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

[Supersuperleeds]

Make no mistake 32 miles is a good distance, avg speed varies with weather (usually wind) terrain, its better to look at long term increases.
I dont know about Andy but Chris and I are trying to do the CTS challenge, the way Andy is going I think he might be too. I certain don't avg near 60 miles a day as a rule.

My avg daily mileage when I ride is 32 miles this year, last year it was 27

I'm averaging 38 miles a day this year, commuter days have two rides in them so my ride average this year is 24.6 miles. This time last year 6 miles each way to and from work and no weekend riding was enough.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I am still out here Gang!
Just been told I am finishing work friday, apparently not required for a couple of months
So on the plus side, no more nights, loads of free time to get back on the bike and even time to recomission the Vintage Sun.
On the negative side, well, that's obvious

Unlucky Brian, hopefully it is only for a couple of months.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I'm averaging 38 miles a day this year, commuter days have two rides in them so my ride average this year is 24.6 miles. This time last year 6 miles each way to and from work and no weekend riding was enough.

My average when I ride (currently 73% of all days), is 32 miles a day, but this can be upto 4 or 5 rides, though usually no more than 2 or 3. 325 rides altogether as far as I make out, so 17 miles each ride on avg.
Cost spent on the bike (excluding clothing)
£332.90

Includes tyres, tubes cables, saddle, seat post, bars and stem brake blocks, chains and cassettes.

 

[madferret]

@Stonechat 32 miles is a great distance, think back to when you started? Would that have seemed possible, it wouldn't for me.

No progress here, after 100km on Tuesday, my legs are really sore, just behind the knee. I think my saddle maybe too high, or its just a fitness thing. It's never hurt like this though

Not sure whether to just go for a walk instead to stretch my legs. I have moved the saddle down slightly as per recommendations on this site but still feel it on first turn of pedals, which doesn't instill much confidence to go out

As for riding on the flat, it can be hard work for sure. I have found that it feels harder work on towpaths/trails due to terrain than it is on roads.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Stonechat 32 miles is a great distance, think back to when you started? Would that have seemed possible, it wouldn't for me.

No progress here, after 100km on Tuesday, my legs are really sore, just behind the knee. I think my saddle maybe too high, or its just a fitness thing. It's never hurt like this though

Not sure whether to just go for a walk instead to stretch my legs. I have moved the saddle down slightly as per recommendations on this site but still feel it on first turn of pedals, which doesn't instill much confidence to go out

As for riding on the flat, it can be hard work for sure. I have found that it feels harder work on towpaths/trails due to terrain than it is on roads.

Sorry to hear your in pain, but if it's both I tend to think its probably just fitness, but I don't know a great deal.
If I hurt to much though this is usually thighs, I will rest till it goes (well not till the end of the month, have to keep going), I then usually find I can usually ride better.

I am off to do this route today as i have to go to Wakefield, and someone mentioned one of the climbs on this route (its the first big one, the second I have done before), so I have changed the 26 and 23th on the rear to a 28 and 24th, as I will also be carrying panniers. I have also been fitting rear light brackets (two so I have options depending if I have just the saddle bag or panniers.
I also have one on the back of the helmet.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

My average when I ride (currently 73% of all days), is 32 miles a day, but this can be upto 4 or 5 rides, though usually no more than 2 or 3. 325 rides altogether as far as I make out, so 17 miles each ride on avg.
Cost spent on the bike (excluding clothing)
£332.90

Includes tyres, tubes cables, saddle, seat post, bars and stem brake blocks, chains and cassettes.

I dare not add up what I have spent on my cycling this year.

 

[Mo1959]

I dare not add up what I have spent on my cycling this year.

............another reason for cutting back on the mileage a bit.........well that's my excuse.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

@madferret - I agree with @Nigelnaturist that it is probably just fitness levels. First time I did 100km I slept like a baby and ached for a few days.

Two options really, 1) rest for a few days, or 2) go for a recovery ride and ride it slow, if you pass anyone you are going to fast, if you get out of the saddle, you are in to high a gear.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

............another reason for cutting back on the mileage a bit.........well that's my excuse.

Still cheaper than running a car though (I hope!)

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I dare not add up what I have spent on my cycling this year.

Most of it is recuperated by savings on bus/train fares, and that's only the rides to the hospital and photogroup.
Still not enough for a new bike.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@madferret - I agree with @Nigelnaturist that it is probably just fitness levels. First time I did 100km I slept like a baby and ached for a few days.

Two options really, 1) rest for a few days, or 2) go for a recovery ride and ride it slow, if you pass anyone you are going to fast, if you get out of the saddle, you are in to high a gear.

I tried that yesterday, just doesn't do it for me, though I do ride slower sometimes.

 

[madferret]

I tried that yesterday, just doesn't do it for me, though I do ride slower sometimes.

Thanks for replies. I too really find it difficult to go slowly on purpose, so just going to rest up then go out tomorrow or Saturday. Going to go for a walk instead. I think the saddle was too high, usually it was my thighs/quads that hurt after a long ride, not the top of my calves/behind the knee. I guess it shows that I have used it and the muscle is "rebuilding" so that next time it won't hurt so much!

I can't imagine seeking out hills yet! One day...........

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Thanks for replies. I too really find it difficult to go slowly on purpose, so just going to rest up then go out tomorrow or Saturday. Going to go for a walk instead. I think the saddle was too high, usually it was my thighs/quads that hurt after a long ride, not the top of my calves/behind the knee. I guess it shows that I have used it and the muscle is "rebuilding" so that next time it won't hurt so much!

I can't imagine seeking out hills yet! One day...........

You will, it's pretty flat round here, though there are one or two short steepish climbs.

 

[Ciar]

My commuter went in yesterday to the LBS for a few upgrades and today they fitted my bike rack, so I decided the dog needed a run and i needed to grab the 29'er and go for a spin, nothing crazy as the dog has never been with me on the bike before, so it was a trial run

Route: Dog Ride
Activity: Cycle For Distance
Started: 22 Aug 2013 15:58:49
Ride Time: 23:17
Distance: 4.47 miles
Average Speed: 11.51 mph
Fastest Speed: 19.11 mph
Ascent: 423 feet
Descent: 387 feet
Calories: 324
Bike: Scott Scale 970
Shoes: Teva Links

just did a quick loop 4 or 5 times, was also testing my new shorter stem and my teva links, which are super sticky, bike is feeling much more responsive as well now,
even managed to grab a pic in Epping with it pi***ng with rain ;-)

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well I just got in, that was tough well for me, not sorted the data yet, but I have discovered I cant restart on a 10% hill, sure i have done it before though.