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

[k_risten7]

I know it's nothing major but I have not been in my bike at all first time out and a few hills I did three miles last night. I felt I could have done more but I didn't want to over do it first ride out. Hoping for four miles tonight.

 

[Nomadski]

Hello All!

Having looked around various cycling forums this seemed by far the nicest and just want to introduce myself

I first bought my Trek Hybrid in April 2012 whilst I lived in the Big Smog to do my commute of 3 miles from Battersea to Whitehall. During this time I fell off twice breaking my wrist and then collarbone. I also was cycling past as the helicopter struck the tower in Vauxhall so quite happy to be alive as it could have gone in any direction.

Since Feb I changed job and moved to Stratford Upon Avon and since May have properly got back into my cycling fitness. I started slowly as I was 16 1/2 stone and did 5-8 cycles after work along flat ground. Since then I have been doing 10 mile hillier routes after work and last weekend I did 25 miles in just over 2 hours.Think I have lost about 1/2 stone since Early May but not exactly sure.

My aim is to be fit enough next summer to do the round London sportive. I have signed up for a 30 miler in a couple of Weeks near me and am doing the 55 mile MacRider in September.

Am currently doing 6 days a week exercise with 3 days cycling and 3 days running (sorry if I just swore). Also getting a proper bike fitting at the weekend as my hands go numb when cycling and plan to cycle to work (10 miles or so) from next week.

Need to invest in some winter kit of next few months as I don't want to stop when the bad weather comes. Will keep you posted.

Here is my typical 10 miler http://app.strava.com/activities/61467839 which includes the horrible Billesly Wall
Any my 25 miler at weekend http://app.strava.com/activities/60662975

Will try to do 30 miles this weekend.

Looks a really good forum, hopefully see some great stories and Advice

to the Best Thread On The Internet™ If your doing 25 now, just spend time on the bike and come September 55 miles will be a doddle, especially with the commuter mileage.

If you need any advice, just ask, there is an answer lurking within this thread somewhere!

 

[Nomadski]

I know it's nothing major but I have not been in my bike at all first time out and a few hills I did three miles last night. I felt I could have done more but I didn't want to over do it first ride out. Hoping for four miles tonight.

3 miles is 3 miles more than you did before!

 

[BrianEvesham]

Cheers Brian, will be doing a trip to Evesham and back at some point I should imagine. I will be doing the Shakespeare100 next April as well (at least that is the plan)

Do you ride with any clubs or friends? I am currently by myself but will be joining a cycling club when my fitness improves.

Also at least half my cycle rides are not logged on Strava because of my stupid phone dying during trip. Will buy myself a Garmin or something soon but they do seem expensive.

Hi. I usually ride alone. I wanted to join the Evesham Wheelers but when I started cycling again I was about twenty and a half stone and way too slow for there slow group. I can manage an avg of about 17mph now over about ten miles and my longest ride is still 66 miles( the shakespeare100) the weight has been falling off, now down under 17st which is making it easier. I have tried to tag up with cycling types in the past, but with two under 8 and work, time is precious! In an ideal world if you were doing that weekender run again maybe I could join you near Honeybourne and come to Stafford with you then I could complete yor route back home(nr long lartin prison).
You have found a good place on the newbie thread.
Brian

 

[PedalPedalFallOff]

Cheers for welcome everyone, it's hard speaking about my achievements in the office as I work with some very very fit people including an Ultra Marathoner and a guy who won the Devizes - Westminsiter Canoe Race a month or two back!

I have many questions on kit, to invest in a road bike or not, winter riding etc should I use this thread or another?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Cheers Brian, will be doing a trip to Evesham and back at some point I should imagine. I will be doing the Shakespeare100 next April as well (at least that is the plan)

Do you ride with any clubs or friends? I am currently by myself but will be joining a cycling club when my fitness improves.

Also at least half my cycle rides are not logged on Strava because of my stupid phone dying during trip. Will buy myself a Garmin or something soon but they do seem expensive.

They might be, an alternative is the Bryton series much the same as garmin, if anything a tad more accurate,You can get a 20T with H.R. and Cad for £126 from Evan at the mo. Their site uploads direct to Strava, and the webpage is looking good these days, also is not sole based on the web page for uploading.
The Garmins you can just use as an external device, so drop and drop files, not sure if you can do this yet with the bryton, but it is only a minor thing. An edge 200 without H.R. and Cad (it doesn't support them) is £99 but does have a breadcrumb trial you can follow. The 40E much the same as a 500 can be had for £135 an edge 500 £152, then H.R. and cad for both (both can be got with either or both)
The battery life on the Brytons is also supposed to be better, upto 35 hrs (18 on the 500), mind I have never run a battery flat yet.

I know it's nothing major but I have not been in my bike at all first time out and a few hills I did three miles last night. I felt I could have done more but I didn't want to over do it first ride out. Hoping for four miles tonight.

