Fat Bloke On A Bike Pt 1

[Pip Edgecombe]

Fat Bloke? Yes, that's me; Hello!
I'm Pip and I have signed up to Cycle Chat so I can get back into cycling, learn from you guys, get fit and not be such a fat bloke any more.
I haven't ridden competitvely since I was 15 - that was cyclocross in the late 70's on my Raleigh Transit, long before we'd even heard of mountain biking, and I was an OK rider. So 30 years have passed and I have had a bike (a Specialized Rock Hopper) for the past few years but aside from a few months of cycling to work on it (102 miles per week) it sits in the garage and I haven't been on it for about a year. Until today... I have decided that it is now or never and the only way I am going to get fit is to get out their and do it so I have written my training plan, got my bike serviced, and jumped in the saddle.
I downloaded an app called MapMyFitness and set off.
My route was a mixture of tarmac road right through to boggy mud (including getting stuck). I did 9.45 miles in 54 minutes which seems very slow at 10.5mph however I am strugglling with a damaged knee and I did have a couple of rests; once when my legs were really hurting on a big hill and once when I felt sick on the level after going for it for a few minutes. A rest day tomorrow then 45 minutes of hill work on Monday - I am dreading it but know it will get easier.
My target is to lose two or three stone and be fit enough to compete in Muddy Hell in October.
I need to learn the mechanics of modern bikes rather than rely on my local shop - does anyone have any ideas of the best way start? - I'll be joining a local CC in a month or so which should help. In the mean time I have a squeak from my front wheel (I think) so will take a look and start there.
Cheers Guys - Happy Cycling!

 

[roadrash]

owdo and, as regards the mechanics of modern bikes, you tube is your friend ,or ask on cyclechat of course, a very helpful bunch.

 

[John-Ellis]

Hi pip,

I got a book from amazon called complete cycle maintenance. It covers all types of bikes and all types of equipment and it tells you how to maintain your bike, and covers everything from brake adjustment, to gear adjustments to the more serious jobs.

Well done on getting back on the bike mate, my wife is not a small girl and she got on her bike for the first time today.

Keep it up.

John

 

[Pip Edgecombe]

Thanks Roadrash, never thought of YouTube. Great idea

 

[Peteaud]

dont go mad and overdo it.

 

[Pip Edgecombe]

Hi pip,

I got a book from amazon called complete cycle maintenance. It covers all types of bikes and all types of equipment and it tells you how to maintain your bike, and covers everything from brake adjustment, to gear adjustments to the more serious jobs.

Well done on getting back on the bike mate, my wife is not a small girl and she got on her bike for the first time today.

Keep it up.

John

Thanks John, I read your post. I smiled a few times today too. Mainly when the hailstones were bouncing off my face.

 

[Pip Edgecombe]

dont go mad and overdo it.

Good advice I'm sure but I'll push as hard as I can. Always do; hence the twisted knee.
Cheers

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Your body needs time to recover as well.
I started in June and it was hell, hated almost everything especially hills, not that what I did could you call hills, but they were back then. i had a bad time on this segment today due to the wind and hailstones, but the end section is a gradual up hill in that any speed you may have attained from the down hill section is usually gone, back last June/Aug I doubt I could get up it in anything less than 26thx34th gear (20") today I went up it with about a 56-57" gear which is for comparison 26x12 (or more usually for me 38thx17th, but that dpends on your chain/cassette combination)
http://app.strava.com/activities/50928642#907775903
So keep at it, improvements will come, just don't get hung up on speed, it's nice to get p.b's but it's not what it's all about.

 

[Pip Edgecombe]

Your body needs time to recover as well.
I started in June and it was hell, hated almost everything especially hills, not that what I did could you call hills, but they were back then. i had a bad time on this segment today due to the wind and hailstones, but the end section is a gradual up hill in that any speed you may have attained from the down hill section is usually gone, back last June/Aug I doubt I could get up it in anything less than 26thx34th gear (20") today I went up it with about a 56-57" gear which is for comparison 26x12 (or more usually for me 38thx17th, but that dpends on your chain/cassette combination)
http://app.strava.com/activities/50928642#907775903
So keep at it, improvements will come, just don't get hung up on speed, it's nice to get p.b's but it's not what it's all about.

Thanks Nigel,
You're right of course and my training plan is sensible with enough rest days to allow me to push quite hard. Had planned two hours today but one was enough as I was tired and cold.
I checked out strava and it looks great so will be using that from now on. I don't know about gear ratios but I get your point. I am looking forward to the summer and to attacking the hills (eventually).
Cheers again

 

[Pip Edgecombe]

Your body needs time to recover as well.
I started in June and it was hell, hated almost everything especially hills, not that what I did could you call hills, but they were back then. i had a bad time on this segment today due to the wind and hailstones, but the end section is a gradual up hill in that any speed you may have attained from the down hill section is usually gone, back last June/Aug I doubt I could get up it in anything less than 26thx34th gear (20") today I went up it with about a 56-57" gear which is for comparison 26x12 (or more usually for me 38thx17th, but that dpends on your chain/cassette combination)
http://app.strava.com/activities/50928642#907775903
So keep at it, improvements will come, just don't get hung up on speed, it's nice to get p.b's but it's not what it's all about.

Thanks Nigel,
You're right of course and my training plan is sensible with enough rest days to allow me to push quite hard. Had planned two hours today but one was enough as I was tired and cold.
I checked out strava and it looks great so will be using that from now on. I don't know about gear ratios but I get your point. I am looking forward to the summer and to attacking the hills (eventually).
Cheers again

 

[Herr-B]

Hi Pip, for a moment there I thought I'd been caught on camera.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi Pip and .

It will get easier as you get back into riding but beware of pushing that knee too hard too soon - you don't want to do damage.

Is this something that you already had or has it come on with cycling? If the latter you might want to check your saddle height. Many people set the saddle too low to start with which puts strain on the knees.

Apart from that good luck and enjoy the rides.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Thanks Nigel,
You're right of course and my training plan is sensible with enough rest days to allow me to push quite hard. Had planned two hours today but one was enough as I was tired and cold.
I checked out strava and it looks great so will be using that from now on. I don't know about gear ratios but I get your point. I am looking forward to the summer and to attacking the hills (eventually).
Cheers again

There are better sites for analysis your data, but it's a semi competitive site, I have followed people in my area of what seem similar abilities, and it's nice to see how you compare and they have got on.
Gear ratios, you will get it. If you divide the teeth in front chain ring by the number of teeth of the gear you are using on the rear this gives you a gear ratio, for example 39th front/13th rear gives you a ratio of 1:3 so for every turn of the pedals the rear wheel will turn 3 times, 26th/26th 1:1 pedals 1 turn wheel one turn.
Multiply the ratio by 26.3 for a nominal 700x23 wheel to obtain the gear inch, crank lengths will also effect it. (if you want to see for other wheels)
http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

 

[xpc316e]

Pip, where are you located? If you are near to me, I can help you with the mechanical bits.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Pip!
You tube is great for bike mechanic videos, start from there.
Take it easy on the bike, you will make the hills in time.