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

[morrisman]

Ended up as 76.5 miles at an average of 13.5, which considering that 20 miles were a loop of Central London is not so bad.

 

[Mr_K_Dilkington]

Got just under 35 miles in this afternoon in the glorious weather. Fairly leisurely rides from home to Richmond Park and back, so I could go hard on 3 anticlockwise laps of the park. Did the three laps in 77 minutes 48 seconds which I'm really happy with: http://www.strava.com/activities/118695637

Definitely would like to improve my climbing a lot - Dark Hill wasn't too bad (though could be faster), but the steep park of Sawyers Hill I found really hard after the long steady climb towards it. Think Queen's road also held me back a lot due to finding it really tough riding into the fairly strong headwinds there today. Still not bad, considering I've only been riding a month and hadn't really exercised in years!

London to Brighton with a friend tomorrow!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well the 7sp fits, just put 7gears on it with 7sp spacers, I did try the 8sp on the RS10 wheel, but the lower gears seemed to foul on the frame, so it seems it will end up a 7sp triple which is plenty round here

 

[50000tears]

1st ride since last Saturday after taking a recovery week off. Attacking hills is all I seem to do at the moment but it is all a means to an end!

http://www.strava.com/activities/118737892

Have been pretty tired of late as I haven't been sleeping well so pleased that I was still able to set a PB up the climb.

 

[Leescfc79]

The other half surprised me this afternoon and asked if I wanted to go for a ride, considering she's only been on her bike 3 times in the last 12 months I was amazed. Went and did just short of 11 miles at a very leisurely 11mph, she said she wants to get out at least a couple of times a week to build her fitness up which will also motivate me so it's win win.

http://app.strava.com/activities/118739248

I'm off work until Thursday and the weather looks good so have a 35 miler planned tomorrow, a 40 miler with a friend Monday afternoon and I'd like to finish it off with a 50 miler either Tuesday or Wedensday but also have some DIY around the house so will have to keep my fingers crossed I can get it all done.

 

[morrisman]

On downloading my Garmin it seems I only just got to 75 miles if I add on the bit from the station to my house when I got back, but the average comes out at 13.7mph

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/457200277

 

[Exile]

A wise man once told me not to judge a day by its morning, and today he would've been right. Grey, miserable and windy this morning, brighter (but still grey and somewhat miserable) and breezy by 3 o'clock. So on went the gear, out came the bike and off I went. Nothing spectacular, but didn't want to overwork the legs and ruin any plans the OH has for tomorrow. 5.5 miles in under half an hour

It is spring in 2 weeks so not long to go, besides we still had another 4 weeks of snow this time last year, so stop your winging about the weather

Besides you dont need an excuse not to go out, you dont have to, but there comes a time you will whatever the weather (apart from maybe really extreme winds), worst I have been out in are mid 20mph with guests to 40+mph, rain never bothers apart from setting of in it, even then only for a short time, Ice I dont like.

I'm not much of a Northerner, am I, what with all the complaining about a bit of wind or rain or what have you . That said, I've been caught in the rain a few times whilst I'm out, and just shrugged it off, but I won't go out if it's already raining. I think it's the idea of starting out cold and wet.

Same with wind, although that's less likely to suddenly drop in on me. If it's forecasting gusts over 25 mph I'll tend to give it a miss. I'm in this for the fun of cycling, and fighting the wind isn't my idea of fun (yet). Can't wait for the day I look outside, see weather that right now would scare me off and think 'It's a bit horrible out there, might just do a quick 25 miles'

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Same with wind, although that's less likely to suddenly drop in on me. If it's forecasting gusts over 25 mph I'll tend to give it a miss. I'm in this for the fun of cycling, and fighting the wind isn't my idea of fun (yet). Can't wait for the day I look outside, see weather that right now would scare me off and think 'It's a bit horrible out there, might just do a quick 25 miles'

I went over to Hemsworth a few weeks and had no choice but to head into and across some open fields (lets put it this way i was working just to go down a hill), the thing is like hills it does become easier, but you have to accept it and dont fight it, use a gear that keeps you going without having to over work, trust me Aug 2012 I was screaming at the wind (bad day winds) to just fook off, today it wouldn't bother me, I sometimes have no choice when I go out, but they tend to be short rides up to 25 miles round trips.

 

[Nomadski]

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 !!

I will probably get some more RS10's again, they seem to be decent enough wheels without going overboard on price. Gators I have real reservations about, I've read so much about them behaving like ice in wet conditions, it doesn't give me a lot of confidence in them, and I really need confidence in my tyres, especially when cornering downhill at speed.

On another note, its nice to see you again @Nigelnaturist, been a while since you have been around, and for such a keen cyclist was quite unusual. Hope your doing well.

 

[Stonechat]

Been doing three rides a week since training started for L2B
Today looks great for the run to Box Hill
Will really have to pace myself

1. for the whole run
2. up the hill, keep plenty in reserve not to fast at the bottom

@morrisman didn't know there was a Costa in Laleham

 

[morrisman]

Been doing three rides a week since training started for L2B
@morrisman didn't know there was a Costa in Laleham

Well Shepperton really

 

[Mo1959]

Just a short loop this morning to give the hybrid a better test. Really pleased with the gearing on it. Seems to go low enough for the hills but high enough not to spin out and great not having to bother about a front derailleur. I think the Charge Spoon will definitely be coming off though. Wouldn't like to have gone much further on it. I'll stick my Selle Italia Gel Flow one on I think. The stock tyres I am not sure about either but I'll probably leave them for the time being. Calls them Charge Coaster but I see a Kenda brand on the side of them. 700 x 32C with a slight tread.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well

I will probably get some more RS10's again, they seem to be decent enough wheels without going overboard on price. Gators I have real reservations about, I've read so much about them behaving like ice in wet conditions, it doesn't give me a lot of confidence in them, and I really need confidence in my tyres, especially when cornering downhill at speed.

On another note, its nice to see you again @Nigelnaturist, been a while since you have been around, and for such a keen cyclist was quite unusual. Hope your doing well.

Thanks, a few things kept me from going out, cost being one, as you will know high mileage on a single bike takes its toll, the bike is is overall in good condition, but needs a new middle chainring chain and rear cassette, I have been trying to save up for a sora 9sp shifters ( I thought my 50th might have helped toward but no one remembered what birthday it was ), and whilst I replaced the gps all that fracas really upset me, and I ended up in hospitial.
Personal experience isn't too great in the wet with gatorskins but I have never had any problems, the compound might by a little harder which could explain the problem, but I dont know enough about tyre design to say.
I have a new spoke on order, a new set of wheels is not an option at the moment, for the above mention reason, I also want to try and get either an edge 705 or a bryton 60

 

[Mo1959]

I also want to try and get either an edge 705 or a bryton 60

Hope you find something Nigel. The 705 does look good but they seem to hold their price really well.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Hope you find something Nigel. The 705 does look good but they seem to hold their price really well.

I only want it for the mapping, or more to the point following a route, I could sell the 20 and almost get my money back the price I paid (£45), so in that case its cheaper than getting another 500, I had a Bryton 35 and did a loop with a road leading to the loop and the same road out back in Oct 12 and it told me I was going the wrong way on the home leg (in other words it was telling me to turn round and do it again, the other advantage with 705 is I can do routes on RWGPS and just transfer the route across, and I know RWGPS gives road names roundabout exits ect...