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

[Supersuperleeds]

Enjoyed my doggy walk and she had fun chasing pheasants! It's actually a perfect day for cycling here. Dry, cool but not as cold as yesterday and just a hint of a breeze. While wandering around with the dog I actually started wondering if I should cancel my Strava account as it makes it soooo hard to resist challenges, segments, etc.

Don't you come on here swearing!

If you do, I would recommend you download all the data you have uploaded just in case you change your mind at a later date, or better still get a friend to change the password to your account so you can't access it and ask them not to let you have the password for say three months, by which time you will have gone through cold turkey and should be a recovering Stravaite.

 

[Tcr4x4]

Enjoyed my doggy walk and she had fun chasing pheasants! It's actually a perfect day for cycling here. Dry, cool but not as cold as yesterday and just a hint of a breeze. While wandering around with the dog I actually started wondering if I should cancel my Strava account as it makes it soooo hard to resist challenges, segments, etc.

Don't cancel the account, you'll only regret it later on. What I do if I don't want to visit a site, is delete all the bookmarks on my pc to it. I find it then takes a conscious effort to type the address in, rather than just press a button, and that seems to be enough to stop me doing it!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Don't cancel the account, you'll only regret it later on. What I do if I don't want to visit a site, is delete all the bookmarks on my pc to it. I find it then takes a conscious effort to type the address in, rather than just press a button, and that seems to be enough to stop me doing it!

All I got to do is hit "s" in the address bar, so you need to delete the history as well.
As for backing up data, everyone should either upload to their units home support site as this should give you the best options to download, or just copy the data from the unit to a folder on the computer. and then back that up on another device.

I must admit I am a bit obsessed about my mileage, speed doesn't really bother me, but I have loads of mileage targets going on (four at the minute) and I work out the daily commuting distance I need to hit them, I then try and do the highest distance on the way to work, so when I come home I am eating into the target. Currently need to do 26 miles a day to hit my "hardest" target

Thats some going in a year Chris This is what I do but my targets arn't as high, I should have covered 12,000 by the end of the year, since I started, which I think is far enough, I have got to my original target of 15mph I do this on most rides (unless little jaunts into town ect.) or like this week is been really naff weather and I have thrown in some extra climbing, nothing major just like a few 100ft climbs in shortish distances of which we have few, but thats about it.
@Mo1959 Once your body gets used to the exercise, it can do it with out damage to the body, it is the level at which you exert yourself that does the damage and then the body requires time to repair, there comes a time when the level of exercise does really become exercise as you body is use to it.
When I started using the H.R. I was using according to the unit so is open to some errors, about 50cals a mile this is now down to under 40, using the same setup, with updates to weight.
I like it on the bike as I dont think about suicide, unlike when at home the slightest wrong thing said (and its not meant bad by people) its the first thing I think of ( a little like someone who cuts themselves, in fact its the same issue, just not visable), I then have to work through this. I have been diagnosed with Boarderline personality disorder, doesn't sound much, but if you ever read up on it, it's a little scary for the person with it.
So even a 20 mile ride helps, and these days what is 20miles, just a quick ride to my mates and back the long way round.

 

[lucklesspedestrian]

Well, that was the first ride on the new road bike (Forme Longcliffe 3.0) after spending the last 6 months on the old Raleigh hybrid.

Surprised at how different it felt and how much getting used to it took. The stock saddle was surprisingly comfortable and the microshifters were straightforward enough. I miss not having the shifters just there to hand like on the old flat bar and really really do not like having to drop down to use the brakes. I suspect I'll get used to it though. A bit sore on the hands having got used to riding on nicely shaped rubber grips, just getting used to riding on taped bars, suppose the gel gloves helped a bit here. The thin wheels and 23c tyres just look soo fragile compared to the old 35c hybrid tyres and chunky wheels, I panicked every time I couldn't avoid a pothole! I was actually surprised at how comfortable the ride was however, I suppose it's a combination of a decent frame and the carbon fork.

I was a wee bit disappointed not to just take off like Sir Bradley, although it is noticeably easier to cover distance at speed than the hybrid I seem to find that I am still an overweight 50 year old bloke who only started cycling again 6 months ago after a 20 year lay-off.....oh well, reality strikes!

