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

[Nigelnaturist]

I cycled to work last week during the torrential downpour, wearing nothing but cycling shorts and top. Arrived at work with a smile on my face which continued after changing into a fresh set of clothes. Everyone else looked rather miserable Was touch and go getting the clothes dry in time tho. Think we need a tumble dryer at work

Doesn't make a difference to how you feel

 

[moo]

Doesn't make a difference to how you feel

I've always loved the rain and often go out for a long walk to clear my head.

 

[morrisman]

Well it finally dried up enough for me to get out today

18 miles at an average of 16.5*, the bike fit I had seems to have transformed the bike, average speed up by 1.5/2 mph and with seemingly less effort. Another plus is the Gatorskins I have fitted which give me a much better ride the the stock Giant tyres. So all in all a happy bunny

*Would have been 16.8 if I had not spent time looking for my Garmin pedal cadence sensing magnet that fell off and departed to a parallel universe. It was stuck and cable tied in place but just fell off

 

[Biggler]

Another plus is the Gatorskins I have fitted which give me a much better ride the the stock Giant tyres.

I found the same thing on a Defy 5. My hands were going numb and getting pain on the stock tyres, the Gatorskins were noticeably more 'comfy'... still ordered a set of gel gloves cos my hands still hurt from time to time.

Hopefully I'll get out for a quick spin tonight, feel so lazy not going out since Monday

 

[L14M]

Had a rest day today as i'mdoing the 27 mile route with a fair few climbs again tomorrow! About to wash and lube the bike though!

Liam

 

[Stonechat]

Well, Nigel will be pleased to hear that I 'manned up' and went out this morning. Just played it by ear today, kept getting thoughts in my head and mentally organising my diary, etc, so speed was dropping regularly but I wasn't chasing segments. It was rainy and a bit windy, but actually not too bad, although my front light gave out near the start, so I'm pleased I didn't set off too early. Rather than 'waste' my ride, I decided to add a few 'intervals' on the way home- very technical timing system <NOT> - as I counted to 60 unless I got a bit distracted for higher HR, then again for lower HR. Burned some calories though, so that's a good thing.
Have fun everybody, and stay safe

THe various intervals etc on my training plan are sometimes quite hard to follow.
I do all mine on the road (no turbo) - I use roads without too many junctions
The hard one is to go as hard as you can for 5 minutes. Somehow it is easier to do that on a hill than on the flat.

 

[AndyPeace]

http://app.strava.com/activities/146842064
Making up for missing Wednesday's ride I went out today for another 50miler with Dave.That will teach me to try dodge the rainy days. Despite dry forcast it drizzeled for the whole three hours. Ironicaly Wednesday morning was dry here, lol. I don't mind the drizzle it can be quite refreshing but , for me, this effect lessens as the hours go on Foolishly left my mudguards off, so bike looks like I've been round on a cyclocross course and tbf some of the route ended up that way. There was a half mile section covered in mud that had fallen on to the lane from the bank. The first part of that lane was covered in a blanket of sandy mud a couple of inches thick...we'd turned into it and it was a bit unexpected...after that it carried on in smaller patches. I'm always surprised I stay upright on 23's, lol. We only breifly stopped for a two minute snack break, if I'd done it alone I'd have stopped twice for 5/10mins. Great having someone there to keep motivation...especailly in less favourable weather.
Took a few pics after the ride, as it seemed a good time to show the small changes I've made to my bike since August. (saddle and handlebar tape- they were the only two surfaces that were clean at the end of the ride!)
http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrew616/slideshow/My Mudone 3 5

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well I enjoyed that not as fast as some @morrisman but 17 p.b's with out really trying, but then I have probably only ever been done most of them once before, the battery on the Garmin just lasted the 2 1/2 hours from fully charged so I guess the battery is U.S. new one arrived today, but it would have taken longer to charge, and I still have the R20 which I will run along side as I do like some of the info from bryton, its just elevation that was a bug bear.

The ride brings up my second highest monthly tally, I have no chance of beating my best this month, also at this point of the month so long as I keep up a goodish avg it wont change much, so its really a matter of can I do my second 1,000 mile month.

http://app.strava.com/activities/146959424

The other thing I like about the mapping on this and the 500/200 they all work for me, is I get places I wouldn't from memory these days, as one of the things I do further a field is go down roads I have never been down. It stayed pretty dry a few spots, it was wetter earlier but it was only short.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@AndyPeace I stop usually once for about 10 mins though not if the ride is less than 25 miles, its some how not right if you go out and dont at least stop some where, though in my case they tend to be the same places on the way back.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Battery done and on charge, now to sort out a ride for tomorrow

 

[Stonechat]

Well I enjoyed that not as fast as some @morrisman but 17 p.b's with out really trying, but then I have probably only ever been done most of them once before, the battery on the Garmin just lasted the 2 1/2 hours from fully charged so I guess the battery is U.S. new one arrived today, but it would have taken longer to charge, and I still have the R20 which I will run along side as I do like some of the info from bryton, its just elevation that was a bug bear.

The ride brings up my second highest monthly tally, I have no chance of beating my best this month, also at this point of the month so long as I keep up a goodish avg it wont change much, so its really a matter of can I do my second 1,000 mile month.

http://app.strava.com/activities/146959424

The other thing I like about the mapping on this and the 500/200 they all work for me, is I get places I wouldn't from memory these days, as one of the things I do further a field is go down roads I have never been down. It stayed pretty dry a few spots, it was wetter earlier but it was only short.

Glad the new Garmin is going well

YEs I like the ability to take new roads
Whole new routes open up

You're doing well this month
I now have my best monthly total
I am already on 477 miles for May, will easily do 500, after rides tomorrow and Saturday, may get to 560 or so.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Glad the new Garmin is going well

YEs I like the ability to take new roads
Whole new routes open up

You're doing well this month
I now have my best monthly total
I am already on 477 miles for May, will easily do 500, after rides tomorrow and Saturday, may get to 560 or so.

It charged quicker, so I assume its in better order tomorrows run will tell, just loading it
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4868107
How much of the latter part I do will depend how I feel, I need 82 miles over the next two days, I usually call in and see my friend on Fridays after the group, but its not on tomorrow, so I couple of extra hours.
I think on the whole its been a good month for improvements.

Total cost for the 705 was £45 (£5 p.p.) £8 battery, £5 mount adapter, £12 out front mount. £76, ok its got a few scratches but i think its not a bad price all in, took a little sorting though.

Also found away of achieving 18+mph avg's

 

[L14M]

Already done the first leg of my journey, waiting for the train now. And I have already had one idiot yell at me for being in primary in a 20 zone and I was doing 25... Knob. Oh well I did shout f off back to him and St the lights told him to be a little more patient and to get the broken brake light sorted. It's quite literally hanging off.

 

[Stonechat]

Already done the first leg of my journey, waiting for the train now. And I have already had one idiot yell at me for being in primary in a 20 zone and I was doing 25... Knob. Oh well I did shout f off back to him and St the lights told him to be a little more patient and to get the broken brake light sorted. It's quite literally hanging off.

@L14M see this
http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/263742121902540066/

 

[L14M]

@L14M see this
http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/263742121902540066/

That's great