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

[simmi]

Great work!

Where can I find this list of climbs?

Here, they are in 2 books,
100 Greatest Cycling Climbs and surprise surprise, Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs


In my opinion well worth owning.

6 down 4 to go to reach my goal!

 

[SWSteve]

Here, they are in 2 books,
100 Greatest Cycling Climbs and surprise surprise, Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs


In my opinion well worth owning.

6 down 4 to go to reach my goal!

Going to do the Cheddar Gorge climb later this week(end)

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Nice ride Simon, put my meagre 21 miles in the shade, apart from the fact it takes me over 6,000 miles since 23 June last year, I had hoped for a much more impressive ride, and certainly when I passed the 6,000 mile mark which was into the same wind as Simon was on about.
Though I did get 6 wind assisted pb's
New Rd to Womersley 1 mile @ 21.7 mph, ok it had aslight down hill grade too, still pretty chuffed with it.

http://app.strava.com/activities/55741922

 

[Mo1959]

Well done on the 6000 miles Nigel. I don't think I am even half way to that! Forecast tomorrow is looking really blustery so don't think I will be going out. Hope it's better down there.

 

[simmi]

Going to do the Cheddar Gorge climb later this week(end)

Not too steep, just a great bit of road, I have never ridden it but have driven and walked it many times, I lived for most of my 20's and 30's in the Midsomer Norton area.
For a real challenge get yourself down to Porlock.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well done on the 6000 miles Nigel. I don't think I am even half way to that! Forecast tomorrow is looking really blustery so don't think I will be going out. Hope it's better down there.

You cant be far off Mo, 2,200 this year alone.
I am hoping the new cassette will arrive tomorrow, but with the speeds i am getting, not sure it's a wise move.

 

[simmi]

Nice ride Simon, put my meagre 21 miles in the shade, apart from the fact it takes me over 6,000 miles since 23 June last year, I had hoped for a much more impressive ride, and certainly when I passed the 6,000 mile mark which was into the same wind as Simon was on about.
Though I did get 6 wind assisted pb's
New Rd to Womersley 1 mile @ 21.7 mph, ok it had aslight down hill grade too, still pretty chuffed with it.

http://app.strava.com/activities/55741922

Amazing stuff mate and in just 11 months a lot of people don't do that in a car!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Amazing stuff mate and in just 11 months a lot of people don't do that in a car!

Thanks, but it's only been this last month or so it's begun to start being enjoyable, though thats not strictly true, but I think you understand what I mean.
Like the climb yesterday, some people do it day in day out, to me it was the first (probably did some many years ago) but it was enjoyable, it was tough in the middle to keep going but only because there was a set of lights.
I still dont like setting off to the photo group on Tuesdays because of the climb up to the barracks, but i bettered my speed but 2mph yesterday ( I think it was), also another short climb about half way was none to pleasant, yesterday I over took two cyclists on the hill. I try and look see what bikes I am passing, but usually I am more concerned with overtaking safely, so I very rarely see, not usually Vikings though).
I want to thank every one for the encouragement this site and this thread in particular has given me.
When I complete the next 40 miles or so it will also be my 3rd 1,000 Km month since I started (April is to blame for all this) and my current projection for the year is 7,500 miles, if I do that, that will be 10,600 in 18 months

 

[SWSteve]

Not too steep, just a great bit of road, I have never ridden it but have driven and walked it many times, I lived for most of my 20's and 30's in the Midsomer Norton area.
For a real challenge get yourself down to Porlock.

Maybe...the worst thing I've ever done is from Blagdon resevoir to the top of the mendips. That was ridiculously long/steep. I think of doing it again...but then I remember that without pedalling much I hit 40mph easily when going back down. I've also thought about cycling out to the long set of lochs near Bath and climbing that but it all means going quite a distance from home

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Maybe...the worst thing I've ever done is from Blagdon resevoir to the top of the mendips. That was ridiculously long/steep. I think of doing it again...but then I remember that without pedalling much I hit 40mph easily when going back down. I've also thought about cycling out to the long set of lochs near Bath and climbing that but it all means going quite a distance from home

This is the problem I have, and unless I have the photo group or the hospital (mind I sometimes come out of there a mental wreck), I struggle usually past 3 hrs (not fitness you understand), 2 hrs I am ok, this is why most of my rides are 30-40 miles.

 

[SWSteve]

This is the problem I have, and unless I have the photo group or the hospital (mind I sometimes come out of there a mental wreck), I struggle usually past 3 hrs (not fitness you understand), 2 hrs I am ok, this is why most of my rides are 30-40 miles.

The issue I seem to have is hunger. Thinking of making a couple of sarnies and chucking them in my saddle post bag and trying to do 60-80. There's a way I could take ~20 miles out of the 100 miler I did the other weekend if I did it from my house and all in one day. That or stop at a coffee shop and spend some pennies

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well I never have the money for a cake/coffee shop, but it's more anxiety than anything.

 

[SWSteve]

Well I never have the money for a cake/coffee shop, but it's more anxiety than anything.

I'm going to plead ignorance on this one, as there's probably been something said about in the past that I do not know of

 

[Mo1959]

This is the problem I have, and unless I have the photo group or the hospital (mind I sometimes come out of there a mental wreck), I struggle usually past 3 hrs (not fitness you understand), 2 hrs I am ok, this is why most of my rides are 30-40 miles.

Kind of similar Nigel. I start worrying that if I go too far from home and start feeling rough I might struggle to make it back. Don't have a lot of people available that I could get in touch with to pick me up. Don't even carry the phone anyway!

Wasn't going to go out this morning due to the wind, but realised I only needed a few miles for the 1000kms so just went my shortest available loop. The wind was already getting pretty strong. Nice on the way out but I nearly had my chin resting on the bars on the way back just to keep moving

 

[RWright]

I don't carry a phone either. I also worry about getting a long way out and start feeling bad. I carry a little money in case I were to get hungry but I have never bought any food while I was out for a ride. I rarely stop for anything besides natures call and busy intersections. I will have to be more careful with fluids as it starts to get hot. I found me some Elite custom race bottle cages for a $7 each and got a couple so hopefully I will be set on both my drop bar bikes now. They are even special color Army camouflage color that lets me sneak by the competition. ( I didn't make that up, the place I got them from actually put it in the features section on the web page). Camo cages on a blue and white bike should be quite trendy and stylish.

My biggest problems on long rides seem to be boredom after about 25 miles and my butt starts getting a little sore after 30 or so miles. I think I read that there, it is not legal to use an mp3 player headphone in both ears and I can understand the concern. I use a very small mirror on the lens of all my glasses that I ride with so I am much more aware of what is going on behind me than most riders. I think I would be bored to tears if I couldn't listen to my mp3 player blasting after about 25 miles.