Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
I managed a massive 341 feet of climbing today, over 26 miles, still determined to finish it even though my thighs are killing me.
Show us your.......newbie progress! [4 Sep 2012 - 4 Oct 2014]
- Thread starter Typhon
- Start date
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I managed a massive 341 feet of climbing today, over 26 miles, still determined to finish it even though my thighs are killing me.
Exile
Senior Member
- Location
- Manchester
I was going to regale you with tales of city riding with the O/H from yesterday, but I saw the sun was shining and decided I'd get out early (for a Sunday) and get a ride in before the rain we were forecast arrived. Don't get me wrong, it was an enjoyable ride, but in involved A Hill. Me and hills, I'm sure I've mentioned before, don't exactly get along. So gather round, one and all, to hear the tale of an overweight guy, a crappy bike and a slight incline.
About two and three-quarter miles in I took a wrong turn. Don't ask me how, but I went left at a junction when I should've gone straight across. Not a problem, I knew where I was, and I knew how to get to where I wanted to be. It would just involve A Hill. I'd been up this Hill before, albeit from the other side, and it had made me walk my bike to the top. I vowed today I would defeat it, even if it took all my strength.
A mile later I was nearing my adversary, dropped a few gears and found a comfortable cadence. I was never going to be able to spin my way up at 120 rpm, but I found my sweet spot and started climbing. About half way I had to drop another gear or two, and passed an elderly couple walking the other direction. Inwardly I was glad they weren't heading my way, as I was certain they were making better pace than me.
After what felt like hours of turning the pedals and inching slowly towards the top of the Hill I saw the junction ahead of me and breathed a sigh of relief. Confident I had this Hill beat I put on a quick burst of speed, got to the junction and turned right. There was still more Hill in front of me. I'd forgot about my earlier wrong turn and had expected to be greeted at the junction by a nice, downhill stretch. Instead, I was facing another half-mile of Hill. My heart sank, my legs buckled, and I wobbled across my lane as the truth hit me. I was only half way up, and was certain I'd used most of my reserves to get to this point. There was only one thing I could do.
I made sure the pedals kept turning and moved down to the granny ring. This wasn't just a bike ride now. this was a battle for survival. It was the prize fight of the century. Fat Man vs A Hill. I stopped looking up the hill and focused on the road twenty feet in front of me, convinced that some time soon I'd be at the top without realising. That's not how hill climbing works, not for me. All it did was allow the Hill to fight back by getting steeper. Eventually I took a quick glance further along the road and there, less than three-hundred yards away was the mini-roundabout that marked success. Once there, the road would, thankfully, drop away down the other side of the hill. Two hundred yards... one hundred... my legs screamed at me "Just walk it over, please!". I told them to shut up, and pushed one final time.
I've never felt so happy about being able to freewheel as I did on the way down the other side. The rest of the ride can be summed up as a pleasant bimble, only slightly disrupted by a prat in a Jag who was less than happy the shared cycle path dropped me off the pavement into the ASL box ahead of him and beeped at me as soon the the lights went to red and amber.
This was more than made up for by the encounter I had a few miles on, again waiting for the elusive green light, which involved a young (infants school age) child yelling "Hiya!" at me, and resulted in a brief conversation in which she noted I was on a bike, that she liked my bike, but it looked too big for her, and finished with a cheerful "I have a bike at home! But you can't ride it, it's my Princess bike." and all the while her parents were trying not to burst out laughing.
Great ride all considered, and it's amazing how quickly 10+ mile rides have become my usual.
Oh, and I tracked the ride on Strava, so you can see the Hill that almost killed me, just to check if it's just a largish speed bump I'm exaggerating about: http://www.strava.com/activities/80928667
About two and three-quarter miles in I took a wrong turn. Don't ask me how, but I went left at a junction when I should've gone straight across. Not a problem, I knew where I was, and I knew how to get to where I wanted to be. It would just involve A Hill. I'd been up this Hill before, albeit from the other side, and it had made me walk my bike to the top. I vowed today I would defeat it, even if it took all my strength.
A mile later I was nearing my adversary, dropped a few gears and found a comfortable cadence. I was never going to be able to spin my way up at 120 rpm, but I found my sweet spot and started climbing. About half way I had to drop another gear or two, and passed an elderly couple walking the other direction. Inwardly I was glad they weren't heading my way, as I was certain they were making better pace than me.
After what felt like hours of turning the pedals and inching slowly towards the top of the Hill I saw the junction ahead of me and breathed a sigh of relief. Confident I had this Hill beat I put on a quick burst of speed, got to the junction and turned right. There was still more Hill in front of me. I'd forgot about my earlier wrong turn and had expected to be greeted at the junction by a nice, downhill stretch. Instead, I was facing another half-mile of Hill. My heart sank, my legs buckled, and I wobbled across my lane as the truth hit me. I was only half way up, and was certain I'd used most of my reserves to get to this point. There was only one thing I could do.
