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

[spooks]

Did my first cycle commute to work today. A zillion traffic lights on the way and not a single bit of flat but it's only 4 miles. Too busy to get on the bike at all for the next week except to and from work which wasn't nearly so scary as I imagined.

 

[SWSteve]

Did my first cycle commute to work today. A zillion traffic lights on the way and not a single bit of flat but it's only 4 miles. Too busy to get on the bike at all for the next week except to and from work which wasn't nearly so scary as I imagined.

Great news! Cycling on busy roads/commuting can be scary at first, but once you get comfortable with it you'll find yourself being a lot more aware with what is going on...just keep those eyes and ears open because those *people* in tin cans can make stupid decisions

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Nice riding Nigel. 300 miles in weeks is some good distance. I just looked at the weather here and it might be close for me to get 1000 miles for the month. Rain and cooler forecast starting Sunday. I still need 129 miles to get there.

If I get there I am going to treat myself to a new pair of fingerless gloves that I have stuffed in my bike stuff cabinet. My newbness might be wearing off, I have gone thru a pair of fingerless gloves and a pair of SPD-SL cleats (these could have lasted a little longer but I am a little rough on equipment sometimes) I am just glad I can partially justify what I spend on cycling with the "it's my hobby and it keeps me out of trouble" excuse.

Thanks Rocky, the weather here Monday looks a bit dyer hopefully I will have done most by Sunday, with any reminder to do on Tuesday.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Did my first cycle commute to work today. A zillion traffic lights on the way and not a single bit of flat but it's only 4 miles. Too busy to get on the bike at all for the next week except to and from work which wasn't nearly so scary as I imagined.

I tend to do most of my riding away from traffic, but sometimes my routes take me through busy areas, and as Steve says just be aware of things around you.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Did my first cycle commute to work today. A zillion traffic lights on the way and not a single bit of flat but it's only 4 miles. Too busy to get on the bike at all for the next week except to and from work which wasn't nearly so scary as I imagined.

99% of my mileage is commuting, I love riding to work. My direct route to work is 5 miles, but luckily I have a shower at work so regularly do a 30 mile ride before work

 

[boybiker]

99% of my mileage is commuting, I love riding to work. My direct route to work is 5 miles, but luckily I have a shower at work so regularly do a 30 mile ride before work

Brave stuff doing 30 in the morning! My commute is 12.5 miles each way which gives me 25 miles a day which is quite nice

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Brave stuff doing 30 in the morning! My commute is 12.5 miles each way which gives me 25 miles a day which is quite nice

I love it, leave the house at around 6:20, get a good 1 and a half hours in the countryside were it is nice and quiet before I head along the cycle paths through town into work.

25 miles a day is a good commute.

 

[LeeOsborne]

Did my first cycle commute to work today. A zillion traffic lights on the way and not a single bit of flat but it's only 4 miles. Too busy to get on the bike at all for the next week except to and from work which wasn't nearly so scary as I imagined.

Good stuff. I've only got back into cycling this year, mainly commuting, and only 5 miles each way but on busy roads. I ride a motorbike too so I think that has given me a good starting point for awareness, etc.
I started back in January, didn't cycle at all in March due to the weather, recently bought a road bike and now doing 40+ miles quite comfortably. I've also lost a bit a weight too which I'm really chuffed about. Loving it

 

[RWright]

I just got in from going to see the space station fly over. When I was leaving my driveway I turn on my light and see an animal, I though it was a cat, It stopped and stared at the light then started walking up the street quickly, I thought, wow, that is a big cat. It got a little closer and I could see it was a Red Fox. I follow it with the light and it finally takes off through the neighbor across the streets back yard and goes into the woods. I was thinking great, here I go off riding into the night with wild animals lurking in the woods. I don't know if any of you have been around a wild fox but I have, a friend of mine ran over one and was able to save the baby the mother fox was carrying in her mouth. Fox are mean, vicious, wild animals, I would suggest not trying to pet one or get too close to one.

I got out to the highway clover leaf I had decided to watch from just in time. I chose the location because it was out of range of street and city lights. As soon as I laid down on the grass and got my binoculars focused there it was, at least I think that is what it was. Hale-Bopp it is not. There is no tail or anything like that. If you have never seen it I can describe it for you. It looks like an airplane with lights on except without the flashing lights on. Spotlighting a fox with your bicycle headlight is much more exciting.

