Be gentle with me - a beginner's story!

[Maz]

Keep at it, vera. You'll get there, I'm sure.

My brother is in his mid-30s now and never learnt to ride a bike. As kids, when me and my other brother were out on the bikes, he was happy sat inside dismantling toys.

I'll try and encourage him (again) to learn to ride. He just needs a bit of a push to get him going...pardon the pun.

 

[Vera Wayfromee]

Ah, I was just saying in the blog section, that your post would make a great entry for the Cyclechat blog....

You're welcome to lift it. If it helps, my own blog can be found at
http://veracycling.blogspot.com/
where I've edited the post I made here to stand alone a little clearer - though I split the single long post into several shorter posts there, which I now think I might regret. (Usual blog conventions, the beginning of the story is in the earlier posts on the 2nd page, starting at the bottom.)
Obviously the saga continues there.

The blog's not up to much... loads of text but no graphics and photos (yet!). I've been a little busy though, so not spent much time on it beyond getting my thoughts down.

Now, back on topic for the forum, I have a question:
On my second ride it really started to rain, but determined not be a fair-weather cyclist, I kept going for another few minutes. Unfortunately I hadn't quite reckoned for the combination of condensation from my body heat and the heavy rain on my specs, so soon had to turn back as it was becoming impossible to see a yard in front of my face!!!

How do other spectacle wearers manage in the rain?


I also have a less serious question:
Whilst riding today I got sore wrists. I'm certain they stem from the sheer terror with which I was gripping the handlebars, rather than from a need to adjust my sitting position, but...

does anyone know any really good wrist exercises?

 

[Scoosh]

Oh deargreat ! I have a feeling that a future CycleChat Senior Executive Member has recently joined the forum !

Brilliant first post and I get the feeling that you are in great danger of fitting in rather well - especially if you eschewed the offer of Tea and headed straight for the Beer.

How do other spectacle wearers manage in the rain?

We get wet
For a rain-soaked Glesga - Edimbra last year, I tried using a cap with a large peak under my helmet .... and still got rain on my glasses - which is why I am trying contact lenses (again).

 

[punkypossum]

Baseball cap works for me, you still get some rain, but it doesn't completely ruin visibility and only stays on the front of the lenses which somehow makes it easier...

 

[fossyant]

The only downer at this time of year with glasses and rain - is they steam up on the move as well with the heat coming off my body - ah well it's not as though the motorists are looking where they are going eh..might as well join them.

 

[Globalti]

The answer is to wear a helmet with a peak, like mountain bikers do. This keeps most of the rain off your glasses.

Also perhpas you are making the common beginner's mistake of weaing too much and you are overheating? The rule is to start out feeling cold and you'll soon warm up. At this time of year one very thin layer under your waterproof or windproof will do. Try to avoid cotton as it gets clammy, look around for a polypropylene or merino wool top.

For sore wrists try Googling Ergon Grips. They are very comfortable.

 

[Arch]

For wrists, you might also find a pair of padded fingerless mitts help. And yes, gripping too tight will tense you up and make you sore. Something to practice would be riding with as light a grip as possible - in fact not gripping at all really just resting the hands on the bars. You can cover the brake levers with the first couple of fingers, so in fact you'll be fractionally quicker on the brakes than if you are gripping the bars and have to release them to go on the brakes.

I've never mastered riding hands free, (I haven't really tried), but I do sometimes ride along sitting us upright as I can with just fingertips on the bars - you can work up to that!

Has "barq" been in touch via PM about the blog thing? If not, I expect we can just copy and paste the post, but if you prefer to tinker with it, that would be even better...