Noticed a bit of noise coming from the chain when riding on the big crank sprocket, think I'll google adjusting Shimano Tiagra, I'm guessing it's just rubbing slightly against the guide thingy that moves when you shift.

Seriously pretty bike though in black with green trim, must post a photo sometime.

Any recommendations re a cheapish cycle computer? I seem to be the only person here who doesn't have one and the last thing I had was one of those manual counter things that clicked over every time the wheel rotated!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Any recommendations re a cheapish cycle computer? I seem to be the only person here who doesn't have one and the last thing I had was one of those manual counter things that clicked over every time the wheel rotated!

Nice one, you will get used to the position.
What are you looking for in a cycle computer.

 

[Mo1959]

@lucklesspedestrian You shouldn't really have to go down to the drops to brake. Are you maybe needing to tilt your bars up a bit so you can brake from the hoods? Plenty of cheapish computers around but if you want to go down the route of uploading to the likes of Strava the Garmin Edge 200 is a good start. Maybe too pricy though? http://www.handtec.co.uk/garmin-edge-200.html?gclid=CMSskJSGkboCFYyWtAodh2cAtA

 

[RWright]

Enjoyed my doggy walk and she had fun chasing pheasants! It's actually a perfect day for cycling here. Dry, cool but not as cold as yesterday and just a hint of a breeze. While wandering around with the dog I actually started wondering if I should cancel my Strava account as it makes it soooo hard to resist challenges, segments, etc.

no way I am getting rid of my Strava account! lol I am just going to cut down some on the amount of time I ride. I am kind of like Nigel, riding helps me relax and unwind. I like to keep up with the mileage and time with Strava. I still do some speed timing with it too....I know, hard to tell by looking at my speeds. I mostly ride to burn calories and relax but I still do some timing things too, just not often. More just to keep a check on longer term progress.

lucklesspedestrian, get a Garmin 200 and join the dark side

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@RWright I have given up trying to get p.b's near home, the odd one pops up from time to time.
The challenges over on endomondo are a little bit more interesting, as you can create you own and invite your friends, like strava its free, and with a garmin just upload, so it only takes a few seconds, plus you can export both tcx and gpx files.

 

[RWright]

@RWright I have given up trying to get p.b's near home, the odd one pops up from time to time.
The challenges over on endomondo are a little bit more interesting, as you can create you own and invite your friends, like strava its free, and with a garmin just upload, so it only takes a few seconds, plus you can export both tcx and gpx files.

I noticed some challenge type things on mapmyride too. I happened to see one climb very close to home. I had done it at the end of an 80 mile ride that had beat me down pretty well. I was third out of three people, some younger girl, mid 20s or so, had the best time. After I noticed it I then went after it towards the end of a 15 or 20 mile or so ride. Took care of a little business that time. Now they are trying to beat my time.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

With endomondo it more about an overall challenge rather than a segment, I still think strava is best for that (though I have been riding some not so nice things about what the people from strava did when they changed the API's)
I did have alook at the segments on mapmyride, they are a little like those on rwgps, just not used by many people, I have most of my segments on both strava and rwgps.

 

[Stonechat]

I will never jog - just doesn't suit me.
Ihave the dog walking - about 3 miles per day.
Weather is foul today - will wait until Wed probably - knees feeling better already

It's actually brilliant now. Early raid cleared and it is really nice. Seen quite a lot of cyclists on outings.
Don't think I can bear more than a week off!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

It's actually brilliant now. Early raid cleared and it is really nice. Seen quite a lot of cyclists on outings.
Don't think I can bear more than a week off!

Still pretty naff here, set to be till about Tuesday.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Dry with high wind and really cold - summoning up enthusiasm but it is taking a while!

 

[lucklesspedestrian]

Nice one, you will get used to the position.
What are you looking for in a cycle computer.

just ave speed, distance covered and max speed achieved on the run would be interesting

 

[Supersuperleeds]

just ave speed, distance covered and max speed achieved on the run would be interesting

A cheap one from Tesco would do that