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

[Stonechat]

How long have you been keeping track? Mine's 36 after 18 months of recording mileage - will be relatively easy to get up to the mid forties for me, but after that will slow down drastically!

Red kites always lovely to see, I miss them from when we were living in Oxfordshire a few years ago.

Well I have all my rides since about August 2013. I suppose that Autumn I reallly started riding more

I am not counting rides from previous cycling as i have no records. Realistically must have done 20 + rides of 60ish miles and plenty of 50 + miles
However not counting those

Well Red Kites certainly expanding outwards from their Chilterns reintroduction - can be seen in Windsor Great Park and here (Staines) and even sometimes from M25

 

[Harv]

My longest ride in ages

https://www.strava.com/activities/319414058/overview

My average speed is still not very fast. However I've just signed up for a local group ride of 35 odd miles. My plan is to hang on for dear life at the back. If I can't keep up hopefully they won't notice and I'll slip away quietly and hang my head in shame.

 

[GreigM]

Glorious day up here today set out to do a 12 mile loop of the local loch, ended up doing 30 as it was so nice just to peddle and enjoy myself Hopefully it stays this way!

 

[Stonechat]

Ususal short Weds outing to CHertsey
Wind picking up a bit
19.9 miles @ 16.6 mph
489 feet climbed
Managed a couple of PRs too
https://www.strava.com/activities/322379653

 

[Mo1959]

Ususal short Weds outing to CHertsey
Wind picking up a bit
19.9 miles @ 16.6 mph
489 feet climbed
Managed a couple of PRs too
https://www.strava.com/activities/322379653

It's picking up a bit here now too. Glad I went out early as usual. Very sunny though so it will be nice to have a breeze for my walk shortly.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

It's picking up a bit here now too. Glad I went out early as usual. Very sunny though so it will be nice to have a breeze for my walk shortly.

Hasn't died down here for ages, last few days it's been a cold Northerly

 

[Cadire]

Did my usual lunchtime loop of 8.5 miles and, despite it being quite windy on stretches, enjoyed it very much. I always find my lunchtime loop a bit of a chore to start with as I have to go uphill no matter what direction I choose, which isn't much fun when one is barely warmed up!

I've been tweaking my sitting position over the last three weeks that I've had the bike and I think I'm getting close to where it needs to be. The saddle is quite a bit higher than when I started, and slightly back from its original position. The result is a much more comfortable (and controllable) ride.

I spent last night indexing my gears and adjusting my brakes. I was surprised by how much they were out, but soon had them in much better shape (it was actually very easy to do after watching a couple of youtube tutorials). Shifting is now the best it has been (or maybe I'm just getting used to it).

I'm finding that I'm settling into a bit of a rhythm when peddling now. Rather than try and grind in as high a gear as I can, I am now staying in a gear where I can get a good spin going ( I could never imagine that I'd be thinking about cadence even 4 weeks ago )

All in all I'm starting to realise the fruits of my efforts. I'm not about to go on an Audax, or a Sportive any time soon, but I am in noticeably better shape than I was 3 weeks ago and I'm also a safer and more confident cyclist.

Oh, and I saw one rabbit... but I don't think you want to know about that!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Did my usual lunchtime loop of 8.5 miles and, despite it being quite windy on stretches, enjoyed it very much. I always find my lunchtime loop a bit of a chore to start with as I have to go uphill no matter what direction I choose, which isn't much fun when one is barely warmed up!

I've been tweaking my sitting position over the last three weeks that I've had the bike and I think I'm getting close to where it needs to be. The saddle is quite a bit higher than when I started, and slightly back from its original position. The result is a much more comfortable (and controllable) ride.

I spent last night indexing my gears and adjusting my brakes. I was surprised by how much they were out, but soon had them in much better shape (it was actually very easy to do after watching a couple of youtube tutorials). Shifting is now the best it has been (or maybe I'm just getting used to it).

