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

[Nigelnaturist]

Did my first longish ride yesterday, managed 31.5 miles which added 10 miles to my previous best

Stopped at the 'Eureka' cafe for a 'Snickers' and coffee. I was slightly embarrassed to have the only hybrid parked up there, but it does what I need at the moment.

On the ride I learnt that head winds are sheer murder. The second half of the ride was into a 14 mph headwind so by mile 20 my legs were like jelly and I found myself having to use the smallest chain ring up some slopes.

The biggest surprise was that my average speed was 14.5 mph, which considering I was down to 6 mph up one long slope is pretty amazing.

Today, there is no pain in my legs, but walking up stairs i can feel the tiredness in them so I'll probably stay off the bike today...

...or not

Well done 50Km's metric half century. It doesn't matter what you ride, and neither does it matter using the small chain ring, many people don't thinking it's the wrong thing to do, but if its easier to spin on the small chain ring use it, all the gears are there to be used. Winds will slow you down, just learn to accept that dont over work into them just spin nice and steady and you will get through it without feeling to tired, try and keep a low profile, I know not so easy on a hybrid.
And

 

[stevey]

Will go out later, just been for a walk with the o/h only a short 3 miles

Probably try this again see if i can beat my time
http://app.strava.com/segments/1140061

 

[john-boy]

well just done my first 50km for over 12 months with an average speed of 16.1mph which i am shocked by. Here is the map of my ride.

http://app.strava.com/activities/77647531

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well I have covered my first 1,000 mile month, with 1,104 in the last 30 days with 29 days riding in one form or another. avg speed down a little, but at 44,500 ft for the month more than any other, but really due to the extra distance more than more climbing.
I did 31.1miles @ 17.13mph I only had one 5Km lap under 16mph and that was on the section that had the longest climb, I also got 16pb's, which to be honest even though my avg was higher than of late I didn't expect so many p.b's.
Which just goes to show you can never tell.
I likes this one because I finally beat one guy that is always beating me
http://www.strava.com/activities/77656889#1561013298

http://www.strava.com/activities/77656889#

 

[stevey]

Well this is news to me its just around the corner and judging by the % i am never doing this one

Edit didn't work the hill in question had a % of 808%

Oh and it climbed over 5000ft in one go!!

 

[Joffey]

Just passed 500 miles since taking up cycling again, thought I'd share my ride today. Feeling fitter every time I get on the bike.

https://www.strava.com/activities/77637898

Got a 60 mile sportive on Sunday, will be my longest ride yet and I can't wait!!

 

[Mo1959]

Ventured out onto dartmoor this morning. The first half of the ride is fine but the second half is torturous for someone who only cycles in Hampshire/the new forest.
http://www.strava.com/activities/77634749

Oooft, that looks like a tough route. Well done.

 

[Goonerobes]

I seemed to spend most of my ride today on the brakes & ringing the bell as it would appear that when people become tourists they forget that have to look before crossing the road! I think I prefer it when is just me, the cows & the ponies in the forest but hey-ho it was a nice day for a 30 mile dodgem ride!!

http://www.strava.com/activities/77669217

 

[sleaver]

Ventured out onto dartmoor this morning. The first half of the ride is fine but the second half is torturous for someone who only cycles in Hampshire/the new forest.
http://www.strava.com/activities/77634749

I used to go to Dartmoor on holiday and have driven some of those roads. I wouldn't mind going back but with a bike but my legs can still picture the hills and are telling my brain otherwise.

Anyway, a big for that ride.

 

[Stonechat]

I seemed to spend most of my ride today on the brakes & ringing the bell as it would appear that when people become tourists they forget that have to look before crossing the road! I think I prefer it when is just me, the cows & the ponies in the forest but hey-ho it was a nice day for a 30 mile dodgem ride!!

http://www.strava.com/activities/77669217

Made the mistake once of going to New Forest on a Bank Hol (in a car) I gave up and went elsewhere

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Mo1959
So much for my maths being spot on fell short of going over 5,700 for the year by 0.33 miles, and for some reason strava is a mile less.

 

[sleaver]

After it rained all day Saturday and being out yesterday, I got a ride in this morning. Planned a 70k with two assents of Box Hill (it's addictive) but the person I sit next to at work said something on Friday. Apart from saying I should go and see a doctor to get my head checked for wanting to ride up Box Hill twice, he said "Why don't you do it three times" as a joke. I didn't say anything, but I just thought I would see how I was during the second assent and go from there.

