Where from here..?

[Paulus]

I last rode a bike over 40 years ago. It had rod brakes and was so heavy I could not actually lift it. So I was favourably impressed by my new hybrid on a test ride. Bike brilliant - shame about the legs. But I need to lose weight and up my activity levels in retirement after a pretty sedentary life. I picked up the new bike today. Cycle lanes were a bit of an initiation. I rode about 4 miles on my way home - mostly uphill and all into a nasty headwind. I felt a bit wobbly when I got off but ready for more... tomorrow.
Any ideas on a sensible (and motivating) programme to build some stamina on the bike? Do I just do a bit everyday and hope for the best?

Welcome back Kizbu.Your legs felt a bit wobbly because you havn't used those muscles for a while, well 40 years is a while. They will get stronger the more you cycle. Plan your self a little route, say, a three mile circular around your local roads. do this a couple of times a week, and when you feel ready add a mile to it. Within a few weeks you will be up to ten plus miles without knowing it.

 

[ACS]

Welcome and for what it is worth, during the colder months pay attention to the weather. Always go out into the wind. There is nothing more demoralising than getting nicely warmed turning for home and freezing as you struggle back into the wind. Wind chill is often over looked by us returnees.

 

[DJ]

Congrats, its great to hear someone enjoying getting back in to cycling.

Well done and keep it up.

 

[Kizibu]

Thanks again for all the encouragement and advice. Sleet and strong winds to begin with today so (apart from a roundabout and hilly ride to post office) waited until it cleared late afternoon to try out my local cycle track, clocking up seven miles in all but mostly fairly level which was a novelty. The track wasn't as tedious as I anticipated not least because the wind meant that while I could pedal in topmost top gear down one straight, to maintain something like a steady pedalling rate I dropped down three or four gears on the opposite windward straight of the oval. And setting a target number of laps was useful too.

The track is about a mile from home but at the bottom of the hill so - remembering the advice above to take it easy , take breaks etc I sat and watched the winter sun go down over the hill before tackling that homeward hill. I'm retired so what's my hurry? That was nice too - not just in the sense of nice when you stop banging your head against the wall. The track was deserted but I sat there and mused about all the years and rides gone by at that track (built in 1887). I was looking it up on the net recently to see if I could find out how many metres a lap was and was amazed to read that 3000 people regularly attended evening race meetings there as recently as the 1950s - some paying three and six (17.5p) to sit in the stand and the rest a shilling (5p) to stand round the track. You could go to the pictures (cinema) for a shilling in those days.

The track was a bit green and mossy, due I guess to lack of use (bit like me) and I resolved to do my bit to help ride it clear.

I think the sore bottom thing may already be improving. I suspect I may be taking more weight on my legs. And since I can't sit comfortably on most chairs anyway (broken coccyx) a saddle is actually a comparatively comfortable seat for me. And I've decided the traffic nervousness may be no bad thing. Maybe what will keep me alive out there! I may be focused on the wrong thing but its cars coming from behind me that concern me. Overtaking stationary vehicles is a bit of a nightmare as body stiffness means I wobble a bit to look behind me. Would a mirror help I wonder?

I set myself a target of 20 miles a week for starters and have already exceeded that since Friday (4 days). Initial enthusiasm perhaps but as long as I meet that weekly target for a while I shall feel I'm achieving something.

 

[Andy in Sig]

There is one way of getting in a distance which is fun and that is to pick a town which you'd like to have a look at and cycle there and then get the train back. Or do it the other way round if the wind is disadvantageous.

 

[mickle]

Hey Kizibu, well done so far and thanks for your great posts.

There is a great deal of money coming into cycling at the moment, much of it aimed at getting people on or back on bikes. Do you think you might benefit from some cycle training? Most local authorities have free adult cycle training available. I trained as a cycle instructor recently and, even though I'm confident and experienced in traffic I learned a great deal from the course.

Welcome back to the fold.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Targets are good; be it a mileage target or, as was suggested earlier, a trip to a town. Not sure where in Sussex you are but there are some traffic-free cycle routes around Eastbourne, Lewes, Brighton and going up to Heathfield. I've not ridden any of them, but you can see the routes and (hopefully) find out more about them at the Sustrans site. You can zoom and move around that map. Then use Google Earth or similar to get a decent aerial photo view of areas you're not familar with so you know what you'll be dealing with.

