Kins
Über Member
- Location
- Ystradgynlais, S. Wales
I thought of a new Business. I'll export hills from Wales. Within ten years I should have South Wales looking like Holland. Good Times! 
Show us your.......newbie progress! [4 Sep 2012 - 4 Oct 2014]
- Thread starter Typhon
- Start date
- Status
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welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
I thought of a new Business. I'll export hills from Wales. Within ten years I should have South Wales looking like Holland. Good Times!
Would you like the bloomin big hills in powys as well? You can have them. Free of charge i mean the foothills of the cambrian mountains
NorvernRob
Senior Member
- Location
- Sheffield
I'm still knackered to be honest! I've just clicked on the link to my strava and there was actually a Cat 2, three Cat 3's and a Cat 4. I wondered why the last climb wasn't categorised on the segments on my phone as it's a couple of miles long and climbs around 700ft.
Having a couple of easier weeks now as I'm out for a birthday next sat and riding up to watch the tour stage 2 the week after!
Nomadski
I Like Bikes
- Location
- LBS, Usually
Took a new route this morning, buggered up my hayfever since now I've the red-eyed junkie look to sport today, I suppose cycling is a drug.
http://www.strava.com/activities/156096290
I have been a bit discouraged in the sense that my average speeds are always low, but the hills take it out of me, so this ride half of it was flat-ish and it lifted my spirits some!
Having your stats handy is always useful IMO, and fun too, and really lets you see your progress. But dont let any of it get you down when looking at other riders, its a source of comparison for your own progress in the saddle. I ride a lot in Richmond Park which is a London cycle haven, has thousands of cyclists there each week. And when I ride I constantly get passed by the uber guys, and the uber gals, and tbh many notso uber cyclists too. In fact I get passed by guys on their way home from work!
Doesnt bother me one bit, as Im out there doing my own thing at my own chosen pace. Enjoy it, and use the numbers in whatever way makes it all more meaningful to you, but dont be dictated by them, or concerned by any others out there on bikes.
Even when Im head down and in full race mode, I have no doubt Im still going backwards compared with most lol.
Thats what I keep saying to myself when a big bunch of ladies pass me...."I'm conserving my energy...I'm conserving my energy"!
Decided not to go against my usual grain, so hills, hills and a few more hills thrown in for good measure was the order for the day. Don't mind admitting it was a bloody tough day in the saddle across some pretty harsh climbs but the views made up for it
http://www.strava.com/activities/156294644
Blimey I thought I hit the hills today, but your ride makes mine look positively flat!
Well done Phoenix! I remember the torrid time you had last year (but still completed it), glad to hear this ride was much more enjoyable!
Ach dont do that Rob, you can take the boy out of the beginners thread, but the beginners thread will always be with the boy! (Think that makes sense)
The great thing about this thread is the diversity of riders, you are not alone in being a solid rider, theres quite a few too. you guys are mingled with true beginners that get their usual treatment of encouragement from others, all ages, all sexes, all different reasons for going out there on the bike.
Its what keeps this thread going so well, so keep posting your rides, it gives some of us something else to aspire to being able to achieve, even if its just in our heads!
Having woken up T minus 3 hours pre MoTime (2am) to goto my early shift, and having worked till 1pm, I still wanted to get out and ride in the sunshine. My initial plan was a few circuits of Richmond Park, but once I got the bike outside, and the Garmin on, I decided I had kind of done that to death recently, so tentatively headed out along the Hills, Hills & Damned Hills route.
Strangely, considering the length of time I'd been awake, and working, I felt strangely energetic up the hills. Putting this down purely to having done so many recently with France etc, I ended up with multiple PR's up some well worn hills, beating times I had set fresh and with the help of other riders.
The next big hill I faultered a little near the top as its quite a narrow road, and a car just wouldnt pass me no matter how much I moved over, waved them on, until I ended up just stopping as they were so close to me.
I got to the Box Hill turn off and decided I wasnt going to be able to do the full Damned Hills route (Leith Hill section) so went for an attack of Box Hill, the always faraway sub 10 minute goal. Had a good first two thirds, with some three minutes left at the point of all the writing on the road, I seemed to lose ground a little, and it was so touch and go whether I had done it - my unscientific method of just looking at the watch seemed to suggets Id missed it by about 1-20 seconds, which seemed to match up to around 6 of the zig zag segments (Strava has so many Box Hill segments!) but when I looked further down the list there was a further 10 segments where I hit sub 10 minutes!
