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

[Exile]

Got out to test the newly fitted drive train and it's lovely! Having every gear working with no skipping or slipping is amazing, although the slightly different ratios are taking some getting used to. The 34t is amazing and I doubt there's a hill in the land I couldn't winch myself up now.

Also noticed the annoying creaking/pinging noise has gone. Seems, as I suspected, it was related to the cheap plastic chain guard the bike came with. Now looking forwards to the commuting this week, then the Great Manchester Cycle next week. Normally i'm not one for these huge rides, but given a few friends are doing it, and that you can't normally ride on the Mancunian Way, it seemed worth a look. Dropped down to the 13 mile distance now as that's what all the others I know are doing, so might have to take the long was to the start . Does mean I don't feel too bad about not training though.

 

[morrisman]

Out for a brisk 30 miles this morning. Loads of riders about mostly friendly and observant, that is except the group of 4, from some club or other judging by their matching kit, who set off across my path when I was doing ~20mph. I was a bit cross and let them know it

http://www.strava.com/activities/156626892

Argh! just noticed I came in a bit early, having cleaned the bike, had a shower and done the stats my annual mileage is now 1998.25 miles

 

[turbopercy]

Ride number 8 and the real start of my training for the manchester to blackpool on 13 july

 

[Cold]

Out early this morning did some hills and went a bit further out in to the cotswolds than I've been before
I feel like I have a bit of a groin strain so might take it easy for a few days.

http://www.strava.com/activities/156575864

 

[puffinbilly]

Still waiting on parts for the bike - so rather restricted this weekend. New cassette and chain in post and new chainring about to be posted.Just been talking to someone who mentioned this ride - something to aim for next year.
http://solsticec2c.wordpress.com/
Really frustrated in not being able to ride even for a day or so - thinking of @Mo1959

 

[BrynCP]

Road bike is in the shop for its six week service, so got the Hybrid out today, cleaned up the front dérailleur, which was stuck, and tightened the brakes and managed just 18.5 miles - just not as fun to ride: really hard to ride in the wind and up hills - even with the lower chain ring. However, that hybrid started me off on this journey and has 1800 miles on it!

Unfortunately I also came nearest to being knocked off today: van driver coming out of a junction just looked straight past me, and his bumper was less than an inch off my front wheel by the time he noticed. I looked at him and he seemed shocked, he did hold extremely far back for the rest of the road. Oh well.

However, with yesterday's 43 miles on the road bike and today's 18.5 on the hybrid, this takes me to 2000 miles YTD.

 

[Stonechat]

Went out on a ride with a local group
Went from Windsor Great Park up through BOurne End and Cookham
Stopped for coffee and a bite at Maidenhead
Very pleasant outing
50.2 miles at 13.2 mph (slower speed as in a group)
1322 feet of climbing
http://www.strava.com/activities/156696707

 

[Kins]

http://www.strava.com/activities/156707969

Set off and felt a bit of a tight in hamstring so took it easy (8/9 mph) on a little loop of about 3 miles to see it was better when warmed up. Seemed to, so did a bigger loop, and still felt ok, so just made it up as I went along. Managed 14 miles in the end before back was aching so called it a day.

Glorious weather, bugger all cyclist about though. Saw total of 4.

Hope you all had a great Sunday!

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Did the 50 mile route of Cycle Live Nottingham today (did the 100 last year and found it very tough).

I really enjoyed today's ride which was made even better with the sun shining and no wind (as opposed to last year) and very happy with my average speed overall. My only problem today was my sit bones really, but I called in at the final feed station at 40 miles to stretch my legs and let my butt breathe a bit.

Had my shower, now off to a little kip to recharge the batteries.

Happy riding folks

 

[Effyb4]

I went on a sky ride for the first time today. It was a 'challenging' ride, but I managed quite well and wasn't the slowest rider. I also managed a hill that I have been avoiding for a while. It was quite a steady pace really.

http://www.strava.com/activities/156722323

 

[bororider]

Had my first 'clipless moment' today.
Luckily it was only on my sisters driveway. Clipped my left foot in and tried to pull away on the gravel. Bike didn't budge and I went over in a pile with the bike on top lol.

Just laughed it off and was on my way. Lesson learnt, don't ride on gravel!!

Got pain in the back of my knee, started last week and aggravated it again today, lowered seat slightly and adjusted cleat too so see how it goes. Right leg and foot feel really good but my left is playing me up

 

[NorvernRob]

This will be my last post in newbies (about my own cycling) as although I still class myself as a Cycling newcomer I've put in a lot of effort and training, culminating in today's effort.

From going out on my first ride on the 2nd Feb, being absolutely knackered after 15 miles and stopping god knows how many times on Holme Moss, I've since managed to climb it without stopping, then another Cat 3 climb on the way home.

Today we went all the way across the Snake Pass to Glossop, then climbed back up and into the Peak District, taking in two Cat 4's, a Cat 3 and a Cat 2 (the 4 mile 6% average climb from Glossop to the summit of the Snake) without stopping on any of them.

There's a straight line on the Strava map as I turned it off by mistake, only realising when we stopped for a snack further on! I lost a couple of miles but it filled in the gap pretty well.

https://www.strava.com/activities/156626998

Strava says 4900ft, my Garmin said 6100ft, the mapping on ridewithGPS said 5,300ft but whichever it is I'm not bothered, it was bloody tough!

Oh, and I've also lost over half a stone, it doesn't sound much but I'm 37 and have always been roughly the same weight, only putting on a few kilos since I turned 30 - I now weigh less than when I was in my early 20's!

 

[Kins]

Hell of a ride Rob! Well Done m8!

 

[Eribiste]

I tense up like a stiff on descents (Not a fan to say the least!), but I don't get siezed carves, just cold feet which leads to toes cramping, so don't underestimate the windchill on the way down.

Are you coasting down the hills? If you keep spinning the cranks you'll work the lactic acid out of your legs and also reduce the risk of cramp. It works for me.

 

[Stonechat]

This will be my last post in newbies (about my own cycling) as although I still class myself as a Cycling newcomer I've put in a lot of effort and training, culminating in today's effort.

From going out on my first ride on the 2nd Feb, being absolutely knackered after 15 miles and stopping god knows how many times on Holme Moss, I've since managed to climb it without stopping, then another Cat 3 climb on the way home.

Today we went all the way across the Snake Pass to Glossop, then climbed back up and into the Peak District, taking in two Cat 4's, a Cat 3 and a Cat 2 (the 4 mile 6% average climb from Glossop to the summit of the Snake) without stopping on any of them.

There's a straight line on the Strava map as I turned it off by mistake, only realising when we stopped for a snack further on! I lost a couple of miles but it filled in the gap pretty well.

https://www.strava.com/activities/156626998

Strava says 4900ft, my Garmin said 6100ft, the mapping on ridewithGPS said 5,300ft but whichever it is I'm not bothered, it was bloody tough!

Oh, and I've also lost over half a stone, it doesn't sound much but I'm 37 and have always been roughly the same weight, only putting on a few kilos since I turned 30 - I now weigh less than when I was in my early 20's!

Well done. Just can't find hills like that here