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

[SpokeyDokey]

10.42 miles / 15.77 mph av' which is my quickest yet. Pleased with this. I know it's not a big distance to average this speed but it is a big improvement for me.

There were three mentions of Chinese meals on the thread earlier in the week which must've left a subliminal mark on me as that's what we are having for tea.

So Chinese plus some silly expensive fizzy plonk (pressie for Mrs SD who has done a sterling job on a massive report for work today and her boss sent it over - nice guy!) plus a re-run of the Mighty Blues Champions League winning season DVD which still has us jumping and shouting! Get in there Drogs........

Life - bliss!

Have a good evening all.

 

[Mo1959]

10.42 miles / 15.77 mph av' which is my quickest yet. Pleased with this. I know it's not a big distance to average this speed but it is a big improvement for me.

Whether it's a few more miles or a fraction faster, it's what keeps us all working hard at our cycling at whatever level we are at. All to be much applauded.

 

[adamangler]

Took my seven yr old daughter out for her second ever bike on her new bike today. Two week ago she couldnt ride 100 yards, today 14 miles, some decent climbing too considering, didnt fall of once, we went on road, off road, she loved it. Now wonder why i didnt start her cycling sooner.
http://app.strava.com/activities/63519675

 

[RWright]

Took my seven yr old daughter out for her second ever bike on her new bike today. Two week ago she couldnt ride 100 yards, today 14 miles, some decent climbing too considering, didnt fall of once, we went on road, off road, she loved it. Now wonder why i didnt start her cycling sooner.
http://app.strava.com/activities/63519675

Wow, that is what I call some serious newbie progress!

 

[RWright]

I was on schedule for under 4 hours until the last 6 miles when I discovered that every saying about the last 6 miles is true. In the end I finished in 4h13.

I did do a 20 mile training run in the snow in March though which was brutal.

Although, ever since I haven't been able to run more than 6 miles due to quite bad pain while running due to an aggravated ITB.



On Thursday the Garmin heart rate strap had me at 86bpm and talking my hear rate the good old fashioned way had it at 80bmp. So while that was quite close, I assume the difference gets bigger the more it goes up.

Nice work on the marathon, that is still a great time IMO.

I didn't know what ITBS was until you mentioned it and I searched for it. Since I have to be careful with my knees when I walk I try to use the exact route out and back to make sure the surface isn't angled the same way too much of the time (even though it does have me walking on the wrong side of the road half the time). It makes my ankles pivot sideways in the opposite direction coming back. Glad I read that and now feel better about what I thought might be me being overcautious. I hope you get yours under control and can do as you like running or cycling.

 

[DaveyM]

I had to miss out on the Cyclone sportive today my back is a bit better but I had to consider the risk of pushing it too soon and missing another 4 weeks. So using common sense for possibly the first time in my life, I had my first DNF

Managed to go out for a ride 24 miles but could still feel a pull in my lower back whilst climbing

5 weeks time and I'll be on the coast to coast training was going so well, now I just don't know.

http://app.strava.com/activities/63603373

 

[Mo1959]

I had to miss out on the Cyclone sportive today my back is a bit better but I had to consider the risk of pushing it too soon and missing another 4 weeks. So using common sense for possibly the first time in my life, I had my first DNF

Managed to go out for a ride 24 miles but could still feel a pull in my lower back whilst climbing

5 weeks time and I'll be on the coast to coast training was going so well, now I just don't know.

http://app.strava.com/activities/63603373

Sorry your back is still playing up. Climbs definitely seem to exacerbate it. Probably sensible pulling out of the sportive. Well done on the 24 miles though.

 

[stevey]

My little effort today actually didn't find it to hard being as weather is supposed to be good tomorrow going to try and do the furthest i have been tomorrow.

http://app.strava.com/activities/63594125

Taking the o/h tomorrow so will be a more gentile pace.

Also got caught by a local biker on way back started talking said "nice bike you got there" it was a pinarello dogma turns out, like the look of it till i googled the price Nice bike though

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Well, that seemed like hard work. Legs alternating between feeling heavy and like noodles!
Did some hill reps, some drinking in the saddle practice (also a go at eating a muesli bar on-the-go) and some trying to do what I'd been advised to, concentrate on pulling up the pedals rather than 'mashing' them (as I've been told it is called).

http://app.strava.com/activities/63637250

Hey ho, calories burnt and miles under the tyres

Signing off for a couple of weeks - maybe I need this holiday and will come back fired up with enthusiasm for training

 

[Mo1959]

Well, that seemed like hard work. Legs alternating between feeling heavy and like noodles!
Did some hill reps, some drinking in the saddle practice (also a go at eating a muesli bar on-the-go) and some trying to do what I'd been advised to, concentrate on pulling up the pedals rather than 'mashing' them (as I've been told it is called).

http://app.strava.com/activities/63637250

Hey ho, calories burnt and miles under the tyres

Signing off for a couple of weeks - maybe I need this holiday and will come back fired up with enthusiasm for training

Enjoy your holiday and I hope you do return feeling refreshed.