When I got there, I took the first easy knowing I was doing this at least twice. Fell good and made my way back down again. Second assent seemed to go quicker than the first and as I legs felt Ok, and thought that one more loop would also give me 50 miles I went for the third. For this one I paced myself against someone else but dropped back near the top as I felt I was taking advantage to much but by now my legs were aching. Then I just had to get home.

The descent down Pebble Hill Road was fun, NOT. I could see the car in front braking near the bottom and so guessed the level crossing was down. While slowing down, trying to unclip and change into the small ring to get going again, my chain came off as I somehow peddled backwards slightly after I changed down at the front but before it had dropped into the small ring. The the traffic started coming the other way almost straight away and cars were going past me while I was trying to get my chain back on. So I was stranded on the side of a banked road with cars coming quite fast round a bend. I did think of freewheeling further down, but as the chain was being held on by just the pedal, I didn't know what would have happened. Anyway, I got it on and it was just really waiting for a gap to get going again that was the cheek clenching part.

However, climbing Box Hill three times really took it out of my legs and the last bit home was a struggle. It was getting to the point of freewheeling down 0.0000000000001% gradients because my legs were burning like anything.

Although looking on the bright side, I was quicker than the last time I did 80k+

http://www.strava.com/activities/77668820

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Well I have covered my first 1,000 mile month, with 1,104 in the last 30 days with 29 days riding in one form or another. avg speed down a little, but at 44,500 ft for the month more than any other, but really due to the extra distance more than more climbing.
I did 31.1miles @ 17.13mph I only had one 5Km lap under 16mph and that was on the section that had the longest climb, I also got 16pb's, which to be honest even though my avg was higher than of late I didn't expect so many p.b's.
Which just goes to show you can never tell.
I likes this one because I finally beat one guy that is always beating me
http://www.strava.com/activities/77656889#1561013298

http://www.strava.com/activities/77656889#

Great going there - your months mileage is just ahead of my YTD! 17.13 over 31.1 is v.good too.

I was going up a long (easy) hill this morning at just over 14mph feeling chuffed when a friendly guy on a Cervelo caught up with me, had a short chat and then just took off - lord knows the speed he shot off at but he was very fast! One of those tall skinny guys with enormous leg muscles - the polar opposite of me - lol!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

After it rained all day Saturday and being out yesterday, I got a ride in this morning. Planned a 70k with two assents of Box Hill (it's addictive) but the person I sit next to at work said something on Friday. Apart from saying I should go and see a doctor to get my head checked for wanting to ride up Box Hill twice, he said "Why don't you do it three times" as a joke. I didn't say anything, but I just thought I would see how I was during the second assent and go from there.

When I got there, I took the first easy knowing I was doing this at least twice. Fell good and made my way back down again. Second assent seemed to go quicker than the first and as I legs felt Ok, and thought that one more loop would also give me 50 miles I went for the third. For this one I paced myself against someone else but dropped back near the top as I felt I was taking advantage to much but by now my legs were aching. Then I just had to get home.

The descent down Pebble Hill Road was fun, NOT. I could see the car in front braking near the bottom and so guessed the level crossing was down. While slowing down, trying to unclip and change into the small ring to get going again, my chain came off as I somehow peddled backwards slightly after I changed down at the front but before it had dropped into the small ring. The the traffic started coming the other way almost straight away and cars were going past me while I was trying to get my chain back on. So I was stranded on the side of a banked road with cars coming quite fast round a bend. I did think of freewheeling further down, but as the chain was being held on by just the pedal, I didn't know what would have happened. Anyway, I got it on and it was just really waiting for a gap to get going again that was the cheek clenching part.

However, climbing Box Hill three times really took it out of my legs and the last bit home was a struggle. It was getting to the point of freewheeling down 0.0000000000001% gradients because my legs were burning like anything.

Although looking on the bright side, I was quicker than the last time I did 80k+

http://www.strava.com/activities/77668820

Exciting stuff! At least you weren't stranded on the crossing with a train bearing down on you!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@sleaver
I have had a look to see anything close to Box hill I have done, nothing quite matches it, but a couple are close, and to do it three times is quite a feat.
This isn't the distance or elevation, but the closest I have done in recent weeks.
http://www.strava.com/activities/76702791