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

[BrianEvesham]

And on the seventh day he rested, so did I.
Worn out from work and life.
Hopefully out again tomorrow when the little Uns are at school.

 

[simmi]

Well we did it, the St Barnabas Grimsthorpe Challenge Sportive.
11 of us in total with only a couple who had done a sportive before.
You have to first sign in get your start number and timing chip and pay your entry fee (£30)
Then off to the start where your chip is read then away.
I got off to a poor start, forgot to start my Garmin for the first 6.8 miles, a real schoolboy error and not for the first time.
After about 20 miles we had a run of bad luck, not one but two big blow outs (not me luckily) within a mile, and I am talking new tyre needed big blow outs. I carry a spare so one was OK but but the other we had to patch up until we could reach a support vehicle.
The feed stations were good, lots of snacks and a chance to refill water bottles with energy drink, on the long route there were 3 in all and were a welcome break.
With about 40 miles to go I started to get cramp in my left thigh which set my back for a few miles, luckily one of my fellow riders was on hand with an isotonic gel which soon sorted the problem.
The ride was a lot hillier than I thought it would be, well over 5000ft of elevation, and though the hills were not over steep there were many of them.
We all made it back OK and finished the ride together.
All in all a most enjoyable day.
My longest ride to date 111 miles. http://app.strava.com/activities/63861144

 

[Reece]

Well we did it, the St Barnabas Grimsthorpe Challenge Sportive.
11 of us in total with only a couple who had done a sportive before.
You have to first sign in get your start number and timing chip and pay your entry fee (£30)
Then off to the start where your chip is read then away.
I got off to a poor start, forgot to start my Garmin for the first 6.8 miles, a real schoolboy error and not for the first time.
After about 20 miles we had a run of bad luck, not one but two big blow outs (not me luckily) within a mile, and I am talking new tyre needed big blow outs. I carry a spare so one was OK but but the other we had to patch up until we could reach a support vehicle.
The feed stations were good, lots of snacks and a chance to refill water bottles with energy drink, on the long route there were 3 in all and were a welcome break.
With about 40 miles to go I started to get cramp in my left thigh which set my back for a few miles, luckily one of my fellow riders was on hand with an isotonic gel which soon sorted the problem.
The ride was a lot hillier than I thought it would be, well over 5000ft of elevation, and though the hills were not over steep there were many of them.
We all made it back OK and finished the ride together.
All in all a most enjoyable day.
My longest ride to date 111 miles. http://app.strava.com/activities/63861144

Well done Simmi!

 

[simmi]

Well done Simmi!

Same to you mate, I was surprised by the amount of climbing I did and yours was an extra 2000ft, it would have near killed me.
When I was at the 2nd feed station today I saw a group of riders from your club, they weren't doing the sportive just out for a club ride.

 

[Reece]

Same to you mate, I was surprised by the amount of climbing I did and yours was an extra 2000ft, it would have near killed me.
When I was at the 2nd feed station today I saw a group of riders from your club, they weren't doing the sportive just out for a club ride.

To be honest I didn't find the climbing to bad. 9 good climbs (mix of steep and long drawn out) and I just focused on catching people up and passing them which worked a treat lol.

The club did a ride out that way to the cafe for the club presidents birthday. I wanted to go but decided to rest the legs.

 

[AndyPeace]

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?

I'm no expert but surely an evening meal of 200-300 calories is not enough?

 

[Bill-H]

Completed my first imperial century today started my garmin a bit late. really enjoyed it 6hours 32 moving time,6 hours 56 total time with a couple of big hills total climb was a little over 5100 ft.
Course was a little under 100 miles so did a loop through a housing estate to clock the 100

 

[stevey]

Well we did it, the St Barnabas Grimsthorpe Challenge Sportive.
11 of us in total with only a couple who had done a sportive before.
You have to first sign in get your start number and timing chip and pay your entry fee (£30)
Then off to the start where your chip is read then away.
I got off to a poor start, forgot to start my Garmin for the first 6.8 miles, a real schoolboy error and not for the first time.
After about 20 miles we had a run of bad luck, not one but two big blow outs (not me luckily) within a mile, and I am talking new tyre needed big blow outs. I carry a spare so one was OK but but the other we had to patch up until we could reach a support vehicle.
The feed stations were good, lots of snacks and a chance to refill water bottles with energy drink, on the long route there were 3 in all and were a welcome break.
With about 40 miles to go I started to get cramp in my left thigh which set my back for a few miles, luckily one of my fellow riders was on hand with an isotonic gel which soon sorted the problem.
The ride was a lot hillier than I thought it would be, well over 5000ft of elevation, and though the hills were not over steep there were many of them.
We all made it back OK and finished the ride together.
All in all a most enjoyable day.
My longest ride to date 111 miles. http://app.strava.com/activities/63861144

Good job there simmi

 

[stevey]

I'm no expert but surely an evening meal of 200-300 calories is not enough?

I would agree done 27 miles today came back to poached eggs,toast for breakfast then home made lamb burgers then lemon cake and flap jacks. Need to refuel the body, i dont cycle nowhere near as far as some of you guys/gals either.

 

[madferret]

Only did 5k yesterday.....now was I going to the shops or was it cynically to get 250k Junedoggle badge thing......

