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

[Nigelnaturist]

Oh dear that's not good. I must admit though - I just sail by at the moment - I just assume everyone else knows more than me and I'd be little or no help anyway
Can't fault Aldi kit though! They must just be jealous you saved yourself some cash....

Next thing is you will be joining strava, if you haven't already.

 

[RWright]

I never notice what other people are riding while I am out riding. For some reason I just notice how they are riding. Cadence, on the tops or hoods or drops. I did notice people on aero bars too. I don't notice what they are wearing unless they are stopped where I am, which has happened like one time I also notice when I get scalped, most are wearing the very tight fitting aero looking stuff. I wear the not so aero stuff, I like more air getting into my jersey, sort of the parachute effect. I have a couple of the tight racing jerseys but don't wear them often. I am going to save them for a hot lap after I get through with all this endurance and climbing nonsense.

I have only noticed one other rider without a helmet, well besides kids that is, and kids are supposed to wear helmets here if they are under 16, but I notice a lot of them don't.

 

[SWSteve]

@Mo1959
You are ahead of me on cyclelog
Well I managed 38.6mph downhill today, fastest ever known recording, then get a punture/failed patch (more likely the 2nd) though I did pass some glass, last night this morning forget when, I think I am due a new tyre mind it has done 4,300 miles front and rear, I was hoping it would last till a week Tuesday.
Still I got another 5 p.b.'s.
http://app.strava.com/activities/68238015#

If you wanted a good high speed, come out with me, I've 50mph into a small headwind down one road (you can see 1/2 mile away so it's alright)

 

[SWSteve]

Can I join in this thread? I only started cycling just over a year ago (got a bike for my 40th). My first ride was 8 miles and I have progressed up to 25-30 a week but I did do London to Brighton which has been my furthest distance to date. I can only really get out on my bike once a week but when I'm out I absolutely love it. It's so relaxing, the other cyclists are really friendly and I love how toned my legs and backside are . I also love discovering new routes and am constantly surprised by the areas around my home that I never knew existed! I wish I'd taken this up years ago.

Of course you can join this thread!
You don't need a welcome, just tell us what you've done. We're all here for one another

 

[Nigelnaturist]

If you wanted a good high speed, come out with me, I've 50mph into a small headwind down one road (you can see 1/2 mile away so it's alright)

This was a little like that I guess, straight down, not the best surface around here, but not the worst either. I am not really a spee freak, I guess it just shows how my confidence is increasing.
@RWright
I don't generally notice the bike, the ones I have been mentioning are from what people ride on strava, I just wear to be warm or cool depending on the time of year, change in the weather here I think, judging from the cloud build up this evening, cooler weather to follow, and I suspect another cold winter.

 

[Nomadski]

Can I join in this thread? I only started cycling just over a year ago (got a bike for my 40th). My first ride was 8 miles and I have progressed up to 25-30 a week but I did do London to Brighton which has been my furthest distance to date. I can only really get out on my bike once a week but when I'm out I absolutely love it. It's so relaxing, the other cyclists are really friendly and I love how toned my legs and backside are . I also love discovering new routes and am constantly surprised by the areas around my home that I never knew existed! I wish I'd taken this up years ago.

Don't ask, just barge in, park yourself down, and tell us a story every once in a while!

 

[RWright]

This was a little like that I guess, straight down, not the best surface around here, but not the worst either. I am not really a spee freak, I guess it just shows how my confidence is increasing.
@RWright
I don't generally notice the bike, the ones I have been mentioning are from what people ride on strava, I just wear to be warm or cool depending on the time of year, change in the weather here I think, judging from the cloud build up this evening, cooler weather to follow, and I suspect another cold winter.

I was reading somewhere, I forget exactly, but they forecast like 10 more years of cold and rainy weather for the UK.
Don't shoot me, I am only the messenger. Of course they don't know but it was from some sort of scientific source that sounded legit when I read it.

I found it http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/18/climate-uk-weather-summer-rain the Met office.

 

[MaxInc]

I was reading somewhere, I forget exactly, but they forecast like 10 more years of cold and rainy weather for the UK.
Don't shoot me, I am only the messenger. Of course they don't know but it was from some sort of scientific source that sounded legit when I read it.

I found it http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/18/climate-uk-weather-summer-rain the Met office.

Sounds like the same people who predicted the dryest summer in a long time, even banned hosepipes in most of the country only for the longest and wettest season ever recorded to kick in a few weeks later. I find predicting weather long term to be just as accurate as the horoscope.

Growing up in 40C+ summers and severe -30C winters I must say that I find the weather in the UK to be perfect in terms of temperature, maybe a bit grey at times but ideal for my heat thresholds. The rain however tends to get depressing after a while.

I did enjoy riding motorbikes in all weather including heavy rain but as long as I stayed (relatively) dry. Not sure I would be as comforable on a cycle, and wearing Goretex will most certainly impact performance and attract a lot of attention ) I gueess I'll have to wait and see what the winter will bring

@hepburn Welcome and don't be shy, you are amongst the right people! Well done on the L2B, the more I read about people doing the ride, the more I feel bad for chickening out ... will definitely going to do it next year!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Can I join in this thread? I only started cycling just over a year ago (got a bike for my 40th). My first ride was 8 miles and I have progressed up to 25-30 a week but I did do London to Brighton which has been my furthest distance to date. I can only really get out on my bike once a week but when I'm out I absolutely love it. It's so relaxing, the other cyclists are really friendly and I love how toned my legs and backside are . I also love discovering new routes and am constantly surprised by the areas around my home that I never knew existed! I wish I'd taken this up years ago.

