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

[Nigelnaturist]

I drink loads (of water!!) Ussually a pint before leaving, an extra slurp once I've warmed up then sip every 10-20mins dependinmg on the temprature (and hills!). I used to stop everytime to have a drink (less often than 20mins) . I thought it would be difficult/unstable drinking on the move, but once I got the confidence it turned out as easy. It probobly varies from person to person, but the general rule for best performance is little sips every 15mins or so. If your feeling thirsty, your already dehydrated and loosing performance

my cage bottle combination don't let go of each other very well.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well today I have ridden the same number of days as last year, surprising only 51.22's difference but 263 miles more and at 1.12mph faster, and an average of 2.35 miles more per day, but an average of 35.48 miles more a week a total of 37,222 ft more which is 332.33ft per day.
I rode 59% of the possible days last year opposed to 71% so far this year.

 

[boybiker]

I cycled from maidstone to Gatwick today no strava as I was using my phone as a sat nav. I'm staying here in a hotel tonight and doing a ride with my uncle from Bermuda tomorrow around Regiate and box hill etc. Hopefully this nice weather is here to stay I hope everyone else is having a good weekend

 

[RWright]

I stay well hydrated but for 20 miles or less I usually don't carry any unless it is very hot, like 95 F (35c and above) but I do recommend everyone take all the water you want. I just don't like having to stop to pee . I do sweat a lot if I am pushing things.

I think I am building my cardio up to a level that I need a change in my blood pressure medications. My Dr. was pleased with my progress on the last visit and did cut one of my prescriptions in half several months back and did not schedule me another appointment until this coming December. I have noticed in the past several weeks that I have again started getting dizzy when I get up out of a chair and bend over for almost any length of time to do any sort of chore.

I called and talked to the Dr.'s nurse yesterday and told her about it and my resting heart rate and she scheduled me an appointment for Monday, so hopefully I don't have any problems and can get some more reductions in my medications. I told her my resting heart rate (according to my Garmin) was getting into the upper 40's at night when I am just sitting around and she wants me to talk with the Dr. I am not super fit or anything and am still mostly riding to just burn calories, I want to start working out now and hope my Dr. agrees. This morning I thought I would check my heart rate when I first woke up, which I read somewhere was the time to check it, before you get active in the morning. It was in the low 40s and when I started doing controlled breathing I could push it down to 33. I hope my suspicions are correct and that the cycling is really improving my health like I think it is. I also know that heart rate and blood pressure are two different things, hopefully the BP will be down as well.

The tropical storm has gone from here but still lots of clouds and rain. Maybe I can get some miles in. I really do like my TV stations DUALDOPPLER5000 1 hour loop on their website. I think it might be the best thing about the internet...well at least right behind Youtube.

 

[Reece]

Found this whilst flicking through flickr.

Tyre gives birth to an Orange ! by sprocket316, on Flickr

I've had this happen. It happened so fast and went bang in the middle of the city centre. Never seen so many jump out of their skin haha.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

First ride since my 'off' last Saturday.

10.4 miles / 14.68 mph av' - thought it would be much slower than that as I was taking it easy. Will go for a lot longer ride tomorrow.

My right hand was a bit painful as I have three stretched tendons but the gears are light to change. Right knee was twingy (or twingey?) but I chose as flat a route as I could for this part of the world.

Glad I went out - been dithering all day as I was worried about my right hand which still looks a bit tatty!

Notable points:

A motorist desperately tried to overtake me on a twisty lane and eventually overtook me on a blind left hand bend and she nearly ended up in the front of a van. I could here him shouting at her (they had both stopped as it is a lane that is one and a half cars wide with passing places) as I went by.

Sorry ladies (not picking on you) - I caught up with a lady on a nice Trek flat-bar and as I got close I shouted a cheery "Hi" so as not to surprise her - no response. As I eventually passed she jumped out of her skin and wobbled a bit - she had an iPod banging away in her ears; I could hear the tinny sound clearly. Makes me wonder a bit but as I have said many times I am just an old git who knows nothing!

All my bits (helmet, glasses, pedals) ordered online turned up very fast. My saddle was in stock in the big bike shop in Staveley. However, my replacement skewer from my LBS where I purchased my bike has not arrived and they have no idea when it will. Lovely people but I do despair of these shops at times. I will probably just order from Wiggle. Cest la vie.

***

Have a good evening folks.

Stay safe.

 

[Mo1959]

First ride since my 'off' last Saturday.

10.4 miles / 14.68 mph av' - thought it would be much slower than that as I was taking it easy> Will go for a lot longer ride tomorrow.

.

That's great to hear Spokey. You are obviously feeling much better when you want to get back out again tomorrow. Hope you have another great ride.

I must be a sad old git too as I don't agree with listening to an ipod if it means you can't hear someone about to overtake.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

That's great to hear Spokey. You are obviously feeling much better when you want to get back out again tomorrow. Hope you have another great ride.

I must be a sad old git too as I don't agree with listening to an ipod if it means you can't hear someone about to overtake.

Thanks Mo. I am doing a (for me) long 'un tomorrow!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

First ride since my 'off' last Saturday.

10.4 miles / 14.68 mph av' - thought it would be much slower than that as I was taking it easy> Will go for a lot longer ride tomorrow.

My right hand was a bit painful as I have three stretched tendons but the gears are light to change. Right knee was twingy (or twingey?) but I chose as flat a route as I could for this part of the world.

