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

[stevey]

Actually got off my a*se and went out.... been 4 days ( Dont count the turbo). Nice to be back on it though got my over shoes ordered trouble is its a xmas pressie of the o/h.

I'll see if i can get them early, any ways this is the ride compulsory blind drivers included...
http://www.strava.com/activities/93774095

 

[50000tears]

Night time ride after the dog walk. Going to focus on these kind of efforts for a while to try and build my base speed up. Best thing is that once I get back to my sweet main bike in a few months I will get an instant extra 1 mile an hour just from the kit being that much better.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/321425103

 

[Exile]

Made it out for a 'quick' six and a bit mile ride this afternoon. Everything seems to be set up nicely, gear shifting seems perfect, brakes actually stop me and the rear wheel even turns when I pedal! Didn't go too far or too fast as I was still making sure everything worked as expected and getting used to the handling of the bike. Must be doing something right as I managed to get PB's on the two segments I covered!

Had a little bit of a scary moment when I almost lost the front wheel on some mushed-up leaves whilst taking a corner but managed to keep it upright more through luck than judgement. Never again will I question rail delays caused by leaves on the line... Other than that, and nearly falling off twice because the brakes are so much more effective than on my old bike, it was a thoroughly uneventful ride.

 

[50000tears]

That reminded me Exile of my "moment" yesterday. I was effectively time trialling my route but almost came a cropper in the first five minutes. Downhill ramp near my house leads me into a sweeping left-hander. Normally I would slow from my 25-28mh on the decent to around 15-16mh to take the corner but for some reason found myself entering the corner having forgotten to brake or slow the bike in any way! Needless to say I had a real heart pumping moment as I had to bank the bike harder than I am used to doing, or have done before, as I used every foot of my lane whilst hurtling towards the cars that were on the opposite carriageway!

Gotta stop putting myself in those spots.

 

[Mo1959]

@50000tears I've done that myself a couple of times and scared myself to death. Couple of times I have been over on the wrong side of the road and luckily nothing coming. Another time, I grabbed the brakes and the bike snaked about and I nearly came off.

Well, only did about 10 miles this morning but it was on the old mountain bike and it was some workout. I felt I worked harder for 10 miles than I would have done doing at least 20 on the roads. It's certainly a different experience. A couple of the tracks were pretty hairy with ruts and big boulders and when you have the tyres hard enough for use on the road, they are really too hard for trails like that so I was bouncing around a bit. The road bike is going to feel so light and smooth when I use it next!

 

[Stonechat]

Huh
JUst thought yes I can go for a ride this morning. The sky has gone dark grey and it is raining

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I ain't doing that again, I just nipped to the shop on the bike with shoes without cleats, how the heck people ride without clip-in or clips I will never know. The biggest problem was the pedal wouldn't come back when I rotated anti-clockwise.

 

[Biker Joe]

I ain't doing that again, I just nipped to the shop on the bike with shoes without cleats, how the heck people ride without clip-in or clips I will never know. The biggest problem was the pedal wouldn't come back when I rotated anti-clockwise.

I bet that was a really weird feeling.
I suppose if you have never ridden with clips or clip-ins you develop a technique that suits.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I ain't doing that again, I just nipped to the shop on the bike with shoes without cleats, how the heck people ride without clip-in or clips I will never know. The biggest problem was the pedal wouldn't come back when I rotated anti-clockwise.

I'm still on flats, I think @Mo1959 is as well. I have no intention of clipping in.

 

[Mo1959]

I'm still on flats, I think @Mo1959 is as well. I have no intention of clipping in.

Yep, still flats here too. Pedals with pins and rubber soles, feels nearly as secure as being clipped in I think. Was quite glad of it this morning over some of the rocky ground as it got so rough I had to put my foot down a few times.

 

[50000tears]

I mix it up myself. I am still new enough to clipless that I don't feel as comfortable with them as flats, especially when I want to clip in fast to pull away from a junction etc as I haven't yet got the knack of getting in 1st time.. At the moment I do my under 2 hour runs in the built up areas on flats and only use clipless for longer more out of town runs.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Biker Joe I know just flick your foot under the pedal, and your right really weird so unnatural
@Supersuperleeds I went into Leeds yesterday and found clipping in multiple times easier than riding the 400 yards (if that) to the shop, I was testing out some new brake blocks.

 

[Stonechat]

I ain't doing that again, I just nipped to the shop on the bike with shoes without cleats, how the heck people ride without clip-in or clips I will never know. The biggest problem was the pedal wouldn't come back when I rotated anti-clockwise.

Years ago I had toe clips, and could not abide flat pedals, so went clipless, MTB type pedals, not regretted it. . When need to pull away quickly, just don't,t worry if the clip goes in, just get up a bit of speed

 

[Stonechat]

Huh
JUst thought yes I can go for a ride this morning. The sky has gone dark grey and it is raining

Forecast was good today, but weather ***###@@@

 

[Reece]

I ain't doing that again, I just nipped to the shop on the bike with shoes without cleats, how the heck people ride without clip-in or clips I will never know. The biggest problem was the pedal wouldn't come back when I rotated anti-clockwise.

If I take the road bike to work I use trainers on the clip in pedals as Can't be bothered with cycling shoes for a 1 mile commute. I've learned that it's hell and feet slip all over especially when it's damp out lol. Still do it though as too lazy in the mornings to get the roadie out to get the MTB out to put the roadie away haha.