Getting the bike out again

[PpPete]

Don't know if you have a GPS.... but if you do, i find contributing to OSM is a great motivator for my "inner nerd".

If you have no GPS....you can always 'contribute' by flagging up inaccuracies that you find here

 

[Keeno]

To saying I am kicking myself is an understatement

I didn't go on the route I had planned, to get to the start of that run would mean a 30 minute drive so I decided to stick closer to home today, things to do and all.

I cant believe how unfit I have become The route below took me 55 minutes, last year my average speed was around 18mph, its now 13mph. Had to walk a few times so I know that didn't help.

www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=11920

There was one point where I was really struggling, riding into a strong headwind, at that point I felt like phoning a taxi At 29 years old I need to catch myself on, stop drinking so much and get my ass on the bike again.

Mini rant over. I am just glad I did it tbh, it can only get better from here.

 

[peanut]

I cant believe how unfit I have become The route below took me 55 minutes, last year my average speed was around 18mph, its now 13mph. Had to walk a few times so I know that didn't help.

don't worry your leg strength and cardio vascular fitness will come back quite quickly . Its very depressing though knowing how hard you are going to have to work to get some fitness back again. I know.

If you need to post a link to another website its easier to highlight and copy the URL address at the top of the webpage, ie bikehike, then in the forum message box select the link icon and paste the site address in the box. That way the link in your message will be live and take viewers straight to the bikehike site
like this
http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=11920


did you tick the 'Show Elevation Data' box ?

Thats a great descent from start when you are not warmed up but bit of a stinker when nearly home. Looks to be about 70mts climb total over 2.5 miles and it is a convex hill so steeper at the beginning

 

[peanut]

I checked my record for when I started back on the bike last year and 56mins for 11.6 miles is about the same as you managed today. The hill in my loop is amost identical in height and length so I know just how tough that seems believe me.

The thing I found most helpful was to try to save one last gear change at all times for an emergency bailout when things really grind to a halt.

I also tried to change up a gear and stand up for about 25-30 yards when my legs and lungs were really suffering. using my bodyweight gave me a few minutes breather to recover.

Last advice I would give is to try to change down one gear to a lower gear than you would normally feel is right and try to spin a little faster and maintain that rythum, it should be easier to maintain up the hills

What gears have you got on your bike ?

 

[Keeno]

The bike is a giant scr 3, so 21 gears. TBH I think I used them all today at some point

I think your right about the route I Took today peanut, it was great until I turned to come back again