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

[spooks]

Today's effort:
http://app.strava.com/activities/60694127
I did about 6 more on the way to and from the common so near enough 60 miles for the day.
Suprisingly ok average speed considering a lot of it was really slow due to the fact that there were 27000 of us out!

 

[Andy Lister]

Love the idea of this thread!

Not picked up a bike yet, but I'll see how shameless my first effort is when I do!

 

[mfc1876]

Got back out tonight, haven't been out since Thursday and it's felt like an eternity. Been busy though, there was a function on at the little fella's school on Friday, then he and I went to see Man of Steel on Friday night, out for the day on Saturday, had to re-seal the bath on Saturday night, obviously spent the day with the kids today then went to see me Mam and Dad... but I digress.

So, tonight's yummy stats, 13.79 miles in 1:09:45 at an average speed of 11.86mph. Very, very happy with that as it's my top average speed of any ride so far. I was at 12.1 after 10 miles, then dropped down to about 9.5mph by 12 miles but I really made it up on the final stretch. I'm pleased to have very nearly broke 12mph lol!

That bank I go down on my route, I barely touched the brakes on the way down tonight, I must be getting a bit of confidence and getting to know the bike a bit more? I always have it in the back of my mind though that I'm on a cheap mountain bike and it's probably not really built for that kinda speed so I daren't really give it my all for that reason. Looking around the app I use I think my top speed was 19.1mph, that'll be coming down the bank.

I've noticed a lot of people use Strava, I'm guessing it must be good?

 

[mfc1876]

Today's effort:
http://app.strava.com/activities/60694127
I did about 6 more on the way to and from the common so near enough 60 miles for the day.
Suprisingly ok average speed considering a lot of it was really slow due to the fact that there were 27000 of us out!

Hope I can do those kinda miles one day...

 

[boybiker]

Today's effort:
http://app.strava.com/activities/60694127
I did about 6 more on the way to and from the common so near enough 60 miles for the day.
Suprisingly ok average speed considering a lot of it was really slow due to the fact that there were 27000 of us out!

Congratulations on the ride, I popped along to smallfields to see a few people go by and there was already people stopping!

I've noticed a lot of people use Strava, I'm guessing it must be good?

I think its good but like anything other people will agree/disagree. I would say its the "industry standard" and the facebook for the bike community. Just try it and see if you do / dont like it. It's also good because of the segments which you can race other users on .

 

[SWSteve]

I've noticed a lot of people use Strava, I'm guessing it must be good?

There are far better things in the world than Strava. But as a way you can log your rides using your phone/GPS and comapre them with other peoples, or brag, then it's pretty good.

It's a good way to see your progress using the segments feature where you can see how you have improved, or gotten worse, with time. I looked at one segment yesterday and I've gotten about a minute slower. Although it was on a decent and I didn't care for it yesterday.

 

[mfc1876]

I'll try it.

 

[SWSteve]

In other news, as well as picking up a ticking noise from my wheel/derailleur I have a massive gash in my rear tyre. It's around 1cm long, and goes about 5mm into the tyre. To be honest I'm surprised I didn't get any more than 1 puncture when out Saturday. Any suggestions for the rubber to touch the tarmac?

 

[themosquitoking]

Thank you SupersuperLeeds, its taken a while to get there but I love it & the next goal is 30 miles & hopefully 50 by the end of the year.

Hells bells, get your 50 miler in before the end of the summer is my advice.

 

[Goonerobes]

Hells bells, get your 50 miler in before the end of the summer is my advice.

Easier said than done given the summer weather we've got!

 

[themosquitoking]

Easier said than done given the summer weather we've got!

Up your ride length by 5 miles a week and you'll be there in about 6 weeks. I know you'll be thinking "yeah yeah sounds easy, listen to him bigging it up" but i promise you it's not that hard. I started riding again in September last year and did a 50 miler in March or April, i would have done it sooner if it wasn't for the crappy winter. Even if you just find a local 10 mile loop and do laps you will do five laps much sooner than you think you can.

Edit. Also finding a ride buddy helps a lot, you help each other out and push each other a bit. PM someone on here that lives close to you and ask if they want to go for a ride, i did it and made a great new friend into the bargain.

 

[AndyPeace]

That bank I go down on my route, I barely touched the brakes on the way down tonight, I must be getting a bit of confidence and getting to know the bike a bit more?

There are quite a few 'you tube' how to's on descending well. General jist of some of this is bend your elbows and move back a little on the saddle and push your weight down through the pedals. They are probably things we do quite naturally but giving it a bit of thought can't hurt.

 

[Goonerobes]

Up your ride length by 5 miles a week and you'll be there in about 6 weeks. I know you'll be thinking "yeah yeah sounds easy, listen to him bigging it up" but i promise you it's not that hard. I started riding again in September last year and did a 50 miler in March or April, i would have done it sooner if it wasn't for the crappy winter. Even if you just find a local 10 mile loop and do laps you will do five laps much sooner than you think you can.

Edit. Also finding a ride buddy helps a lot, you help each other out and push each other a bit. PM someone on here that lives close to you and ask if they want to go for a ride, i did it and made a great new friend into the bargain.

Thanks for the advise, much appreciated. I had some left in the tank today so will try a 30 next weekend (weather permitting) & will also phone a friend! Thanks again.

 

[themosquitoking]

Congratulations on the ride, I popped along to smallfields to see a few people go by and there was already people stopping!
.

Thanks for coming out and cheering everyone on, it did make us all want to go faster just so know you weren't cheering for no reason. Whereabouts along the route is smallfields?

 

[Nomadski]

Up your ride length by 5 miles a week and you'll be there in about 6 weeks. I know you'll be thinking "yeah yeah sounds easy, listen to him bigging it up" but i promise you it's not that hard. I started riding again in September last year and did a 50 miler in March or April, i would have done it sooner if it wasn't for the crappy winter. Even if you just find a local 10 mile loop and do laps you will do five laps much sooner than you think you can.

Edit. Also finding a ride buddy helps a lot, you help each other out and push each other a bit. PM someone on here that lives close to you and ask if they want to go for a ride, i did it and made a great new friend into the bargain.

Whose that?

I got kindly tagged into @themosquitoking and friends London to Brighton ride and had a fantastic weekend. Up at 'Mo Time' (5am) left for Clapham just after 7, and started the ride at 8.30. The first 5 miles or so were a procession, and several bottlenecks along the way added 40 / 20 /20 minute delays, but at times got some riding in and had a hell of a time.

Was great seeing people cheering everyone on, with banners, and having their own little picnics on the pavement. As well as seeing the assortment of superheros, men in drag, and all manner of BSO's.

Due to the sheer volume of cyclists (around 60k) and that half the roads werent closed, it was never going to be a fast time / pace, we even stopped 2 times to get some tea and sarnies down us.

Got a new climbing record (a 735ft climb with mostly Cat 4 sections, but 1 Cat 3 bit), and a lot of experience with cycling in numbers which will stand me in good stead for RideLondon. But mostly, it was a great laugh, with great company.

Had a superb feeling at the end, coming in on the sea front on the last 200 meter stretch, with barricades either side full of cheering people, and the great big finish point. Felt like Cav for a short while!!

Big Kudos out the @themosquitoking for putting it all together, and his mate Steve for sorting transport back to London.

http://app.strava.com/activities/60824112