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

[RWright]

My progress was more on balance side of things, as I'm getting more and more comfortable and relaxed on the Synapse. I managed to ride and pedal with hands off the handlebars (no traffic or silly acrobatics) even adjusted lane position as I went round some parked vehicle. Last time I did that I was probably in high school I also seem to have mastered the "look behind you and remember what you saw" without additional steering input, especially at speed.

On the other front, I'm enjoying the new structured training, seems to be doing miracles to my waist line as I need to punch another set of holes into my belts. These are the little things apart from speed, distance and climbs that make cycling such a nice sport!

I like the ride and balance of my Synapse. Sometimes even not riding it, while I am pushing it around the carport or driveway, it feels almost like it could just stay upright by itself. I tried and it won't though. It feels very well balanced riding it. I know this will sound weird but I even like the way it sounds when I ride it. Sort of a hard sound to explain.

The structured training sounds good. I have found out doing the hill reps the last couple of days that it can really build your leg muscles. I had to stop them all the time like I was doing, it was just too much for me. I felt great when I went out to my regular 15 mile track today, it was nice getting off the constant riding up or down hills . I think I will still do the hill reps some during the week and add them to some of my normal rides during the week.

I don't see any way I can get my climbing merit badge thing from Strava ....not that I was very confident I could to start with, but some things came up at work and I am going to be needed there a little more for a while. The short challenge period doesn't leave a lot of extra time. Maybe I will get it next time.

I forgot to add, Strava's elevation data is as squirrely as my last heart rate monitor. Crazy numbers sometimes. I had never paid any attention to it before the challenge.

 

[SWSteve]

I felt guilty after a massive plate of pasta bake featuring bacon and chicken so I decided to try and get some more metres climbed in. I've learned 2 things:
1) dhb medium shorts are too baggy around the crotch, the baggyness of the material around the top of my calves/crotch because of this is causing some skin/skin friction even w.chamois cream (I seem to be flying through this on a ride, I'll pile it on yet when I get home I'm as dry as bone)
2) getting up out of the saddle hurts more than anything else I've experienced with cycling so far

http://app.strava.com/activities/67856335

 

[MaxInc]

I know this will sound weird but I even like the way it sounds when I ride it. Sort of a hard sound to explain.
...
I forgot to add, Strava's elevation data is as squirrely as my last heart rate monitor. Crazy numbers sometimes. I had never paid any attention to it before the challenge.

When I tried to explain to LBS that the creaky saddle is ruining the beautiful rolling sound of the Synapse, I got that look that you normally give to excited children that don't know what they're talking about ... I'm glad I'm not the only one who can appreciate a nice rolling sound

Strava is flattening the small inclines if they're shorter that a certain threshold, it only seem to count those that have the potential to make you suffer In my case it seems to drop about 1/3 of the elevation gain registered by the Phone.

 

[SWSteve]

I like the ride and balance of my Synapse. Sometimes even not riding it, while I am pushing it around the carport or driveway, it feels almost like it could just stay upright by itself. I tried and it won't though. It feels very well balanced riding it. I know this will sound weird but I even like the way it sounds when I ride it. Sort of a hard sound to explain.

The structured training sounds good. I have found out doing the hill reps the last couple of days that it can really build your leg muscles. I had to stop them all the time like I was doing, it was just too much for me. I felt great when I went out to my regular 15 mile track today, it was nice getting off the constant riding up or down hills . I think I will still do the hill reps some during the week and add them to some of my normal rides during the week.

I don't see any way I can get my climbing merit bad thing from Strava ....not that I was very confident I could to start with, but some things came up at work and I am going to be needed there a little more for a while. The short challenge period doesn't leave a lot of extra time. Maybe I will get it next time.

I forgot to add, Strava's elevation data is as squirrely as my last heart rate monitor. Crazy numbers sometimes. I had never paid any attention to it before the challenge.