At least none of my neighbors saw me riding around on my bike after dark with my binoculars around my neck. I can just imagine the gossip that could get started about me out perving on my bicycle at night. I would never do anything like that but I do have to admit, the thought did cross my mind when I went by the house just down the street where the hot lesbians live.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I just got in from going to see the space station fly over. When I was leaving my driveway I turn on my light and see an animal, I though it was a cat, It stopped and stared at the light then started walking up the street quickly, I thought, wow, that is a big cat. It got a little closer and I could see it was a Red Fox. I follow it with the light and it finally takes off through the neighbor across the streets back yard and goes into the woods. I was thinking great, here I go off riding into the night with wild animals lurking in the woods. I don't know if any of you have been around a wild fox but I have, a friend of mine ran over one and was able to save the baby the mother fox was carrying in her mouth. Fox are mean, vicious, wild animals, I would suggest not trying to pet one or get too close to one.

I got out to the highway clover leaf I had decided to watch from just in time. I chose the location because it was out of range of street and city lights. As soon as I laid down on the grass and got my binoculars focused there it was, at least I think that is what it was. Hale-Bopp it is not. There is no tail or anything like that. If you have never seen it I can describe it for you. It looks like an airplane with lights on except without the flashing lights on. Spotlighting a fox with your bicycle headlight is much more exciting.

At least none of my neighbors saw me riding around on my bike after dark with my binoculars around my neck. I can just imagine the gossip that could get started about me out perving on my bicycle at night. I would never do anything like that but I do have to admit, the thought did cross my mind when I went by the house just down the street where the hot lesbians live.

Glad you saw it,
I saw it back in about 2002 I think, it was much smaller than.
I saw another smaller satellite last year pass just under the moon, I was going to try a photgraphy it, then realized the exposure difference between it and moon, dooh.

 

[RWright]

Glad you saw it,
I saw it back in about 2002 I think, it was much smaller than.
I saw another smaller satellite last year pass just under the moon, I was going to try a photgraphy it, then realized the exposure difference between it and moon, dooh.

I don't really do much star gazing or anything but back when hale-bopp was around I had heard about it and didn't think much of it. I was out in the country going to my brothers on a really dark night and saw it and was like WOW!, what is that? I figured it out quickly but it totally impressed me, even more so than a total eclipse of the sun and moon I have seen.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I don't really do much star gazing or anything but back when hale-bopp was around I had heard about it and didn't think much of it. I was out in the country going to my brothers on a really dark night and saw it and was like WOW!, what is that? I figured it out quickly but it totally impressed me, even more so than a total eclipse of the sun and moon I have seen.

I have never seen a total eclipse, (never likely to), I saw Hale-Bopp did have some pictures but I guess I have lost the negs over the years (too many moves), I don't do as much as I did, really is too much light pollution around here, I think I have forgot more than I remember. What i find difficult to understand is when I tell kids, that what appears to be a star is in fact one of the planets, "how do I know" or "it's not", kids just seem interested in mobile phones computer or game consoles, I probable spend more time on a computer than the average child (photography, cycling data and many other things, though not usually facebook ect.), but I have other interests as well one of which is astronomy, by the way there is supposed to be a bright comet at the end of this year, from what I believe it may be better than Hale-Bopp.

 

[RWright]

I have never seen a total eclipse, (never likely to), I saw Hale-Bopp did have some pictures but I guess I have lost the negs over the years (too many moves), I don't do as much as I did, really is too much light pollution around here, I think I have forgot more than I remember. What i find difficult to understand is when I tell kids, that what appears to be a star is in fact one of the planets, "how do I know" or "it's not", kids just seem interested in mobile phones computer or game consoles, I probable spend more time on a computer than the average child (photography, cycling data and many other things, though not usually facebook ect.), but I have other interests as well one of which is astronomy, by the way there is supposed to be a bright comet at the end of this year, from what I believe it may be better than Hale-Bopp.

cool, I would like to see it. Let me know if you hear anything else about it. I will do some looking around too.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

cool, I would like to see it. Let me know if you hear anything else about it. I will do some looking around too.

2nd comet on this page.
http://www.space.com/20075-comets-pan-starrs-ison-2013-stargazing.html
It's called ISON I think

 

[Mo1959]

Well, completed the Challenge this morning by going a nice scenic run from Crieff up through Comrie, St Fillans and round Loch Earn. The south road is a narrow single track road with passing places and getting very rough and broken up in places. I was glad of the Durano Plus tyres.

As usual, got a bit let down by saddle and lower back pain after around the 25 mile mark. Back almost starts to spasm the longer I go on. It's a pity because the legs actually felt not too bad.

Here's the route.

http://app.strava.com/activities/50900192