I've only recently started road cycling. After suffering a bad shoulder injury earlier this year I decided the gym was off limits, so I needed something to get fit and keep fit. I have a bad left knee, so running was off the cards, so I turned to cycling. I'm loving it, and after a couple of months I can already see an improvement in my fitness and my times.
My fitness was pretty terrible to start with so I had to start off slowly. I live in Glossop which is situated in a valley, so whatever direction you set off in you are immediately confronted by a hill. I found a 7 mile route to start with and quickly progressed to a 10 mile route. The 10 miler was initially taking me 59 minutes (told you I was unfit), although in my defence, the first 4 miles are all uphill. I've got this down to 48 minutes. I then progressed to a 21 mile route which initially took me 1hr 48 mins. I've knocked 15 minutes off this already. I foolishly tried to do 40 miles a couple of weeks ago, starting with a ride over the snake pass. I found the snake OK, but was then confronted by Winnatts pass, which is a very very steep (but short) climb. It was a hill too far I'm afraid and I had to get off and push.
By this time I was absolutely knackered, but I managed to push on to 35 miles before I got a puncture. I had obviously pushed things a little too far because I suffered for a couple of days after this.
So I decided I needed something inbetween the 21 miles and the 40 miles. I worked out a route that is 30 miles and I did it for the first time this morning. Unfortunately I don't have a sophisticated cycle computer so I can't tell you how much climbing I did, but it felt like a lot!!. I did 30.41 miles in 2hrs 17m 33s. The weather was glorious, sunny and still, but, bloody hell it was cold. My feet felt like blocks of ice and I had to stop after 16 miles to get a coffee and to try and get some feeling back in my toes. I think I need to invest in some better socks and some windproof overshoes!.
I'd like to try some sportives next year and that's what I'm aiming towards. As you can see though, I need to build up my fitness and distances before I even consider it.
My partners son-in-law is coming up this weekend and he's bringing his bike, so hopefully I'll get out for a ride with him. He's a lot fitter than me and has been riding quite a bit longer, having competed in a couple of sportives earlier this year (one of which he would have won had he bothered to enter his official time!). So I'm hoping he'll be gentle with me, hopefully I won't slow him down too much!!.
My fitness was pretty terrible to start with so I had to start off slowly. I live in Glossop which is situated in a valley, so whatever direction you set off in you are immediately confronted by a hill. I found a 7 mile route to start with and quickly progressed to a 10 mile route. The 10 miler was initially taking me 59 minutes (told you I was unfit), although in my defence, the first 4 miles are all uphill. I've got this down to 48 minutes. I then progressed to a 21 mile route which initially took me 1hr 48 mins. I've knocked 15 minutes off this already. I foolishly tried to do 40 miles a couple of weeks ago, starting with a ride over the snake pass. I found the snake OK, but was then confronted by Winnatts pass, which is a very very steep (but short) climb. It was a hill too far I'm afraid and I had to get off and push.
By this time I was absolutely knackered, but I managed to push on to 35 miles before I got a puncture. I had obviously pushed things a little too far because I suffered for a couple of days after this.
So I decided I needed something inbetween the 21 miles and the 40 miles. I worked out a route that is 30 miles and I did it for the first time this morning. Unfortunately I don't have a sophisticated cycle computer so I can't tell you how much climbing I did, but it felt like a lot!!. I did 30.41 miles in 2hrs 17m 33s. The weather was glorious, sunny and still, but, bloody hell it was cold. My feet felt like blocks of ice and I had to stop after 16 miles to get a coffee and to try and get some feeling back in my toes. I think I need to invest in some better socks and some windproof overshoes!.
I'd like to try some sportives next year and that's what I'm aiming towards. As you can see though, I need to build up my fitness and distances before I even consider it.
My partners son-in-law is coming up this weekend and he's bringing his bike, so hopefully I'll get out for a ride with him. He's a lot fitter than me and has been riding quite a bit longer, having competed in a couple of sportives earlier this year (one of which he would have won had he bothered to enter his official time!). So I'm hoping he'll be gentle with me, hopefully I won't slow him down too much!!.
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