Show us your.......newbie progress!

[Nigelnaturist]

Was it Greg Lemond who said it never gets easier, you just get quicker?

Depends on the level of cycling you do, there comes a point what you do is easy, the terrain you usually ride becomes easier, then you start having to train to get better, in my case I am riding more difficult rides than back then ( I think) in terms of distance/elevation/day sort of thing I am a touch quicker 1/2-1mph. but find the riding much easier, I have no real way of comapring like with like as the 500 seems to have a higher elevation than the 705, short of reloading all the 500 garmin data to rwgps again, and all the data from GTC for it and putting it in the database.

The only other thing is, where as back then I looked at having something low geared <26" if possible, and whilst do have such a low gear at the moment unlike then its not used, so is wasteful, but that's the terrain I ride, it would be different in other areas, over Hull way chances I would only need to ride a 52/39 12-23 or even just the 39 front.

 

[Mo1959]

Depends on the level of cycling you do, there comes a point what you do is easy, the terrain you usually ride becomes easier, then you start having to train to get better, in my case I am riding more difficult rides than back then ( I think) in terms of distance/elevation/day sort of thing I am a touch quicker 1/2-1mph. but find the riding much easier, I have no real way of comapring like with like as the 500 seems to have a higher elevation than the 705, short of reloading all the 500 garmin data to rwgps again, and all the data from GTC for it and putting it in the database.

Must be old age. I am finding it harder these days.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Must be old age. I am finding it harder these days.

Just lack of being out Mo. Many of us are like that at this time of year, I know I was last year, I am 0.23mph quicker this March than last with nearly another 4ft/mile ( I think thats close to being right) but I have ridden 200 miles more in two days less for the quarter, though the qrt figures are very close in terms of averages.
It wasn't till about now I started really ridding last year, then had that infection at the beginning of April (and one in Sept), I am currently ridding 9 miles a day more than I did in the Qrt and 13miles a day more in the March. Though I am no where near the mileages of 2013, with about 2 weeks left in the quarter I am some 657 miles behind 2013 totals,

 

[Ootini]

https://www.strava.com/activities/268553921

I am in tatters!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

https://www.strava.com/activities/268553921

I am in tatters!

Can't be that bad with a 4th this year

 

[Ootini]

Can't be that bad with a 4th this year

I never realised how hard climbing on wet grass is!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Ootini Not an MTB fan, but I can imagine.

 

[axwj29]

Interesting ride yesterday

https://www.strava.com/activities/268490004

I was using a demo saddle which started out more comfortable than usual but that didn't last. I tried to take it easier than usual the first half of the ride (as I often do the first nine miles or so just as a route by itself and push myself). I then stopped at Hedley on the Hill to eat an oat bar thing, thinking it would have about twenty minutes to kick in before the big climb I knew was coming. Said big climb proved too big, though I think I maybe could do it usually.. I hadn't had a proper dinner Saturday night and didn't have a huge breakfast before I set off (muesli and some fresh fruit). I had to walk the steep bit of that hill, then was just exhausted with no more food to see me through (I didn't think I should need it for twenty miles). I made it up the short steep climb on to the A694, but then had to dismount for a breather. My legs were shaking as I peddled along that road, wondering how the hell I was going to get up the hill to Chopwell! I made it, though did stop for a breather about two thirds of the way up and was very slow.

Lesson: eat more always carry something (I'm veggie so no jelly babies buy maybe a Mars bar?).

The front of my thighs are sore today.

My sister wants me to do forty miles on Good Friday, I was planning to increase my distance to thirty next weekend but am now a bit worried about running out of energy.