So not conclusive, but Im taking that as a victory, even a partial one!
After a tea break at the top...photo time.
Feeling still fairly fresh, I went for a RideLondon route home, passing by Chelski's training ground.
Picked up a few 3rd best times along the well worn route, and even got a PR near the backend of the ride in Kingston.
Saw about midway home my average speed was 14.1 which I was quite happy about given the climbing, I tried to maintain a pretty fast pace (for me!). What is weird (I find) is when I go up a hill, that 14.1 quickly becomes a 14, but when Im roasting at 16mph, or going downhill, it never goes up to 14.2!
Also, I need to find out the nutritional value of swallowing 16 flying insects, as I reckon that contributed to my relatively decent pace! I also got divebombed by pretty much every Gods creature that was small enough to fly into my helmet vents. Good fun wafting them away while doing 25 mph down a hill, with cars behind me...
Anyway, sorry about the ramble, felt really good when I finished and looked at my speeds and all the PR's, especially given the verrrrry long day Ive had. Very unexpected. Mind, right now I feel like someone has poured concrete into my legs, but I'll worry about that tomorrow!
http://www.strava.com/activities/156924521/segments/3630827690
Better finish up as Im on another early tomorrow!!
Happy cycling all, get better soon @Mo1959.xx
Bangers
Active Member
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/524765355. Day ones ride 132 miles
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/524765414. Day twos ride 50 miles
This was what myself and 3 mates started training for last year and although there was some "navigation" problems on the first day and would have liked to cover the ground a bit quicker but it left us with plenty of stories to tell .
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/524765414. Day twos ride 50 miles
This was what myself and 3 mates started training for last year and although there was some "navigation" problems on the first day and would have liked to cover the ground a bit quicker but it left us with plenty of stories to tell .
Stonechat
Guru
- Location
- Staines, Middlesex
Here am I at the top (perhaps just past the top) of Ditchling Beacon
Phoenix Lincs
Über Member
- Location
- Sleaford, Lincs
Fantastic ride and an amazing write up as ever. You must have been thrilled with all those trophies. What a star and inspiration you are
Xxx
Nigelnaturist
Guru
- Location
- Pontefract
@Stonechat great picture.
Nigelnaturist
Guru
- Location
- Pontefract
Nothing to report as interesting as many as you guys have had this last weekend.
Today is the second anniversary of me starting cycling.
Today is the second anniversary of me starting cycling.
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
Nothing to report as interesting as many as you guys have had this last weekend.
Today is the second anniversary of me starting cycling.
Happy anniversary Nigel.
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
Been out again today. Beautiful sunshine, shame about the flies, no i wasn't attracting them because of the smell thank you. I was on my folder again today
and started from the small village of Cemaes
i went over the bridge that spans the river dovey and continued along a very narrow lane
i could hear a lot of sheep ahead and thought the farmer was probably moving them down the lane to have them sheared so decided to turn around and head back towards the village. On the way there I took a detour onto a foot path
i had no idea where i was going to end up, but as luck would have it i was back at the river dovey.
the footpath wasnt suitable for my folder, so turned back the way i came and found my way back onto familiar ground. Dont know how far i went, but i had a very enjoyable bimble in the sunshine. Now back home showered changed, drinking coffee.
and started from the small village of Cemaes
i went over the bridge that spans the river dovey and continued along a very narrow lane
i could hear a lot of sheep ahead and thought the farmer was probably moving them down the lane to have them sheared so decided to turn around and head back towards the village. On the way there I took a detour onto a foot path
i had no idea where i was going to end up, but as luck would have it i was back at the river dovey.
the footpath wasnt suitable for my folder, so turned back the way i came and found my way back onto familiar ground. Dont know how far i went, but i had a very enjoyable bimble in the sunshine. Now back home showered changed, drinking coffee.
Nomadski
I Like Bikes
- Location
- LBS, Usually
Congrats on the 2 year anniversary @Nigelnaturist
You have sure done more than your fair share of mileage.
You have sure done more than your fair share of mileage.
morrisman
Guru
Hot and sticky run out this afternoon, but on the up side 2020 miles so far this year, 1035 miles on the Defy 2 and 14 PRs on the route
http://www.strava.com/activities/157143997
http://www.strava.com/activities/157143997
Nigelnaturist
Guru
- Location
- Pontefract
Got fed up waiting for the LBS to get my spoke nipple I have ordered one on line. First time i rang engages, fair enough small business, 2nd time unobtainable 3rd time answer phone.
Effyb4
Veteran
- Status
