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

[Stonechat]

Ok - went and did my ride. Not far, not quick, very hot and not as cool as I thought it would be.

12.77 miles @ 14.56 mph av' - 3 hills one of which was a little swine! Twisty thing with a sting in the tail! Also moron aged about 16 in a tractor came hurtling down around a bend causing me to come almost to a standstill!

***

Finally I am gaining confidence with speed on twisty descents - after my two falls last year my confidence took a dent.

My fatter 35mm tyres are proving to be very sticky. I did read somewhere on here that fatter tyres can be twitchy but I can't say I notice any twitchey-ness at all. They are rock solid even on the crappy lanes up here.

I have worked hard on several aspects of descending twisty hills - one) I now steer by pushing down instead of trying to turn the bars, two) I use my drops which makes things much more stable and three) I look right through the bend instead of at what is happening in front of my nose!

Much better - you're never too old to learn.

People say you should relax and not hold the bars too tight
However if you hit a bump then I think a firmer grip is OK
I have gradually got a little more confidence in descending, especially since I had the road bike
The high position on the hybrid unnerved me

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I'm nearly 58 - who's older (if that's not too rude to ask)?

I retired when I was 48 and got bored after a year!

I now have a little pottering along business that bizarrely does quite well for itself. No stress, no hassle and gives me the best of both worlds plus tops my pension up nicely.

My wife retired at the same time as me when she was 41 and she too got fed up and now has a very nice part-time position.

We have no intention of retiring fully again at the moment.

 

[welsh dragon]

I'm nearly 58 - who's older (if that's not too rude to ask)?

I retired when I was 48 and got bored after a year!

I now have a little pottering along business that bizarrely does quite well for itself. No stress, no hassle and gives me the best of both worlds plus tops my pension up nicely.

My wife retired at the same time as me when she was 41 and she too got fed up and now has a very nice part-time position.

We have no intention of retiring fully again at the moment.

Im older than you. I'm already 58. I retired 7 years ago.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Im older than you. I'm already 58. I retired 7 years ago.

Old bugger!

You've not got bored then?

I work about 20 hours a week for 40 weeks of the year these days and it keeps me sane.

I got a bit apathetic when I tried fully retiring and ended up being busy doing nothing!

 

[welsh dragon]

Old bugger!

You've not got bored then?

I work about 20 hours a week for 40 weeks of the year these days and it keeps me sane.

I got a bit apathetic when I tried fully retiring and ended up being busy doing nothing!

To be honest, I dont think I could go back to that whole must be at work at a certain time, and having to fit in with others re hours and holidays and taking orders. Not now. I like being able to potter around and doing what I want.

 

[Stonechat]

Im older than you. I'm already 58. I retired 7 years ago.

62

 

[SpokeyDokey]

62

You win!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

To be honest, I dont think I could go back to that whole must be at work at a certain time, and having to fit in with others re hours and holidays and taking orders. Not now. I like being able to potter around and doing what I want.

That would do my head in too. I just like my little business - just me and it can be as big or as small as I want. It's probably best part of three decades since I had a boss of any description as I was the boss for a lot of my 'proper' working life!

To be honest, I dont think I could go back to that whole must be at work at a certain time, and having to fit in with others re hours and holidays and taking orders. Not now. I like being able to potter around and doing what I want.

I can understand that! That's why it's much better working for yourself.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I hate M.T.B. bikes horrible things they are
http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView/2?id=5964189

 

[GreigM]

Feeling quite young at 40 now

 

[Mo1959]

Feeling quite young at 40 now

Just a bairn.

 

[Goonerobes]

Feeling quite young at 40 now

Only on the "newbie progress" thread can you say this!

 

[fivepence]

1st seeds of doubt for this Rapha Rising Challenge are beginning to hit with this heatwave . Another 3340 over the next three days complete it
Just a slow roller tonight to try save the legs for weekend

http://www.strava.com/activities/170405659

 

[RWright]

1st seeds of doubt for this Rapha Rising Challenge are beginning to hit with this heatwave . Another 3340 over the next three days complete it
Just a slow roller tonight to try save the legs for weekend

http://www.strava.com/activities/170405659

I think that is the one I did last year. It was the toughest challenge I did. If I could do it you can do it.
No way I could have done it this year. Maybe I will try it again in the future.

 

[Mo1959]

I think that is the one I did last year. It was the toughest challenge I did. If I could do it you can do it.
No way I could have done it this year. Maybe I will try it again in the future.

Probably would have given it a try too, although I think this years seems to have slightly more climbing than last year does it not? Would have been tough in this heat.