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

[RWright]

What's an fnrttc?

I think that is a Friday night ride to the coast, I know they do them out of London but not sure about other places.

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Don't know why my reply went In the quote. Sorry for the confusion

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Good luck to all the newbies, I will check on you from time to time, but it is time for me to leave this thread.
In my 14 months with a road bike -
Completed a metric century
Completed an imperial century
Gone clipless
Fell clipless
Lost 2 stone in weight and kept it off
Made new friends
Rediscovered cycling after a 20 year sabbatical
Completed my first fnrttc which has been the pinnacle!

Aims: continue to ride, learn to service my bike and learn generally as I'm only just starting.

Good Luck newbies

You've done well there and good luck to you in the future.

Really there ought to be another thread for you to go to after this one but I don't think there is is there?

I know the subject does come up from time to time and I know it's not really a big deal but some of the riders on this thread are a zillion miles away from what I would think of as a Newbie. I do think it's very hard to define what one is though and we don't want silly rules but I occasionally wonder if it does hold some early doors Newbies back from posting.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

You too might end up like me and start enjoying the short gentle spins.
Sitting here watching the morning light coming in. Looks a decent morning but still can't seem to get motivated to go any long distances. I think I might just take the hybrid and have one of these sit up and look at the scenery and not bother about speed mornings. Just going to set off and see how I feel once I get going. I ate far too much yesterday so should really try and burn some of it off.

I always prefer shorter ride Mo but a couple a day, I can have upto 5 or 6 rides with different intensities of work rate, but I only ride for my own fitness not to compete, it's nice to achieve times on strava that match others on more expensive bikes, but its not what it's about. I popped into my friends last night, the long way round it about 9 miles which I do in the 30-35min mark usually, the short way its about 2 1/2 miles, even the long way I reckon I am still as quick as catching a bus.

I think the bike likes the wet, it ran smoother than it's ever done. I changed the 24th cog on the cassette as it wasn't selecting well with the virtually unused one I put on the other day, with one from an unbranded make I got last year, works very well now. I will change it back when I change the chain.
The set up now is very close to a full double 52x40 and 13-28 (13-15-17-19-21-24-28) with a few gears less than a more modern 9-10sp, I have the advantage of dropping on to the 30th for climbs like Thursday.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

You've done well there and good luck to you in the future.

Really there ought to be another thread for you to go to after this one but I don't think there is is there?

I know the subject does come up from time to time and I know it's not really a big deal but some of the riders on this thread are a zillion miles away from what I would think of as a Newbie. I do think it's very hard to define what one is though and we don't want silly rules but I occasionally wonder if it does hold some early doors Newbies back from posting.

You maybe right but it has become as much a community as anything. The thing is with this thread we can for the most part show how difficult our first rides were, and in my case I can show improvements week by week and month by month and what sort or improvements to expect over time, and also share what we have learnt.
Someone can ask anything in this thread, that in some others, you sometimes get non to pleasant reply's.
But if you or anyone feels I now no longer fit the profile, I am quite happy to move on.

 

[Stonechat]

I have really come back to cycling twice
Cycled as a boy, then I came back from abroad, having had dysentery a bit skeletal, then weight ballooned then back ip. This (1980 ) was when I started work at the company I have just retired from. I was very unfit. The journey was only 2.2 miles, but it took a bit of getting used to and eventually did longer rides, e.g. down to Box Hill, etc, and took up birdwatching, used to cycle with all the gear, and take the bike to different parts of the country, Norfold, Dorset, Anglesey etc. 50 or 60 miles was the most I ever did.

I have always followed top road races, but Bradley and retirement gave a spur to start it up again.

Will try to fit in a 25 or so mile ride this week

Although I have been walking the dog (2-3 miles a day) I feel that cycling hsa again come to the rescue for my fitness

 

[Reece]

You maybe right but it has become as much a community as anything. The thing is with this thread we can for the most part show how difficult our first rides were, and in my case I can show improvements week by week and month by month and what sort or improvements to expect over time, and also share what we have learnt.
Someone can ask anything in this thread, that in some others, you sometimes get non to pleasant reply's.
But if you or anyone feels I now no longer fit the profile, I am quite happy to move on.

Agree with this Nigel.

The threads coming close to have been going for a year now. Definitely more of a community/group chat type thread. I'd like to think newbies are not worrying about posting and I don't think they are as we've had lots of new people over the months.

 

[Reece]

yesterday was my 2nd ride in the last 5 weeks (really been slacking). However was pleasantly surprised to have clocked 19.3mph avg over 67.5 miles. Although was feeling it at the end.

This time next week I'll be on the tour of Britain store sportive, pro 100 route. Then the end of season for me box Hill sportive in October.

Off to Leicester skyride with the family today.

 

[Mo1959]

Just back in from a lovely run. Absolutely beautiful morning here. 31.9 miles and, no guys that like figures (Nigel ) I didn't go round the block to round it up.
It was meant to just be an easy day and I set out gently but when I looked and saw my average was only 13 point something I thought I'd better speed up a wee bit. Crept back up to 14 then hit a nice stretch of road and it was up a bit again. The competitive nature then kicked in and I thought, I wonder if I can average 15mph on the hybrid......and I can.

Hope everyone else has nice runs today too, no matter whether they are short or long, flat or climbs. All good for our health and fitness.

....and re the comments about this thread, most of have come a long way but, like others, I now use the thread as a way to keep in touch with everyone who has made the same journey, and hopefully we will still be able to encourage newcomers who join in to make the same progress as we have. Some mornings I'm not sure if I would keep going if it wasn't for the encouragement and friendly rivalry in here.

 

[Tenandra]

I have completed my weekend rides
Saturday
http://www.strava.com/activities/77049521

Sunday
http://www.strava.com/activities/77312733

I enjoyed the Sunday ride.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I have completed my weekend rides
Saturday
http://www.strava.com/activities/77049521

Sunday
http://www.strava.com/activities/77312733

I enjoyed the Sunday ride.

Thats the main thing, you also set a p.b which will improve over time. Well done.

 

[BrianEvesham]

So my first day off, free for a ride out, it's pouring down! Maybe later.

I think I will always be a newbie as far as this thread is concerned. I'm not going anywhere!

 

[Mo1959]

So my first day off, free for a ride out, it's pouring down! Maybe later.

I think I will always be a newbie as far as this thread is concerned. I'm not going anywhere!

Glad to hear it Brian. Wish I could send you some of my sun down there.

 

[welsh dragon]

It's jusr nice to talk to someone who has been there and done it all before and who doesn't make you feel stupid.

 

[stevey]

Just a little run out this morning with the o/h

http://app.strava.com/activities/77348015

And the temp is definately dropping... Not looking foward to winter