How can this be the beginners forum......

[Nearly there]

Don't worry about it im crap at climbing too but ive improved when I look at my strava hill segments I can see how much quicker ive become over the months but just put it down to getting fitter and using my gears better.Im sure there are techniques which could help ive seen countless videos on youtube

 

[Nearly there]

technique is largely irrelevant other than turning the pedals at a comfortable cadence. Aerobic fitness is your friend...

What Black n Yellow said

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi Kazd and .

Don't worry about being a complete beginner - we all had to start somewhere. Up until about 14 years ago I used to be pretty chuffed with doing a "big" ride of 5 miles or so. Now 40 or 50 feels fairly easy and I know I could go further if I get myself organized.

It's just a case of riding often and going a little bit further whenever you can. Ride for your own pleasure and you'll get better without really realizing it's happening.

With regards to the gears, am I right in thinking there are no numbers on the shifter? From the information I have, the Sturmey Archer shifters do go anti-clockwise to shift into a lower gear so it sounds like you've got it sussed out correctly. Just pick the gear that feels comfortable for your speed.

 

[BrumJim]

The fitness comes first, and the technique later. Without a reasonable amount of the first, the second is not much use. Oh, and more difficult too.

 

[mcshroom]

Riding long distances isn't the be all and end anyway. Despite my sig line I much prefer a nice ride to a long one

That looks like a nice bike, I hope you enjoy riding it. If you enjoy it then you will improve just by riding it more

As for riding up hills, there's nothing wrong with bottom gear. If you want to improve on a hill then ride as far as you can before you have to stop and walk (if you can ride all your hills in 1st gear then try 2nd). Then remember a mark - something like a lamp post or drain cover - and try and ride past it next time. Slowly your legs will adapt and you will be able to ride up hills you don't think are possible now.

With the saddle, do you like the one on your other bike? If so try swapping them over for a bit. The more you ride the less sore each ride will be though. I'm not sure if you break the saddle in or the saddle breaks your bum in but either way it gets more comfortable eventually.

 

[BrumJim]

TBH, if you have a Pashley Princess, 45 miles is not going to be a target. Doesn't mean that you won't enjoy cycling. Find out what is fun, and do more of it.
(I did that almost 3 years ago. Did 245km a few weeks ago. I think that can be described as "more of it"! )

 

[Eribiste]

So I popped in here hoping to find some like minded old fatties like me but I keep opening threads that start 'I have just done a 45 mile bike ride'!

A bit about me, I am truly a beginner, I have a mountain bike (Trek Antelope 820) which I truly hate, bought 22 years ago and I estimate I have probably ridden it less than 15 times. I have now purchased a Pashley Princess Sovereign, totally old fashioned but gives me the riding experience I remember as a child.

I am 49 years old, totally unfit and good 40 - 50lb overweight for my height (5'8"). One of the reason I disliked the Trek was I didn't like the hunched over stance and I could not work the 21 gear out, I only have 5 on the Pashley and I still struggle although I went on my third ride today and I think I am starting to get it. (have only had the bike since Wednesday).

I have the Strava app on my phone and have taken it out with me and according to it I have done 1.9m, 2.8 and 2.2 but when I look at the map it appears that the signal may have dropped as the maps are not complete. At the moment I have to take even the slightest incline on the lowest (?) gear, they confuse me so bear with me. The gear is a lever that I push out in an anti clockwise direction, I personally would start counting when the lever is next to the handlebar ie 1st gear but as that is the hardest it appears that is 5th and the further I push it out the easier on a hill.

I am hoping that eventually I will be able to make the slight incline up my drive in a high gear when the muscles in my legs improve. I am going out every other day at the moment as my butt is a little sore but apparently as the saddle is leather it has to be broken in.

Told you I was a beginner!

Ah, another Pashley person! I keep blathering on about my Roadster Sovereign. I am a relative beginner, having bought the bike about two years ago. I've still only got the one bike, which I love dearly. It's heavy and slow, like its rider, but I do like the style.

The trouble with beginners is they don't stay beginners! All of us contributors remember our early days though, and by and large are keen to encourage the real beginners. When I started, 4 miles to Pershore was an epic voyage, now I do a 'round the block' of more than 9 miles at least 3 times a week. In my defence, I still refuse to have anything to do with lycra fetishes or funny pedals though!

What's the most important thing? enjoy the riding for riding's sake!

 

[Paul H]

So I popped in here hoping to find some like minded old fatties like me but I keep opening threads that start 'I have just done a 45 mile bike ride'!

A bit about me, I am truly a beginner, I have a mountain bike (Trek Antelope 820) which I truly hate, bought 22 years ago and I estimate I have probably ridden it less than 15 times. I have now purchased a Pashley Princess Sovereign, totally old fashioned but gives me the riding experience I remember as a child.

