Improving but had 1st fall

[ray7]

When I got my bike last week rode a route I walk the dogs. Its only 1.2 miles so thought it would be easy but after all the problems with my legs I found it hard and had to stop 5 times on the 0.6 mile trip back. Since then rode on the other lane which has less of a hill coming back (live on the top of the hill) and was doing quite well so today decided to give the other one a try again.
This time I was determined to do it without stopping, that was my downfall. The last climb is the steepest part and on a tight bend, the speed dropped, the bike tilted and my foot refused to come off the peddle so over I went. No damage to myself or the bike due to the slow speed but I felt a right prat. Legs like jelly so found it hard to get up but pleased that was my only stop.
Now I know the speed and distance are nothing compared to what most of you do but at the moment its all my legs will do.
Hope this works ,link to strava for this ride http://app.strava.com/activities/29112087
Max speed 14.2 mph
Adv speed 7.0 mph

Ray

 

[cyberknight]

Well done !!
keep it up and you will come on in leaps and bounds , is your seat height right as most people tend to start with the saddle way to low and that can make it a lot harder .Also are your tyres pumped up enough ?

 

[Kins]

No flat roads near me either as I live at the top of a hill to. Just keep going and if you need a break take it. I've only had two rides and both have been painful. I tried the main hill back from my town today and stopped three times. It is a killer. I had the same thing when I used to run a lot, perseverance is the key. Good luck!.

 

[ray7]

Seat height set so leg straight when heel is on peddle at bottom of travel. Tyres marked min 40 psi max 65 psi so pumped them up to 60 psi, would I be better off taking them right up to 65 psi or not? Bike is comfortable to ride just my legs could do with renewing.

Ray

 

[jim55]

sounds like the seat is a wee bit too high ,there should be a wee bit of a bend in yr leg at the bottom of the pedals travel,tyres sound fine id stick with 60 but no lower

 

[ray7]

Hi Jim, thought the leg should be straight with the heel on the peddle and have a slight bend with the toe on the peddle.
As here http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html

Ray

 

[cyberknight]

Hi Jim, thought the leg should be straight with the heel on the peddle and have a slight bend with the toe on the peddle.
As here http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html

Ray

Thats the right ball park, maybe jim misread and thought you meant foot on pedal ?
I did not mean to suggest that your seat was wrong as it sounds like your about right, its just a common mistake that people make, i can soon feel if my seat is out even a few mm.

 

[ray7]

Hi cyberknight, thought you were just asking not suggesting I got it wrong. I am grateful for any suggestions or help as this is the first bike I have had in nearly 30 years. To be honest on the first ride last week the seat was too low then I started reading this forum and corrected it.

Ray

 

[snorri]

Dump that Strava thing
Don't worry about your speed or distance covered, just get out on the bike and enjoy it
Don't cycle until it hurts, you should have turned for home long before that point. A short cycle run in the morning and a short run in the afternoon are better than one longer painful run.
If you really must record data, start by recording the time it takes until you feel pain, keep at it and that time will increase greatly over the weeks and months.
And don't forget to keep smiling as you pedal along

 

[summerdays]

Hills are hard especially if you have to start with a bad one. Don't aim for doing it all, when I first started there was one that I couldn't even get half way up, and then I realised that I had passed my normal stopping point. And I got a little further over time, until one time I made it to the top in one go. Now that's normal but I still don't find it easy. And now I have a worse hill that I'm still struggling with - I keep reminding myself that I will overcome it eventually.

 

[WiganLardster]

You're in the same boat as me then Ray (or should that be pedalo?), it's been almost 30 years since I was last on a bike, so I've been building up nice and slowly since September, increasing my mileage each time by about half a mile or so. Just go at your own speed, increasing the overall distance a little each time you go out. By next Summer we'll be potential Tour de France winners

 

[ray7]

Thanks all for the encouragement.

WiganLardster, the first time I did the easier one without stopping I said to the wife `Do you think I should enter next years Tour de France` and she just laughed.

Ray

 

[jim55]

sorry i misread it ,sounds like uv got it set ok then ,as others have said ,dont worry about distance itl come ,speed with it ,strava is good for keeping a log but just go at ur own pace ,it can b a bit demoralising sometimes to do a section in what u feel is yr best ,only to see somebody has done it a lot faster ,,top tip -dont even try !!

 

[Rob3rt]

Quick question, what is the problem you have with your legs?

 

[MrJamie]

Well done, you're seeing big improvement already Whatever you do don't be put off by other people posting about doing crazy distances and speeds, look back in a month or two at your own progress though.