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

[RWright]

A lot of nice rides by everyone. I haven't been riding even though the temperature has been about perfect for it. There have been some serious thunderstorms rolling through and they always seem to be around during my riding time. One guy got struck by lightning and killed while walking in a mall parking lot yesterday. I was just at that mall last week too. I know that when it is your time it is your time and all that, but I don't want to increase my odds. I hope to start getting some more miles in soon. I was able to finally get a lot of home and lawn work done but had to waste perfectly good riding time in order to do it. My neighbors probably appreciate it though.

It is great to see Spring return, everyone stay safe and be careful.

 

[axwj29]

That's interesting @Nigelnaturist. I have two phones (one from work) so I use map my ride and strava and have noticed the difference in data so realise it mustn't be that accurate. For example on Wednesday Strava said my top speed was about 32mph but MMR said about 27mph. I had felt like I was pushing it (by my standards) going downhill so hope Strava was right!

I have arranged to meet up with a friend who cycles 'properly' for the first time today. It will also be a ride in a slightly different area so I'm looking forward to it.

I hope everyone else has fun rides planned!

 

[Stonechat]

That's interesting @Nigelnaturist. I have two phones (one from work) so I use map my ride and strava and have noticed the difference in data so realise it mustn't be that accurate. For example on Wednesday Strava said my top speed was about 32mph but MMR said about 27mph. I had felt like I was pushing it (by my standards) going downhill so hope Strava was right!

I have arranged to meet up with a friend who cycles 'properly' for the first time today. It will also be a ride in a slightly different area so I'm looking forward to it.

I hope everyone else has fun rides planned!

Speeds from GPS are pretty inaccurate, whether on a smartphone or a garmin type device. That's why we have speed sensors

 

[Steady]

I became the bringer of rain this morning at 7am. Pre-ride it was the beginning of a beautiful sunrise and as soon as I stepped out the sky was a darkening cloudscape of rain, I did a short route instead of the slightly longer more scenic route I had in mind. Just typical that it's been nice all week and been envious of everyone's rides here, and on Strava but been exhausted all week with hospital appointments (it's amazing how doing nothing, sitting and waiting can drain energy so badly), finally caught up and didn't feel tired so this was my first real chance to get out.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Steady sods law with me as well, though usually when I fit new running kit.
@axwj29 My speed sensor has been working all winter and my avg sp has been down, but too many factors to say if its the sensor, my speed has been going back up since fitting the 12-23 cassette and changing the front inner ring from 26 to 28. But I need a new one as my 705 has stopped recording the gps track, it records the rides so I can take data from that, I can get full data bar hr zone times if I don't reset it, but for history rides its only max sp/hr avg sp/hr/cad time and distance.The R20 cant sense the senor so only records the gps data and hr

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Nomadski well I stripped it all down, reassembled at the temps shot up to 70+ in seconds, took the cooler off and turned it the right way, and with no external chassis fans high 60's on Prime95 after 25 mins, as a side note got a new cooler for £5 for this Athlon dual core 4800+ which over clocks pretty well. looked up some specs on it when it new in 2005 it was $1000

 

[Berk on a Bike]

This week has been a sorry tale of best laid plans. Last Sunday I did a trial run of a work commute. I had Monday and Tuesday off for Easter and was resolved to bike it on Wednesday morning.

On Monday I came down with a rotten head cold.

By Wednesday I couldn't even drag my arse out of bed. I felt achey and exhausted so I extended my leave by a day. That helped but on Thursday morning I was in no fit state to cycle the 12 miles, so I took the car on the last two days of the week.

I've drawn a complete blank this week, possibly the finest week of weather so far this year. So bloody frustrating!

Silver linings: I feel like I'm on the up today. Might have a pootle tomorrow to test my legs. The grand commuting plan is rescheduled for Monday (when I work from lunchtime to late evening).

Oh, and on Monday morning I pick up my new Cannondale Synapse.

But that's for another thread...

 

[SpokeyDokey]

This week has been a sorry tale of best laid plans. Last Sunday I did a trial run of a work commute. I had Monday and Tuesday off for Easter and was resolved to bike it on Wednesday morning.

On Monday I came down with a rotten head cold.

By Wednesday I couldn't even drag my arse out of bed. I felt achey and exhausted so I extended my leave by a day. That helped but on Thursday morning I was in no fit state to cycle the 12 miles, so I took the car on the last two days of the week.

I've drawn a complete blank this week, possibly the finest week of weather so far this year. So bloody frustrating!

