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

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I have tried, the two I do regularly are only so long, there is another very smooth till the bottom where the road starts to break up and some nasty bends.

try it on a fully laden touring bike... you will soon have enough speed to break the 40mph barrier (which I have memorably done!)

 

[Mo1959]

I've just had a 'visit' and i'm sat on a kerb! No repair kit either.... Urgh

Oh no. Hope you're not too far from home.

 

[Biggler]

Oh no. Hope you're not too far from home.

I was 'only' 4 miles from home, but I was lucky and my Dad was out and about in the same town so he gave me a lift

I'm kind of annoyed because I've got tyre levers, spare inners and co2 but didn't take them... my logic was because I wanted to practice swapping a tube on that bike before I took them out. Bit silly thinking about it

Anyway, the ride up to that point was good it felt a lot quicker than my hybrid (Strava begs to differ) and I was trying to push myself.
Tomorrow I'll get to have a go at swapping my inner tube, test out new SPD pedals/shoes and hopefully... charity ride on Sunday. I will take all my gear to that!

http://www.strava.com/activities/139257215

Now, where's the Jaffa Cakes...

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I was 'only' 4 miles from home, but I was lucky and my Dad was out and about in the same town so he gave me a lift

I'm kind of annoyed because I've got tyre levers, spare inners and co2 but didn't take them... my logic was because I wanted to practice swapping a tube on that bike before I took them out. Bit silly thinking about it

Anyway, the ride up to that point was good it felt a lot quicker than my hybrid (Strava begs to differ) and I was trying to push myself.
Tomorrow I'll get to have a go at swapping my inner tube, test out new SPD pedals/shoes and hopefully... charity ride on Sunday. I will take all my gear to that!

http://www.strava.com/activities/139257215

Now, where's the Jaffa Cakes...

I will just stick to more mundane things like changing gear ratios again, from 13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25 to 13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25-28, with a Sora Rd 3300 with a max large rear sprocket of 27, its also from an 8sp cassette, but it works on the stand stand, so as you do when you have a mess you have to have a ride.

 

[Biggler]

so as you do when you have a mess you have to have a ride.

That's half the fun

Speaking of tinkering... I didn't lower my seat like I mentioned a few days ago but tilted my drop handle bars back effectively raising brakes/shifters a bit (not sure of the technical term ). It made me feel a lot more confident on the bike, I was able to properly reach the brakes which must have been why I was really feeling uneasy at junctions.

Also, is it the 'GatorSkin Road Wire Bead Tyre' people rave about for puncture protection?

 

[Trevor_P]

If you are really ultra dedicated you will get there the timescale nay be very demanding

A quarter of a century ago, I managed to lose 10lbs in a week, I had a manual job and basically ran at it all week only eating toast and drinking orange juice. It stayed off too. I'll employ a similar strategy for one week a month and see how that goes for me. I expect performance dips during that week but hopefully not too much. Drastic, but it worked before ... (umbrella at the ready.)

 

[Nigelnaturist]

[QUOTE="Biggler, post: 3072324, member: 31136"
Also, is it the 'GatorSkin Road Wire Bead Tyre' people rave about for puncture protection?[/QUOTE]

Its the ones I have, only punctures I have had have been from hitting stones hard causing pinch-punctures and one failed patch, and thats in about 5,000 miles
you might need good levers to get them on as mine were really tight.

 

[Biggler]

only punctures I have had have been from hitting stones hard causing pinch-punctures and one failed patch

I'm not too sure what caused mine, I had a quick look at the tyre and I couldn't immediately see anything sticking in it. I didn't pump my tyres up before I went out but do I have to every ride? I did pump them up a week ago.

About the only thing I can think of that may have caused it is going over a railway level crossing about 200m previously. I'm not too sure what to look at for a pinch-puncture, is there a way to tell if that's what I got, you can get them if you're not inflated high enough right?

 

[fivepence]

Just a wee blast round a few local hills tonight , ran into a few people i know doing similar which added to the evening.

http://www.strava.com/activities/139270316

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I'm not too sure what caused mine, I had a quick look at the tyre and I couldn't immediately see anything sticking in it. I didn't pump my tyres up before I went out but do I have to every ride? I did pump them up a week ago.

About the only thing I can think of that may have caused it is going over a railway level crossing about 200m previously. I'm not too sure what to look at for a pinch-puncture, is there a way to tell if that's what I got, you can get them if you're not inflated high enough right?

They usually look like a snake bite, two punctures either side where the tube has been trapped on the rim.

Well I can't decided whats best 13-28 or the 13-25, though I did set a p.b. on a short but steep loop by 6's though I have only done it twice last time last Oct. The sora was ok on the 13-25 but there is more chain noise on the 13-28 I also think I need a narrower BB because whilst the front changes ok, I have to give a little extra from the 30th to the 40th, 40th to 52th is fine so its not generally a problem as I am mainly on those two rings I might ring Evans in the morning see if the have either a Tiagra or a 105 RD (they price match Chainreactions)

 

[SpokeyDokey]

New tyres arrived this pm - have slapped them on. They look quite beefy! (Marathon Deluxe 35mm)

 

[matth411]

I am looking forward to my ride home in the wind and rain, Does this make strange or a hardened athlete? It has been hammering it down for the last 2 hours and the wind has nearly blown a door off my hut. What a great day for country lanes...

 

[Eribiste]

Thinking about Biggler's tyre pressure poser, I check the tyre pressures on my road bike every couple of days. I keep the pressures at 110 psi using a track pump with a gauge. The tubes on my bike lose about 10 - 15 psi a day, so I think it's worth checking them quite frequently.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I am looking forward to my ride home in the wind and rain, Does this make strange or a hardened athlete? It has been hammering it down for the last 2 hours and the wind has nearly blown a door off my hut. What a great day for country lanes...

I always enjoy a ride more that I have had to battle the elements with, than just a nice scenic sunny tour, least ways I do when I have finished

@Eribiste if your losing that much I would suggest taking them off and check for really small leaks you shouldn't be losing that much, I can do mine weekly or if off the bike for a week or two, and all I lose is what goes into the track pump equivalent to about 15-20psi

 

[Mo1959]

Thinking about Biggler's tyre pressure poser, I check the tyre pressures on my road bike every couple of days. I keep the pressures at 110 psi using a track pump with a gauge. The tubes on my bike lose about 10 - 15 psi a day, so I think it's worth checking them quite frequently.

Agree with Nigel.....that sounds an excessive amount to lose per day, unless they are latex?
I am inclined to just go by feel but usually top up anywhere between one and two weeks apart.