Show us your.......newbie progress! [4 Sep 2012 - 4 Oct 2014]

[Nigelnaturist]

or about a Carbon with Ultegra for less than a £1000.
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPULT6800/planet-x-pro-carbon-shimano-ultegra-6800-road-bike

 

[BrynCP]

I started with the Defy 2 and had avec me very well but thew are better spec for money around and save having to upgrade.

I wish I knew about these when I bought the Defy.

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/ros...orcedefaulttemplate=true&bikevariantchanged=1

I could have had a 105 equipped Felt for a similar price, online. I know you can configure those bikes, but in the example a 20 spoke rear wheel wouldn't do me at 15 stone.

However, I started to factor in the value of: being properly, and fully set up by the LBS where I could then go and sit on it before handing over the cash and the adjustments to brakes, gears etc. after 6 weeks, plus the ease of sorting out any warranty claims.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

or this http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58ALUTIA/planet-x-rt-58-alloy-shimano-tiagra-road-bike#reviewstab
£600 alloy carbon folks Tiagra compact.

You can as an option get Planet X A57 Wheelset700C | Shimano/SRAM 10/11sp | 32/32h | Black for the same price

 

[GreigM]

Second longest ride to date for me;

http://www.strava.com/activities/136953001

And all that climbing (unlike me!) proves it is good to be taken out of your comfort zone.

@Nigelnaturist thanks the gears have held up nicely.

Feeling Epic

Did you have the new wheels on? Tempted to buy the same ones for my Triban 5.

 

[Mo1959]

or this http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58ALUTIA/planet-x-rt-58-alloy-shimano-tiagra-road-bike#reviewstab
£600 alloy carbon folks Tiagra compact.

You can as an option get Planet X A57 Wheelset700C | Shimano/SRAM 10/11sp | 32/32h | Black for the same price

Lots of nice bikes these days for £600-£800. Sometimes wonder if it is pretty diminishing returns to spend much more.

Legs were tired this morning but managed a spin. These days when I download my ride to Veloviewer there is hardly ever any improved segment positions but lots of worse positions Lots of new women around plus some obviously discovering Strava. A few of them regularly bash out 60 - 80 miles at averages between 16 and 18mph. Can only dream of rides like that these days

 

[Mo1959]

Did you have the new wheels on? Tempted to buy the same ones for my Triban 5.

I think he's fitting them today Greig so I'm sure he will report back on how they feel.......won't you Brian

 

[MattMM]

Had to bump Fridays ride owing to an unexpected work event, so got out for my usual early Sunday spin this morning. Pretty foggy and miserable in these parts, as usual though with Scottish weather if you don't like it, wait ten minutes. So after two attire change stops managed to get a decent-ish ride round my favourite hilly loop, some decent PRs on the Clunch climb at the turnaround point.

http://www.strava.com/activities/137161493

And this was quite an inspirational story from the Scottish press for us 40 something fat newbie blokes

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/health-fitness/chris-hoy-inspires-man-bike-3480411

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Lots of nice bikes these days for £600-£800. Sometimes wonder if it is pretty diminishing returns to spend much more.

Legs were tired this morning but managed a spin. These days when I download my ride to Veloviewer there is hardly ever any improved segment positions but lots of worse positions Lots of new women around plus some obviously discovering Strava. A few of them regularly bash out 60 - 80 miles at averages between 16 and 18mph. Can only dream of rides like that these days

Why do you think my kit is low end stuff
I have the same problem do I care not really, I do what I do for me I cant set many p.b.'s let alone beat others these days, but its to be expected really unless we train properly to get greater gains there comes a point you are as fast as your likely to be on the current set up, I could save a little weight on mine but I would be very hard pushed to make it 3Kg lighter for £600.
I think tough that that might be the bike I save for.

 

[BrianEvesham]

Did you have the new wheels on? Tempted to buy the same ones for my Triban 5.

Not yet, hopefully this afternoon or Monday.

I think he's fitting them today Greig so I'm sure he will report back on how they feel.......won't you Brian

Of course I will (and pictures ) @Mo1959 , delayed today as I'm footballing with the boys. It's a lovely day today but the legs need a rest after yesterday's ride, I know I know footballs hardly a rest but with me kicking it around I can make them run three times further than me

Just thinking I might fit a new chain and cassette, but so many choices

 

[Harv]

Just did my longest ride to date.

First time over 20 miles: http://www.strava.com/activities/136970037

My previous best was just over 17 miles.

Man my legs hurt. Currently got an ice pack on my knee. Think I over did it.

I'm suffering day after syndrome. Really happy I broke the 20 mile barrier but I don't think my legs agree with me.

Sprayed a truck load of deep heat on them this morning. Was hoping to go out for another ride on Bank Holiday Monday but should probably take a rest for a while.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Lots of nice bikes these days for £600-£800. Sometimes wonder if it is pretty diminishing returns to spend much more.

Same with everything Mo. There is to my mind a sweet spot for everything that you buy that sits within a price range. The sweet spot varies from person to person too.

There are some cracking bikes in that price range.

That Planet X looks crazily cheap.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Not that I can ride my bike at the moment but for the record it is misty and raining here!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

And this was quite an inspirational story from the Scottish press for us 40 something fat newbie blokes

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/health-fitness/chris-hoy-inspires-man-bike-3480411

Great story, on a more mundane level the biggest thing I have noticed in my health (apart from the obvious cycling ones) is I don't cough like I used in the mornings (in fact I very rarely do these days, remember I smoke, yea i know stop and be quicker ),
I have lost weight sometimes as much as 2 1/2 to 3 stone 14-15 is the most I ever was waist of 38 max (though not often 36 being more the norm), these days well I was 79.5 Kgs at the start of April, possible about 79Kg now ( 12 1/2 st) waist 32-34, I did get down to 76Kgs last year (just under 12st). I think when I started in 2012 I was 13 1/2 to 14 st.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Not yet, hopefully this afternoon or Monday.



Of course I will (and pictures ) @Mo1959 , delayed today as I'm footballing with the boys. It's a lovely day today but the legs need a rest after yesterday's ride, I know I know footballs hardly a rest but with me kicking it around I can make them run three times further than me

Just thinking I might fit a new chain and cassette, but so many choices

What model is your R.D. as this will determine how large the lowest gear is if thats what your looking for, i cant remember the front chainset if its 50th large you will need a 12th smallest if its 52 you can get away with 13th, it all depends what your looking for on my 8sp (30-42-52) I ran a rear 13-15-17-19-21-23-25-28 (but I made these ratios myself, made from a m.t.b. and road cassette), but if that's too low you can go for a closer grouping say 13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23 almost the same as my 9sp without the 25 or 12-13-15-17-19-21-23-26
Had one of these chains last http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/kmc-x8-93-8-speed-chain/rp-prod25424 cant fault it, did loads of miles. its still pretty shiny to (mileage at least 6,000 miles)

 

[Cold]

Did my longest ride today 75k had to go home as I have stuff to do but for some reason I felt like I could've gone for ever.

http://www.strava.com/activities/137199515