Is it my bike , or is it me (thats so slow)?

[fit447]

None of us are club riders, but I agree with what you are saying. I expect to keep up with them because I'm very active, but forget that my muscles aren't used to cycling. I might be better cycling alone, as I always overdid it when running to try and keep to the pace of the fastest, and suspect cycling will be more of the same. Its nice to cycle with friends though, especially on longer routes.

 

[vickster]

Find friends who ride at the same pace or are prepared to do so (or at least wait, works for me and @jefmcg ...I hope!)

 

[Big_Dave]

@fit447 where about's are you in Derbyshire??

 

[Pat "5mph"]

None of us are club riders, but I agree with what you are saying. I expect to keep up with them because I'm very active, but forget that my muscles aren't used to cycling. I might be better cycling alone, as I always overdid it when running to try and keep to the pace of the fastest, and suspect cycling will be more of the same. Its nice to cycle with friends though, especially on longer routes.

Hi and welcome!
As one can gather from my user name, I'm not the fastest
Well, that is actually not correct ... anymore it was true when I registered on CC 2 years ago.
Like you, I took up cycling to commute. As there were hardly any cyclist in my area (that has changed too), and the rare ones that I encountered were male, I never considered speed. Cycling to work was faster than the bus, that was sufficient.
Then I joined a local ladies leisure riders group, imagine, they were actively seeking hills to incorporate in the ride! It was an eye opener, cycling for fitness, improving ones performance. I was never a sporty type, if I wanted to keep riding with them for the social side I had to start putting in a wee bit of effort
Many miles later I became one of the fastest of the group.
Speed is all relative though: some more miles later I went on a local Cycle Chat ride, suddenly I'm the slowest again!
I ride heavy hybrids with slick tyres, recently got a road bike but need to learn to ride it. No doubt I'm still gonna be the slowest on the road bike ... because I will be riding with a faster group
Get to know you cycling comfort zone: if you consistently challenge it you will become faster.
From your OP it seems you are quite competitive, maybe join Strava?
Forgot: you don't say your age, if I had an adult daughter I would expect her to be faster than me!

 

[fit447]

Big Dave, Im close to Derby so have been cycling the many Sustrans routes in the area, and just using my bike instead of the car for boring stuff too.. The Route from Derby to Etwall goes on forever.......or at least it does on my bike., and Im planning an slightly shorter but rougher one around Kedleston Hall soon. I don't want to think about how I would cope on real hills!, but there are plenty around Derby so I cant avoid them forever.

Pat, the description of your route into cycling is reassuring. However strong you get, there's always someone stronger. You were right when you said I was competitive, but only secretly. Don't tell anyone. would never enter a competitive race, even when running, except for Parkrun. Just noticed the compost in your picture. Been there, done that. Keen gardener and allotmenteer too.

 

[Big_Dave]

Give route 67 a try from Long Eaton (side of a big supermarket, can't remember if it's Asda or not) it's goes for 10 miles to Shipley Park (Heanor) all off road, half is canal tow path.
I live few miles out of Alfreton, and there is a network of off road trails on former railway lines, Five pits Trail, Silverhill Trail, Teversal and Pleasley Trails all interlinked

High Peak Trail starting at Middleton Tops (Nr Wirksworth), and goes to Parsley Hay 13miles and then goes down Tissington Trail to Ashbourne 13miles
Carsington Water, 8 miles off road around the reservoir, although is a bit hilly.
for more local routes go to www.mountain-bike.co if you want any info on any of the rides let me know

 

[fit447]

I think its time to get a bike rack for the car. Have done lots of walking around Middleton top, Carsington and Tissington. I'm tempted. Will have a look aat the website.

 

[sreten]

I've recently started cycling at weekends and have been exploring the National Cycle network in my area. My longest ride so far has been 14,miles which I coped with fine, except for a bruised bum. I'm reasonably fit, having recently moved over to cycling from running, but couldn't keep up with the others in my group, even on the flat. Is my bike likely to be slowing me down? Its a Raleigh AT05 Freeride All terrain. it was originally bought for commuting, and has chunky knobbly tires. I plan to get it services as I can hear a bit of 'grinding' and it seems generally nosier than my mates bikes. They all ride similar bikes, no road bikes in our group.