Oh, the good news... I unclipped on a hill three times! No topples

 

[Stonechat]

Interesting ride yesterday

https://www.strava.com/activities/268490004

I was using a demo saddle which started out more comfortable than usual but that didn't last. I tried to take it easier than usual the first half of the ride (as I often do the first nine miles or so just as a route by itself and push myself). I then stopped at Hedley on the Hill to eat an oat bar thing, thinking it would have about twenty minutes to kick in before the big climb I knew was coming. Said big climb proved too big, though I think I maybe could do it usually.. I hadn't had a proper dinner Saturday night and didn't have a huge breakfast before I set off (muesli and some fresh fruit). I had to walk the steep bit of that hill, then was just exhausted with no more food to see me through (I didn't think I should need it for twenty miles). I made it up the short steep climb on to the A694, but then had to dismount for a breather. My legs were shaking as I peddled along that road, wondering how the hell I was going to get up the hill to Chopwell! I made it, though did stop for a breather about two thirds of the way up and was very slow.

Lesson: eat more always carry something (I'm veggie so no jelly babies buy maybe a Mars bar?).

The front of my thighs are sore today.

My sister wants me to do forty miles on Good Friday, I was planning to increase my distance to thirty next weekend but am now a bit worried about running out of energy.

Oh, the good news... I unclipped on a hill three times! No topples

That's about a hundred feet per mile, so it is hard

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

the slowbies progress... a full 12km at 9.9kph today!
https://www.strava.com/activities/269070096

 

[puffinbilly]

Interesting ride yesterday

https://www.strava.com/activities/268490004

I was using a demo saddle which started out more comfortable than usual but that didn't last. I tried to take it easier than usual the first half of the ride (as I often do the first nine miles or so just as a route by itself and push myself). I then stopped at Hedley on the Hill to eat an oat bar thing, thinking it would have about twenty minutes to kick in before the big climb I knew was coming. Said big climb proved too big, though I think I maybe could do it usually.. I hadn't had a proper dinner Saturday night and didn't have a huge breakfast before I set off (muesli and some fresh fruit). I had to walk the steep bit of that hill, then was just exhausted with no more food to see me through (I didn't think I should need it for twenty miles). I made it up the short steep climb on to the A694, but then had to dismount for a breather. My legs were shaking as I peddled along that road, wondering how the hell I was going to get up the hill to Chopwell! I made it, though did stop for a breather about two thirds of the way up and was very slow.

Lesson: eat more always carry something (I'm veggie so no jelly babies buy maybe a Mars bar?).

The front of my thighs are sore today.

My sister wants me to do forty miles on Good Friday, I was planning to increase my distance to thirty next weekend but am now a bit worried about running out of energy.

Oh, the good news... I unclipped on a hill three times! No topples

Very impressed - if you're just starting out for the year - I'm local to you and that is quite some climbing over twenty miles as @Stonechat says 100ft per mile. I was up in Allendale on Saturday from Newcastle and that was only 3500ft over 70 miles or so. Think your forty mile ride on Good Friday will be a walk in the park unless your sister is planning some serious hills in the North Pennines for you.

 

[puffinbilly]

the slowbies progress... a full 12km at 9.9kph today!
https://www.strava.com/activities/269070096

Hi - that's pretty impressive after what you've been through.

Seeing as your on here a bit more often....perhaps I could pick your IT brains via PM please @SatNavSaysStraightOn ? Just trying to get an ancient laptop working again for an old lady

 

[axwj29]

Thank you guys, I have been wondering if my climbs would count to 'proper' cyclists so this is good to hear! I only started cycling in November (after 15+ years not cycling at all). I feel more encouraged now as I felt a bit pants about having to get off!

Puffinbilly, I had planned a circular route around Derwent Reservoir, Slaley for lunch, then home via Stocksfield. However, after this ride I called my sister and suggested we change the route, finishing at Haydon Bridge (where our folks live), so that the last ten miles will be pretty easy instead of more climbing.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Hi - that's pretty impressive after what you've been through.

Seeing as your on here a bit more often....perhaps I could pick your IT brains via PM please @SatNavSaysStraightOn ? Just trying to get an ancient laptop working again for an old lady

feel free....

 

[SpokeyDokey]

https://www.strava.com/activities/268553921

I am in tatters!

Your avatar is revolting.