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

[Nigelnaturist]

Good ride today, my usual long flatty to Fenwick and back, great weather apart from a wee bit of headwind on way out. Ultra calm on way back and hit (for me) an exceptional 18mph average over a 5 mile flat/undulating segment along with a few PRs. If I was on a roadie in the Fens instead of a hybrid in a hilly bit of Scotland, I'd be dangerous....

http://www.strava.com/activities/141723908

Give me a few climbs any day, I hate riding on the flat, but you have to sometimes, if the opportunity is there, I found today's ride harder than Wed, even though there was about half the total elevation, excluding the morning bit to the hospital.

 

[rogdodge52]

hiya not posted on here since last year...but I'm wondering if anyone can help me with a problem ive developed while cycling. Today I went up and down the Tissington trail..32 miles..for over half of that journey I had cramp in my hands...could this be the way the bike has been set up or just my lack of fitness

 

[Deleted member 18052]

Gatorskins arrived... I hope I can put the bad luck with the p's behind me!

Hope you didn't get the wire beaded ones, Mine were a nightmare to put on - Not got any punctures now they're on mind!

 

[Deleted member 18052]

Biked to work and back today

Way in: http://www.strava.com/activities/141709353

HR playing up again today - think its the old strap I had that i'm using will get my new one out for next ride.

Way Home: http://www.strava.com/activities/141857344

Had all my work stuff with me both ways, but on the way in had a 1.75ltr bottle of dilute orange to take with me think that slowed me down

Daz

 

[Nigelnaturist]

HR playing up again today - think its the old strap I had that i'm using will get my new one out for next ride.

Daz

I had that the other week but it was the unit as I tried it on the new strap

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

hiya not posted on here since last year...but I'm wondering if anyone can help me with a problem ive developed while cycling. Today I went up and down the Tissington trail..32 miles..for over half of that journey I had cramp in my hands...could this be the way the bike has been set up or just my lack of fitness

could be the position on the bike - most likely trapping a nerve. what bike and what grips (picture of grips would help)... you could also be trapping a nerve in your shoulder, so if they are hurting it could be the explanation etc... sorry but there are a million and one reasons for cramp in hands (I have a long term nerve issue with my left wrist, so have had most issues with it...)

 

[matth411]

Didn't ride in for last nights shift due to painful calf muscles.... it is just bruising from pedals hitting them. So I took to the road again today and even though the sun is out drivers actually gave me room! On the last down hill before work and I stuck next to a car all the way down with the driver looking over in disbelief that I was still next to him at the bottom. I only hit 30mph. Then I managed to make up about 400metres on the guy I am working with tonight, he was riding but only commutes, and beat him into work by a minute. So a very good commute tonight, sun shining, quick, got a scalp, and kept up with a car.

 

[morrisman]

New highest average speed 12.5 miles at 16.4 mph. Admittedly as flat as a witches whatsit with only 154 ft ascending.

 

[Biggler]

for over half of that journey I had cramp in my hands...

I get similar, had a bit of this tonight. I used to get it really bad before I changed the angle on my drop handle bars so the shifters were higher up and I wasn't reaching as far for them. I'm planning on getting some gloves too to see if the padding will help in any way. My cramp seems to subside a bit once I've put a few miles in so it might just be me needing to warm up.

Hope you didn't get the wire beaded ones, Mine were a nightmare to put on - Not got any punctures now they're on mind!

I think I might have! I decided to go out for a ride instead of putting them on as I wont be able to get a ride in over the weekend. I'm still not feeling right, my thighs feel really tight and don't feel like they can put much effort in.

Anyway, a closed bridge and a jelly baby giving me a stitch made me come home. Can only three jelly babies give someone a stitch? It was my first time eating anything while riding though.
Got some PRs though, best time up the 'hill' I hate the most... Blakeston Lane

http://www.strava.com/activities/141872621

 

[rogdodge52]

could be the position on the bike - most likely trapping a nerve. what bike and what grips (picture of grips would help)... you could also be trapping a nerve in your shoulder, so if they are hurting it could be the explanation etc... sorry but there are a million and one reasons for cramp in hands (I have a long term nerve issue with my left wrist, so have had most issues with it...)

the bikes a Ridgebak 603LX mountain bike..basic but all I could afford..Many thanks for replying

 

[rogdodge52]

I get similar, had a bit of this tonight. I used to get it really bad before I changed the angle on my drop handle bars so the shifters were higher up and I wasn't reaching as far for them. I'm planning on getting some gloves too to see if the padding will help in any way. My cramp seems to subside a bit once I've put a few miles in so it might just be me needing to warm up.


