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

[stevey]

Just re-done mine and i am half way into algeria

 

[RWright]

Just re-done mine and i am half way into algeria

I am to Puerto Montt, Chile.
I hope to make it well into Antarctica by the end of the year.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I am to Puerto Montt, Chile.
I hope to make it well into Antarctica by the end of the year.

Putting it that way I have cycled across the artic and only 600 miles from Hawaii.
I have noticed a drop in my cadence the last few rides (well the last week or so) but my avg speed seems on the up.
These are avg daily figures

 

[RWright]

Putting it that way I have cycled across the artic and only 600 miles from Hawaii.
I have noticed a drop in my cadence the last few rides (well the last week or so) but my avg speed seems on the up.
These are avg daily figures
View attachment 29717
View attachment 29718

If this year is like last I expect to see my speeds decrease in the cold weather. My cadence is around 80 or so I think now, it will not surprise me to see it drop some too. I don't know what exactly causes it but I think it may be something to do with cold air on the muscles. My muscles seem more tense in the cool weather.

It was great weather here today for a ride, a little cool (to me) but not far from perfect. I will take it a little cool, not as much sweat. I am not looking forward to the cold but I am ready. I got a couple of hoodie sweat shirts and some long sleeve base layers with a nice collar on them from Walmart last April or so, on close out for like $5 dollars each. I also have some tights but I don't use them often, easier for me to just put on a sweatshirt and sweatpants over my cycle shorts. My main winter item is my toe covers for my shoes, I will just put them on a pair of shoes and leave them soon, take them off again around March. I have shoe covers too, probably just put them on my oldest shoes and leave them for a while too. If it gets to the shoe cover temperatures and wetness I ask myself if I really want to go out at all. Cold, wet, wind, pick any two and I will go out, all three...nah, not me, I am just a lowly fitness rider.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

If this year is like last I expect to see my speeds decrease in the cold weather. My cadence is around 80 or so I think now, it will not surprise me to see it drop some too. I don't know what exactly causes it but I think it may be something to do with cold air on the muscles. My muscles seem more tense in the cool weather.

It was great weather here today for a ride, a little cool (to me) but not far from perfect. I will take it a little cool, not as much sweat. I am not looking forward to the cold but I am ready. I got a couple of hoodie sweat shirts and some long sleeve base layers with a nice collar on them from Walmart last April or so, on close out for like $5 dollars each. I also have some tights but I don't use them often, easier for me to just put on a sweatshirt and sweatpants over my cycle shorts. My main winter item is my toe covers for my shoes, I will just put them on a pair of shoes and leave them soon, take them off again around March. I have shoe covers too, probably just put them on my oldest shoes and leave them for a while too. If it gets to the shoe cover temperatures and wetness I ask myself if I really want to go out at all. Cold, wet, wind, pick any two and I will go out, all three...nah, not me, I am just a lowly fitness rider.

I did it all last year, I am liking the cooler weather to be honest, though Sunday was warm. The winds this last week haven't effected my overall avg speeds to much, but then having a years more experience I can plan a route to coincide with the wind and or hedges woods for some protection if not all at least some out of the wind.

 

[Cupra]

Got my second KOM today

Also did a quick loop on Ormesby Bank
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/379737842

 

[Mo1959]

@RWright I'm like you with the cold I think Rocky. Definitely seems to make the legs feel stiffer and more sluggish in the cold.
I feel like I am already slowing down compared to the middle of the summer. Got back from visiting my Dad and Stepmum late yesterday evening and read everyone's great rides and everyone else seems to be going faster and further and I am getting slower and not going so far It looks nice and calm this morning so I'm just going to take the hybrid and enjoy the nice morning and potter along and see how I feel. Don't really have a route in mind.

 

[Stonechat]

As I ddidn't use Strava and had no cycle computer before August I have no idea - I am probably in France or Germany

 

[Stonechat]

@RWright I'm like you with the cold I think Rocky. Definitely seems to make the legs feel stiffer and more sluggish in the cold.
I feel like I am already slowing down compared to the middle of the summer. Got back from visiting my Dad and Stepmum late yesterday evening and read everyone's great rides and everyone else seems to be going faster and further and I am getting slower and not going so far It looks nice and calm this morning so I'm just going to take the hybrid and enjoy the nice morning and potter along and see how I feel. Don't really have a route in mind.

THink I am going to be like that.One ride I did was just like that. I am hoping for longer ride tomorrow and may be back to the shorts

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Cadence sensor question

As many of you know, I got a Garmin 500 basic unit, then got a heart rate monitor. Now wondering about a cadence sensor.
I've had a look on ebay and there appears to be a variety of choices. What exactly do I need? Guessing buying the magnet in its own is no good, do I need a mount of some sort? Anything else? All guidance very welcome

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Think I may have just answered my own question. Sorry folks

Should have used Mr Google first

 

[Hill Wimp]

Update your Garmin and then you get it all i believe.

 

[ceejayh]

Despite a few hours gardening yesterday I managed to persuade myself to get out in the evening...so glad I did. What a lovely evening for a a quick spin. Managed 9 miles this time (a small improvement on 6 miles from the other day) and I could have stayed out longer as I felt great. I daren't risk it though as I stupidly don't have any spare tubes yet (getting some on the way home from work today though) so I'm tempting fate too much!!! The bike feels great - wish I'd have done this sooner. My next goal is to get up to 12 miles so I better getting plotting a suitable route .

 

[BAtoo]

Well that was hard, 5 days not riding due to work, weather & a heavy night out! 10 miles before work today seemed quite a slog but managed 14 mph ave.
Also noted that I can now bend my knees further whilst standing without pain (had cartilage trimming on both) - almost far enough to consider skiing

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Mo1959 15.6mph, 14.8mph with a Cat4, 14.2 on your hybrid I dont call this slow, when in March April your were doing 13-13.5, and if you look at your average on mycyclinglog it keeps inching upwards, its just you get use to being a little faster and it starts to seem slow if you drop back a little, I remember when I used to do 14-15 and seemed a quickish pace whilst riding now it seems a little slow.
There are various reason we are slower in winter, as you say colder muscles, air density is slightly greater, more clothing = more weight and wet roads/leaves/snow/ice ect.

@Phoenix Lincs get tge Garmin Gsc10 the one from Amazon is the one I got for Xmas last year, easy to fit , it will also stop any adverse max speeds as the speed is recorded direct from the rotation of the wheel, I have found that mor often than not though there is a spike in the max cadence, more than 50% of rides, but I would need to check..

@BAtoo It's not a good idea cycling, after a heavy night. Good on the improved flexibility.

@ceejayh just keep at it, I promise you soon 12 miles will seem a breeze.