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

[Nigelnaturist]

Thanks! By pushing my self to improve should i add more distance or increase my pace?

Speed and distance will both come in time, when I started I quickly improved from 9mph over 8 or 9 miles to 15-16mph over 30miles in about 2 months, however this was all on flat roads, and usually had at least one break (my first rides i could do 10 miles without stopping at least three times and took over 1 1/2 hrs, I can do the same loop in lees than 40 mins now) but i was terriable on hills, so last Sept/Oct I started doing some hills my speed plummeted 20 avgs of 12.5mph over 30-40 miles, these days my average is in the region of 15mph whatever the terrian i ride, though most rides aren't very hilly and have long flat bits which increases the avg.
The main thing is to ride as often as you can, just pushing yourself a little more each time, if you ache a lot rest for a day or so, as this is when the body repairs the damage and this bit is what makes you fitter/stronger

 

[L14M]

Lovely cheers,
I've been riding a mtb on the road for a while now, as i'm getting into road bikes i think my speed, distance and time computer won't cut it. Whats important in a computer for around £30?

Liam

 

[Mothy1965]

I took delivery of my Forme Longcliffe 3 road bike last week and completed 6.9 miles yesterday complete with puncture - ended with legs like jelly!
Going out again tomorrow weather permitting. Currently 48 yrs, 17 st and very unfit - it's a lot tougher than I thought on my legs!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Lovely cheers,
I've been riding a mtb on the road for a while now, as i'm getting into road bikes i think my speed, distance and time computer won't cut it. Whats important in a computer for around £30?

Liam

If you can afford it stretch to one of these
Bryton Rider 20
Its a gps cycle computer, its display is pretty basic but it will show distance, time, ect (though I haven't seen an avg sp yet) but since its a gps logger it will record your ride and this can be uploaded to a website which will show you everything from elevation and how long it took you climb avg sp max sp ect, calories (though take this with a pinch of salt), because this unit is Ant+ it is capable of taking data from a H.R monitor and sp/cadence (a speed sensor will stop anomalous max speed recordings)
GPS unit go up from this one to include full mapping (there are some like the Garmin 200 and 500) that have mapping but its pretty basic, but good enough to follow a course, to full mapping like a car, but they go up in price, for basic distance speed ect almost any will do, though try a find one with a cadence monitor on it.

 

[peterphelan]

Well, finished my first few short rides this weekend on the new bike - Merida cyclo cross 3. Pretty hilly around here in Cornwall, so am taking it gently for the moment and getting used to being back on two wheels after quite some time. I road raced quite seriously in my younger days; and just realised that come next April, the image below, taken whilst racing in France near Bordeaux, will have been taken exactly 50 years ago!

I am the guy on the right of the photo. So onwards and upwards!
Peter

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I took delivery of my Forme Longcliffe 3 road bike last week and completed 6.9 miles yesterday complete with puncture - ended with legs like jelly!
Going out again tomorrow weather permitting. Currently 48 yrs, 17 st and very unfit - it's a lot tougher than I thought on my legs!

It is, but it will get better,
@Mo1959 has a Forme Longcliffe,
Make sure your tyres are up to the correct pressure usually about 100-120psi depending on use, punctures are common at this time of year, but puncture resistant tyres like Gatorskins ect.. reduce that some what I have only had 2 one a failed patch and the other a pinch puncture (where the tube is squeezed against the rim inside, usually from impact from a pot hole or a sharp stone) and thats 3700 miles (or the start of Aug).
Look forward to seeing your progress.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I took delivery of my Forme Longcliffe 3 road bike last week and completed 6.9 miles yesterday complete with puncture - ended with legs like jelly!
Going out again tomorrow weather permitting. Currently 48 yrs, 17 st and very unfit - it's a lot tougher than I thought on my legs!

