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

[BrianEvesham]

Just back from a hilly 10.8 miles ride (15.6) no Strava , sorry.
Slowly getting a rhythm for Offenham hill. When I get better with this hill I will move on to Saintbury.
I will crack Saintbury hill, I will, I will, I will, I will, I WILL.

 

[dglsdms]

Having just moved to the Yorkshire hills from London I feel like I'm having to learn how to ride a bike again.

I've even started making use of the HRM that came with my Garmin to do proper 'training' to try and get my fitness up to a level where I don't have to stop on every hill!

Slow (zone 1/2) ride today, which should be interesting. All the advice I've read is 'don't try and go to hard too soon or you'll never get anywhere'. Small steps seem to be difficult for me though, I want to be hammering it up all the hills like I was around London!

 

[welsh dragon]

Thanks for the enouragemement guys. I know I am rubbish at the moment and have to walk up the hills, but I will get better I know that.

 

[dglsdms]

I don't know whether it'd be worth looking at training 'regimes'. I had a quick look and they seem to suggest mixing up your rides and, very importantly, resting. Supposedly a long, slow ride with little exertion is better for your base fitness than pushing yourself hard.
This was news to me but I suppose it makes sense!

 

[BrianEvesham]

I've been told this before and do try to have a slower ride now and again.
I just enjoy going for it on shorter rides.

 

[dglsdms]

Me too! But all the rides I've done since I got here last week have had around 100ft of climbing a mile and I find myself struggling. I'm massively looking forward to being able to effortlessly spin up them, and if it takes riding slowly (or at least keeping my heart rate down) then I'm willing to give it a go.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

You lot are giving me an inferiority complex here. Today was my first day on a bike in 45 years. I just about managed to do a couple of miles. Thought I was dying. My legs just didn't have the strength in them that they should.it took me about 45 minutes to go that far and some of that time I spent walking. By the time I finished my legs were like dam jelly and I felt pathetic to say the least. On the bright side, I didn't fall off, didn't crash and wasnt hit by anyone. So all in all I would say it was a win win situation . If that is the worst it can be, then tomorrow will have to be better right. ? I think I may be putting to much effort Iinto riding. Instead of letting the bike do most of the work I'm putting too much effort I to it and trying to do it all myself. Husband not much help. He just looks at me like he thinks I come from mars. Thinks I am too old and too unfit to even attempt to go biking, so no help or encouragement there.

Forget the inferiority complex, we all started like you, we all got completely knackered on the first rides, we've all walked up a hill, it's nothing to be ashamed about. Keep at it and you will get fitter and go further. Give it six months and when Hubby sees the change in you, he will be jumping on a bike.

 

[welsh dragon]

Cheers everyone. Your comments make me feel a whole lot better. I should look on the bright side. At least whild i'm walking i'm still getting exercise. Should I rest tomorrow or should I go out again.

 

[Mo1959]

Cheers everyone. Your comments make me feel a whole lot better. I should look on the bright side. At least whild i'm walking i'm still getting exercise. Should I rest tomorrow or should I go out again.

If it's any consolation, on my first ride I had to stop and felt physically sick on a hill that barely even bothers me now, so it will come if you persevere.

Another thing when you are new to things is not to get carried away and bomb off to quickly at the start. Just potter along gently, spinning your legs in a low gear until you start to feel warmed up and your breathing gets a bit easier before you even try to go faster or go up hills.

Hard to say if you should go back out again today. How does your legs feel? If they are feeling achy and heavy probably better maybe every second day until you get stronger, but often when you do go out you start to feel better once you get going.

 

[BrianEvesham]

I don't get into a good rhythm until about 3 miles down the road when the legs are warmed up.

 

[Mo1959]

I don't get into a good rhythm until about 3 miles down the road when the legs are warmed up.

Yes, used to find the same way back when I used to run a bit. Did a few half marathons and 10ks, just for fun, wasn't very good. There was another woman, similar age and ability to me but she always set off faster than me. I just took it easy until I got my second wind then gradually got a bit faster and always used to pass her around half way. I think it used to annoy her but it was her own fault for going out too fast.

 

[Stonechat]

You lot are giving me an inferiority complex here. Today was my first day on a bike in 45 years. I just about managed to do a couple of miles. Thought I was dying. My legs just didn't have the strength in them that they should.it took me about 45 minutes to go that far and some of that time I spent walking. By the time I finished my legs were like dam jelly and I felt pathetic to say the least. On the bright side, I didn't fall off, didn't crash and wasnt hit by anyone. So all in all I would say it was a win win situation . If that is the worst it can be, then tomorrow will have to be better right. ? I think I may be putting to much effort Iinto riding. Instead of letting the bike do most of the work I'm putting too much effort I to it and trying to do it all myself. Husband not much help. He just looks at me like he thinks I come from mars. Thinks I am too old and too unfit to even attempt to go biking, so no help or encouragement there.

Remember when I did not my recent first ride for 20 years but in 1980/1 my first ride for 10 years. I had dysentery while abroad and having returned to UK skeletal, my weight ballooned. The commute to work was 2.2 miles but was a real struggle.
This time I have been doing minor excercise and dog walks and was a bit less unhealthy - though now 61.
It is still a push but am feeling fitter

Keep with it, this first period will be over and you can start enjoying and increasing your distance

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Forget the inferiority complex, we all started like you, we all got completely knackered on the first rides, we've all walked up a hill, it's nothing to be ashamed about. Keep at it and you will get fitter and go further. Give it six months and when Hubby sees the change in you, he will be jumping on a bike.

Never have, why do you think I re-gear my bike according to the route I take. I had to reread that bit.

Cheers everyone. Your comments make me feel a whole lot better. I should look on the bright side. At least whild i'm walking i'm still getting exercise. Should I rest tomorrow or should I go out again.

Listen to your body, if you ache a lot rest till you don't, if you dont ride. The aching is muscle damage and this repairs over a few days, but as it repairs it becomes stronger, and more use to the exercise. Keep trying to tell @Mo1959 this, but you women never listen anyway.
However I am just nipping out for a few days to avoid the flack.

I went out, because I have no choice if I want to get all these targets/goals by the end of Aug, the target for the year is the one thats going to prove difficult to complete by the 31st.

Also did a Mo explore mid ride, and ended up at the A1 again, funereally enough on the other side of the junction as when I was ill last month, hope this isn't a deja-vu thing.

http://app.strava.com/activities/78454503

Ride was much slower15.6mph over 34.3 miles.

 

[RWright]

Thanks for the enouragemement guys. I know I am rubbish at the moment and have to walk up the hills, but I will get better I know that.

Check your tire pressure regularly. When I first started I ignored it for a little while, until I found out what a difference it can make.

Be consistent, ride regularly and the improvements with conditioning will come. You have more than likely already started making improvements to yours . Even walking up the hills is good exercise.

 

[welsh dragon]

Haha ha. I think his jumping days are over. He had a go on my bike, and his memory of riding a bike 50 years ago and his ability now are at opposite ends of the earth. He won't won't want to look stupid,, so I will, l be riding on my own.