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

[Smotyn]

I'm very much a beginner to cycling and so far my longest ride was 17 miles two weeks ago, which took me 90 minutes on my old mountain bike fitted with road tyres. Since then I've not ridden at all as it has been windy and I've not felt comfortable on the roads, even the quiet ones we have here in Fenland. But after a sleepless night I thought what the heck and braved a bit of wind. Managed 12.4 miles (the .4 matters!) in just over an hour with half of that into a headwind. Sore butt, aching palms and feeling rather tired, but happy to be riding again

Welcome to the world of cycling in the fens. What we lack in hills we make up for in wind lol its just something you have to get used to or you wont be riding much the more you do it the better you get. I have found anythin up to guats of 30 mile an hour is ok anything over that and it gets very interesting lol good luck keep it up and may see you around x

 

[Smotyn]

Gusts lol

 

[Twotter]

It's funny, I've lived in Fenland for getting on for 20 years and hadn't really noticed the wind until now. Mind you where there's a headwind in one direction there will be a tailwind in the other

 

[Nomadski]

I'm very much a beginner to cycling and so far my longest ride was 17 miles two weeks ago, which took me 90 minutes on my old mountain bike fitted with road tyres. Since then I've not ridden at all as it has been windy and I've not felt comfortable on the roads, even the quiet ones we have here in Fenland. But after a sleepless night I thought what the heck and braved a bit of wind. Managed 12.4 miles (the .4 matters!) in just over an hour with half of that into a headwind. Sore butt, aching palms and feeling rather tired, but happy to be riding again

The .4 ALWAYS matters!

Wind is the bane of all our lives, like you I didn't really notice the wind until I cycled! Nor hills much either for that matter.

Good rides btw, well done.

 

[Mo1959]

Yep. Absolutely detest the wind. There is a local cc ride starting in Perth which is only 18 miles away. Was only half thinking about it, but on checking the forecast decided against it. It is currently gusting very strongly so I wouldn't have enjoyed it. Hats off to all those turning out for it though, especially those braving cycling a distance even to get to the start!

 

[Pieface]

Went out for a bike ride today an just crashed majorly. My own fault for not eating anything before leaving. Got tomorrow off so hopefully recover then.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I'm very much a beginner to cycling and so far my longest ride was 17 miles two weeks ago, which took me 90 minutes on my old mountain bike fitted with road tyres. Since then I've not ridden at all as it has been windy and I've not felt comfortable on the roads, even the quiet ones we have here in Fenland. But after a sleepless night I thought what the heck and braved a bit of wind. Managed 12.4 miles (the .4 matters!) in just over an hour with half of that into a headwind. Sore butt, aching palms and feeling rather tired, but happy to be riding again

As Damon says the .4 always matters. Wind as you get fitter it becomes less of a problem, well done getting out, I know it is off putting when you are starting. Your avg speed on your first ride is comparable with my first rides on a road bike.

 

[Mo1959]

As Damon says the .4 always matters. Wind as you get fitter it becomes less of a problem, well done getting out, I know it is off putting when you are starting. Your avg speed on your first ride is comparable with my first rides on a road bike.

Bloomin fierce here now. Hope all those on the forum ride aren't getting blown away. Currently gusting over 20mph. Certainly not something I would enjoy.

Another walk shortly. Beginning to think I should maybe just stick to walking. So much cheaper!

 

[SWSteve]

@Twotter keep a log of those .4's as you'll soon rack up extra miles when they are combined

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Bloomin fierce here now. Hope all those on the forum ride aren't getting blown away. Currently gusting over 20mph. Certainly not something I would enjoy.

Another walk shortly. Beginning to think I should maybe just stick to walking. So much cheaper!

It seems to have calmed a little here at the, calm before the storm.
I just gave the new shoes a quick run out, 27.8 miles @ 16.25 mph avg cad is up at 85rpm, 12 p.b's in all and a quite a few 2nd's.
http://app.strava.com/activities/71816686

 

[SWSteve]

Just woke up after a couple of beers last night. I looks lovely here, not too warm + clear skies so I might have to go out after some food to try and sweat out some of the poison. Will be putting a chunk in tomorrow, maybe 50 something

 

[stevey]

Well just back from my first epic ride (for me) lovely and sunny just windy as others have mentioned.

What i have discovered is 1 need better padded shorts 2 better padded gloves 3 proper pedals 4 proper shoes...lol

Overall really enjoyed the ride on the way back though had right knee pain just below the knee cap but it strangly disappeared later on in the ride.

http://app.strava.com/activities/71822099#

 

[SWSteve]

Well just back from my first epic ride (for me) lovely and sunny just windy as others have mentioned.

What i have discovered is 1 need better padded shorts 2 better padded gloves 3 proper pedals 4 proper shoes...lol

Overall really enjoyed the ride on the way back though had right knee pain just below the knee cap but it strangly disappeared later on in the ride.

http://app.strava.com/activities/71822099#

Good ride! What shorts do you have? With gloves I kept an eye on the Evans site and they had a £20 pair of Altura ProGels going for a fiver a while back, so I snapped them up.
Pedals and shoes were being mentioned earlier in this thread(i.e. 1 or 2 pages back), I found the benefits in comfort that came from picking up a pair of SPD-SL shoes/pedals was night and day as my other shoes were quite soft. Try them on, and see what fits as I think there can be a real benefit from having the shoe on your foot, not online.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well just back from my first epic ride (for me) lovely and sunny just windy as others have mentioned.

What i have discovered is 1 need better padded shorts 2 better padded gloves 3 proper pedals 4 proper shoes...lol

Overall really enjoyed the ride on the way back though had right knee pain just below the knee cap but it strangly disappeared later on in the ride.

http://app.strava.com/activities/71822099#

As I said before photography is cheaper.
I used to get knee pains in my right knee, due to an old injury, though as I have got fitter and my leg muscles have toned up a touch, it's hardly an issue these days.
Nice ride by the way.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Good ride! What shorts do you have? With gloves I kept an eye on the Evans site and they had a £20 pair of Altura ProGels going for a fiver a while back, so I snapped them up.
Pedals and shoes were being mentioned earlier in this thread(i.e. 1 or 2 pages back), I found the benefits in comfort that came from picking up a pair of SPD-SL shoes/pedals was night and day as my other shoes were quite soft. Try them on, and see what fits as I think there can be a real benefit from having the shoe on your foot, not online.

I got mine from Halfords, again they have come up trumps for me this week, I know they are nothing special but even from the ones I had, they are a world apart, £34.99 with web discounts.