Nigelnaturist
Guru
- Location
- Pontefract
Never ridden anything else, tried a MTB and it just doesn't feel right.
First 10 mile ride
- Thread starter rjb70Stoke
- Start date
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steveindenmark
Legendary Member
If you knew my families attitude to cycling you wouldn't say that. I remember somebody saying about a slippery slope when I used to go out and play golf. Amazingly by those kind of rules we are still together and very happy after 20 years of marriage.
Ah!! She likes you out of the house then
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rjb70Stoke
Active Member
Well, out again this morning, this time with company and we did 18.4 miles? It would have been 20 but for a road closure on our route back which meant we had to come the more direct route back. Really feeling it in the legs and shoulders this evening, but no pain, no gain as they say.
Todays ride was interrupted by a herd of cattle half way up a hill, which reminded me of this years TDF, difference was these cows were dumping piles of poo all over the road
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Ive riden 43.5 miles this last week, which Im happy with from a position of zero miles a week only 3 weeks ago. Just now I feel that cycling has changed my life for the better, I feel healthier (not quite so much tonight), Im losing weight, Im immeasurably fitter, and actually less stressed out (its been a tough year all round). My interest in what was the beautiful game has never been so low since I first went to a game 40 years ago, Ive finally got another sport/hobby/pastime that grabs my attention. The fact that Ive also got 4 or 5 friends to go riding with now, should also help me keep it going and Ive started looking at joining a club.
Sadly next weekend is going to draw a blank as Im away, so Im going to have to clock up the miles midweek.
Todays ride was interrupted by a herd of cattle half way up a hill, which reminded me of this years TDF, difference was these cows were dumping piles of poo all over the road
. Ive riden 43.5 miles this last week, which Im happy with from a position of zero miles a week only 3 weeks ago. Just now I feel that cycling has changed my life for the better, I feel healthier (not quite so much tonight), Im losing weight, Im immeasurably fitter, and actually less stressed out (its been a tough year all round). My interest in what was the beautiful game has never been so low since I first went to a game 40 years ago, Ive finally got another sport/hobby/pastime that grabs my attention. The fact that Ive also got 4 or 5 friends to go riding with now, should also help me keep it going and Ive started looking at joining a club.
Sadly next weekend is going to draw a blank as Im away, so Im going to have to clock up the miles midweek.
Wafer
Veteran
- Location
- Somerset/Devon border
Top effort 
had to laugh at the cows messing up your road though!
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rjb70Stoke
Active Member
Oh my life, I ache today 
It does get easier honestOh my life, I ache today
or you might still ache but you've gone further faster . don't to forget to recover before you ride again
sannesley
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Why go from hybrid to road bike? Keep the hybrid and get a road bike as well. I have both and I tend to use the hybrid for the shorter quick runs or where the roads and terrain might not be suitable for a proper road bike. Then when I have the time for a longer run I wheel out the road bike. Also keeping going on the hybrid will make it that much easier when you get out on the road bike as it'll be so much easier compared to the hybrid.
HelsBells Cambs
Active Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
Lol, wasn't going to ditch the hybrid...it will definitely be an "as well as." And you've answered a question about road surfaces for me, thanks! Some of them around here are terrible. They patch the roads with surface dressing chippings and they're not always bedded down, or if they are it leaves the road like loads of little speed humps! Not good for road bikes....
HelsBells Cambs
Active Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
Oh my life, I ache today
As long as it's a good ache and not a "holy crap I've done some damage" ache :-)
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rjb70Stoke
Active Member
Ive recovered now what we didn't realise when we had the cattle incident was just how long the hill was that we were cycling up. As it turns out a missed turn made us get entangled with a herd of very slow, very smelly cows, but also onto a climb that lasted over a mile and up to 11% grade near the top. Quite easily the steepest section of road Ive yet encountered in my short time back on the bike. No wonder my thighs felt like lead this morning.
On a brighter note, now Ive done that climb, I'm quietly confident I could do it again with far less problem and means I can go onward and upward with more challenges for myself. I know for a fact that 3 weeks ago my knees would have never taken that kind of strain.
what we didn't realise when we had the cattle incident was just how long the hill was that we were cycling up. As it turns out a missed turn made us get entangled with a herd of very slow, very smelly cows, but also onto a climb that lasted over a mile and up to 11% grade near the top. Quite easily the steepest section of road Ive yet encountered in my short time back on the bike. No wonder my thighs felt like lead this morning.On a brighter note, now Ive done that climb, I'm quietly confident I could do it again with far less problem and means I can go onward and upward with more challenges for myself. I know for a fact that 3 weeks ago my knees would have never taken that kind of strain.
sannesley
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Northern Ireland
That's a very important point about cycling and sports in general. So much of the effort is physical when out on the bike but the mental confidence gained from having completed a particularly long route or steep climb also go a long way to helping with fitness gains. The knowledge that you've done it once before and can go further or climb longer the next time out.
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rjb70Stoke
Active Member
Well the weekend isn't the washout I expected. The pleasant weather today meant I got to go out again on the bike. This evening we've done 19.2 miles over much tougher roads than last Sunday. Today it felt as though every road was going uphill, not particularly taxing but long steady climbs with only short descents at the top.
My fitness seems to be steadily coming back though, as I didn't really flag all the way round. Thoroughly enjoyed it again
My fitness seems to be steadily coming back though, as I didn't really flag all the way round. Thoroughly enjoyed it again
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rjb70Stoke
Active Member
Well a couple of weeks later and 20 milers are getting quite do-able for me. I did have a blip last weekend when I got a bit over confident and did the same 20 mile route twice in 3 days. BIG mistake, last Sunday night I was absolutely destroyed, but, lesson learned in the need for recovery time at my age and fitness. I'd completely over judged my fitness level.
So this week Ive taken a few days away from the bike and chilled out physically. Downside of that has been what I consider a bit of regression in my strength. Climbs are not as easy as this time a week ago, not painful, just feel slower and physically more demanding. Interestingly though my average speed from the same route as 3 weeks ago is up by 2mph, so I guess I have got a bit more in the tank now.
After last weekends physical destruction, this week Ive concentrated on shorter routes of 10 miles, which I can recover from better.
The most important aspect for me though is I want to get out on the bike every day, even if its just for a quick 5 miles or so.
So this week Ive taken a few days away from the bike and chilled out physically. Downside of that has been what I consider a bit of regression in my strength. Climbs are not as easy as this time a week ago, not painful, just feel slower and physically more demanding. Interestingly though my average speed from the same route as 3 weeks ago is up by 2mph, so I guess I have got a bit more in the tank now.
After last weekends physical destruction, this week Ive concentrated on shorter routes of 10 miles, which I can recover from better.
The most important aspect for me though is I want to get out on the bike every day, even if its just for a quick 5 miles or so.
sannesley
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Northern Ireland
I think a lot of us, myself included, tend to focus on the physical side i.e., on the bike and tend to neglect the recovery side of it. I think its all down listening to your body and finding the right mix of activity and rest.