Silver linings: I feel like I'm on the up today. Might have a pootle tomorrow to test my legs. The grand commuting plan is rescheduled for Monday (when I work from lunchtime to late evening).

Oh, and on Monday morning I pick up my new Cannondale Synapse.

But that's for another thread...

Aaaaargh! Frustrating isn't it?

Managed just over 70 miles this week and today I had 34 mile route planned - 100 miles in a week for me is huge.

Been nice weather all week but today it is...

...cold, raining and 100% *loody miserable out there.

Prospects of getting out on my bike next week are slim due to other commitments.

This is one of the big reasons why cycling has really failed to grip me - it is really an on and off activity both seasonally and on a week to week basis as far as I am concerned.

 

[Mo1959]

Aaaaargh! Frustrating isn't it?

Managed just over 70 miles this week and today I had 34 mile route planned - 100 miles in a week for me is huge.

Been nice weather all week but today it is...

...cold, raining and 100% *loody miserable out there.

Prospects of getting out on my bike next week are slim due to other commitments.

This is one of the big reasons why cycling has really failed to grip me - it is really an on and off activity both seasonally and on a week to week basis as far as I am concerned.

Yep. Same here. I've just had to go and rake out the winter woolies again just to sit in the house! Currently around 5 degrees and wet. Tonight to go down to 2 and wet again tomorrow later. Afraid if you want to ride consistently there is no choice other than to brave the weather. I can do rain and light winds, but won't do strong winds or very cold or icy conditions.

Just having a lazy morning chatting to the peeps on the tea section. You should pop in. Friendly bunch.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Yep. Same here. I've just had to go and rake out the winter woolies again just to sit in the house! Currently around 5 degrees and wet. Tonight to go down to 2 and wet again tomorrow later. Afraid if you want to ride consistently there is no choice other than to brave the weather. I can do rain and light winds, but won't do strong winds or very cold or icy conditions.

Just having a lazy morning chatting to the peeps on the tea section. You should pop in. Friendly bunch.

I probably do need to visit Tea Mo'.

Central heating on here we have football fest on TV this pm so nice log fire will be in order there.

Last Sunday I was up in the mountains in very hot sunshine with only a few tatty cornices in evidence. Yesterday they were drenched in snow. And today it is decidedly wintery out there. Little stick-on-the-window outside thermometer gadget has us 1C warmer than you - so I count my blessings.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

This last week as you can gather as all been about room changes sorting and computers, but have still managed over 100 miles, might get out later not sure yet need to have look see what shelving I can muster up with excessive wood we have knocking about, got a lot of empty space above the computer desk which could be utilised.

 

[Stonechat]

Well did a longer tough run with Martin.

Plan was to do 4 hills
Box hill
Coldharbour Lane
Leith Hill
Combe lane

Loss of GPS signal round Leigh hill, meant we never went fully down After coldhabour before Leith. So the profile looks like 3 hills, but was really 4

It cut off a little from the planned climbing

The wind was really hard, and substantially added to the difficulty.

I am pleased that my sportive is only 80 and not 100.

Had a slight tendency to crampy problem in the legs, which never really became an issue.
66.88 miles @ 15.0 mph
3871 feet climbing

Amazed at the speed given the distance/hills/wind

https://www.strava.com/activities/283969402

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

@Stonechat how is mrs stonechat at the moment? keep meaning to ask...

 

[Tankengine]

Had a slight tendency to crampy problem in the legs, which never really became an issue.
66.88 miles @ 15.0 mph
3871 feet climbing

Amazed at the speed given the distance/hills/wind

https://www.strava.com/activities/283969402

Well done, wind certainly blowing away today.


Didn't manage to get down to Surrey hills on frid due to lurgy but feeling slightly better today and not wanting to waste last holiday day went out for a ride. Idea being to scoot down south and maybe get the train back. Instead feeling OK by the time I got 30 miles ish in meant back to unfinished business......York Hill take 2. This time made it to the top Just! That hill really is a b*****d. I think the steepest part must be that kick right at the end. Anyway In a fit of enthusiasm also decided to ride back home and went via star hill which haven't done before, quite a scenic climb.

 

[Stonechat]

@Stonechat how is mrs stonechat at the moment? keep meaning to ask...

Hi
Mrs Stonechat is now walking with two sticks. We have made a few visits to garden centres etc. Varying amount of pain is still a problem, we will probably have to go back to doc. At present she hasn't yet gone outside on her own. At present all social activity depends on me. A relatively small improvement could help a lot.