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

[Justinslow]

I really loved it, my only problem is where the hell do I go to cycle 15 or 20 miles

Anywhere! Just think of a route around your local area and go for it, or just follow your nose, if you have a smart phone you can always get a map up to find your way home, I'm going out this morning and I've got a rough idea where I'm going but definitely not fixed. If you're in London maybe take your bike to one of the big parks?

 

[Gavlaaaaarrrrr]

Hi all started riding end of July my first ride was
7mile's in 30mins average speed 14.3mph
My last ride last night was
18miles in 1hr 13mins average speed 14.5mph

 

[Harv]

I really loved it, my only problem is where the hell do I go to cycle 15 or 20 miles

I normally look at Strava routes people near me have done to get some good ideas for rides.

Found some really nice routes that way.

 

[Steady]

I normally look at Strava routes people near me have done to get some good ideas for rides.

Found some really nice routes that way.

To follow on from that, even though I'm not a member of any cycling club I've "joined" several local cycling clubs on Strava just like you would join the cycle chat club and it's a great resource of local routes and where other people are riding. I wish I had done it when I first started to be honest, but I found some several nice rides eventually that are still my favourite loops, roads become less daunting once you've tried them out.

 

[fit447]

Just got back from my 3rd Sunday session, on my heavy MTB, and managed 11.6 miles in an hour. I know its not fast, but apparently there was a total ascent of 0ver 400 ft. Most of it up the long slow hill in the last mile. So I' m happy. It was nice to get so many cyclists greeting me. On wards and upwards.

 

[Steady]

I really wish I had more time at the moment to cycle, just got twenty miles in this morning on a usual route but there's an itch that needs to be scratched for longer/further and more often!

The encouragement of seeing a group of cyclists ahead encouraged me to go faster on the return home resulting in a surprising QOM on a more popular segment as I tried not to gain to much distance from them.

http://app.strava.com/activities/190970881

As soon as I get in I want to go out again!

 

[Trevor_P]

Nice morning ride. First for over a week because of the sciatica. Only 30 miles. Tree PR's, but none on hills to be expected I suppose. Looking forward to the new bike, hopefully within a fortnight.

Oh, and there were lots of cyclists out this morning. Must have past literally hundreds going the other way.

http://www.strava.com/activities/191002799

 

[BrynCP]

Just covered my 2000th mile today on my road bike, which I bought in May this year. Still trying to cover hills too, so been doing shorter rides than I had been (35-40 as opposed to 50-70, but with more elevation).

So today, I get to the top of the hill, I am just about to hit 2000 miles, and how do I get rewarded? A pop and escape of air from rear tyre! It looks like a pinch flat as I went over a small crack in the road: I have two small holes about 1cm apart in the tube.

First puncture on this bike, at 2000 miles that seems quite good, and I did my first roadside repair and put a new tube in; took 20 mins, most of that time trying to choose a spot to do the repair as it was a very narrow track with muddy verges, and then getting the tyre back on without using a tyre lever. I cut the ride short as I didn't feel confident I could put enough air in the tyre, and my gauge when I got back showed I only managed to get 40psi in!

Was nice to see everybody who passed asked if I was OK and if I had all the tools I needed

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Nice day & nice ride:

30.93 miles

1667' Elevation Gain

2h 11m 48s

14.1 mph average speed

Hope you all had/have good & safe rides today.

 

[Justinslow]

Went out with the intension to beat my previous best of just under 38 miles, trying to get to 50 as a target. Managed 61, so well happy with thathttps://www.strava.com/activities/191037580
Legs were pretty shot by the end but I can still walk! The miles I've clocked up to this point are finally starting to pay off as the body is much more used to it now, clocking serious mileage ain't easy though!
Edit, and highest top speed so far 43.4 mph.

 

[Stonechat]

Well in light of having booked the New Forest Sportive 100, went out for a longer ride
Abandoned all other plans at the last minute and did London to Windsor Sportive 55 mile one
Cycled over to Richmond - 8 miles, and planned to do a longer ride back from WIndsor
From arriving at 9.05 at Richmond, registering and queuing to start took 1 hour
There seemed to be lots of activities everywhere today, many delays
For most of the ride going nicely at 15 mph+, though it slipped at the end. As I was running late, abandoned the extra mileage as Mrs S would be wondering where I was.
A bit tired though I suppose could have done more
Need to better manage my effort and eating and drinking

http://www.strava.com/activities/191139685

77.55 mi @ 14.73 mph Climbing 2047 feet, not a lot a a sprinkling of testing hills
A tad disappointed not to have done 82 which was my aim, but could take some satisfaction fom my longest ride to date

 

[Stonechat]

http://www.strava.com/activities/190475786

Normal loop of Windsor - lots of PB's today - but my knee will pay for it tomorrow - Saw loads of other cyclists out today too!

Hi @Rustybucket Yes I normally live at Staines but have been out of my house due to flooding since Feb, living in Ashford at present

 

[moo]

I'm quite enjoying the Epping Hills segment and will be using it as a permanent training ride. 1751ft climbing in 15.7 miles, 111ft per mile. Not a bad workout

http://www.strava.com/activities/191177511

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I'm quite enjoying the Epping Hills segment and will be using it as a permanent training ride. 1751ft climbing in 15.7 miles, 111ft per mile. Not a bad workout

http://www.strava.com/activities/191177511

That's quite a chunk of climbing over that distance! Well done!

I had 220m at 12.3% today which I found tough tbh - last 50m or so I was going oh-so-slow!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Just spent an hour sorting a horrible sharp cracking noise on the front end of my bike.

Started last week and I couldn't find it and then today it went potty as I cycled about 0.7 miles along a dirt track as part of my ride.

Basically when pushing/banging the front wheel down onto the ground there was a sharp crack when coming out of compression.

Took handlebars off and refitted.

Tightened headset stem bolts.

Took wheel out and refitted.

Loosened and retightened both STI's and X-top levers.

Took brake off and refitted.

Faffed about strapping up all the cables in desperation.

Still did it!

Took the headset top cap off and - silence! Greased the thing, refitted and still silence.

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Moral of the story - check the simple things first.