I made sure the pedals kept turning and moved down to the granny ring. This wasn't just a bike ride now. this was a battle for survival. It was the prize fight of the century. Fat Man vs A Hill. I stopped looking up the hill and focused on the road twenty feet in front of me, convinced that some time soon I'd be at the top without realising. That's not how hill climbing works, not for me. All it did was allow the Hill to fight back by getting steeper. Eventually I took a quick glance further along the road and there, less than three-hundred yards away was the mini-roundabout that marked success. Once there, the road would, thankfully, drop away down the other side of the hill. Two hundred yards... one hundred... my legs screamed at me "Just walk it over, please!". I told them to shut up, and pushed one final time.
I've never felt so happy about being able to freewheel as I did on the way down the other side. The rest of the ride can be summed up as a pleasant bimble, only slightly disrupted by a prat in a Jag who was less than happy the shared cycle path dropped me off the pavement into the ASL box ahead of him and beeped at me as soon the the lights went to red and amber.
This was more than made up for by the encounter I had a few miles on, again waiting for the elusive green light, which involved a young (infants school age) child yelling "Hiya!" at me, and resulted in a brief conversation in which she noted I was on a bike, that she liked my bike, but it looked too big for her, and finished with a cheerful "I have a bike at home! But you can't ride it, it's my Princess bike." and all the while her parents were trying not to burst out laughing.
Great ride all considered, and it's amazing how quickly 10+ mile rides have become my usual.
Oh, and I tracked the ride on Strava, so you can see the Hill that almost killed me, just to check if it's just a largish speed bump I'm exaggerating about: http://www.strava.com/activities/80928667
SWSteve
Guru
- Location
- Bristol...ish
exactly the same, I couldn't ever get into the right gear quick enough. I often coasted down he descents as the loss of speed was almost immediate.
sleaver
Veteran
Think I need to read rule #5 again, this cycling business has made me a bit soft compared to my marathon training at the beginning of the year in the snow we had.
I looked at the weather forecast for yesterday on Friday and it said rain. I thought it's just rain, man up. So I went out and brought a gillet, jacket (I wanted those two any way coming up to Autumn) and some overshoes. Woke up yesterday at 6am, weather was nice but when getting ready, the heavens opened. I was feeling a bit tired and so went back to bed only to be woken up at 9am by two hungry cats who thought they were getting fed three hours earlier.
Weather cleared up in the afternoon so I made another attempt. Got 1km down the road and I was cold. Took a short cut back to the house to get the gillet. Job done although my arms were still feeling the cold.
Today, clear skies and no rain so off I went at 9am with my new gillet thinking I would be all toasty. 200m down the road and the ends of my fingers were freezing and thinking I was doing 60k, you guessed it, I turned around. I had to improvise though and so put a pair of running gloves on under my cycling mitts. Arms were still cold though.
http://www.strava.com/activities/80941084
So, time to buy some arm warmers and possibly leg warmers.
I have an excuse though. With running, you are moving slower and everything is moving rather than arms and fingers getting the cold air at 25kph+
Got to work the gillet business out though. By the time I was warm, it had made my jersey sweaty so if I had taken it off, I would have been cold again.
On the plus side, I did equal an Olympic champion on a Strava segment after giving it the beans
. I did hold some back as I was going for Box Hill again though. I just won't mention that it's the QOM time of Joanna Rowsall. 
I looked at the weather forecast for yesterday on Friday and it said rain. I thought it's just rain, man up. So I went out and brought a gillet, jacket (I wanted those two any way coming up to Autumn) and some overshoes. Woke up yesterday at 6am, weather was nice but when getting ready, the heavens opened. I was feeling a bit tired and so went back to bed only to be woken up at 9am by two hungry cats who thought they were getting fed three hours earlier.
Weather cleared up in the afternoon so I made another attempt. Got 1km down the road and I was cold. Took a short cut back to the house to get the gillet. Job done although my arms were still feeling the cold.
Today, clear skies and no rain so off I went at 9am with my new gillet thinking I would be all toasty. 200m down the road and the ends of my fingers were freezing and thinking I was doing 60k, you guessed it, I turned around. I had to improvise though and so put a pair of running gloves on under my cycling mitts. Arms were still cold though.
http://www.strava.com/activities/80941084
So, time to buy some arm warmers and possibly leg warmers.
I have an excuse though. With running, you are moving slower and everything is moving rather than arms and fingers getting the cold air at 25kph+
Got to work the gillet business out though. By the time I was warm, it had made my jersey sweaty so if I had taken it off, I would have been cold again.
On the plus side, I did equal an Olympic champion on a Strava segment after giving it the beans
. I did hold some back as I was going for Box Hill again though. I just won't mention that it's the QOM time of Joanna Rowsall. 
DaveyM
Über Member
- Location
- Northumberland
I did a nice 29 miles yesterday and a nice 51 miles today, great weather and some truly stunning scenery. With one or two cheeky climbs.