I'm finding that I'm settling into a bit of a rhythm when peddling now. Rather than try and grind in as high a gear as I can, I am now staying in a gear where I can get a good spin going ( I could never imagine that I'd be thinking about cadence even 4 weeks ago )

All in all I'm starting to realise the fruits of my efforts. I'm not about to go on an Audax, or a Sportive any time soon, but I am in noticeably better shape than I was 3 weeks ago and I'm also a safer and more confident cyclist.

Oh, and I saw one rabbit... but I don't think you want to know about that!

Rabbit spots are ok. On holiday in Norfolk at the moment and the poor blighters have taken a pounding from the traffic.

 

[Stonechat]

I have noticed as my strenth and form has improved so my riding style has increased
I am more aggressive on hills, improving more strava times on hills now.
My overall position is still not that great so it does not improve Veloviewer score though
The hill work and intervals has done me some good though

I am now looking forward to next century at the end of the month
Need to do a longer ride on Sunday, 80ish miles. Following week will be more into tapering

 

[the_craig]

Having been cycling for a month, I am starting to see some progress and improvement in my speed but also my confidence in handling my bike. I can take a drink without almost falling off and look behind me without veering right.

Although I can see a big difference in certain segments on Strava, in particular a climb near me.

https://www.strava.com/segments/2359108

My first week I completed it in 8:45 after riding around 6 and a half miles. (Strava)
Today I done the same climb in 7:43 after riding 18-odd miles in today's scorching weather. (Strava)

I feel quite good just now.

 

[Stonechat]

Got out for a 30 mile ride, through Windsor Gt Park round the regular roads round Winkfield (think they use them for TTs sometimes)
A couple of hills but kept to a reallly good speed
Weather not too warm but rather humid

30 miles at 17.2 mph


Saw one rabbit, a couple of ex-rabbits and an ex-rat
birds singing, yellowhammers, whitethroats

https://www.strava.com/activities/323802339/

Edit

Also Roe Deer ran across the road

 

[Cadire]

Weighed myself this morning and found that I was exactly the same weight as last week, despite having a calorie surplus for all 7 days!

Went out on the bike, back to the hill that nearly got me yesterday , to see if I couldn't get up it a little faster. I did, but it was an effort.

15.5 miles in total (11.8mph average), lots of uphill/downhill/bend action (particularly around Matching Tye). It's very warm out there and I ended up drinking all of my water.

I stopped at the bench-by-the-pond in Matching Green (a favourite stop going by the amount of cyclists I see sat there most days), had a drink and a nibble... and left my helmet there. I didn't realise until I'd gone about a mile and a half that I wasn't wearing it, went back... but it was gone! Oh well, back down the shop tomorrow

Saw two pheasants (or grouse, I can never tell) and then a third running down the middle of the road away from me

 

[Berk on a Bike]

Saw two pheasants (or grouse, I can never tell) and then a third running down the middle of the road away from me

Your cut-out-and-keep guide to identifying pheasant and grouse...

You're welcome

Been a great week for commuting this week. Those tan lines are looking ace. This evening I get out of work a whole 3 hours early (new work\life balance initiative) so will be taking the scenic route home

Weekend looks wet and rubbish where I am, so enjoy your rides if you're able.

 

[Nomadski]

All set to get ready for bed, then an early rise to head off to Wales to register for Velothon Wales. Sunday should be an interesting day...closed roads, 85 miles, perhaps a few irate NIMBYs throwing tacks / eggs / coloured paint, The Tumble, Caerphilly Mountain, and the wondrous Welsh weather system.

Nighty night

 

[Mo1959]

All set to get ready for bed, then an early rise to head off to Wales to register for Velothon Wales. Sunday should be an interesting day...closed roads, 85 miles, perhaps a few irate NIMBYs throwing tacks / eggs / coloured paint, The Tumble, Caerphilly Mountain, and the wondrous Welsh weather system.

Nighty night

Sounds interesting! Good luck to you and @Goonerobes and anyone else from CC who is doing it.