 

[Reece]

Well not long home after a very long day, Alarm went off at 1am this morning and was picked up at 2.20am. Arrived at the sportive in the South Downs at 5.45am. Got ready and set off at 7.20am. Ride went very well and better than I thought I would do. Friends also really surprised themselves at their abilities. I smashed most hills which I'm very proud of!

Only bad point/rant was the gap between the 2nd & 3rd feed stations. They were meant to have been every 30miles but 1st was 35miles in, then 2nd @ 60miles then the 3rd @ 104miles. The sun really heated up and most people were running out of water between 2nd & 3rd stops (including myself) which led to a lot of people 'bonking' and pulling out of the ride. Luckily managed to avoid it and complete the ride in a moving time of 7hr38mins (16.2mph avg moving speed), Total time out was just over 9 hours but this included food stops plus waiting for the group to all get up the hills.

http://app.strava.com/activities/63652009

 

[AndyPeace]

Well, that seemed like hard work. Legs alternating between feeling heavy and like noodles!
Did some hill reps, some drinking in the saddle practice (also a go at eating a muesli bar on-the-go) and some trying to do what I'd been advised to, concentrate on pulling up the pedals rather than 'mashing' them (as I've been told it is called).

http://app.strava.com/activities/63637250

Hey ho, calories burnt and miles under the tyres

Signing off for a couple of weeks - maybe I need this holiday and will come back fired up with enthusiasm for training

Hope you have a nice holiday, I am curious about that advice though. I shall have to track down where I read it, but the gist is it's not very productive to pull up the pedal. The advice I read was to always keep pressure on the pedal. I remember the advice said that pro's don't pull on the up stroke but don't resist the movement as much as beginners. Key to the advice was to keep the foot planted on the pedals to create a smooth circle, rather than stamping on the pedals. Could all be codswallop of course

 

[Nomadski]

Hope you have a nice holiday, I am curious about that advice though. I shall have to track down where I read it, but the gist is it's not very productive to pull up the pedal. The advice I read was to always keep pressure on the pedal. I remember the advice said that pro's don't pull on the up stroke but don't resist the movement as much as beginners. Key to the advice was to keep the foot planted on the pedals to create a smooth circle, rather than stamping on the pedals. Could all be codswallop of course

Im sure I read it wasnt very efficient to lift the pedal too. I heard about the 3rd cycle technique for climbing which seems to work for me on medium sized hills (ie every 3rd pedal stroke give an extra push). I find I gradually build up speed while not seemingly exerting extra energy when seated.

Great rides all, and @Phoenix Lincs have a great holiday, are you planning time off work before RideLondon? Im going to give a bit of welly in the first couple of weeks of July, but then slowly wind down a bit in the fortnight before RideLondon...Im not sure if thats the best way of doing it, but maybe more experienced riders like @Reece could give advice if its the right thing to do.

@Reece well done on the ride, great average given the distance and elevation. Got up way early too for it so Im guessing you got a good nights sleep tonight!

@Mo1959 Saw your pics, lovely! More please!!! Also, fallen in love with your bike, it looks the dogs bllx! Pardon my french.

 

[RWright]

I did three lots of 25 m this week. Was feeling quite smug, but woke up this morning with no energy at all. I had a couple of glasses if wine last night but I don't think im dehydrated. My evening meal was thick lentil soup . But can barely push a wheel barrow today. What am I doing wrong?

That is difficult to determine, I have never even had lentil soup, I am not even sure what a lentil is, I will guess a bean of some sort . My suggestion would be to talk to someone that is qualified in that field. Sounds like your body is telling you something, it normally pays to listen. I would back off the exertion level and see if that helped as a first step until I could get some answers from someone that knows.

 

[Mo1959]

@Mo1959 Saw your pics, lovely! More please!!! Also, fallen in love with your bike, it looks the dogs bllx! Pardon my french.

Thanks, wasn't sure about it when I first got it but have grown to love it too. It has seen me through a lot of tough miles.