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

[SWSteve]

Currently wishing I was on my bike...but if I were out and received a puncture I would be stuffed.
Puncture repair kit and pump are in back of car, so would need to cycle there...and f I got a p******** on the way I would be worse than upset. Need to keep that with me I think it's twice now I haven't been able to ride.

 

[Mo1959]

Currently wishing I was on my bike...but if I were out and received a puncture I would be stuffed.
Puncture repair kit and pump are in back of car, so would need to cycle there...and f I got a p******** on the way I would be worse than upset. Need to keep that with me I think it's twice now I haven't been able to ride.

You'll need to get a little saddle bag and leave it attached to the bike. The topeak ones are a nice size.

 

[SWSteve]

You'll need to get a little saddle bag and leave it attached to the bike. The topeak ones are a nice size.

Yeah, I have a big bag, but it's a properly big bag - good for when out with someone else and you just put all the stuff in is as you are the stronger rider, but not a small bag for keeping on the bike.

Will probably pop into Evans tomorrow to get one.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Hi everyone. Only started cycling at the tail end of August, and as the mileage and times I was achieving were so bad, I didn't want to tell anyone.

Still not very good, but have gone from only a couple of miles in around 45 minutes to 10.5 miles in approx 1.35 mins. Not very fast or far, but when I started I seriously didn't expect to last to be honest. I was gasping for air, my legs felt like rubber and I seriously thought I was going to die at one point.

I will continue to get out as often as I can over the winter period and hopefully next yeat I will see big improvements in both my times and distances.

don't worry about speeds and times to much (though it's nice to see how you progress) because they will improve, even go backwards sometimes, like I am doing , but the main benefit overall is improved health and this is always an ongoing thing, anyway you will be a bit like @Mo1959 with your hills so take head of what she says, very knowledgeable is Mo, and whilst she bemoans her speeds sometimes, you want to see what she can climb, and wait till the spring/summer and you see what MoTime is

@BrianEvesham as @RWright says some steep grades there, got a couple local approaching the grade but only very short and not very high in comparison

 

[Nigelnaturist]

You'll need to get a little saddle bag and leave it attached to the bike. The topeak ones are a nice size.

@ItsSteveLovell Or some gatorskins, remembering to avoid sharp stones though, whilst it didn't puncture the trye it did squash the tyre so much has to pinch the tube, apart from that pretty bomb proof so far after nearly 2,500 miles.

 

[Mo1959]

@welsh dragon Don't listen to that Nigel. He is flattering me. I am a mid fifties, menopausal woman who puffs and pants like Thomas the Tank up the hills

Agree though that you will go through peaks and troughs. Sometimes you feel you are making good progress for it all to start feeling more difficult again further down the line.

 

[welsh dragon]

That makes two of us then. Lol

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Ha, ha.....yes, great fun. The road in question is so narrow and twisty that you can't even get a run across it to get started again. Maybe try it on the hybrid with the lower gearing and take it very slowly and see if I can make it all the way up some time.

I wouldn't mind I was no more than 10 yards from the junction (that some nice van driver over took me at into my space others I wouldn't have needed to stop), mind you had I just walked the 10 yards I wouldn't have fallen over, but you dont do you.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

You'll need to get a little saddle bag and leave it attached to the bike. The topeak ones are a nice size.

I use Topeak saddle bags but they aren't waterproof. Already ruined one bag and its contents by letting it get really wet and really dirty. I now keep all the stuff on the inside in dry bags and have a plastic bag over it.

 

[Mo1959]

I use Topeak saddle bags but they aren't waterproof. Already ruined one bag and its contents by letting it get really wet and really dirty. I now keep all the stuff on the inside in dry bags and have a plastic bag over it.

That's what you get for refusing to use mudguards.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@welsh dragon I am a mid fifties,.

Does this not make my point, with a years cycling experience where you are, I don't need to flatter you, you do that by your achievements

 

[Nigelnaturist]

That's what you get for refusing to use mudguards.

My rear bag got drown the other day/week (cant remember) everything inside was wet, nothing to spoil though.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

That makes two of us then. Lol

Mo manged the Rapha Rising: La Centième whilst most of us could just gape in awe at her climbing ability
Top ten of those I follow. Mo on top.

 

[Mo1959]

@Nigelnaturist Stop it.....I am getting embarrassed with all this flattery The way I am feeling at the moment I couldn't do that challenge again if you paid me!

 

[GreigM]

Glad today was my day off, horrible weather although it did brighten up a bit late afternoon. Hopefully tomorrow is a bit kinder and I can get out.