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

[Nigelnaturist]

@Stonechat thats all that matters, you know you did, It was like yesterday, I got home knowing I should have done the distance I needed, but when I look at the total odometer in the settings it said 19,999.9, so you know what I am like I went did another 1/4, anyway when I did it all at home I was 1.94 over, I had worked out I needed 28miles on a 2nd run yesterday to do it, its probably something I didn't record on the Garmin, like a trip in to town or something. What was a bit annoying is I was/am only just under 2 miles for my greatest total for June, previous being 706.29mils in 23 days I am however 2 days ahead of that.

 

[sutts]

@Stonechat thats all that matters, you know you did, It was like yesterday, I got home knowing I should have done the distance I needed, but when I look at the total odometer in the settings it said 19,999.9, so you know what I am like I went did another 1/4, anyway when I did it all at home I was 1.94 over, I had worked out I needed 28miles on a 2nd run yesterday to do it, its probably something I didn't record on the Garmin, like a trip in to town or something. What was a bit annoying is I was/am only just under 2 miles for my greatest total for June, previous being 706.29mils in 23 days I am however 2 days ahead of that.

I'm on my third attempt at getting 9000 miles in a year. I failed in the first year because I got a cold in last two weeks, I failed last year, because I smashed up my finger after a bike fall and had to have it pinned...but this year is on plan. I'm on 5158 miles for the year to date after putting in a huge effort in June, I have already beaten my 1200 miles record in a 30 day month, currently on 1280 and will get about 1340 I suppose. That's a lot of hard work and have no intention of ever trying to beat it again!

6000 miles next year as a maximum...

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I'm on my third attempt at getting 9000 miles in a year. I failed in the first year because I got a cold in last two weeks, I failed last year, because I smashed up my finger after a bike fall and had to have it pinned...but this year is on plan. I'm on 5158 miles for the year to date after putting in a huge effort in June, I have already beaten my 1200 miles record in a 30 day month, currently on 1280 and will get about 1340 I suppose. That's a lot of hard work and have no intention of ever trying to beat it again!

6000 miles next year as a maximum...

Thats what I set myself as a target, I did 1256 in Aug 2013, that was hard so I know what you mean, that year I was 340 miles off 9,000, I don't really intend riding that much, for one I can't afford, and really would like a new lens and a computer, a new bike would be nice but don't see it before 2017, by which time I will have taken the Viking the same distance (and more by then) around the world, not bad for a bike many don't rate, its had upgrades but nothing more than many do to more expensive bikes, and then they arn't expensive upgrades, the most expensive being the 105 shifters. I am behind to hit 6,000 by at least 500 miles. Current projection is 4,536 miles my rolling year is 5520 miles, but I did in the later of 2013 4588 and both 2013 & 2014 rode more in the last 6 months than the first, and I did over 3,000 miles in my first 6 months.

I also take back what I said about the climbing challenge, if I can't do 120 meters in 2 days shoot me. The other challenge is can I do the 1,250Km I have 65Km easy enough to do, but when you think I didn't do a signal 50km day between 28/3 and the 1/6 in which time I did 371 miles, this month alone I have doubled that, just goes to show you don't lose the ability that quickly, I am not as fast, but not sure if thats the wheels gearing or fitness.
I never have been as quick on the current setup, also the elevation I think is making a difference, there is only in the last year and a half two weekly occurrences, I have climbed at this rate (41ft/mile) and done more than 100 miles one at 161 miles the other 138, this week its 237

Edit
Just seen that over quarter of those miles have been on he 105 kit

 

[nobbyp]

Off into the dales today for 70 cracking miles - wetherby to Grassington via Menwith Hill / Stump cross / Hebden. Back via Burnsall / Appletreewick / Bolton Abbey / Ilkley / Otley & Pool

Climbing - yes definitely a fair amount but as Garmin in stroppy teenager mode and didn't bother setting off strava on the iPhone ( no chance it would last 70 miles) I don't have a record of the actual - might plug it into Garmin as a route and see - but I'd hazard a guess at 5000-5500 ft.

