Hills, speed and traffic.

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N

NorcoRichie

Senior Member
Hi All
I'm new to cycling and LOVE IT!!!! I have a few newbie questions though and would really appreciate your advices....
I struggle with all hills, even relatively shallow ones. Any suggestions on some training i could do until i find the hills easier? Do you guys go down hills as fast as you can? I weed out and brake at about 30 mph.
My longest rides at the moment are about 30 miles, and i average about 15 mph, but this seems to be my limit, If i go out for a 10 mile ride, i still end up averaging about 15 mph! is this normal ?
I ride around the Chiltern hills/ Ivingnhoe beacon areas where there isn't too much traffic, but when i need to use busier roads i find I'm not really enjoying the ride anymore, ie cars driving too close, cars pulling out etc etc. Any tips on coping with traffic?

Cheers
Richie
 
S

Soup890

Crazy
Location
leeds
The best advice I have for you is keep cycling. It all falls into place. You can't learn it all in one day
 
Rickshaw Phil

Rickshaw Phil

Overconfidentii Vulgaris
Moderator
Location
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Hi and :welcome: @NorcoRichie.

15mph average is a pretty good start for a beginner so I wouldn't worry too much (I'm pretty happy on the days when I can get up to that as an average) and doing approximately the same average on a short ride as a longer one is fairly normal in my experience.

What @Soup890 says is about right :thumbsup: the more you cycle the more your confidence will grow - it won't be long before you'll wish you were going faster instead of reaching for the brakes on those downhills.;)

Edit: as for the uphill bits, the best training is simply to keep riding hills.^_^
 
Last edited:
morrisman

morrisman

Guru
I also ride round the Chiltern's and reckon 15mph is a good average. Tomorrow I think, if the weathers OK, I will do Wendover, Tring, Bulbourne, Ivinghoe, Ringshall, Monument Tea Room, Aldbury, Tring, Wendover. About 24 miles and 1200 ft climbing, if I get to 15 mph I shall be happy.

As to coping with traffic I find riding positively ie not in the gutter and giving clear hand signals of your intentions goes a long way to making it better. For instance whenever I signal to turn right once the following cars acknowledge me and let me across I give them a thumbs up, not sure it makes any difference but maybe they will let me/other cyclists out again.
 
MikeW-71

MikeW-71

Veteran
Location
Carlisle
NorcoRichie said:
I struggle with all hills, even relatively shallow ones. Any suggestions on some training i could do until i find the hills easier? Do you guys go down hills as fast as you can? I weed out and brake at about 30 mph.
My longest rides at the moment are about 30 miles, and i average about 15 mph, but this seems to be my limit, If i go out for a 10 mile ride, i still end up averaging about 15 mph! is this normal ?
I ride around the Chiltern hills/ Ivingnhoe beacon areas where there isn't too much traffic, but when i need to use busier roads i find I'm not really enjoying the ride anymore, ie cars driving too close, cars pulling out etc etc. Any tips on coping with traffic?
Click to expand...
Welcome :smile:

There's no easy answer for the hills, pick a gear that gives you a cadence and effort you are comfortable with and keep that rhythm going. We all struggle with hills, all that changes is the gradient at which you start struggling.

I don't always descend as fast as I can, it depends on how much of the road I can see, if it's wet etc. Where possible, I just let the bike run and brake in plenty of time for the next turn. Go as fast as you are comfortable with, as you get more experience your speed will probably creep up a bit, but there are plenty of guys on here who try not to go faster than about 35mph downhill even when it is easily possible.

Good average for a beginner, particularly on flatter rides, but don't worry about that as you can only compare against yourself really. It does mean you could push harder on the short ride though ;)

Traffic. Whilst I wouldn't say I enjoy riding in heavy traffic, I have become more comfortable doing so. Don't ride in the gutter, be assertive and claim road space where you need to, keep looking around. I avoid them where possible, particularly fast A roads, and head for the quiet country roads where it's peaceful :smile:
 
vickster

vickster

Legendary Member
For coping with traffic, have a read of cyclecraft

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyclecraft-complete-enjoyable-cycling-children/dp/0117037400
 
Julia9054

Julia9054

Guru
Location
Knaresborough
MikeW-71 said:
Traffic. Whilst I wouldn't say I enjoy riding in heavy traffic, I have become more comfortable doing so. Don't ride in the gutter, be assertive and claim road space where you need to, keep looking around. I avoid them where possible, particularly fast A roads, and head for the quiet country roads where it's peaceful :smile:
Click to expand...
Good advice. I would also add practice looking over your right shoulder - a proper look, not just a glance - without wobbling or steering off course. Helps you to be more comfortable about what is around you.
 
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