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

[Peter Armstrong]

Wow its coming upto 2 years in July since my first ride

July 8, 2012 http://app.strava.com/rides/14771205 15 miles average 14.5mph

And recently I beasted out this....

March 1, http://app.strava.com/activities/116887382 29.5 miles average 19.2mph

Its great to look back and see how you have progressed!!!!

 

[Rob3rt]

You know one of my clubmates or at least cycled with him as part of that ride ^^

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Just reolised I put the wrong link in on that second ride!!!! Dohh!!! Who John Sanderson, I dont know him, just bumpted into him on his http://app.strava.com/activities/116975466 big loopy ride, rode with him a little, had a chat, then parted. Probs why that ride was faster, did a little drafting between Bury and Ramsbottom!!!

 

[Rob3rt]

Yeah John.

 

[Triban5riderGD]

The best prep you can do for the London to Brighton would be to get off the saddle and walk a few miles!

Only joking, I did cycle a few miles too!

Hi Nomadski
We are riding the London to Brighton with a local cycling club in early May, so I suspect we should be able to ride all the way with a bit of puffing and panting thrown in. We did our research and searched the net. It was evidently clear that the mass numbers involved in many of the major charity rides on the same route make part walking almost inevitable. My brother inlaw, who is a very fit fireman has done the British Heart Foundation ride a number of times has always been forced to walk owing the the ridiculous amount of riders participating. On his last ride he was knocked of his bike by a reckless rider and sustained a bad injury to his shoulder. On his advice we decided to give that ride a miss. As my son is only 13 and this will be his first big ride I wanted it to be a memorable, but safe experience for him. Riding for MS Trust, just hope the weather is good. Happy cycling.

 

[Stonechat]

Considering taking on Box Hill tomorrow
I remember doing it about 1985, the gradients on the hill itself not too bad, but combining it with a 40 mile overall trip, hope it will be ok
Check out on maps and the gradients are tougher than I remember

 

[Stonechat]

Hi Nomadski
We are riding the London to Brighton with a local cycling club in early May, so I suspect we should be able to ride all the way with a bit of puffing and panting thrown in. We did our research and searched the net. It was evidently clear that the mass numbers involved in many of the major charity rides on the same route make part walking almost inevitable. My brother inlaw, who is a very fit fireman has done the British Heart Foundation ride a number of times has always been forced to walk owing the the ridiculous amount of riders participating. On his last ride he was knocked of his bike by a reckless rider and sustained a bad injury to his shoulder. On his advice we decided to give that ride a miss. As my son is only 13 and this will be his first big ride I wanted it to be a memorable, but safe experience for him. Riding for MS Trust, just hope the weather is good. Happy cycling.

I am on the BHF ride so will have to take my chances

 

[Ootini]

Today's lunch time run: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/2308520

Actually managed to fall off the bike for the first time. Heading over Britannia bridge there was a hell of a cross wind. Took the front of the bike out from under me and push both me and the bike on to the pavement section. The left hand hood was pushed in, but it popped back out OK, bike seems fine, but my knee is killing me. Oh well, we live and learn!

 

[Mo1959]

Citylink arrived at lunchtime with what I hope will be my go to bike for when the roads are wet and filthy to try and save the more expensive components on my good bikes.
Charge Grater 1 with just a single chainring and 8 speed cassette. Replacement chain and cassette for such a simple bike should be able to be picked up for around £20 and now that I have the tools, I can replace them myself so although it has meant spending on another bike I might save in other ways.

It is currently raining and roads are filthy and I don't want to christen it on bad roads to start with! Lol

It is aluminium with a steel fork but feels reasonably light and seems to get decent enough reviews. My second bike from Sunset bikes in Wales. Highly recommended. Bikes come in very sturdy boxes, well protected and really well set up. Nothing needed tweaked at all.

Bike is actually nicer in the flesh than the pics I think. Nice matt black with matching matt black mudguards already fitted.

 

[Goonerobes]

Very nice @Mo1959, I hope that you have many happy miles together.

 

[Nomadski]

@Mo1959 Congrats on the new steed. She has a cross modern and old school charm about her. Like the fact you bought it to avoid taking the others out when the weather is poor, but you didn't want to christen it in the wet!

@Triban5riderGD Didn't realise you were doing the L2B route outside of the BHF event. I'm sure it will be a very nice ride, the route was spot on when I did it, there were just a few bottlenecks for various reasons that caused 30 minute standoffs. Also the Beacon was chaos! Not saying it wasn't fun still, had a blast with some great company, but Im sure when you do it, it will be far more peaceful!

Wonderful weather down here today, perhaps the best of the year. Stil haven't got out though because Ive done an early shift today and it wiped me out.

Have also bought some slime for my tubes; Ive sat here looking at it not quite daring to start the procedure as I have a feeling it may get quite messy, and Im pretty sure I may need to be more awake than I currently am!

After my No Excuses nightmare, it was suggested to me to perhaps get a second set of round things and keep them for when I do little events, I can use my (now) odd coloured round things I currently have on my bike as my day to day wheels.. Perhaps its just the idea of spending money I quite like, but this appeals to me. Just got to figure out what I should get.

Currently have RS10 wheels, anyone have any suggestion for equal priced but better wheels? I will probably get another 105 cassette, and I need to find some half decent tyres. I quite liked my Michelin Service Course Pro4 tyres, but I dont think I got my moneys worth out of them (2,000 miles?) considering they were £50 each.

Ive heard a lot about Continental Gators but Ive heard they are terribly slippy in the wet.

Any suggestions to the above welcome.

Happy riding all.

 

[Mr_K_Dilkington]

Planning to ride from London to Brighton and get the train back this weekend. Should I take the BHF route or should is there a preferable route to take on a normal day?

 

[Triban5riderGD]

I am on the BHF ride so will have to take my chances

Im sure you will be ok stonechat, just ride defensively. Have a look on you tube. There are a number of recordings of the ride on there, it will give you an idea as to what its like. Good luck on your ride.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

The weather has been fantastic today, so out for a very hilly 22 miles on my Triban5 . Feeling good as Ive managed to loose a further 3lbs. Now at 18 stone. My eldest daughters wedding is in June so Im hoping to be sub 17 stone by then. Just got to keep those pedals turning.
Just one question. When are you no longer considered to be a newbie?

I think I still am, the distances you lot are doing.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Mo1959 C

Currently have RS10 wheels, anyone have any suggestion for equal priced but better wheels? I will probably get another 105 cassette, and I need to find some half decent tyres. I quite liked my Michelin Service Course Pro4 tyres, but I dont think I got my moneys worth out of them (2,000 miles?) considering they were £50 each.

Ive heard a lot about Continental Gators but Ive heard they are terribly slippy in the wet.

Any suggestions to the above welcome.

Happy riding all.

Hope your well, just broke a front spoke on my RS10's (new one on order, but up to a week, not a great loss in terms of what I am doing these, but I was just about to have start) .
My RS10's have done over 7,000 miles the last 4,000 or so on Gatorskins I have had two punctures one a failed patch, and the other a pinch puncture, I think this says it all really, I dont tend to push it it too hard but I have never had any serious problems in the wet.

@Mo1959 how many bikes do you have now !!