Mates computer had us at 15 mph so pretty pleased at that.

Bloody windy at times and flirted only briefly with some nasty rain but neither were going to take edge of a cracking ride.

3 weeks til 104 miler - pretty confident now as feel pretty fresh with 70 pretty tough miles in the bag.

Good day alround

 

[Nomadski]

With perfect preparation the night before (getting smashed at a BBQ until the early hours) and my cycling buddy @themosquitoking feigning head injuries the morning after, I headed off later than planned to do a Surrey Hills RideLondon circuit as I hadn't done the 3 hills for quite some time.

After Saturdays blistering sunshine, I got everything together, got the bike outside, and it started raining. Took the bike back up (two floors....grr), added the mudguards and picked up a water resistant gilet and toe covers and headed back down.

Avoiding falling off at the roundabout I fell off last time I was here, all was good. The rain was persistent, but quite light, and last weeks Tower to Tower ride had given me plenty of experience riding in the rain (like my Kool Stop Salmon's being completely ineffectual when wet).

I huffed and puffed through Newlands Corner where I had a wee tea break involving a cheese and ham Panini and a Magnum as the rain had finally gone for good.

Enjoyed the flowing downhill section to Abinger Hammer before stopping for a quick photo op at the Church on a hill at Holmbury St Marys

A LOT of huffing and puffing up Leith Hill where I had got a PB last time out, but had stopped twice for quick breathers. This time I grinded all the way up in one go, interested if it was faster to just grind it out, than stop for mini breaks.

At the top, my bike reeeally needed a breather...

Then downhill towards Dorking, where a motorbike nearly took me out passing on the right of me despite me having taken control of the lane to make a safe corner at speed.

Another quick photo op outside the very lovely Denbies Vineyard where some very lovely liquid of fun is produced.

I had never done a sub 10 minute climb of Box Hill, in about 17 attempts, closest I ever got was 10.05, so I made sure I had plenty of water and was going to give it a real go. It's on my list of things to do before I move back 'oop north.

Having no idea of my time, I had a final pit stop with a coconut macaroon which was meh, and a tea which was yay! and headed off home via Sutton.

I felt good having done a slow leisurely paced metric century, a ride which I took at my own pace, but had a go at the hills which will provide the biggest challenge during RideLondon.

At home I found I had 70 trophies of one form or another, a PB up Newlands Corner, 55 seconds off my previous PB on Leith Hill, and a time of 9 minutes 54 seconds on the segment I watch up Box Hill!! To my bigger delight, all the various Box Hill full segments were under 10 minutes so I can safely tick that box off the list!

Dead chuffed, it being a week since my last ride, the hangover, carrying mudguards the whole route, a fair bit of the journey being rained on, I really enjoyed it!

https://app.strava.com/activities/334935719

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Off into the dales today for 70 cracking miles - wetherby to Grassington via Menwith Hill / Stump cross / Hebden. Back via Burnsall / Appletreewick / Bolton Abbey / Ilkley / Otley & Pool

Climbing - yes definitely a fair amount but as Garmin in stroppy teenager mode and didn't bother setting off strava on the iPhone ( no chance it would last 70 miles) I don't have a record of the actual - might plug it into Garmin as a route and see - but I'd hazard a guess at 5000-5500 ft.



Good day alround

Give me a route map and can create a history file for you based on your average speed if you want, time on strava will be a bit screwy though. Use rwgps to create the route.

