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

[Learnincurve]

I forgot the right GPS again and then like a moron turned it off instead of lock screen a few times. I did between 13 and 15 miles but I'm calling it 13. I do not know how many of those miles it was like this but my seat dropped, I suspect it may have been at around mile 7 because it was cobblestones, and my multi tool didn't have a 13 so

edit: Also I hardened up and went on the main road for the first time.

 

[morrisman]

Absolute blinder of a ride, somehow raised average speed to 16.7 mph a full 1 mph faster than ever before???

http://www.strava.com/activities/148958608

 

[Learnincurve]

Maybe I'm a bit of a rubbish biker.

Oh no Sir I am a rubbish biker, I'm slow, I walk up the hilly bits more often than not and my bike looks stupid and, I suspect, may be too small and end up with my daughter. But I have just as much right to be on the road as anyone else, and in fact, the people sitting on their arses who can go 100 just by pressing their foot a bit can bloody well wait for me to get to a safe place to stop [insert rants about cars not being weapons here]. Don't forget that all these people in cars and bikes were learner drivers/cyclists at some point too. Anyway, the rather rambling point is that we will get better, I know I'm a slow learner so for me I'm concentrating on distance and as I gain confidence I'm sure the speed will follow, right now there is absolutely no way I am going down a hill either not braking if it's steep or my hands on both brakes ready if it's slight for example.

 

[Trevor_P]

Following others advice, I take primary position in urban areas now, and am actually quite surprised how many motorists drive sensibly. Still got one eye on them of course. Maybe they see this largish guy and think of the damage I'd do to their cars?

Certainly more courteous than they are when I'm in a truck.

 

[Coggy]

This was my second "proper" ride last Saturday

http://www.strava.com/activities/148084325/overview

 

[Coggy]

Oh no Sir I am a rubbish biker, I'm slow, I walk up the hilly bits more often than not and my bike looks stupid and, I suspect, may be too small and end up with my daughter. But I have just as much right to be on the road as anyone else, and in fact, the people sitting on their arses who can go 100 just by pressing their foot a bit can bloody well wait for me to get to a safe place to stop [insert rants about cars not being weapons here]. Don't forget that all these people in cars and bikes were learner drivers/cyclists at some point too. Anyway, the rather rambling point is that we will get better, I know I'm a slow learner so for me I'm concentrating on distance and as I gain confidence I'm sure the speed will follow, right now there is absolutely no way I am going down a hill either not braking if it's steep or my hands on both brakes ready if it's slight for example.

LOL

I also brake going down steep hills !

 

[Mo1959]

That was depressing 2 improved places and 92 worse ones.

Small consolation Nigel, but the bulk of my rides are similar these days. Have to work really hard to improve any places but usually have loads of worse ones. I suppose we should be pleased that there are so many new riders around

 

[Nigelnaturist]

This was my second "proper" ride last Saturday

http://www.strava.com/activities/148084325/overview

Better than my second ride was, 18.2 miles @ 9.77mph, mind you I did get a broken spoke.

@Mo1959 so true, I think over the next few years there will be many more.

@Learnincurve I much prefer going up them to coming down them.

 

[GreigM]

Had a nice 25 miles today and thankfully managed to avoid any rain for a change, makes the ride a lot better if not soaked to the skin I have a charity ride on Sunday going from Dunfermline to Edinburgh (about 22 miles) so should be ok for that and have raised a small amount for the Edinburgh Sick Kids charity which is close to my heart, only really worried about going over the Forth Road Bridge as I am a bit scared of heights and tend to avoid even driving over it, so hopefully I don't get too stressed by it on the day.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Pretty pleased with this bit
Dead Leg Hill (B6273, Southmoor Rd FULL Climb) Brierley Gap
Not as fast as you today @Mo1959

 

[Mo1959]

Pretty pleased with this bit
Dead Leg Hill (B6273, Southmoor Rd FULL Climb) Brierley Gap
Not as fast as you today @Mo1959

More climbing though! Fully intend to be back down to around 14mph tomorrow as I fancy a nice relaxed ride.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

More climbing though! Fully intend to be back down to around 14mph tomorrow as I fancy a nice relaxed ride.

Not according to the R20 and bryton, it was 1217ft according to them rwgps corrected at 1871ft http://ridewithgps.com/trips/2762456

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Had a nice 25 miles today and thankfully managed to avoid any rain for a change, makes the ride a lot better if not soaked to the skin I have a charity ride on Sunday going from Dunfermline to Edinburgh (about 22 miles) so should be ok for that and have raised a small amount for the Edinburgh Sick Kids charity which is close to my heart, only really worried about going over the Forth Road Bridge as I am a bit scared of heights and tend to avoid even driving over it, so hopefully I don't get too stressed by it on the day.

You will be fine.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Pretty pleased with this bit
Dead Leg Hill (B6273, Southmoor Rd FULL Climb) Brierley Gap
Not as fast as you today @Mo1959

I did a similar climb on the way home

http://www.strava.com/segments/3415435?filter=overall

The last bit is a bloody killer

 

[Mo1959]

Had a nice 25 miles today and thankfully managed to avoid any rain for a change, makes the ride a lot better if not soaked to the skin I have a charity ride on Sunday going from Dunfermline to Edinburgh (about 22 miles) so should be ok for that and have raised a small amount for the Edinburgh Sick Kids charity which is close to my heart, only really worried about going over the Forth Road Bridge as I am a bit scared of heights and tend to avoid even driving over it, so hopefully I don't get too stressed by it on the day.

Apart from driving over it, I've only ran over it when I did my one and only marathon way back in 1999. If I remember correctly the side barriers seemed quite high so you weren't really all that aware of the height. You will be fine.