Glad I went out - been dithering all day as I was worried about my right hand which still looks a bit tatty!

Notable points:

A motorist desperately tried to overtake me on a twisty lane and eventually overtook me on a blind left hand bend and she nearly ended up in the front of a van. I could here him shouting at her (they had both stopped as it is a lane that is one and a half cars wide with passing places) as I went by.

Sorry ladies (not picking on you) - I caught up with a lady on a nice Trek flat-bar and as I got close I shouted a cheery "Hi" so as not to surprise her - no response. As I eventually passed she jumped out of her skin and wobbled a bit - she had an iPod banging away in her ears; I could hear the tinny sound clearly. Makes me wonder a bit but as I have said many times I am just an old git who knows nothing!

All my bits (helmet, glasses, pedals) ordered online turned up very fast. My saddle was in stock in the big bike shop in Staveley. However, my replacement skewer from my LBS where I purchased my bike has not arrived and they have no idea when it will. Lovely people but I do despair of these shops at times. I will probably just order from Wiggle. Cest la vie.

***

Have a good evening folks.

Stay safe.

Same as what Mo said, I cant stand music in my ears when riding, and glad to hear your back on the road.
I was hoping to get another 10 mile run in tonight, but just stripped the threads on the steam, I was thinking of getting a new bike sometime about xmas, but I think I should just get some carbon forks and handlebars as will all be new bar the frame and seat post, and the brakes, speaking of which I have just put in my 2nd set since I started last year, so about 3,000 miles or so a set, they were changed about new year.
So the ride I had earlier will have to do for today, I did think about risking it but I dont know how much of the thread stripped and if there is enough to hold the bars, and only being a two bolt fixing, is a little risky.
So my mileage is down a little this week at 189.5 miles, but it is the first ever week I have managed 15+mph average (15.48mph) having been close the last two weeks at 14.94mph and 14.98 mph.
Also of note the gear inch is up from 61.88 to 63.42 from last week as is the cadence 81.33 to 82, this I think is the longest gear I have used with a cad over 80rpm,the two weeks I had a 64" gear avg I averaged 75 rpm.
I like this improvement of 40's. from 11.2 to 12.5mph 214ft gain over 1.5miles
http://app.strava.com/activities/59045601#1096897418
and this 35's quicker from 13.8mph to 14.7mph 133ft gain over 2.1 miles.
http://app.strava.com/activities/59045601#1096897423
25 miles in total @ 16.1mph
http://app.strava.com/activities/59045601

 

[Reece]

First ride since my 'off' last Saturday.

10.4 miles / 14.68 mph av' - thought it would be much slower than that as I was taking it easy> Will go for a lot longer ride tomorrow.

My right hand was a bit painful as I have three stretched tendons but the gears are light to change. Right knee was twingy (or twingey?) but I chose as flat a route as I could for this part of the world.

Glad I went out - been dithering all day as I was worried about my right hand which still looks a bit tatty!

Notable points:

A motorist desperately tried to overtake me on a twisty lane and eventually overtook me on a blind left hand bend and she nearly ended up in the front of a van. I could here him shouting at her (they had both stopped as it is a lane that is one and a half cars wide with passing places) as I went by.

Sorry ladies (not picking on you) - I caught up with a lady on a nice Trek flat-bar and as I got close I shouted a cheery "Hi" so as not to surprise her - no response. As I eventually passed she jumped out of her skin and wobbled a bit - she had an iPod banging away in her ears; I could hear the tinny sound clearly. Makes me wonder a bit but as I have said many times I am just an old git who knows nothing!

All my bits (helmet, glasses, pedals) ordered online turned up very fast. My saddle was in stock in the big bike shop in Staveley. However, my replacement skewer from my LBS where I purchased my bike has not arrived and they have no idea when it will. Lovely people but I do despair of these shops at times. I will probably just order from Wiggle. Cest la vie.

***

Have a good evening folks.

Stay safe.

Nice one on getting back out mate

I'm another one who doesnt like having headphones in while riding. I like to hear what's coming up behind me.

 

[AndyPeace]

I'm another one who doesnt like having headphones in while riding. I like to hear what's coming up behind me.

On the few occasions I've used an exercise bike, I found music great for building and keeping up a pace, but outdoors I'd rather have my full senses too, no headphones for me either.

 

[philinmerthyr]

I went on my first ride since I had my bike fit and pedalling analysis today. 25 miles around the Cardiff and Newort area with a very stiff wind.

The bike felt much more comfortable. It's amazing what a few small changes can achieve.

I now have my cleats further back so I'm not pushing down with the front of my feet. Instead it has helped me spin on the pedals rather than stomping. I had to think about it for the first 5 miles but after that it became natural. According to the Watt Bike the change improved my pedaling efficeincy from 39% to 70% and it was noticeable.

I averaged 13.3 mph despite the headwind and a couple of small hills. And I lost another 3lbs this week

Planning a 40 mile ride tomorrow.

http://app.strava.com/activities/59040699

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Why when is there is always a new challenge I have problems.

 

[User28924]

Came off on Tuesday, discharged last night. Fractured skull and broken clavicle. No cycling for a little while it seems

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Came off on Tuesday, discharged last night. Fractured skull and broken clavicle. No cycling for a little while it seems

Get well soon Peter12391