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

[RWright]

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.

The pictures did look nice, and it looks like a beautiful place to ride...the road finish didn't look all that smooth but didn't look bad. I bet you would pick up one or two mph avg. just with smoother asphalt.

 

[Mo1959]

The pictures did look nice, and it looks like a beautiful place to ride...the road finish didn't look all that smooth but didn't look bad. I bet you would pick up one or two mph avg. just with smoother asphalt.

That's my excuse too Rocky. In all seriousness, they are certainly not as smooth as some of yours seem to be. When I come across the odd section that has been resurfaced well, it feels lovely to ride on.

Nasty little blustery wind here this morning so just did a couple of my local loops. I get really frustrated pushing into the wind so couldn't be bothered staying out too long.

 

[Mo1959]

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.

You don't know what you are missing. Lentil soup is yummy, especially if it's made nice and thick. It is a pulse/bean.

 

[Reece]

@Nomadski thanks mate. In prep for your ride London, the week leading upto if, just do light spin rides and nothing strenuous. Also eat plenty of good carbs that week to build the energy levels up. This is what I've been advised in the past and seems to work. My rides always feel better doing this.

Also in ride nutrition and hydration is just as important. If you use gels etc the high 5 endurance pack is great value and gives you a sportive guide (can also find this online on wiggle or high 5 website)

 

[Ciar]

Twas not amused this morning, I was supposed to get my MTB out and ride some trails get muddy and wet, but my mates decided for some reason that I wasn't going to turn up! so they buggered of and left me

so I took my trusty steed aka my Hybrid CX, went out and did my usual loop up to Epping, it's been a couple of weeks since I Last did this, amazing weather roads were pretty busy with roadies even got a few nods and was merrily scalped once all in all glorious ride, broke the time it took me to do the ride, down from 56m to 45m so now I am happy bunny and going to stuff me face..

Route: Home To Epping & Back
Activity: Cycle
Started: 30 Jun 2013 07:28:51
Ride Time: 45:49
Distance: 9.66 miles
Average Speed: 12.66 mph
Fastest Speed: 29.74 mph
Ahead of Best Ride: 10:29 Ascent: 217 feet
Ascent: 217 feet
Descent: 207 feet
Average Heart Rate: 132 bpm
Maximum Heart Rate: 164 bpm
Average Cadence: 69 rpm
Maximum Cadence: 123 rpm
Bike: Cannondale Hybrid
Shoes: Specialized Tahoe

 

[stevey]

Gentle country lane route, Now for food

http://app.strava.com/activities/63733392

 

[Mo1959]

Gentle country lane route, Now for food

http://app.strava.com/activities/63733392

Well done Steve. Enjoy your grub.

 

[Smotyn]

Rode 15.11 mi on 30/06/2013

DISTANCE:

15.11 mi

DURATION

1:26:40

CALORIES BURNED

1447 kCal

Hi all here is what I managed today is not the best I can do but yesterday I had another bike fit who told me again my bike is too small for me so instead of going for a ride I went back to my LBS and complained ended up coming out with a set back seat post and a very expensive set of road shoes and pedals to see if this helps and got to go back next week as he going to sort a more at back post. The shoes are on trial so we shall see. On the plus side my knees aren't hurting nearly as much but between moving everything again the wind and heat (I dont do heat lol) was pretty f***ed after the 15 miles.
Just going to keep at for the next ten days and then rest up a bit before the sunday. I now am aiming to just do what I can on the day and if I dont make it all the way then im not going to beat myself up after all the problems I have had getting here. Hope you a have all had a good weekend xxx

 

[spooks]

Averaged over 15mph for the first time today. My legs felt like lead though. One weekend I want to cycle out to the New Forest but the route out to get there scares me a bit. I'm sure it wouldn't be so bad if I actually tried it but I don't even like driving it!
http://app.strava.com/activities/63735964

 

[Goonerobes]

Averaged over 15mph for the first time today. My legs felt like lead though. One weekend I want to cycle out to the New Forest but the route out to get there scares me a bit. I'm sure it wouldn't be so bad if I actually tried it but I don't even like driving it!
http://app.strava.com/activities/63735964

Good ride Spooks, have a look at my Forest route from yesterday (below), it was lovely, apart from Lyndhurst High Street which can be scary when busy.
If you travel from the Common along Millbrook Road there is a cycle route which also goes along the Totton bypass & up Spicers Hill.

http://app.strava.com/activities/63569789

 

[sleaver]

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.

Thanks. If it's any more help, I get the pain just below my knee at the top of the fibular.

It was just weird that I went from running a marathon to being in so much pain that I had to cut runs short and walk home. Walking 4k in the cold drizzly rain is when I made the decision to buy a bike.

I've seen a physio and apparently it sounds like a mix of tight calf & hamstrings, weak gluts and mild over pronation all work against each other causing stress on the ITB. I've been given exercises so hopefully it will get better. What's weird is that I heard cyclists get it as well, yet cycling hasn't caused me any issues. My last run before giving in and going to a physio end up with walking, yet, probably stupidly, I went for a 35k ride in the evening on the same day and while it wasn't perfect, it didn't bother me.

Anyway, I'll post details later or tomorrow, but ended up with my longest ride to date this morning. Even got some cyclists tan lines and why typing this, just realised that the stop at my wrists due to my gloves. luckily the ends of my fingers aren't tanned otherwise that would have looked stupid!

 

[RWright]

Storms rolling in here this afternoon so I went out early and got in a breezy 20 miles. I got a little rain on me at the same spot I normally do on my 16 mile track, it is getting a little weird. Nothing else exciting happened but I did find the glove I lost in the wash and got home in time to watch the last 20k of today's Tour stage.

 

[morrisman]

Only 15 miles this afternoon but with the saddle up 1/4" and the bars down a little my average speed seemed to be up by 8/9% plus my knees don't hurt. So it seems little adjustments are important!

 

[Crosstrailer]

Not been on the site for a few months but I am so pleased to see this thread still going !!!!

Unfortunately due to life issues the 700 miles I did in the final 6 months of 2012 turned into a total of 70 miles in the first 6 months of 2013. I set out a couple of days ago determined to get back on track and broke a spoke 12 miles in. I will learn how to fix it hopefully with some help from the more experienced guys on this site and will start putting the miles in again.

Well done to all who are stronger willed than me and have kept going for the full year !!!!

 

[RWright]

Not been on the site for a few months but I am so pleased to see this thread still going !!!!

Unfortunately due to life issues the 700 miles I did in the final 6 months of 2012 turned into a total of 70 miles in the first 6 months of 2013. I set out a couple of days ago determined to get back on track and broke a spoke 12 miles in. I will learn how to fix it hopefully with some help from the more experienced guys on this site and will start putting the miles in again.

Well done to all who are stronger willed than me and have kept going for the full year !!!!

Welcome back! I have been there. I let winter take me out after my first four or five months. This year I fought through the winter and it really helped my cycling and my physical condition. It takes willpower but you can do it. Good luck this time.