He can't ride yet, he's too big really for a seat on the back of my bike,. I have been "advised" (from where I bought my bike) that a Trail-gator would be my best option for him. Now I like the look of it, and it seems lke a good idea (I'd be "in control" for roads/more dangerous parts and then away from the traffic he could have a go on his own etc). But has anyone got one, are they ok, anything better?

6. Cycle helme...................no I'm only kidding on this one - I've had a browse and found the forum dedicated just to that subject and I'm staying well clear of that topic

If you've got through that lot and can help at all - thank you, and if you got bored 3 lines in - sorry

 

[gary in derby]

Would like to say hello, I'm a newbie to, but think you should forget times distances and just enjoy the ride. can't comment on other bits. so just have fun
Gary

 

[Fiona N]

...

1. Be honest, 6 miles in 49 minutes not great is it? Or is it not too bad for someone that hasn't been on a bike for donkey's years and doesn't do things like go to the gym......Don't worry about it, you'll get better

2. Re the above 6 mile ride (I like that route going to do it regularly I think to get back in the groove) what sort of time should I try and aim for with it, it's slightly undulating, a little on road, and a little off road with a few hard surface cycle bits thrown in. Unless you're wanting to practice eye-balls-out type riding, 20-30 minutes for a mixed route would be great (20) to good enough (30)

3. I'm well out of practice of cycling, skills, it's a long long long long time since my cycling proficiency, is there anywhere that does kind of "refresher" courses for adults? CTC has been running cycle training for children and adults - maybe google them to see if there's anytihng in your area. Local authorities also sometimes have training for adults too - Google is your friend.

4. Cycling proficiency for kids - oldest 2 have been told under no circumstances are they coming with me until I am happy that they know how to signal/manoeuvre/ check behind without wobbling and swerving across etc. I know the Bikeability does a course in YR6 (the year my oldest is in) at the school in the summer term....but that's ages away, and my middle one still has 3yrs before he gets it. So really as No. 3 - anywhere I can go/look to get them confident to go on "proper" bike rides (as opposed to hurtling round the bandstand in the park). Without knowing your area, it's difficult to suggest stuff but what about some light off-road on forest tracks etc.

5. My 4yr old, he's the PITA (ok he's lovely really - but he does pose a problem for family trips out) . He can't ride yet, he's too big really for a seat on the back of my bike,. I have been "advised" (from where I bought my bike) that a Trail-gator would be my best option for him. Now I like the look of it, and it seems lke a good idea (I'd be "in control" for roads/more dangerous parts and then away from the traffic he could have a go on his own etc). But has anyone got one, are they ok, anything better? My sister used a tagalong for my nephew - even taking it mountain biking (not black routes and North Shore, though). But then Boo used to mtb on a ladies shopper with a child's seat on the back too, so you could she's got form (and the bike handling skills)

6. Cycle helme...................no I'm only kidding on this one - I've had a browse and found the forum dedicated just to that subject and I'm staying well clear of that topic

Yes best not to go there unless you've got a lot of spare time and a thick skin

If you've got through that lot and can help at all - thank you, and if you got bored 3 lines in - sorry

Hi and welcome

I've put a few words in amongst the questions above...

 

[fimm]

You've obviously got the hang of this forum if you're already making h*lm*t jokes...

I don't know anything about cycling for/with children, so I'll leave that for others, but I do know that cycling courses for adults do exist.

WRT time - it depends very much on the sort of bike you have and the sort of route you do - obviously off road is slower, hilly is slower. If you want to scare yourself, find a thread where people are posting their 10 mile time trial times...
For example, I can do my cycle to work, which is 16 miles, in between 1h05 and 1h15 or so, depending on the wind... there's 220m of ascent in that. But that is all on road, and I'm on a road bike, and I'm fairly fit. To do a similar distance on a mountain bike off road would take me a lot longer; and if I took a different route home, involving some back roads and some shared use path, I would also be slower, even on the road bike.

 

[barongreenback]

1. That's fine and you'll get quicker.

2. Try 30 minutes. Presumably you're on a mountain bike with knobbly tyres so these are better suited to off road terrain rather than on road. They're wider too with more rolling resistance on tarmac.

3. Yes, plenty of councils offer them - have a look on your local council's website. Birmingham for example are doing lunchtime sessions for beginners in the city centre.

4. SkyRide?

5. No idea on that one.

6. There is no 6

 

[GTTTM]

Thank you

I know it'll get better with the times and it doesn't really matter............., but I'm always wanting to make things a challenge for myself, and "do it better" (plus I'm trying to regain some sort of level of fitness again especially after creeping on weight since stopping smoking earlier this year).

I have googled for cycling training etc, but seem to have ended up going round in circles just keep ending up back at Bikeability in school

will have a look at CTC later thanks. You know it's just getting that confidence back that I used to have, and I kind of feel that if I want my boys to come out with me then I need to be more confident to be able to make sure they're doing things properly! And with them learning to do things properly I don't trust myself to teach them all the correct stuff (not to mention that there is a high risk we'd all fall out with each other in the process haha).

I did look at the tagalong, but would ideally like something that he can ride independently on forest tracks/off road etc to develop his confidence. And then sods law would probably also dictate that he'll learn to ride his bike without stabilisers really quickly and really well and then I'll have spent a fortune on a tagalong that hardly gets used

, but then again if he's like his oldest brother it could be another 5 years before he learn to ride on his own and it could be money well spent..................oh the joys, these things always seem like a fabulously great, easy idea when you think of them and then suddenly there's a 1001 things you never thought of

 

[WychwoodTrev]

I agree with most dont fret over times/speed just go out on your bike ride and have fun. As you get fitter you will get faster.