I have found that I actually plan routes to include hills now
if your interested
http://app.strava.com/activities/80977071
I have found that I actually plan routes to include hills now
if your interested
http://app.strava.com/activities/80977071
Creakyknee
Active Member
- Location
- Wigton Cumbria
Promised myself a long ride today, also great weather and very few cars on the roads i used. All in all a very enjoyable day was had.
http://www.strava.com/activities/81007215
http://www.strava.com/activities/81007215
Have been trying to break 7 minutes on this hill for ages and finally managed it last week.
Trying to shave 10 seconds from it was proving annoying.
http://app.strava.com/activities/80298654#1631625413
Trying to shave 10 seconds from it was proving annoying.
http://app.strava.com/activities/80298654#1631625413
Stonechat
Guru
- Location
- Staines, Middlesex
Got to work out the clothing thingThink I need to read rule #5 again, this cycling business has made me a bit soft compared to my marathon training at the beginning of the year in the snow we had.
I looked at the weather forecast for yesterday on Friday and it said rain. I thought it's just rain, man up. So I went out and brought a gillet, jacket (I wanted those two any way coming up to Autumn) and some overshoes. Woke up yesterday at 6am, weather was nice but when getting ready, the heavens opened. I was feeling a bit tired and so went back to bed only to be woken up at 9am by two hungry cats who thought they were getting fed three hours earlier.
Weather cleared up in the afternoon so I made another attempt. Got 1km down the road and I was cold. Took a short cut back to the house to get the gillet. Job done although my arms were still feeling the cold.
Today, clear skies and no rain so off I went at 9am with my new gillet thinking I would be all toasty. 200m down the road and the ends of my fingers were freezing and thinking I was doing 60k, you guessed it, I turned around. I had to improvise though and so put a pair of running gloves on under my cycling mitts. Arms were still cold though.
http://www.strava.com/activities/80941084
So, time to buy some arm warmers and possibly leg warmers.
I have an excuse though. With running, you are moving slower and everything is moving rather than arms and fingers getting the cold air at 25kph+
Got to work the gillet business out though. By the time I was warm, it had made my jersey sweaty so if I had taken it off, I would have been cold again.
On the plus side, I did equal an Olympic champion on a Strava segment after giving it the beans
I wore the same as all summer today - s/s jersey and cycling shorts
I did have arm and leg warmers, but could have done with some body warmth. Others were wearing windstopper type things. I need to work out what I need to wear in what conditions
sleaver
Veteran
This is what I got on Friday
http://www.altura.eu/products/men/giletsvests/etape-gilet.aspx
Seems to work. When I went out without it yesterday, I could feel the cold on my chest but after I had been home to put it on, my chest was fine. Just the arms to work on now.
Shaun McNally
New Member
Started riding about a month ago.
Never been into bikes really, until now.
Done a couple of 16.5 mile rides, and got a second on Strava on the way to work today! (Only out of around 30, but I'm still pleased).
Not much compared to what most people are putting down, but to me it feels good doing it.
Got a 22 mile planned for some time next week, probably tomorrow, should hopefully blitz it
Never been into bikes really, until now.
Done a couple of 16.5 mile rides, and got a second on Strava on the way to work today! (Only out of around 30, but I'm still pleased).
Not much compared to what most people are putting down, but to me it feels good doing it.
Got a 22 mile planned for some time next week, probably tomorrow, should hopefully blitz it
Loulou79
Regular
Ohh just found this thread, can i join you?I have just bought a Claud Butler odysessy. My first bike in 20 years, im also extremely overweight.
Since i got it on thur i have done 3 rides and i am a little embarresed to say they were only 1 mile each. I know its. Not a lot but to me it seems massive, there is a slight incline that i struggle on even in lowest gear. BUT i am enjoying it and its the first time excercise hasnt made me want to run, cry and pull my hair out!
Hi Lou. Don't you worry, you have made the choice, and a great choice it is . Don't beat yourself up about distance. It will come slow and sure, you will go further and further . Relax and enjoy it.
Incidentally, my Aunt started cycling 5 years ago, only a mile a day. Now we don't know where the hell she is
. Don't beat yourself up about distance. It will come slow and sure, you will go further and further . Relax and enjoy it.Incidentally, my Aunt started cycling 5 years ago, only a mile a day. Now we don't know where the hell she is
Binka
Über Member
- Location
- Lincoln, uk
Loulou, when I started cycling last year I nearly cried at a 5 mile ride. Yesterday I did 36 miles no problem. If you stick with it you'll see improvements before long.
stevey
Guru
- Location
- sutton coldfield
The o/h is talking about the possibility of getting a road bike to complement her hybrid as she struggles to keep up with me on Sunday morning rides.
This makes me very happy we are going to the cycle show here in Birmingham so well have a look then
This makes me very happy we are going to the cycle show here in Birmingham so well have a look then
stevey
Guru
- Location
- sutton coldfield
- Status
