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

[boybiker]

Yes I done a very hilly 100mile ride at the beginning of May this year. Also got a 125mile sportive on June 29th which has 9 category climbs plus 5 other good hills in the South Downs. Looking forward to the challenge of that.

Sounds good what Sportive is that? You should try the "Kentish Killer" sportive. It's apparently one of the hardest sportives in this area with the 70 mile course having something like 6,000 ft of climbing. I'm going to give it a crack in 2014 .

http://kentishkiller.ning.com/

 

[Reece]

May look into that for my 2014 sportive list.

The one I'm doing is the Wiggle "The Long One" Going to be a long day, Driving down early hours (leaving 3am I think) then riding then driving back! I'm doing the Tour of Britain Stoke Pro sportive. That's meant to be a tough one.

 

[BrianEvesham]

I have been looking in this last week, but very, very busy at work and to be honest to worn out to go out riding. With mrsE at work and the boys off school and me on nights it's been hard.
But I picked up the Tag bike from a local Ebayer thurs night and got it fitted to the MB this morning. Just completed about 8 miles with it, it feels like I have done two hours on the T3, great exercise and fantastic fun. It's the first time the little one has been out on the road. Just need to get him to pedal more!

It's probably the best £36 I have spent on Cycling!

 

[ThinAir]

Hi,
the first thing you will learn when your bike arrives - exercise bikes are blooming boring. You'll soon how quickly your body will be able to adapt and get stronger and the hills you struggle on at the start will be lumps after a while.
When it arrives don't forget to share a photo.

Oh, and

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Looks like this place is gonna be a supportive place to hang out and chat etc. I'm a member of a few other forums for things that are geared towards my music, and this place seems like a real friendly place right off the bat!

+1 to all of you :-)

 

[Supersuperleeds]

45 minute break from this mornings 40 miles, then I went and did another 25 miles with our lass, can I claim a metric tonne?

 

[BrianEvesham]

45 minute break from this mornings 40 miles, then I went and did another 25 miles with our lass, can I claim a metric tonne?

You can in my book!

 

[BrianEvesham]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Looks like this place is gonna be a supportive place to hang out and chat etc. I'm a member of a few other forums for things that are geared towards my music, and this place seems like a real friendly place right off the bat!

+1 to all of you :-)

Thanks, it has been a good place for me, sharing the ups and downs. Look forward to your posts and progress reports.

 

[sleaver]

Went out of a longer ride this morning which included some hills. Well, they were hills to my running legs that are not used to cycling yet Purposely didn't go to fast as I wasn't sure how I would get on, but I made it.

Stopped a couple of times as I wasn't sure about trying to drink while moving but later on I tried it. Then thought it would be safer to stop to but the bottle back in the cage

As for going down hills, I'm hoping confidance builds up because going downwards at 50kph plus while breaking on skinny tyres just doesn't seem normal to me

http://app.strava.com/activities/57659700

P.S. I like photography

 

[boybiker]

Went out of a longer ride this morning which included some hills. Well, they were hills to my running legs that are not used to cycling yet Purposely didn't go to fast as I wasn't sure how I would get on, but I made it.

Stopped a couple of times as I wasn't sure about trying to drink while moving but later on I tried it. Then thought it would be safer to stop to but the bottle back in the cage

As for going down hills, I'm hoping confidance builds up because going downwards at 50kph plus while breaking on skinny tyres just doesn't seem normal to me

http://app.strava.com/activities/57659700

P.S. I like photography

Drinking on the bike is easier as your balance will improve over time. On most descents its easier just to let the bike roll and get into a comfortable position to corner. Take a wide line with less lean angle until you are more comfortable with increased levels of lean. Personally I'm happy coming down most hills at 30MPH plus especially on the roads I know well. Of course there are descents which you are on the brakes all the time too because of the servility of the decline/road design. Braking just waste energy and money!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Went out of a longer ride this morning which included some hills. Well, they were hills to my running legs that are not used to cycling yet Purposely didn't go to fast as I wasn't sure how I would get on, but I made it.