 

[steveo269]

After stating on another post,"First 30 miler",that I was going to target 40 by the end of June then instantly regretting it I've finally managed it today !
Road bike was in the menders so I had only planned to take the MTB along the canal for 20 miles or so,nothing too much in case it was to hot. I rode from Trowbridge to Devizes along the Kennet and Avon and still felt pretty good after 13 miles so decided to keep going for a bit,after Devizes the towpath turns into a rutted grass track embedded with large pieces of flint ! NCR 4 leaves it to follow the road and so did I,cycling through the Vale of Pewsey aiming for the White Horse at Alton Barnes. I was on 18 when I got to that so thought "b*llocks to it" only had to do another 2 through a couple of villages then head back,easy !!!!,well to be honest it wasn't that bad,not too hot,slight headwind coming back but once I got back on the canal it was downhill or flat,good ave speed for me considering it was a heavy MTB,dodging walkers along the canal,the low gearing helped me up the hills a bit I think,if I can do it on an MTB it should be easy on the road bike !. All done on 3 muesli bars and some raisins and 750 ml of squash,one thing,next time I'll take 2 bottles

http://www.strava.com/activities/335434932/overview

 

[Stonechat]

Well considering my ride again, it seems I must not get too carried away with my improvements in fitness, it was b** ** hard
Speed and hill climbing have improved but endurance over the longer distances not so much.

I was going to use this as a benchmark for what to ride later on.

Surrey legs of Steel is the same climbing on on just over 50 miles! Mega tough hills included too.

At one stage in the ride I tucked into a group of riders who pulled me along nicely for about 20 miles of the flatter (but not flat) stretches
They dragged me along 20 miles at a tad under 66 minutes

I may not have fuelled enough around the 2/3 mark must eat more on long rides

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Nothing like you long distances riders , I have however managed the Strava climb for Nepal, having done from my records just shy of 10,000 ft in the last 6 days riding out of 7 days, easier if I do this

However I am just 10Km shy of the Strava M.T.C. of 1,250Km. and just 30miles shy of 800 for the month. last time I di such mileage was May last year, that was 1013 miles in 29 days riding avg od 34.96/day this month so far over the 22 days riding its been 33.5, which when you consider I oly did the 160miles last month at an avg of 9.5 miles a day, is a bit of a jump.
As you maybe away the difficult score is up on my average hence the low average speed, my average difficult score using the same recording data is about 81 a day since Jan 2014, the the average per miles is only a little more than the average over the same period of 3.08/mile, this takes into account distance and elevation, short rides with lots of climb (of which not many round here) will score more than longer rides with less, some 25-30 mile rides can actually score more than a 50-60 mile ride, pretty obvious I guess.
A trip into town and back of two miles scores 59.8 or 28.08/mile. a trip to my friends like today 34.1 miles scored 88.95 or 2.61/mile, just shows you the flipping hill I have to climb to come home the short way. , its actually easier from my mates house than town and back, 59.6 or 14.55 a mile, its one mile further, town is a mile away, my mates short way is 3.
The score numbers are only a guide, they don't actually mean much in themselves apart from against each other, I sometimes wonder how accurate they are, I don't think short rides are a fair comparison, but looking at the data from the hill rep's I did Sat morning 15.38 miles with 948ft or 61.6ft/miles (not difficult I know), that includes the short ride there and back overall score 137.8 or 8.93/mile, the elevation into town and back is 175ft or 82.16/mile, I will now shut up as its quite boring.
EDIT
Well heres something I have only just seen, last Thursday when I totalled 74 miles, I actually climb over 3,000 ft for the first time ever , and that includes the Garmin 500 data, which compared with the 705, registered higher elevation (when corrected with rwgps, not sure if they have fixed the issue)

 

[craig kennedy]

can I ask, whats the ave speed on the 40 miler?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@craig kennedy how do you mean, I might have missed a relevant post, if its a general question, there are so many variables, but my average over most things is about 15mph ( it has been lower of late though), more climbing usually means a lower avg, but it doesn't always follow.

 

[steveo269]

can I ask, whats the ave speed on the 40 miler?

@craig kennedy if you mean mine it was 11.3 mph,not great,even by my standards ! But on a heavy MTB,dodging walkers,stopping to open and shut gates and over that distance I was quite happy with it !