 

[BrianEvesham]

Just a 6 miler (25 mins) on the old hybrid this morning to check out that new wheel I fitted last week is ok, gears still need sorting but it's ok to use.
It's amazing how much hard work it was compared to the roadie, nothing feels quite right on my old favourite anymore but that's ok as it will be the chief tag puller from now on destined for slow family jaunts.

 

[hopless500]

A short 15-miler for me to break in new saddle. Made the mistake of going out to a village which I had forgotten had its annual fete going on. Normally dead quiet and trafficless. This time there were millions of cars in the area .
On the plus side, with my new shorts I must've looked half profeshneal - several pedestrians I slowed down for said 'thanks'! On the down side, it was BOILING . On another plus side I called in at the local for a quick refreshing drinkie. But I got home much later than intended as I met a load of friends and sat yacking for far too long.

 

[sleaver]

Nice ride in the summer which seemed to finally show up yesterday. I had only planned 65k, but due to a road closure and being stubborn to stick to the route I was going to do as much as possible, it turned into 76k. I admit that I did go down the closed road thinking I could squeeze past, but it was just BT taking up one side of the road. However, there was a police car at the other end. While they were busy turning away riders doing the London Cycle Sportive, I quietly did a U turn and went back on my merry way. When I stopped to check if there was a short way around, I did get chatting to another cyclist so that was good.

Also had another clipless moment at a junction. I had my unclipped foot on the ground, but for some reason I went the other way. Afterwards, my chain was off (the road just before hand has more potholes than actual road), so I don't know if I just lost my balance, or pushed down on the pedal and lost balance due to it freely moving. Even then, I don't know if the chain was off before or after. I did get asked if I was alright by two women and I was apart from looking like a plonker. I'm thinking of changing the foot I unclip as I have always gone down to the right and that's the RD side but then my left is the weaker to push off on.

All in all it was a very enjoyable ride even though my legs were starting to say otherwise for the last 6 miles. The weather was good, got some tan lines although the ones caused by my mitts don't look so good and I got to see some nice places that I've driven past so many times but have never seen. Even had Box Hill within view

http://app.strava.com/activities/63911637

I think I need to work on hills though or even slight inclines. I would like to think that I'm getting faster(ish) on the flat, but come an incline or hill of any note and I just lose all momentum and have to keep changing down gears.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Absolute pig of a ride.

Bit of a heavy weekend (not socialising, sadly). Mrs SD had a massive Court submission to complete and the poor girl was really up against the clock through no fault of her own. I had some SEO stuff to complete on a website. We also had builders here last week and just had to clear up after their laughably inept 'builders clean'. The gardener has disappeared so the jungle needed dealing with.Then we watched the footy late.

Got to bed at 4.20am last night and back up at 6.15am so not much sleep - I only do about 4 hours a night but less than 2 was too little even for me.

Did not feel like going out but thought I had better make the effort.

Put my padded shorts on back to front TWICE - something was telling me a ride was not a good idea!

Got out on bike and set off into a REALLY BIG HEADWIND and was demoralised from the off.

Legs didn't want to play. Brain had buggered off somewhere else and certainly wasn't focused on the ride. Just as well as lungs were playing merry hell due to farmer baling a big field and the air was full of eye-watering dust (still streaming now). If brain was around to listen to lungs there could well have been a falling out between the two as lungs were belly-aching big style and brain was not in sympathetic mode.

Took a detour to avoid the tractor rubbish and headed down a bridleway (muddy) that turned into a very tight singletrack about 3' wide that was muddier still. It went up a very steep hill (could hardly stay on bike) and then down a very very steep twisty hill. Nettles either side so legs got stung, arms got stung and my baby-soft skin (haha) is now all red and lumpy and itchy. Brain turned up eventually and was by now well and truly fed up.

So.....at the end of the muddy track when I got back onto a lane brain decided to gently spin the pedals and head for home.

Scalped two 10 year olds on their bikes as I went through my village so every cloud does have a silver lining.

14.7 miles at 13.7 mph av'.

Going to clean my bike, then have a shower and chill out for rest of evening apart from cooking tea as Mrs SD is working late (again!).

***

Sorry about the whinge but it's not always coming up roses out there.

I feel better now I have had a moan - hope all you 'got-outs' fared better than me and have a good evening all.

 

[Nomadski]

@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)

I know there is a lot of info on carbs around, but am always confused by the good carbs and bad carbs. Is there a good guide you know of which will have examples of good food to eat thru the fortnight before or so? Especially loading up on the carbs in the days before the ride?

Unfortunately I seem to like everything that is bad for me, I eat sandwiches at work which are white bread, soup at home with white bread, and Im not fond of all bran type cereals! I know I have to take the plunge with brown bread (urgh) but wonder what else is there..

A friend who in the last 9 weeks has come down with a massive brain tumor, had a major operation in London removing 95% of it, developed a slope in his face (like a stroke) deafness in one ear, lost sight in one eye and since being back home has developed DVT from lying in a hospital bed so much has said he is moving heaven and earth to come to the top of Box Hill with some other friends for me for RideLondon has really brought this race into focus for me, made me more determined than ever to get through it. Has also brought a new perspective in life for me too. Heard from Cancer Research UK that local press are going to be running with my story apparently including what has happened to my friend (he has okayed this).

Not sure what point I'm trying to make telling everyone this other than this is about a lot more to me than just completing mileage.