Stopped a couple of times as I wasn't sure about trying to drink while moving but later on I tried it. Then thought it would be safer to stop to but the bottle back in the cage

As for going down hills, I'm hoping confidance builds up because going downwards at 50kph plus while breaking on skinny tyres just doesn't seem normal to me

http://app.strava.com/activities/57659700

P.S. I like photography

Yup - take it easy on those hills!

Round here you there's a few descents with very good visibility but a whole lot more are skinny lanes with blind bends - same as when I am driving I just don't chance it. I slow right down almost to a stop if needs be.

 

[philinmerthyr]

I described my ride this morning as "interesting" when my wife asked. For the first time I took on the Brecon Beacons loop from Merthyr to Talybont and Brecon. This takes in "the Glynn". This is a climb and descent that is up to 20%. The decent averages 12.5% according to the Strava segment.

I was quite pleased that I got a fair way up the climb before having to push the last 150m. The descent was frightening. I suppose I should have gone for it and let the bike go. I didn't and used the brakes and was still doing almost 30 mph when I had a blow out in the front wheel.

Somehow I kept it under control and manged to stop without falling off. I think the heat fom the brakes on the rim was the cause. I did 200m on the rim before stopping so I think that is the end of the front wheel rim. The breaking surface is now very rough.

I changed the tube and walked down the rest of the hill. I completed the ride which was a further 30 miles. This included my longest climb of 998ft over 7.5 miles. It was slow but I am over 20 st (the weight is coming off though).

The ride was over 2,600 ft of climbing in 37 miles and I averaged 11.5 mph which I am pleased about after the blow out. It was worth it for the views alone.

Another downer was seeing the aftermath of a motorbike crash at Storey Arms. If the bike is anything to go by the rider would have been badly injured.

http://app.strava.com/activities/57704684

 

[deadpool7]

Just catching up on a lot of these posts. Some of you have graduated from newbie status (looking at you Mo) :-) Great rides, everyone! I'm impressed, not to mention a bit more motivated.

 

[BrianEvesham]

Stopped a couple of times as I wasn't sure about trying to drink while moving but later on I tried it. Then thought it would be safer to stop to but the bottle back in the cage

:

I still do, it's a good excuse for a breather.

Glad you are ok @philinmerthyr

 

[BrianEvesham]

We had such a laugh this morning we went out and did it again this afternoon. Max joined us for the first time on his 26inch wheel mountain bike, the first time that's been out on the road and to be honest I struggled to keep up with him on the tag combo (and he's only seven !).

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I described my ride this morning as "interesting" when my wife asked. For the first time I took on the Brecon Beacons loop from Merthyr to Talybont and Brecon. This takes in "the Glynn". This is a climb and descent that is up to 20%. The decent averages 12.5% according to the Strava segment.

I was quite pleased that I got a fair way up the climb before having to push the last 150m. The descent was frightening. I suppose I should have gone for it and let the bike go. I didn't and used the brakes and was still doing almost 30 mph when I had a blow out in the front wheel.

Somehow I kept it under control and manged to stop without falling off. I think the heat fom the brakes on the rim was the cause. I did 200m on the rim before stopping so I think that is the end of the front wheel rim. The breaking surface is now very rough.

I changed the tube and walked down the rest of the hill. I completed the ride which was a further 30 miles. This included my longest climb of 998ft over 7.5 miles. It was slow but I am over 20 st (the weight is coming off though).

The ride was over 2,600 ft of climbing in 37 miles and I averaged 11.5 mph which I am pleased about after the blow out. It was worth it for the views alone.

Another downer was seeing the aftermath of a motorbike crash at Storey Arms. If the bike is anything to go by the rider would have been badly injured.

http://app.strava.com/activities/57704684


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Good ride - glad you didn't come off. Hope the motor cyclist was ok.

I never know how to respond to these interesting (right word?) posts as 'like' seems wrong!