Hi,

It should never have had knobbly tyres for commuting, Its a cheap bike and its tyres are pretty sh*t*.
Fit some decent tyres, : http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/michelin-wild-run-r-slick-mtb-tyre/rp-prod48134
for on road, or : http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/michelin-country-rock-mtb-tyre/rp-prod8547 mixed.

rgds, sreten.

FWIW if your pretty fit, you will get much better on a bike rapidly, its like
a frontcrawl swimmer taking up breaststroke, it won't happen instantly.

YMMV also about cheap bike saddles, my opinion is get something
decent on e-pray for not a lot, e.g. I'd fancy this as a nobrainer :
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Sadd...sure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item19f2f68f80
It isn't going to sell well with its very odd looking clamp, I think.
Reuse your saddle clamp..
Conversely the shown clamp on its own might sell well, its unusual.

 

[fit447]

My commute was through a large park with a dirt and gravel, pot holed path, and in winter lots of thick mud, so it sort of made sense. There were some roads, but I figured I wanted the traction of knobblies in the park, for safety. Those tyres look interesting. I upgraded my saddle when I bought the bike, as it was the most comfortable I could afford. I only get sore now if I don't cycle for a couple of weeks. I'm managing Two short rides in the week, a longer ride at the weekend.

 

[Learnincurve]

Big Dave, Im close to Derby .

I live few miles out of Alfreton

Two questions answered there I live on another branch of route 67, my regular route is from arkwright town, along to poolsbrooke and then up to rother valley, Loop round and then back.

The other alternative to that if you are coming in on the train to chesterfield is to go from the station along the road on the cycle path to tapton lock/park at tescos and then cross under the road. Then you can cycle along the tow path to rother valley and then loop round.

Both routes are about 22 miles.


edit: tyres., You want good fat mountain bike tyres with puncture protection for the winter on the cycle network or the wider hybrid tyres, also with puncture protection.

 

[Big_Dave]

Two questions answered there I live on another branch of route 67, my regular route is from arkwright town, along to poolsbrooke and then up to rother valley, Loop round and then back.

The other alternative to that if you are coming in on the train to chesterfield is to go from the station along the road on the cycle path to tapton lock/park at tescos and then cross under the road. Then you can cycle along the tow path to rother valley and then loop round.

Both routes are about 22 miles.


edit: tyres., You want good fat mountain bike tyres with puncture protection for the winter on the cycle network or the wider hybrid tyres, also with puncture protection.

I've ridden the 67 from Arkrkright to Poolsbrook CP (with a detour around Poolsbrook CP) earlier this year which made it 26ish miles, not done the towpath yet from tapton. I have a MTB I use for the trails. I ride the trails all year (even in the snow)
We have a good network of off road routes in our area

 

[fit447]

I take back everything I said that was negative about my heavy, chunky tired, cheapo bike. Its just got me round the hilliest, roughest route I can imagine.(Within easy cycling distance of my house , that is). Round the perimeter of Kedleston Hall, near Derby. Just 10 miles, but very little flat tarmacked stuff. Some of the paths were actually rutted cattle tracks, there were loads of hills, one I had to walk up, and at times I was sliding on gravel going down hill. But I got round and enjoyed it. Lovely views from the top of the hill. Bike forgiven.

 

[Ganymede]

I take back everything I said that was negative about my heavy, chunky tired, cheapo bike. Its just got me round the hilliest, roughest route I can imagine.(Within easy cycling distance of my house , that is). Round the perimeter of Kedleston Hall, near Derby. Just 10 miles, but very little flat tarmacked stuff. Some of the paths were actually rutted cattle tracks, there were loads of hills, one I had to walk up, and at times I was sliding on gravel going down hill. But I got round and enjoyed it. Lovely views from the top of the hill. Bike forgiven.

That sounds utterly fab.

 

[fit447]

It was - still buzzing

 

[Big_Dave]

It was - still buzzing

Well done matey, can't beat a good ride out, 52.83 miles for me today, not that I'm counting the 100th of a mile accuracy or anything to make it sound more