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

[Reece]

No, I had a bath instead!

Sky ride is only 6km and looks like it is closed roads as well, so ideal for families.

Yeah I did it last year and was great family fun. Different route this year and starts at bede park. Pretty much in my doorstep so no worrying about kids and traffic getting there.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Just noticed, this mornings ride took me over 14,000km for the year

 

[electric eel]

during the week i done mon 15 km. wed 20 km. fri 15 km and sat 10 km. totally knackered today !

 

[Stonechat]

Yeah I did it last year and was great family fun. Different route this year and starts at bede park. Pretty much in my doorstep so no worrying about kids and traffic getting there.

I wouldn't do one that short- I have done 2
One 9 miles was slow and v easy

The other was 10 miles, with hills and much faster

 

[Reece]

I wouldn't do one that short- I have done 2
One 9 miles was slow and v easy

The other was 10 miles, with hills and much faster

Are they the local rides?

This is the main City ride with all of the route closed to traffic. Plus lots of stuff for the family to do around the route.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Just noticed, this mornings ride took me over 14,000km for the year

Its amazing how these things creep up on you Chris. nearly twice the distance I have done.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Rain stopped eventually.

Had an afternoon footy-fest before scooting out at 6.30 for 12.3 miles @ 15.2 mph.

Better than nothing for sure.

I am doing a Nigel and showing my average speed progression since I bought my bike at the end of last year - getting there.....albeit slowly!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I know I said I was taking today off, but I just couldn't resist the improved weather this evening so I did 32.9 miles in 2:02:49 (avg 16.2mph) and 1421ft (43.19ft/mile) my fav p.b out of the 8 has to be this one.
http://www.strava.com/activities/75728660#1509956049
4.2 miles @ 17.3mph with 251 elev gain. 0.4% avg. 59.76ft/mile gain.

I also climbed this on no less than a 41" gear which if I have done my maths is the same as a 39x24 on a full double.
I was on a 30x19.
http://www.strava.com/activities/75728660#1509955811
Steepest part is 17.1%
And finally sorted the creak out.

I wouldn't do one that short- I have done 2
One 9 miles was slow and v easy

The other was 10 miles, with hills and much faster

The WNBR's are only about 6-7 miles.

 

[AnnaNanna]

I did my first "big park" ride today. I used MapMyRide and apparently got to an average of 7mph. It was mainly flat. It did mention a speed of 10 though, so fairly proud of that. My gears are playing up, and I have to ride in 5 and 2...10th? I think that affects my speed and bit, or at least my stamina.

We did a shorter side later in the evening with a slightly slower average speed. total distance all day was 4miles. Not bad for a first proper ride :-)

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I did my first "big park" ride today. I used MapMyRide and apparently got to an average of 7mph. It was mainly flat. It did mention a speed of 10 though, so fairly proud of that. My gears are playing up, and I have to ride in 5 and 2...10th? I think that affects my speed and bit, or at least my stamina.

We did a shorter side later in the evening with a slightly slower average speed. total distance all day was 4miles. Not bad for a first proper ride :-)

I just read your other thread, speed will help reduce wobbling.
Gears how are they playing up.
Try not to think of gears as 1 to however many you have, there is overlap between choice of front and rear. I will try not to make this complex.
For example if your front ring is 38th and your rear is 19th this gives a ratio of one turn of the pedals to two rotations of the rear wheel. If you then use a smaller front ring say 26th and your rear is 13th this is the same ratio of 1:2, in practise you probably wouldn't do this.

The technical bit, to work out the ratios divide the number of teeth on the front by those on the rear, and this gives the ratio of how many times the rear wheel turn for each rotation of the pedals. if you have 26 on the front and 26 on the rear this is 1:1 and this is why small front + big rear is easier than big front + small rear.

Depending how many rings are on the front 1 on the selector will give you an easier gearing, getting harder as you go to 2 or 3, if in 1 on the front dont use the highest 2 numbers on the back, likewise if on 3 on the front (if there are three, which i think there will be) do not use the two lowest on the rear.

So small numbers are easier than larger numbers for any combinations of front and rear.

Hope this helps.
And and well done for getting out riding, keep it up, you will find plenty of support in here.

 

[AnnaNanna]

Thanks Nigel, although I can't pretend you didn't completely baffle my brain with your gear talk.

My gears are not changing well. Apart from the fact that I physically struggle to use my hand to turn down one on my right side, when I do, they clank and rattle and it just doesn't feel comfortable.

Bearing in mind I'm still fairly nervous, it really annoyed me!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@AnnaNanna
Does the other half have problems changing gears or just you, if it's not new it may be it just needs a clean a lubricating the gear cables (or replaced).
When you change gear try not to put to much force on the pedals at the same time, just lightly spin till they have changed.
When you say down is this going to higher numbers or lower numbers, it should be easier from low to high, and this is depending if you have a rear dérailleur, as the natural way it works is to go from low to high, to go from high gear to low requires a little more force but shouldn't be difficult.
You say you struggle physically, is this the bike or do you have a problem.

 

[Stonechat]

Thanks Nigel, although I can't pretend you didn't completely baffle my brain with your gear talk.

My gears are not changing well. Apart from the fact that I physically struggle to use my hand to turn down one on my right side, when I do, they clank and rattle and it just doesn't feel comfortable.

Bearing in mind I'm still fairly nervous, it really annoyed me!

Well done, but working gears is an essential, so sort the or get lbs to do so

 

[AnnaNanna]

Does the other half have problems changing gears or just you, if it's not new it may be it just needs a clean a lubricating the gear cables (or replaced).

When you say down is this going to higher numbers or lower numbers, it should be easier from low to high, and this is depending if you have a rear dérailleur, as the natural way it works is to go from low to high

You say you struggle physically, is this the bike or do you have a problem.

I find it difficult to turn down a gear, so in numbers, from 6 to 5, for example. I can very easily accidentally change to 6. Also with all that clanking etc., 5 and 2 is comfortable, but a challenge.

The bike is new, so I doubt it needs replacing!

 

[Stonechat]

I find it difficult to turn down a gear, so in numbers, from 6 to 5, for example. I can very easily accidentally change to 6. Also with all that clanking etc., 5 and 2 is comfortable, but a challenge.

The bike is new, so I doubt it needs replacing!

Perhaps the cable has stretched a bit and the barrel adjuster needs tweaking