 

[GTTTM]

popping out will check back later for my responses (and reply to those that I x posted with) Just to say though - I may be new to this forum but I'm no stranger to online forums so finding the joys of the He debates wasn't too hard ;-)

 

[guitarpete247]

I don't know where you're from but here in Leicestershire there is a Adult cycling scheme Get Cycling in Leicestershire.

I've not had any experience of trail-gators but when ever I've seen one in use they look safe and fun.

What bike do you have? If you have a knobbly tyred MTB then 6 miles in 49 mins might not be a bad time for first run out. But for a first ride in, how ever many, years finishing is good. Any hills on that route?

Times will come down as you keep cycling. I like the idea of using the same route to let you know how you are improving, and improve you will.

As you feel stronger try a longer route and try to get your times down on that.

Cycling with children can be fun and frightening. Try some off-road cycle routes before hitting the A Roads

.

And

.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

http://www.cycletraining.co.uk/ this is a great resource for adults and children: they can run tailored solo training or for groups.

As a support worker I sometimes go for rides with clients, some have, like yourself not ridden for years. I have been (unduely) surprised at times how much quicker my natural pace is in comparison to theirs (but I have cycled most days of most weeks since being a toddler on my three wheeler) which is about the same speeds you are doing.

Your speed is perfectly fine. As you get fitter and more confident and proficient your speed and ease of maintaining it will increase.

For the time being though, I would ditch the speedo, or not wear a watch and just enjoy the riding, and go by how it feels rather than based on numbers.

To help make riding easier, its worth pumping your tires up hard. Really hard. The safe inflation limit will be written on the tyre wall somewhere, use a grage pump if you don't have a good hand pump; your legs will be grateful!

What bike are you riding?

 

[ThePainInSpain]

There are some great cycling routes where you live. Haven't lived there for about 16 years but I did for the previous 20.

Don't worry too much about your speed, any excersise you do is good, I used to get hung up about times and speeds when I read some of the comments (and bragging) from the 'professionals' on this forum. Not any more, I do what I can do, and I'd like to see some of those whippersnappers do what I do when they're my age.

My 'boss' (It's a lady I do some work for) has just gotten into cycling and I take her on some of my routes. We go at her pace (not mine) and she has to get off and walk up some of the hills, but so what.

Each time we go out she gets faster and gets higher up the climbs.

To me the most important thing about being out on your bike is to ENJOY it and the environment around you.

 

[adds21]

5. My 4yr old, he's the PITA (ok he's lovely really - but he does pose a problem for family trips out) . He can't ride yet, he's too big really for a seat on the back of my bike,. I have been "advised" (from where I bought my bike) that a Trail-gator would be my best option for him. Now I like the look of it, and it seems lke a good idea (I'd be "in control" for roads/more dangerous parts and then away from the traffic he could have a go on his own etc). But has anyone got one, are they ok, anything better?

I'm a big fan of Trail-gator. We've used trailers, child seats and tag-a-longs too, which have their place, but the trail-gator is nice because of the ability to attach and disconnect at will. The only problem is they're quite difficult to get exactly right, and the child's bike will often lean a little to the side (there's some "give" in the coupling) - But that's never been too much of a problem.

The only slight downside is that it took our eldest a little longer to learn to cycle by himself, because he was used to just picking his feet up, and putting them on the pedals while being towed. In hindsight we would have done what we've done with #2 child, and got a balance bike as well.

 

[GTTTM]

Wow thanks everyone. PaininSpain, yes there are some nice cycling routes, route I've done (which I really enjoyed) is from near town centre, down the cycle path that runs along side London Road, down to Irchester country park, round the hard surface part of the "Black route" round the park and then back up again. Was quite chuffed I made it all the way back up London Road this morning (it was top of Croyland road that finished me off and I walked that bit hehe).


Great to see that the Trail-gator seems to get a general thumbs up, it did look like the most practical option for what I needed , not to worried about it slowing him down learning to ride, he's only 4 1/2........he olest brother didn't learn to ride until he was 9! (the middle one was 6 when he mastered it). So he's got plenty of time, and he's generally got good co-ordination and balance. I definitely like the idea of being able to get off the road onto a nice quiet track and letting him go for it on his own. And as PainInSpain says we do have lots of cycling places round here.

To be fair with the time I just set my GSP/tracker on my phone shoved it in my backpack with my water (need to get one to clip onto the bike......) and left it to run. It was just when I got home I looked at saw it was 6.02 miles that I'd done. I'll still use it but I'll follow your advice and try not to get too het up about it, just see it all adding up over a week/month rather than seeing exactly how I did on one day.

The bike is a Reflex "Mad Cow" bike (my kids naturally think the name is great as they now have a way of calling me a mad cow without getting intro trouble). Probably could have get something better for the price, but I liked it (and it's pink

- and it's a got a verry nice saddle on it that someone else had paid to have put on and then never finished paying for the bike so I got that thrown in as well niiiiiiiiice).

Will have al ook at the links for the cycle training later as well (PITA 4yr currently trying to throw me off mu laptop to play games....)

I will get fit, I will get fun and I will attempt to not become addicted to another forum......................

 

[fimm]

If you'd like a book with advice on road craft and the like, "Cyclecraft" by John Franklin is the usual recommended read.

 

[xpc316e]

Get in touch with the Road Safety department of your town, or county, council. They ought to know what is available.