First ride went better than expected!

[Enjoyedincubus]

Today I went on a ride with my Brother-in-law and it went far better than I expected it to.

The route was relatively flat and we started off on quiet country roads, which was a good idea as it allowed me to get used to the gears, practise getting my feet in the cages and accessing my water bottle.

We only stopped a few time with one being towards the end. We stopped off at a LBS, got my seat adjusted, picked up a multi tool (more money) and a brew. It seems to be quite popular with other cyclists as about 8 others showed up just after us.

When we got back a couple of hours later I was shocked to find that Strava was reporting that we had covered 12.7miles! The time was nothing to write home about and we averaged over 9mph.

I absolutely loved it. My only complaint is a sore arse but we're already planning our next ride.

 

[grumpyoldwoman]

The sore arse soon stops complaining! I was walking like John Wayne after my first few rides!
I was reminded of it again a couple of weeks ago when I bought my new bike!!!

 

[Lilliburlero]

Well done

Dont get hung up on the speed thing, just do the miles

 

[Doobiesis]

Sore Arse!! I remember that for first few rides. I literally was stuck on my bike for five mins as I couldn't get off. I had no cycling road sense at all and my chain kept coming off. I was on a busy A road and after all this I still wanted to get back on.

It's a learning curve and even now I'm still learning all the time and I've been going for three years now.

Well done

 

[jamma]

Well done for the first ride and hopefully more to come and the sore arse will eventually go as you get used to riding

 

[spoof]

Glad you enjoyed your first ride. Most all get saddle sore after hours of riding. More riding and maybe getting a matched saddle later on will help reduce the effects.

 

[Heisenberg71]

Well done. I guarantee it will get easier if you can start at 13 miles and feel OK afterwards.
Mind, you're arse will hurt tomorrow!

 

[Mrs M]

Today I went on a ride with my Brother-in-law and it went far better than I expected it to.

The route was relatively flat and we started off on quiet country roads, which was a good idea as it allowed me to get used to the gears, practise getting my feet in the cages and accessing my water bottle.

We only stopped a few time with one being towards the end. We stopped off at a LBS, got my seat adjusted, picked up a multi tool (more money) and a brew. It seems to be quite popular with other cyclists as about 8 others showed up just after us.

When we got back a couple of hours later I was shocked to find that Strava was reporting that we had covered 12.7miles! The time was nothing to write home about and we averaged over 9mph.

I absolutely loved it. My only complaint is a sore arse but we're already planning our next ride.

Well done, don't worry, your sore bum will stop complaining soon.

 

[bikeman66]

Today I went on a ride with my Brother-in-law and it went far better than I expected it to.

The route was relatively flat and we started off on quiet country roads, which was a good idea as it allowed me to get used to the gears, practise getting my feet in the cages and accessing my water bottle.

We only stopped a few time with one being towards the end. We stopped off at a LBS, got my seat adjusted, picked up a multi tool (more money) and a brew. It seems to be quite popular with other cyclists as about 8 others showed up just after us.

When we got back a couple of hours later I was shocked to find that Strava was reporting that we had covered 12.7miles! The time was nothing to write home about and we averaged over 9mph.

I absolutely loved it. My only complaint is a sore arse but we're already planning our next ride.

Top effort matey!

As suggested above, don't go thinking that you have to cover a certain mileage. Just enjoy what cycling has to offer. If a few miles to a cafe stop and back provides an enjoyable ride then that's job done I reckon. I quite often ride 40-50 miles with a couple of mates, but one of my most enjoyable outings recently was a 7 mile jaunt, with my son, to a seaside cafe, a nice cup of hot chocolate, and a return trip back the way we'd come. Certainly not any major amount of miles, but just great to be out with the boy, on a cold but beautifully sunny afternoon.

Regards the sore arse...........have you got a decent pair of padded shorts? They'll make a noticeable difference! Apart from that, it's just a case of your body getting used to it. You'll be fine.

Keep up the good work, and remember to let us know how things go on your next ride.

