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

[Stonechat]

Dont get me started on gearing, there is no such thing as a granny ring, it is a saying that certain riders would have you belive you are not up to there standards, even though my bike is only a 7sp rear, it is a triple, but the range is not that much different to most compact double, mine is usually a little lower but doesn't usually have the higher gearing. I could have dropped to the 30th front, but it wasnt needed, it is a 10%+ hill at points, but not long it hurt because I had only done a mile loop.
My lowest gear as the set up is at the mo is 30x25 =31.56" a compact on on 34x28 = 31.94" so my 30th ring is hardly a granny ring.
Where as my 52x13 is only 105.2" compared with a compact 50x12 of 109.58", but my gears on the rear are closer and not such a big change on the front. I ride a lot on the 52 ring these days, but sometimes because of gear ratios I run on the 40th and if need if climbing a steady climb I will drop onto the 30th nd be in the middle on the rear giving me choices where I might want to go with the gearing if I change up on the front it is only two gears on the rear, some view that a compact double is a better option, but I personally disagree, but it purely my own view point.
But to view the inner ring as a granny ring I think is wrong. I did once ask somebody what they viewed as a granny ring and they said about 22"
which on your 28 would be 34 on the rear providing you are on 700 wheels.
And yes when I started I did use gearing that low.
It was also a bit of a test run to see how the gears work together, as I had a 28/24 opposed to the 25/23 I have at the moment, these being the two lowest gears on the rear.

Yes I am on 700 wheels. Even years ago when I had a double chainring on a road bike - that's all I remember there was - I had a much bogger than normal difference between the two chainrings

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Stonechat I remember had a gitane in the 80's that was a 52x42 front 5sp rear, but I lived in Eccles at the time and was only 17-18, and then in the 90's a triple that must have been much the same as what I currently have ( I believe that might still be in a barn on the Isle of Skye), I believe that was a 6sp rear.

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

@Mo1959

@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..
.

Hi
My GSC10 has arrived, but the pictures aren't very clear. Does anybody have a photo of one in situ please? I can't quite work out where to fit it as I've never had one before and don't know which way round to put it. If I put it the way I thought I should, I'd have to take it off to change a battery.
I've worked out what the chainstay is, so that's a good start!
All help, as ever, very welcome - even if, doh! you are so blonde!!!!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Hi
My GSC10 has arrived, but the pictures aren't very clear. Does anybody have a photo of one in situ please? I can't quite work out where to fit it as I've never had one before and don't know which way round to put it. If I put it the way I thought I should, I'd have to take it off to change a battery.
I've worked out what the chainstay is, so that's a good start!
All help, as ever, very welcome - even if, doh! you are so blonde!!!!

The only one I can quickly find is covered i snow, but from what you say you have it right the battery side toward the wheel, cad magnet on the pedal spindle and the speed magnet on a spoke in line with the extension arm.

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Thank you. I think I've sorted it. Had a cancelled meeting in the morning, so hoping to get out and have a pedal around. I'll feed back to see whether I've done it right

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Fastest speed 57.7mph - jeez, did you have a rocket strapped to your seatpost? .

?? where are you seeing that?

Alan...

 

[ceejayh]

?? where are you seeing that?

Alan...

Apologies...I quoted your post by mistake. It was RFATaff's Strava route where it says he managed 57.7mph.

 

[Stonechat]

I sometimes get unlikely max speeds from Strava, it must be the phone

 

[Stonechat]

Wasn't going to do a ride today. Mrs Stonechat was out with the car and got a call from Dad saying he had problems with the electrics
(Both parents in their 90s)
So made the best of it, did a 12.8 mile run with a few stop offs
http://www.strava.com/activities/85956372
Not fast but up to 250 miles for September (did 237 in August)

 

[BrianEvesham]

A bit overcast but warmish on a cheeky 9 miler with an avg 17.4 this afternoon.
Decidedly too warm for my bib longs

 

[Goonerobes]

Todays little sortie was the first time I've been out in the wet since I got the road bike so it was all a bit of a learning curve.
On the plus side my breathable wind/shower proof jacket did exactly what it said on the tin & the new 3/4 length padded tights were perfect for this time of year.
On the negative side I learnt that the brakes aren't anywhere near as sharp as I thought they might be & my white bike is now more of a muddy brown bike!!
http://www.strava.com/activities/85979651

 

[RFATaff]

Ah apologies about the ridiculous speed on my last post - Strava must do some weird algorithms overnight or something because initially it showed the correct max speed of 26 mph... if I'd hit 57.7 I'd need new shorts! The brakes on my crossfire would not have coped with 57!!

I went out today to try and get some good speeds on the flats round here but hit some really nasty winds... I say nasty; when I was looking at the trees before going out it looked like just a gentle breeze but you don't half notice the difference on 2 wheels! Bit gutted actually cos I reckon I'd have managed a 14mph average which although pants by most of the folk on here's standards, I would still have been happy with it..

http://www.strava.com/activities/85984314

Ah well, onwards and upwards!!

 

[Goonerobes]

Ah apologies about the ridiculous speed on my last post - Strava must do some weird algorithms overnight or something because initially it showed the correct max speed of 26 mph... if I'd hit 57.7 I'd need new shorts! The brakes on my crossfire would not have coped with 57!!

I went out today to try and get some good speeds on the flats round here but hit some really nasty winds... I say nasty; when I was looking at the trees before going out it looked like just a gentle breeze but you don't half notice the difference on 2 wheels! Bit gutted actually cos I reckon I'd have managed a 14mph average which although pants by most of the folk on here's standards, I would still have been happy with it..

http://www.strava.com/activities/85984314

Ah well, onwards and upwards!!

The wind is most definitely not the cyclists friend & looking at your coastal ride you may see a lot of it there.

You're doing well so don't get too hung up on average speed, just get plenty of miles under your belt & the speed will come with time.

 

[Mo1959]

@RFATaff If it's any consolation, I have just over a year in now of cycling and still detest the wind every bit as much as when I started There are some on here who say you get used to it and it doesn't bother you as much (@Nigelnaturist ) but I am not one of them. I religiously check the weather forecast and hate when I see it forecast. I would much rather ride in the rain than the wind.

All I can suggest is, if it is a road bike try and get yourself down on the drops for a bit, drop a couple of gears and just do the best you can without over exerting yourself. I try swearing at it as well but it doesn't seem to make much difference.

 

[RFATaff]

Thanks for the positive comments folks.

@Mo1959 it's a hybrid ( Carrera Crossfire) I ride so the drops are not an option I'm afraid; I cant see me ever getting used to wind - its soul destroying! At least hills have summits!!

@Goonerobes I take it miles is the better way to train then rather than trying to build up speed? I don't commute (bikes dont float) so I'm really just looking to get a lot fitter and be better at this cycling game!