I think I might have! I decided to go out for a ride instead of putting them on as I wont be able to get a ride in over the weekend. I'm still not feeling right, my thighs feel really tight and don't feel like they can put much effort in.

Anyway, a closed bridge and a jelly baby giving me a stitch made me come home. Can only three jelly babies give someone a stitch? It was my first time eating anything while riding though.
Got some PRs though, best time up the 'hill' I hate the most... Blakeston Lane

http://www.strava.com/activities/141872621

thanks for the reply...todays the first day ive ridden with out gloves.......hmmmmmmmmmm

 

[L14M]

I love my new segment

http://www.strava.com/activities/141867318/segments/3228710266

 

[Nomadski]

hiya not posted on here since last year...but I'm wondering if anyone can help me with a problem ive developed while cycling. Today I went up and down the Tissington trail..32 miles..for over half of that journey I had cramp in my hands...could this be the way the bike has been set up or just my lack of fitness

Could be your gloves were tightened too tight, or your position is putting too much weight on your hands perhaps? Nevermind, had a fit of a lack of reading comprehension.

Finally went out and did a hilly route I planned a week ago but put off too long. Today was the day! Also took the opportunity to test out the Strava photo integration with Instagram, which seemed to work a treat, albeit you are left with 1970s wannabe square pictures!

Ride took me south through Chipstead, past the normal turn off at Box Hill and went further south to loop around to Leith Hill and then back to Box Hill and home.

We all know Strava is a bit whack with elevation, but this was really weird. When I plotted the route out on Strava it said it was just over 4k ft. Saved it to the Garmin and followed it explicitly apart from a detour up to the Leith Hill Tower (which should have added more elevation!) and when uploaded it came in at 3.5k ft on both Garmin and Strava.... Ah well, still quite a bit of climbing for 50 miles.

Managed to climb Leith Hill in one go without stopping for the very first time!! I did have a nervy moment near the top when I was wobbling a bit (steep) and a car came past me close and I nearly ended up in a pothole. Yes, in. The only reason I don't call it a ditch is because it was a metre away from the verge.

As I was being snap happy along the route, once at the top I ventured along a half mile rocky footpath that leads to the actual summit of the hill, where there is a Tower, and a great view - neither of which I had seen, and I figured my average speed was going to be poor anyways so why not.

As I headed downhill I got quite bad cramp in both my thighs, which I managed to work out. Cramp kept coming and going and when I got to Sutton and stopped both legs just went "NO MORE!" I stood there for 2 minutes wincing like you would if you ate a wasp while simultaneously having your man bits flicked by a bitter ex.

Drank half a bottle of water and did the last remaining 5 or so miles in not inconsiderable pain.

My own fault really, didn't drink enough as I was going and it was pretty hot...

Had a nice hot bath and feel a bit light headed....going to drink copious amounts of water methinks, tomorrow should be fun at work...

Some photos for your perusal!

Photographic Evidence The Worlds Grandest Car Park Sometimes Allows Traffic

Erm

Leith Hill Summit

Leith Hill Tower

Rest Time!

Got quite a few PRs including Leith Hill. Yay!

http://app.strava.com/activities/141876526

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the 5 days of summer!

@Phoenix Lincs - What's this I'm hearing about Bikes of the Mountain? You going all off roady on us? You post pics?

 

[MattMM]

@Nomadski Great photos dude, used to live in Surrey a long while ago, takes me back. M25 does look quieter than I remember though...

 

[Nigelnaturist]

the bikes a Ridgebak 603LX mountain bike..basic but all I could afford..Many thanks for replying

My Viking was pretty basic still is, but at over 13,300 in 23 months and it rides better, its still a brick to get up the hills mind.
As @SatNavSaysStraightOn says there are many things that could cause it, I suffered with numb hands for a long time, the doc said its as much getting use to it as anything, but I have changed the bars which are better I dont think many people give drop bars much thought apart from the ones that come with the bike, but I found the shallower drop better, I know its slightly different.