I know what you mean, my legs are hurting more mid ride now than ever before. But a good pain, like YEAH BRO I'M GETTING STACKED LEGS kind of pain

The elevation is all over the place, but who's complaining when it chucks an extra 500m/1500ft to a day's riding

 

[Mo1959]

I know what you mean, my legs are hurting more mid ride now than ever before. But a good pain, like YEAH BRO I'M GETTING STACKED LEGS kind of pain

The elevation is all over the place, but who's complaining when it chucks an extra 500m/1500ft to a day's riding

Never seems to chuck me any :-( Usually seems to deduct a couple of hundred feet if anything.

 

[SWSteve]

Never seems to chuck me any :-( Usually seems to deduct a couple of hundred feet if anything.

It just took 100m off of today's work!

 

[Nomadski]

Is that you in the picture? I had you pictured as looking as your avatar. Good luck with the fund raising

Haha, wish I could say I looked like Robert Downey JR, just find the pic hilarious for some reason!

 

[Nomadski]

Got my new bikie today. No idea about the whole specs etc all i i know is that its for adult girlies ( not 9yr olds) and has two wheels that move when i pedal and most importantly it has pink on it LOL

Anyway cycled it home from town which was great, no sore behind (AWESOME!!!) and then went out with my two boys ( Lucas very happy to get his one back). They did very well even though they both decided to perform head over handle bars stunts and scare the living daylights outta me. Think Lucas is quite keen on the whole downhill thing as he just went for it. Jumped up quicker than he went down.

May take bikie into work tomorrow will see how i feel at 6am (not a morning person)

Happy cycling one and all

Ahem

*PICS!*

 

[madferret]

You guys doing the Rapha rising thing all need your heads examined!

Lots of good stuff, been lurking a bit but reading everyone's progress as ever keeps me going.

So did 30 miles last night and 20 today, its been hard to get out as I am looking after a friends dog who hates being left alone

Last nights ride, had my first accident, can't say "off" as I stayed on the bike, essentially I didn't see two fairly high steps till I was airborne, even made a comedy noise "Yaroop" or similar, I hit the ground narrowly avoiding the second step then smashed my shoulder and elbow into a concrete wall , bit of skin off forearm, but chicks love scars right?

http://app.strava.com/activities/67612027

20 tonight to keep the legs moving, was nice to see lots of folks on bikes, even "scalped" someone, OK, she looked like she could hardly balance but it counts....

http://app.strava.com/activities/67856690

All of this on old bike, my new bike awaits in Chester, which I plan to ride to on Friday, something I have been building up to but think I can manage it now. Not sure whether to rest tomorrow or go out, will see how legs feel, don't want to end up too tired to be able to make it.

Route planned here -

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2885655?privacy_code=ZCr9E1mU56nF2diZ

Well done everyone on your progress, glad I found this thread, best thread on here IMO! Good to see y'all on Strava too!

 

[Mo1959]

@madferret. Looks like a decent route. Just take it easy if it is still as hot......and, as above, pics of your new steed when you get it home.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

2) getting up out of the saddle hurts more than anything else I've experienced with cycling so far

I find it quite a natural thing these days, though I couldn't when I started
What can I say the 30 mile planned ride to night ended up being 51.3miles so I ended up doing 101.7mile in 6:17:50 avg 16.15mph. the 2nd ride was a lot harder really because of the flatness of it.

 

[SWSteve]

@shelliemac @madferret pics of new bikes!

 

[SWSteve]

I find it quite a natural thing these days, though I couldn't when I started
What can I say the 30 mile planned ride to night ended up being 51.3miles so I ended up doing 101.7mile in 6:17:50 avg 16.15mph. the 2nd ride was a lot harder really because of the flatness of it.

jeeeezzzzzz that's a lot of miles!

 

[Mo1959]

I find it quite a natural thing these days, though I couldn't when I started
What can I say the 30 mile planned ride to night ended up being 51.3miles so I ended up doing 101.7mile in 6:17:50 avg 16.15mph. the 2nd ride was a lot harder really because of the flatness of it.

Well done. Hope you don't suffer for that tomorrow. I find two rides a day really hurts the following day.

 

[SWSteve]

@Mo1959 you're the one keeping me off #1 on the Rapha challenge by 300m. I'm hoping to catch you tomorrow...but it probably won't happen as I doubt work will let me leave early so I can get some decent metres in