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

[Biggler]

Hello!

Not been round these parts in a month or so, mostly due to me being lazy and watching football

It's good to see everyone still doing well, I am now off out for a ride

 

[Learnincurve]

Just some musings, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being average, it's where we new cyclists should aim to be. Don't look at who is top on strava if you are a newbie, these are all fit young men on bikes as light as air who are happy to spend £200 on new pedals if they save them 40g in weight. There is also nowt wrong with not wanting to ride a road bike built for lightness and speed. A touring bike or a mountain bike may be slower but the person riding them knows that and has a good reason to be riding them, speed isn't everything all the time, sometimes it's about the journey rather than how long it took and how far you went. That person going 20 mph may get their quicker than you but they missed out on seeing the baby bunnies and that pretty patch of wild flowers.

As with all things there are people who take cycling very very seriously and those who do it for pleasure, some of the serious people should stop being so uppity and the casual people should be the better person, don't rise to any obnoxious bell ringing and give way to them, unless the casual person is going for a stava segment as well in which case the person in £900 worth of lycra can sod off and wait till there is a safe place for them to overtake.

I think the crux of my rambling is, don't try and beat the people at the top on strava, try and beat the person just above you.

 

[welsh dragon]

Went into town today to have a appotle around. I also wanted to experiment with the height of my saddle as I thought it was too low and my legs have been hurting after just a couple of miles. My local town is machynlleth (mach) as the locals call it. There are only about 2000 living in mach.

the last Welsh prince of Wales Owain Glyndwyr, made Mach his capital of wales. It is also where he held his parliament.

there is also a park in the middle of town

And there are some nice open spaces as well

 

[Biggler]

I think the crux of my rambling is, don't try and beat the people at the top on strava, try and beat the person just above you.

I'd maybe say don't even try and beat them! just try and beat your own times. The first thing I do on Strava when I'm looking at segments is change the table to "My Results". Saying that, it is nice to get a KOM

 

[Stonechat]

Taking it east watching the tdf

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I'd maybe say don't even try and beat them! just try and beat your own times. The first thing I do on Strava when I'm looking at segments is change the table to "My Results". Saying that, it is nice to get a KOM

You can set this as the default if you wish or those you follow which if you do as I do and follow those of a similar ability to you will give you tables that have times that are more achievable.
@welsh dragon it could just be the exercise, my thighs hurt a little today.
@Stonechat its more boring than watching football.

 

[BrynCP]

Just did 40 miles today, the 10-20 section often against the wind lowered my average speed to 15.3mph.

I really struggle with Hills and ended with Brantingham Dale today; I had to stop once which is better than the twice last time. I don't use Strava as a competition tool at all, but it's always interesting to see where I am on the tables, and for anything with a climb I am usually in the last 10% where as for most other segments I am in the top 50%, maybe it's because I don't get enough practice with them.

There is still some clicking from the rear cassette so I will see how tomorrow's ride goes them decide if I need to take it into the shop to get their expert eye otherwise my gear shifting seems smooth enough now I followed Park Tools' guide on how to adjust the rear derailleur.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Just did 40 miles today, the 10-20 section often against the wind lowered my average speed to 15.3mph.

I really struggle with Hills and ended with Brantingham Dale today; I had to stop once which is better than the twice last time. I don't use Strava as a competition tool at all, but it's always interesting to see where I am on the tables, and for anything with a climb I am usually in the last 10% where as for most other segments I am in the top 50%, maybe it's because I don't get enough practice with them.

There is still some clicking from the rear cassette so I will see how tomorrow's ride goes them decide if I need to take it into the shop to get their expert eye otherwise my gear shifting seems smooth enough now I followed Park Tools' guide on how to adjust the rear derailleur.

I am slow on hills, but its mainly a weight issue. Check spoke tension, these often tick if loose like something catching a spoke whilst its turning.

 

[BrynCP]

I am slow on hills, but its mainly a weight issue. Check spoke tension, these often tick if loose like something catching a spoke whilst its turning.

Well for as much weight as I have lost, I am still 14.5 stone. So I guess I have to factor that in to my general fitness.

The clicking is just in the second to largest cog which I find strange. On the stand I can hear the click but see nothing front or back, anywhere, to explain it! This is all post a DIY rear hanger replacement following some damage caused by attempted theft. But I think my derailleur might have got damaged in the process but I have taken some photos which I will put up later in the technical section for opinions. I'd be straight to bike shop but those things take time and I don't like being without my bike!

 

[Stonechat]

You can set this as the default if you wish or those you follow which if you do as I do and follow those of a similar ability to you will give you tables that have times that are more achievable.
@welsh dragon it could just be the exercise, my thighs hurt a little today.
@Stonechat its more boring than watching football.

Can certainly feel the effects of yesterday's ascent of 'cote de Combe Lane' in my legs.

 

[Biggler]

This morning's ride was good, but it started off with me feeling really sluggish
When I finally got in the groove, I smashed a 4.4mile segment at 17.9mph as opposed to my previous best of 14.5mph, which might not be fast by a lot of peoples standards but I thought it was bloody good for me!

I was at the point where I was feeling great & I decided I was going to add an extra 8 miles or so to make this the longest ride I've done... queue my cleat not releasing and me spending 10+minutes trying to get my shoe off the pedal. I could see what was wrong, the cleat looked like it had come loose and moving the shoe wasn't actually moving the cleat. Remember to tighten the cleat bolts everyone!

I worryingly rode home and the shoe came off first time in my garage.. grr.
The best bit was I've found my new favourite road for cycling, a small country road called Aislaby Road that is butter smooth, it's amazing how a brilliant road "flattens" the hills

30.3 miles at 13.3mph - http://www.strava.com/activities/161925689

You can set this as the default if you wish or those you follow which if you do as I do and follow those of a similar ability to you will give you tables that have times that are more achievable.

Thanks for the tip, I'll get it changed.

 

[fivepence]

One year in the saddle today so decided to hit my benchmark hill , last time I was up the CAT was March so nice to see a string of PRs , shows me the work I have put in , is having effect.
Managed dislodge one of the HRM sensors as I zipped up my top again after the climb so the HR after that is wrong. Shame really as the winds in the open moors properly battered me on way back. Would liked to have seen the full results

http://www.strava.com/activities/161979831/

 

[Stonechat]

One year in the saddle today so decided to hit my benchmark hill , last time I was up the CAT was March so nice to see a string of PRs , shows me the work I have put in , is having effect.
Managed dislodge one of the HRM sensors as I zipped up my top again after the climb so the HR after that is wrong. Shame really as the winds in the open moors properly battered me on way back. Would liked to have seen the full results

http://www.strava.com/activities/161979831/

really don't have hills on that scale here
Well done

 

[Learnincurve]

wow @fivepence when I saw the mentions of hills I thought "I wonder if" and it turns out it was more impressive than I thought it would be.

 

[Trevor_P]

Windy ride today. Taking it easy in prep for next Sundays attempt at 100 miles. Don't feel too good after this one for some reason. Bad neckache, bit of a headache too.

http://www.strava.com/activities/162036329