My first 'proper'(?) ride

[Heisenberg71]

Well done. Don't underestimate the level of fitness you will have built from a 7.5 miles each way commute. Today's ride should give you the self-confidence needed to tackle bike challenges your unsure of. You'll surprise yourself, regularly.

However heed the advice on tubes, levers and pump etc. Your fun will be cut short with a puncture in the middle of nowhere on a wet and dark early evening.

 

[stoatsngroats]

Well done! This sounds just like we would do when we were young - just look at a sign, and ride there... I once went from Croydon, to Trafalgar Square, aged 14, and loved every minute of it, and even on our local rides of less than 20 miles, I still get the same excitement of getting on the bike, and just going! This enjoyment has just bitten my OH, and in 6 months time, we'll be cycling to Paris!

 

[lucksmith]

Well done!
if you are like me, always getting lost, a basic Garmin is an excellent investment.
My first proper ride, years ago now, was to a town 50 miles away.
I had only the instructions, written like yours on the back of an envelope from another cyclechatter.
In hindsight, given my then inexperience, I should have enlisted a friend to ride with me.

50 miles! Yowza! I've got some time before I can do that, each way yet.
I think my partner has an old Sat Nav knocking about somewhere, not sure how it's powered, though. I'm just a very, very poorly organised person!

 

[lucksmith]

Don't get a map...if you give yourself plenty of time, getting a bit lost is half the fun. You'll always find your way home eventually!


Sounds like a fun day out!

I like your style! My fear of being lost in mainly based on not having the experience/endurance to be able to get home! And at this time of year the light is a bit of an issue too. As I say, I have lights on my bike but I really don't fancy being a lonely cyclist on unlit, narrow roads.

Perhaps in the summer when I have built up a bit more stamina and confidence I'll go out there and get myself happily lost :-)

 

[lucksmith]

Well done! This sounds just like we would do when we were young - just look at a sign, and ride there... I once went from Croydon, to Trafalgar Square, aged 14, and loved every minute of it, and even on our local rides of less than 20 miles, I still get the same excitement of getting on the bike, and just going! This enjoyment has just bitten my OH, and in 6 months time, we'll be cycling to Paris!

Yeah, I've always liked the freedom of a bike. I think it's an excellent way to explore. Much faster than walking, but much easier to stop and explore then public transport or a car.

I'd absolutely love to go on a jaunt to Paris (even though like I said Madrid is my dream, Paris would be more manageable and therefore realistic), but my OH doesn't like riding AT ALL. I've not got any friends who ride really, either. OH's brother and dad both ride, but I don't really want to propose such a jolly with them! And they've both got fancy roadbikes and that anyway. I'd feel awkward enough being around them without trying to keep up on my 30yr old heap!

 

[leedsmick]

i take it for granted that i know most areas i ride around. I get lost plenty and go the wrong way lots but im always within a mile of knowing where i am.

 

[GuyBoden]

Well done, wow, cycling to Buxton, there's a lot of hills.

Yeah, get a few tubes, a few levers and a good pump.

OS maps are available online and you can plot your own route.
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/osmaps/#53.26949396676995,-1.9178554299509407

 

[Motobecane]

I'd feel awkward enough being around them without trying to keep up on my 30yr old heap!

You mean your bike is 30 years old or were you referring to yourself?

 

[lucksmith]

I'm glad you went that way as I just realised it could have appeared very much more offensive than I would ever car to be about my partner!

Yeah, I meant my bike, it's 29 years old :-/ I'm slowly (very, very slowly) saving up for a new one.

I've also realised that even if I did feel comfortable going for a ride with those two, we live in three different places, none being closer to the other than 150 miles..

 

[Motobecane]

I'm glad you went that way as I just realised it could have appeared very much more offensive than I would ever car to be about my partner!

Yeah, I meant my bike, it's 29 years old :-/ I'm slowly (very, very slowly) saving up for a new one.

I've also realised that even if I did feel comfortable going for a ride with those two, we live in three different places, none being closer to the other than 150 miles..

Funny to think you were only a toddler when your bike was made! Bikes don't really date though (not like cars and us!). A good bike is always a good bike.

Re the distance apart, you can always take bikes on a train in order to meet up... expensive though.

 

[Saluki]

Sounds like you had a great ride.
I'm exploring a new area, having just moved to the Suffolk Coast. I look at the map before I go, try and memorise points and turnings and then off I go with my Cateye lights making the road bright before me.
I like getting lost and hoping for the best. I do take a repair kit, a phone, decent lights and some emergency money. I always take water, always always always. Sometimes I take some jelly babies or a bit of flapjack, depending on how long I am planning to get lost for.
Keep exploring. A basic garmin might be handy for you. Even if you don't use it to go somewhere, it's always handy for finding your way home again.

 

[lucksmith]

Re the distance apart, you can always take bikes on a train in order to meet up... expensive though.

Yeah, and cycling is one of the few things I can think of to do that doesn't cost money. So there's no way I'm shelling out on expensive train ticket to hand out with those guys! I mean, I'm sure they wouldn't want to ride with me anyway, but I'm certainly not going to suggest it!

Sounds like you had a great ride.
I'm exploring a new area, having just moved to the Suffolk Coast. I look at the map before I go, try and memorise points and turnings and then off I go with my Cateye lights making the road bright before me.
I like getting lost and hoping for the best. I do take a repair kit, a phone, decent lights and some emergency money. I always take water, always always always. Sometimes I take some jelly babies or a bit of flapjack, depending on how long I am planning to get lost for.
Keep exploring. A basic garmin might be handy for you. Even if you don't use it to go somewhere, it's always handy for finding your way home again.

This is all very sensible. I am not sensible. I know what I should do, but, yeah..

Oh, and I should mention that I was VERY lucky as when I went to clean my bike the morning after that big ride the front tyre was flat as a pancake! So glad that it didn't go down half way through the Peaks.

Suffolk is pretty flat, right? I've been thinking of maybe heading off down that way for a few days just to see how much ground I can cover. But now I'm sort of lost my fear of hills it doesn;t seem so important. Also, the hills are where I am and Suffolk is a train ticket away.

 

[Saluki]

Suffolk is pretty flat, right? I've been thinking of maybe heading off down that way for a few days just to see how much ground I can cover. But now I'm sort of lost my fear of hills it doesn;t seem so important. Also, the hills are where I am and Suffolk is a train ticket away.

Yes. Not as flat as Norfolk, which in turn is not even remotely as flat as Cambridgeshire. You have proper hills where you are.

We jump on a train, from time to time, and go somewhere and then ride home again. Makes for a fun day out.

 

[lucksmith]

Yes. Not as flat as Norfolk, which in turn is not even remotely as flat as Cambridgeshire. You have proper hills where you are.

We jump on a train, from time to time, and go somewhere and then ride home again. Makes for a fun day out.

That's what I've been planning to do for some time, though I think of doing it the other way round.

Just need to start picking some places, and hopefully finding some accomplices.

 

[Motobecane]

That's what I've been planning to do for some time, though I think of doing it the other way round.

Just need to start picking some places, and hopefully finding some accomplices.

Good idea. On the other hand, I remember riding out with others and getting really annoyed when they (a) sped past me or (b) couldn't me catch up. Alright, I confess it was normally the former. But sometimes its good to ride alone and set your own pace.