 

[Stonechat]

Nothing like you long distances riders , I have however managed the Strava climb for Nepal, having done from my records just shy of 10,000 ft in the last 6 days riding out of 7 days, easier if I do this
View attachment 94156

However I am just 10Km shy of the Strava M.T.C. of 1,250Km. and just 30miles shy of 800 for the month. last time I di such mileage was May last year, that was 1013 miles in 29 days riding avg od 34.96/day this month so far over the 22 days riding its been 33.5, which when you consider I oly did the 160miles last month at an avg of 9.5 miles a day, is a bit of a jump.
As you maybe away the difficult score is up on my average hence the low average speed, my average difficult score using the same recording data is about 81 a day since Jan 2014, the the average per miles is only a little more than the average over the same period of 3.08/mile, this takes into account distance and elevation, short rides with lots of climb (of which not many round here) will score more than longer rides with less, some 25-30 mile rides can actually score more than a 50-60 mile ride, pretty obvious I guess.
A trip into town and back of two miles scores 59.8 or 28.08/mile. a trip to my friends like today 34.1 miles scored 88.95 or 2.61/mile, just shows you the flipping hill I have to climb to come home the short way. , its actually easier from my mates house than town and back, 59.6 or 14.55 a mile, its one mile further, town is a mile away, my mates short way is 3.
The score numbers are only a guide, they don't actually mean much in themselves apart from against each other, I sometimes wonder how accurate they are, I don't think short rides are a fair comparison, but looking at the data from the hill rep's I did Sat morning 15.38 miles with 948ft or 61.6ft/miles (not difficult I know), that includes the short ride there and back overall score 137.8 or 8.93/mile, the elevation into town and back is 175ft or 82.16/mile, I will now shut up as its quite boring.
EDIT
Well heres something I have only just seen, last Thursday when I totalled 74 miles, I actually climb over 3,000 ft for the first time ever , and that includes the Garmin 500 data, which compared with the 705, registered higher elevation (when corrected with rwgps, not sure if they have fixed the issue)

If I didn't actively seek out hills, I would climb much less
Maybe a ride to the Surrey Hills, but depending where I go, takes 15-19 miles to get to a good hill.
Jan when I did the Strava Hill Challenge I go so many endless hill repeats of local smaller hills it got boring

Just need to keep riding and planty of hills

 

[Mo1959]

If I didn't actively seek out hills, I would climb much less
Maybe a ride to the Surrey Hills, but depending where I go, takes 15-19 miles to get to a good hill.
Jan when I did the Strava Hill Challenge I go so many endless hill repeats of local smaller hills it got boring

Just need to keep riding and planty of hills

I have to be in the mood for hills ........and I wasn't today, or distance for that matter. Just a nice 27 miles on my little hybrid. Bit humid with a slight drizzle which was actually quite refreshing.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

If I didn't actively seek out hills, I would climb much less
Maybe a ride to the Surrey Hills, but depending where I go, takes 15-19 miles to get to a good hill.

Its the same here Bob, there are a few that are short and sharp, like into town and back, my normal 50km ride has a bit of climbing at the beginning and the drag back to the house and a flat spinney bit in the middle, I was doing that most rides during the winter, as its pretty good with W.SW and S winds apart from the last bit, most of the climbing is into the lee of the wind, though there are some exposed areas. These days I just make variations of it, it has enough of each to have a work out, if I go east it truly is flatter than a pancake, then you are looking for motorway bridges ect to relive the boredom, I did some rides last year to cover some roads I haven't done a few 100Km rides and the roads were as straight as a die for miles and flat, with the odd sharp left or right turn usually 90 degrees.
@Mo1959 prefer them when I am fitter though, not that you are ever as fit as you would like to be I guess. , but even with the climbing last week my HR was on avg for the 5 days 224 miles @ 14.87mph with 8969ft of elevation (1,794/day or 39.9ft/mile) down 142bpm the previous week to 137bpm, this is easier

The last 5 rolling 7 day periods. you can see I hope) that even though I tried to up the elevation its still nothing great, and also the the difference is not enough to make much difference to my avg as I can be faster on slightly more elevation/mile than less