As Damon said 3 miles is 3 more than before, my first two rides neigh on killed me, first was 8 miles the second 18 miles, I dont think nothing of those distance now, and you wont either, just keep at it be patient it does come over night (so to speak), there will be time you think what the ...., but your starting at a good time of year to get some miles done, build up some fitness and stamina, a month should see you doing 10-20 miles at a reasonable pace, if you get out 3-5 times a week, also remember to rest, it helps your body repair the damage you do exercising, and you generally come back stronger from the rest.
and

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Cheers for welcome everyone, it's hard speaking about my achievements in the office as I work with some very very fit people including an Ultra Marathoner and a guy who won the Devizes - Westminsiter Canoe Race a month or two back!

I have many questions on kit, to invest in a road bike or not, winter riding etc should I use this thread or another?

Ask what you want in here Oliver, it's a pretty lose thread, all manner of topics have been covered.
As for achievements, you will get applaud in here often enough, besides anything that you do better than you did before is an achievement, and should be applauded, also when you feel your getting no where again, the members in this thread (CC on the whole) will encourage you, even if it's only say get back out there do that last mile to bring up a certain mile stone, not that, that mile will have any beneficial effect on your fitness, other than you have reached a goal.

 

[ThinAir]

Great Bike

Cheers, dude!

 

[BrianEvesham]

I have many questions on kit, to invest in a road bike or not, winter riding etc should I use this thread or another?

All questions welcome on this thread.

As for a road bike, you would be hard pushed to beat this for a starter.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-red-road-bike-id_8274036.html

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Cheers for welcome everyone, it's hard speaking about my achievements in the office as I work with some very very fit people including an Ultra Marathoner and a guy who won the Devizes - Westminsiter Canoe Race a month or two back!

I have many questions on kit, to invest in a road bike or not, winter riding etc should I use this thread or another?

As per Brian, by all means post them here, though there is a dedicated part of the forum for these questions, which may produce answers quicker

http://www.cyclechat.net/forums/bikes-accessories-kit-and-clothing.39/

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I know it's nothing major but I have not been in my bike at all first time out and a few hills I did three miles last night. I felt I could have done more but I didn't want to over do it first ride out. Hoping for four miles tonight.

Keep at it!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Good evening everyone.

Nice to see some new Newbies on here - I do hope you stick around.

Did my first '25' today and pretty chuffed. 25.52 miles / 14.12 mph average.

I planned a relatively flat course although the word flat is a bit of a misnomer here in The Lakes! Miles 12 - 17 undulated like the Loch Ness Monsters back!

Found it very easy tbh but I am determined not to overdo things and just keep racking up the miles - I have done over 600 this year which is not a lot compared to some of you mile-munchers but is 600 and a bit more than I would have done without a bike!

Came off (separate thread) 2 miles from home on what transpired to be a fuel spillage. Cest la vie.

Take it easy folks.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Good evening everyone.

Nice to see some new Newbies on here - I do hope you stick around.

Did my first '25' today and pretty chuffed. 25.52 miles / 14.12 mph average.

I planned a relatively flat course although the word flat is a bit of a misnomer here in The Lakes! Miles 12 - 17 undulated like the Loch Ness Monsters back!

Found it very easy tbh but I am determined not to overdo things and just keep racking up the miles - I have done over 600 this year which is not a lot compared to some of you mile-munchers but is 600 and a bit more than I would have done without a bike!

Came off (separate thread) 2 miles from home on what transpired to be a fuel spillage. Cest la vie.

Take it easy folks.

Sorry to here about the spill (excuse the pun), but glad to you managed your first 25 miles, your 600 is proabaly more like my 1000-1200 miles.

 

[boybiker]

I know it's nothing major but I have not been in my bike at all first time out and a few hills I did three miles last night. I felt I could have done more but I didn't want to over do it first ride out. Hoping for four miles tonight.

3 miles more than most people! Just build up slowly and make sure you keep hydrated and eat well. Not forgetting a good nights kip and some rest time!

Good evening everyone.

Nice to see some new Newbies on here - I do hope you stick around.

Did my first '25' today and pretty chuffed. 25.52 miles / 14.12 mph average.

I planned a relatively flat course although the word flat is a bit of a misnomer here in The Lakes! Miles 12 - 17 undulated like the Loch Ness Monsters back!

Found it very easy tbh but I am determined not to overdo things and just keep racking up the miles - I have done over 600 this year which is not a lot compared to some of you mile-munchers but is 600 and a bit more than I would have done without a bike!

Came off (separate thread) 2 miles from home on what transpired to be a fuel spillage. Cest la vie.

Take it easy folks.

600 miles is a big achievement especially living in the area you do, its not easy going! I hope you're ok from your off, just get back on the bike as soon as you are better. It very quickly becomes a distance memory.

 

[Nomadski]

@SpokeyDokey Hope your ok after the fall, and gratsy on the 600 miles. Tell everyone it in KMs, it sounds more! (965.6kms!!)

@PedalPedalFallOff Here is a great place to put something out there, like @Nigelnaturist said the topics wander like a drunken Geordie at 3am, but as @Supersuperleeds rightly said, often if you want a QUICK answer make a thread in the right part of CC, there's some strangers out there but my head hasn't been bitten off...yet! Also the bike @BrianEvesham pointed out is a bit of a superstar round these parts when it comes to entry level bikes, so many cant be wrong!