Hiya - look forward to your tales of joy and tribulation.

All sorts of nice people on here from big mile-munchers to pootlers and all stops inbetween.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Sounds like the same people who predicted the dryest summer in a long time, even banned hosepipes in most of the country only for the longest and wettest season ever recorded to kick in a few weeks later. I find predicting weather long term to be just as accurate as the horoscope.

Growing up in 40C+ summers and severe -30C winters I must say that I find the weather in the UK to be perfect in terms of temperature, maybe a bit grey at times but ideal for my heat thresholds. The rain however tends to get depressing after a while.

I did enjoy riding motorbikes in all weather including heavy rain but as long as I stayed (relatively) dry. Not sure I would be as comforable on a cycle, and wearing Goretex will most certainly impact performance and attract a lot of attention ) I gueess I'll have to wait and see what the winter will bring

@hepburn Welcome and don't be shy, you are amongst the right people! Well done on the L2B, the more I read about people doing the ride, the more I feel bad for chickening out ... will definitely going to do it next year!

Me too!

I like our weather although sometimes when the drizzle sets in for a couple of weeks (literally) as we live in the lee of the mountains I have been known to curse.

A long time back I wanted to live in a v.hot climate but it doesn't suit me these days - I'm not sure what causes that sort of change in people really. Is it morphing physiology or psychology or both?

Bit breezier here today with some fluffy white things floating about. Tied up this morning (figuratively) but planing to get out later.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@RWright That is the British weather, there may well be a change in the winters due to sun spot activity @MaxInc this comes from various sources over the years going back to the 90's, as was predicted Sunspot activate is dropping and the last time this happened was in the 17th century or rather at the time little sunspot activity was noticed ths was called the Maunder Minimum and during this period the temps in Europe dropped certainly in the winter and rivers like the Thames froze.Since the 90's more research into the sun has happened and seems to be backing this up, and if your look at the winters we have had in recent years not just the last one (which was long for the U.K), we have had snow laying longer than the usual 3-4 days.
@SpokeyDokey My last two evening Rides have been rather breezy, though I was faster on last nights, I could swear it was omnidirectional (flipping heck spelt that in one go) though, it was 9mph from the ENE so I was quite pleased with the p.b. set on the Winter Chain Gang though not in my face it was coming from about 2 or 3 o'clock relative to me.

 

[Mo1959]

Was 4 miles out on the road this morning when I realised I had left my water bottle sitting and hate turning back. Kept going as it was forecast misty and taking longer for the sun to get through. However, I chanced my luck and popped into the little village shop in Braco and asked in the off chance that they might oblige with a bottle of lucozade sport and let me pay again. Didn't think they would as not many shops do that nowadays. I think it was a Saturday girl and she was a bit hesitant at first but agreed. The sun did come out for a while up the top of the moor so I was glad of it.

Got back and uploaded the ride and I am at 99% of the challenge. I know many would be tempted to go back out and finish it but I will savour the moment tomorrow and it will let me pop back over to Braco to pay for my drink. Really must pop a few pounds in my saddle bag for such emergencies.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Was 4 miles out on the road this morning when I realised I had left my water bottle sitting and hate turning back. Kept going as it was forecast misty and taking longer for the sun to get through. However, I chanced my luck and popped into the little village shop in Braco and asked in the off chance that they might oblige with a bottle of lucozade sport and let me pay again. Didn't think they would as not many shops do that nowadays. I think it was a Saturday girl and she was a bit hesitant at first but agreed. The sun did come out for a while up the top of the moor so I was glad of it.

Got back and uploaded the ride and I am at 99% of the challenge. I know many would be tempted to go back out and finish it but I will savour the moment tomorrow and it will let me pop back over to Braco to pay for my drink. Really must pop a few pounds in my saddle bag for such emergencies.

Well done Mo, I must admit I am amazed by how easily you have done the challenge

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Was 4 miles out on the road this morning when I realised I had left my water bottle sitting and hate turning back. Kept going as it was forecast misty and taking longer for the sun to get through. However, I chanced my luck and popped into the little village shop in Braco and asked in the off chance that they might oblige with a bottle of lucozade sport and let me pay again. Didn't think they would as not many shops do that nowadays. I think it was a Saturday girl and she was a bit hesitant at first but agreed. The sun did come out for a while up the top of the moor so I was glad of it.

Got back and uploaded the ride and I am at 99% of the challenge. I know many would be tempted to go back out and finish it but I will savour the moment tomorrow and it will let me pop back over to Braco to pay for my drink. Really must pop a few pounds in my saddle bag for such emergencies.

That will put you past 4,500 miles this year Mo, nice one.
I always have enough to make a call (if I can find a public phone) or extra water, though I very rarely get through more than a litre.

 

[Mo1959]

Well done Mo, I must admit I am amazed by how easily you have done the challenge

Hmm, not sure I would use the word easily. I have found it very tough but I am a bit stubborn and also a bit competitive and can push myself through physical pain otherwise I think I would have given up a couple of days ago. Glad I have done it though. Unless I fall off the bike within a few miles of leaving the house I should be finished tomorrow.