I am 49 years old, totally unfit and good 40 - 50lb overweight for my height (5'8"). One of the reason I disliked the Trek was I didn't like the hunched over stance and I could not work the 21 gear out, I only have 5 on the Pashley and I still struggle although I went on my third ride today and I think I am starting to get it. (have only had the bike since Wednesday).

I have the Strava app on my phone and have taken it out with me and according to it I have done 1.9m, 2.8 and 2.2 but when I look at the map it appears that the signal may have dropped as the maps are not complete. At the moment I have to take even the slightest incline on the lowest (?) gear, they confuse me so bear with me. The gear is a lever that I push out in an anti clockwise direction, I personally would start counting when the lever is next to the handlebar ie 1st gear but as that is the hardest it appears that is 5th and the further I push it out the easier on a hill.

I am hoping that eventually I will be able to make the slight incline up my drive in a high gear when the muscles in my legs improve. I am going out every other day at the moment as my butt is a little sore but apparently as the saddle is leather it has to be broken in.

Told you I was a beginner!

I'm so glad you posted this Kazd...like you I am a complete newbie to this cycling lark and have read the posts from other members saying just done my first 30 miler etc. and was begining to wonder if I had made the right choice of fitness activity (I think I have by the way)

I've not done anywhere near that (having only being on my bike twice...tonight will be number 3), and I too am struggling with hills and gears, but I see it as motivation to get better so that one day I will be posting...'Just done my first 10 miler, 20 miler...etc' and can look back at this time with fond memories

Keep it up...if we start at the bottom at least there's only one way we can go

Tonight's target is to do a lap near where I live which is about 5 miles...hopefully without stopping

 

[Kazd]

Thank you for all your lovely replies!

Have just returned from a little ride, just popped down the road to post a card and had a little ride round, only clocked up 1.7 miles but once again my strava app has a big chunk missing from the map, not sure what the problem is there.

Mickle. The Trek is old, I was going to put it on eBay (trying to repay the money I have just taken from savings) but my friend is going to have it for £20 hopefully that is not diddling her.

Re saddle I have read lots of forums and they all say that the brooks saddle is one of the good ones so I will persevere the wearing in.

As it is such a nice day I might go out again a bit later.

 

[Crosstrailer]

Kazd

You will get there quicker than you think. I am also a beginner (well more of a returner) who needs to shed some ballast but I do a 2.5 mile round trip to the gym each day on my old British Eagle MTB (old faithfull !) and then 8 to 10 miles each evening on my Specialized.

I think either planning a trip in advance and sticking to it, or freeriding with someone else (I ride each evening with my brother) are good tips IMVHO for seeing the miles disappear without you even realising it !

 

[Kazd]

I think for the time-being I am going to continue just riding around the estate where I live, it is built on a slight hill (and I mean slight) but that at the moment is more than enough for me. Eventually I may strike out a bit further but to be honest I do not like riding on the road (too many boy racers) and am more than happy to stick to riding on the paths.

I didn't end up going out again today, my husband put the ironing board up for me but to be honest it was so nice today that we ended up spending the afternoon out in the sunshine on the swing seat. Tomorrow he is off on a University open day visit with my son and then I only have one more day with him before he goes back to work and I won't see him for six weeks, so we just had a nice lazy afternoon.

Tomorrow it will just be me and my youngest so I will tempt him out for a bike ride, think I will aim for 3.5 miles tomorrow. Still only averaging 6.5mph but that's better than sitting on my butt doing nothing.

 

[BrianEvesham]

Welcome Kazd. I used to own a pashley Roadster, fantastic, if heavy bikes. I still dream of 30 mile runs .
I started out again 4 weeks ago and hit the road with my 7 year old son who set me a nice steady pace.

Keep plugging away it gets easier, honest!

 

[Kazd]

Thank you Brian, I hope it does get easier.

Just got back with my 12 year old who I lost on the ride and was waiting for me back home. A bit fed up as the app I have does not seem to be recording the ride properly and I only clocked up 2.9 m @ 6.9mph so a tad faster (although ds pointed out that there was a lot of downhill but was impressed that I made it up the hill fom our local supermarket )

May have to try a different app, any suggestions.

 

[BrianEvesham]

Yes try a cheap trip computer about £ 5/6 on the bay.

Like this one;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230829990...WAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_566wt_689

 

[Paul J]

Problem with forums you will always have show offs or the ones who think they are are the next wiggins. Ignore them all and get out as much as you can and just enjoy what you do and achieve.

As Brian says get yourself a cheap cycle computer cheaper if you come off to replace than an expensive smartphone.

Have fun