Stick at it for a year and you will be amazed at the change. This time last year I was 17st in my birthday suit, now am 13 1/2 stone fully clothed and I am eating more than I was

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Supersuperleeds not surprised the amount of cals you burn everyday. You did forget to say how far you ride even in 40-50 mph winds like last Thur

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I planned myself a route away from main roads, and out through the countryside a little to do a 10 mile loop, more hills than normal but feel I am getting better.

http://www.strava.com/activities/99178377

I still felt strong at the end of it, but had to stop to get on with the rest of my plans for the day, the end of the 10 mile loop is essentially the start of my usual 6 miler, so I think next time, I will join them together, and try 16 miles next weekend.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well, finished my first few short rides this weekend on the new bike - Merida cyclo cross 3. Pretty hilly around here in Cornwall, so am taking it gently for the moment and getting used to being back on two wheels after quite some time. I road raced quite seriously in my younger days; and just realised that come next April, the image below, taken whilst racing in France near Bordeaux, will have been taken exactly 50 years ago!

I am the guy on the right of the photo. So onwards and upwards!
Peter

Peter, should be 2nd nature to you then
Amazing picture.

 

[Stonechat]

Well, finished my first few short rides this weekend on the new bike - Merida cyclo cross 3. Pretty hilly around here in Cornwall, so am taking it gently for the moment and getting used to being back on two wheels after quite some time. I road raced quite seriously in my younger days; and just realised that come next April, the image below, taken whilst racing in France near Bordeaux, will have been taken exactly 50 years ago!

I am the guy on the right of the photo. So onwards and upwards!
Peter

Like The photo, hope you get on ok with the merida

 

[Goonerobes]

Here's first ride on here for a week or two but it was a new ride out and a bit tough..

http://app.strava.com/dashboard?feed_type=my_activity.

I have two question you might be able to help with.

1/ I got cramp very bad in both thighs so what is the best thing to do, all I did was just carry on but very slowly but was I right to do that,
2/ How do a save a ride on Strava... if you can of course.

Cheers

I suffer calf cramps quite a lot but a High Five electrolyte tab in one of my water bottles always sorts it out almost instantly & I can carry on a my normal pace for the rest of my ride.

 

[Exile]

So me and the O/H got out for a ride. He wanted to stay local, I wanted to but in 10 or 15 miles. We ended up doing a run out to the airport and back. Only a smidge under 34 miles in the end

Neither of us can deny it was a good ride, although by the 15 mile mark we were both starting to feel a bit more than a little hungry, so stopped off at the aviation viewing point for some chips (which we scientifically proved to be good cycling food thusly: Chips are potato. Potatoes are starchy. Starch is glucose. Glucose is good for long rides. Therefore chips are good for long rides. QED. ).

This evening we both feel like the bicycle has become our mortal enemy, with heavy legs, aching muscles and other complaints, but I'm sure this will pass. In fact, we'll be out again next weekend. Just as long as I promise never to turn "a few laps of the local park" into "riding along roads we're either not very familiar with or haven't ridden on before, for a full 10 miles more than we've done before, but I'm sure we'll be OK."

Oh, and @Phoenix Lincs, you can take a few miles from that ride on condition you take the lead-legs feeling we have right now

 

[Boon 51]

Just an update from yesterday's ride..

I have a lactic lump on my left bum cheek so after all the good advise I will take on more water and sports drink, salt, and protien, have a week of gentle rides with gentle excercise and see where I go..
Looking back on it now I did the ride wrong, as I never warmed up first and just went straight up the hill, I also rode too early in the morning when it was too cold on the mountain?
Lessons learnt for me for next time..

 

[Stonechat]

Just an update from yesterday's ride..

I have a lactic lump on my left bum cheek so after all the good advise I will take on more water and sports drink, salt, and protien, have a week of gentle rides with gentle excercise and see where I go..
Looking back on it now I did the ride wrong, as I never warmer up first and just went straight up the hill, I also rode too early in the morning when it was too cold on the mountain?
Lessons learnt for me for next time..

What's a warm up?