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

[Nigelnaturist]

I've been doing some research because I needed another set of hybrid tyres and some of my Canadian road biking friends were telling me to get (cheap) Schwalbe Lugano or the more expensive GP4000s as neither of them are hybrid I didn't but according to America's hats they can handle well over 4000 miles on roads that make ours look nice and are as close to puncture proof as you are going to get.

Gatorskins both front and rear over 6,000 miles not one single puncture due to the tyre being punctured though Ii have had 3 one failed patch and two pinch punctures (both of them stones), the rear is now shedding rubber so it needs replacing.

 

[Learnincurve]

That's the one thing I remember very very clearly from my youth, it does not matter how nice your bike is, broken glass does not care so stick some decent tires on it. I went with http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0058ZU20U/ref=oh_details_o04_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 which are now out of stock on amazon but evans have them in the same price. They don't look much like the picture, it's kind of an artist's impression but you can see where the wire is on the inside and it's about 2mm apart. This is for the elderly £50 hard tail mountain bike I've got turning up on Thursday but having looked at the picture more I'm not sure if someone else hasn't had a similar idea at some point because they don't look stock, and on top of that the gears are 21 and newer version have 18 so there is hope that it may not be as cheap as the price suggests

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Right I have just checked the uncorrected elevation data from my ride on Friday from the Edge 705 1644ft+ 1618ft- the corrected data on rwgps from the R20 much the same as a garmin 200 and most phones, 1607ft+ 1608ft- the original Bryton data was 490ft+ 509ft- the conclusion is that the corrected elevation on rwgps is closer than the gps data for elevation.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Rain is due on here any time now so just did shy of 25 miles to get back before it arrives. Put in a bit of effort since I knew I wasn't going far so at least I feel like I've had a reasonable workout even although I was only out for 90 minutes. No doubt I will be dog walking in the rain.

Just a bit of effort! Your speed today puts me to shame.

 

[Mo1959]

Just a bit of effort! Your speed today puts me to shame.

Yebbut, you went twice as far! I think I'll need a couple of gentle days now to recover. Lol.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Mo1959 distance doesn't always mean improvment, besides you can do the distance, can @Supersuperleeds match you for speed, on your hills

 

[Supersuperleeds]

@Mo1959 distance doesn't always mean improvment, besides you can do the distance, can @Supersuperleeds match you for speed, on your hills

I reckon I could keep up with Mo on her hills....... if she is walking the dog.

 

[Coggy]

What a great thread !

I look forward to reading all 820 pages ! Like having a new book to read !

I started around mid March. Recently moved from a busy town to a lovely village and so got the Hybrid bike out that I bought with all good intentions 3 years ago (Had only ridden it once before this year for about 4 miles !).

My first ride was a 6.7 mile loop which at the time felt huge ! Completed in about 37 minutes at an average of about 10.8mph. The following week headed 3 miles up road to a local airfield where there is a 2.5 mile perimeter road, lovely and flat and smooth, only challenge is the head winds down 2 sides which on this day were around 16 mph. Completed 6 laps and so with my ride back that totalled around 21 miles in the saddle. I felt like a King !

Signed up to do the Essex Castle ride 50 miler for July 26th to raise money for research into a rare form of Childrens cancer that my little 18 month nephew died from last year and started hitting the airfield again. Bought myself a road bike and got up to 31 miles before a series of ultra busy weekends came along preventing me from getting out on bike.

2 weekends ago decided to tackle my first proper road ride and managed 24 miles. I thought I was going to die when going up some of the hills. 5 weeks off the bike had taken it's toll.

Last weekend, decided to go for it and targeted a 30 - 40 mile road ride. Did 34 miles in just over 2 1/2 hours at an average of just over 13mph. Found it far easier despite challenging hills etc. Just goes to show, if you stick at it it gets easier, more enjoyable and you get more out of it.

 

[Mo1959]

@Coggy Well done. Sounds like you are doing well. Can you fit in the odd ride in the evenings now that it is lighter? You would probably see even more progress doing that rather than just riding at the weekend. Good luck with your charity ride.

 

[Coggy]

@Coggy Well done. Sounds like you are doing well. Can you fit in the odd ride in the evenings now that it is lighter? You would probably see even more progress doing that rather than just riding at the weekend. Good luck with your charity ride.

Cheers @Mo1959 yes that is my plan. I may get out tonight as long as it isn't raining failing that will get on my spinning bike just to get the legs moving. Perhaps I should buy a turbo trainer.

I am planning on a 10 - 12 miler on Thursday and hoping to do 35 + on Sunday as well.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Cheers @Mo1959 yes that is my plan. I may get out tonight as long as it isn't raining failing that will get on my spinning bike just to get the legs moving. Perhaps I should buy a turbo trainer.

I am planning on a 10 - 12 miler on Thursday and hoping to do 35 + on Sunday as well.

What has this got to do with stopping you, you may have no choice on the charity ride (good luck with it by the way), so its best to get used to riding in the rain, and wind as they are part of everyday British weather and it allows you to get more riding in, and its not usually that bad, wind you will get used to (perhaps not like, but develop techniques to lessen the impact it has on your riding), the avg wind speed I ride in is about 10mph over the course of a year.
to the thread, have a good read, it covers many topics.

 

[Coggy]

What has this got to do with stopping you, you may have no choice on the charity ride (good luck with it by the way), so its best to get used to riding in the rain, and wind as they are part of everyday British weather and it allows you to get more riding in, and its not usually that bad, wind you will get used to (perhaps not like, but develop techniques to lessen the impact it has on your riding), the avg wind speed I ride in is about 10mph over the course of a year.
to the thread, have a good read, it covers many topics.

Yes I am well aware that it rains in England. I have ridden in the rain several times so far but it was dry when I set off.

If it is lashing it down then personally I don't feel it is the best conditions for a new rider on busy country lanes in the evening as commuters are rushing home.

Maybe I'm a bit of a rubbish biker.

 

[Coggy]

Gatorskins both front and rear over 6,000 miles not one single puncture due to the tyre being punctured though Ii have had 3 one failed patch and two pinch punctures (both of them stones), the rear is now shedding rubber so it needs replacing.

I have just fitted Gatorskins to my bike after already experiencing two punctures in my very short cycling career. Have yet to ride on them though

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Yes I am well aware that it rains in England. I have ridden in the rain several times so far but it was dry when I set off.

If it is lashing it down then personally I don't feel it is the best conditions for a new rider on busy country lanes in the evening as commuters are rushing home.

Maybe I'm a bit of a rubbish biker.

No those are the ones that dont ride at all. I wasn't meaning to have a go, the important thing is you enjoy it, if you don't you wont do it. I am not a great cyclist by any means, struggle being out more than a couple of hours.
The tyres if anything like mine wont let you down in normal riding, I have covered nearly half the total distance I have done in the last two years on a pair, front it's good for another few thousand I think but the rear needs changing.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

That was depressing 2 improved places and 92 worse ones.