 

[Enjoyedincubus]

Top effort matey!

As suggested above, don't go thinking that you have to cover a certain mileage. Just enjoy what cycling has to offer. If a few miles to a cafe stop and back provides an enjoyable ride then that's job done I reckon. I quite often ride 40-50 miles with a couple of mates, but one of my most enjoyable outings recently was a 7 mile jaunt, with my son, to a seaside cafe, a nice cup of hot chocolate, and a return trip back the way we'd come. Certainly not any major amount of miles, but just great to be out with the boy, on a cold but beautifully sunny afternoon.

Regards the sore arse...........have you got a decent pair of padded shorts? They'll make a noticeable difference! Apart from that, it's just a case of your body getting used to it. You'll be fine.

Keep up the good work, and remember to let us know how things go on your next ride.

Your 7miler is something I'd love to do with my boy when he's older (turns 3 in March).

I'm not sure they're decent but i bought some cycling trousers from Sports Direct. They've got some pads in so I can only imagine how bad I'd be without them!

 

[bikeman66]

Your 7miler is something I'd love to do with my boy when he's older (turns 3 in Match).

I'm not sure they're decent but i bought some cycling trousers from Sports Direct. They've got some pads in so I can only imagine how bad I'd be without them!

Definitely something to look forward to in the future matey!

My son is the stereotypically grumpy 16 year old. We had a fantastic sunny day down here on the Isle of Wight last Thursday, so, as it was half term and the boy was indoors buried in revision for his upcoming GCSE's, and I'm self-employed....... I just thought "bugger going to work today" and suggested he take a couple of hours off the revision and join me on a ride. He actually became quite a civilised human being for those couple of hours.

If you have some cycling shorts, then it is just a case of getting used to that saddle. All I would say is that in due course, as you get more in to your cycling, try spend as much as you can on a pair of shorts. I think you'll notice and appreciate the difference. Another thing........make sure you wear the cycling shorts next to your skin (i.e no boxer shorts underneath).

 

[slowmotion]

Brilliant! 12.7 miles is very good for a first outing. My first was only five and a half and I really thought I was going to die by the end of it. Nausea, dizziness...the whole shebang.

 

[mjr]

If you have some cycling shorts, then it is just a case of getting used to that saddle. All I would say is that in due course, as you get more in to your cycling, try spend as much as you can on a pair of shorts. I think you'll notice and appreciate the difference. Another thing........make sure you wear the cycling shorts next to your skin (i.e no boxer shorts underneath).

Alternatively, spend time finding a saddle that fits and doesn't need you to buy N pairs of expensive padded shorts.

 

[bikeman66]

Alternatively, spend time finding a saddle that fits and doesn't need you to buy N pairs of expensive padded shorts.

To be fair, a saddle can cost just as much (and often, a hell of a lot more) as a decent pair of shorts...........and which saddle "fits" anyway? You're probably not going to find out how well it fits until you've shelled out the money and ridden it for X amount of miles. Most of the reviews of my current road bike picked up on how uncomfortable the saddle was, but I can spend hours on it with no discomfort. Same could be said for my old MTB saddle. Just a bog standard Kona racing saddle, which looked as though it would be about as comfortable as sitting on a razor blade. Again, I've spent up to 10-11 hours at a time on it, riding the South Downs Way (on a fully rigid Kona). Legs were in pieces, arse was fine!

With a bit of time scouring the net, a good pair of shorts can usually be found at reasonable money. I purchased a really nice pair of bib shorts just after Christmas that RRP'd at £80..............got them for £38. Probably a bit cheaper than buying an expensive after market saddle for each of my three frequently ridden bikes.

 

[Montydog]

well done on first ride...just keep getting out there and enjoying the rides....speed will improve ao like others have said don't get to worried about it

As for the saddle......bought new bike just after Christmas....had bike fit...chap who did bike fit said saddle good one.......two weeks later back for saddke fit.....was like a razor blade.....now new saddle not got much padding and feels firm but getting better all the time