I have a mirror: just a simple one that fits on the end of my right side bar. It's useful and I check it a lot, just the same as I would when driving really. It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, that it's NOT a substitute for looking over your shoulder .. especially when you are about to make a manouveur but it can be useful. You must still do checks over your shoulder .. to avoid the blind spot, but also because getting eye contact with the driver of the car behind helps them to see you as a human, rather than as an "obstacle on a bike".

By the way, please keep at it: I love your stories and your attitude to all this .. stopping to watch the sunset and all that. I use my bike to commute mostly, coupled with the odd trip out, and I'll take the long way to or from work, or stop to look at the Autumn colours, or a sunset or moonrise or whatever. For me, it's one of the key things that sets the bike apart from a car.

Edit: forgot to say, don't get TOO hung up on targets though. It doesn't matter if you miss a few days .. keep it fun.

 

[Kizibu]

Do you think you might benefit from some cycle training? Most local authorities have free adult cycle training available.
.

That's an interesting idea. I'll check it out locally. Many thanks.

 

[tyred]

Obviously, I don't know what kind of area you live in but it might be an idea to buy an Ordinance Survey map of your area and seek out quiet, scenic roads you could cycle on. I know I've done it and found parts of my locality that I didn't even know existed.

 

[Arch]

Overtaking stationary vehicles is a bit of a nightmare as body stiffness means I wobble a bit to look behind me. Would a mirror help I wonder?

.

Welcome!

If you are a bit stiff, then yes a mirror will help. You mustn't rely on it alone, always still do the lifesaver check over your shoulder, but a mirror should help you keep tabs on what's behind you more frequently.

But also, practice looking back - maybe on quiet stretches where a wobble won't matter. You can find your best way of getting maximum 'look' - whether you twist your body, or your neck, or both. Looking back also has the advantage of comunicating with a driver behind, even if you don't get a good look at them. For passing parked cars, give yourself lots of time to move out. Don't feel you have to hop back into the gutter between each one, if they are close together.

For up to date road skills, training is a good idea, and/or buy a copy of Cyclecraft by John Franklin. It's like the Advanced Driver's manual of cycling.

http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/

Most of all, enjoy yourself!

 

[Kizibu]

Welcome!

For up to date road skills, training is a good idea, and/or buy a copy of Cyclecraft by John Franklin. It's like the Advanced Driver's manual of cycling.

http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/

Most of all, enjoy yourself!

Thanks for the advice Arch. I've ordered Cyclecraft.

 

[Arch]

Thanks for the advice Arch. I've ordered Cyclecraft.

Excellent, I hope you find it useful. I dip into it everyso often to remind myself of stuff. It's always worth remembering that we continue to learn all the the time...

 

[Kizibu]

I repeated Saturday's 7 mile circuit but in the opposite direction. On Saturday it seemed to defy the laws of gravity (what goes up must come down) since it seemed more up than down. So thought I'd be smart and do it the other way round. Strangely that seemed more up than down that way as well. And this time I didn't get a cup of tea halfway (left it too late) so did not stop. But did not feel quite so wobbly at the end which is encouraging. And learned a few more things. Practiced looking behind on deserted stretches (thanks for that tip) and did my first real bit of riding in the dark (not quite intentionally).

Had my first near death experience and first child stepping off pavement in front of me without looking. By the time I turned for home it was getting dark and roads were busy with evening rush hour. On the one short bit of main road that I cannot avoid I was trickling along the cycle lane inside of two lanes of stationary cars. Several were indicating their intention of taking a sharp left turning that was coming up off this dual carriageway but as nothing was moving I carried on. As I got to that turning and alongside a car that was not indicating the driver suddenly decided to bail out of the queue by taking that left and without indicating pulled across right in my path. So was able to try out my brakes for real. I was wearing my newly-purchased hi viz reflective vest thingy and had my lights on etc. But I guess if a driver doesn't look they'd miss a fully illuminated Christmas tree.

I realise I'm not sure if I'm supposed to give way to cars turning left over a cycle lane (just as I'm not sure buses and taxis are supposed to give way to cars that have to cross their lane to turn left - bus and bike lanes hadn't been invented when I learned to drive 40 years ago) . In one way "right of way" seems academic - not much satisfaction in being correct but crushed. On the other hand sometimes giving way when you have theoretical right of way creates confusion.

Similarly I tend to hesitate before pulling out round parked cars when another car is coming up behind me though presumably as the overtaking vehicle they are supposed to give way to me. Especially as establishing exactly what is developing behind me may give rise to a bit of a wobble at the worst of moments.

Later as I cycled along a poorly-lit tree-lined side road a woman and young girl emerged from the woods ahead of me and crossed the pavement. It was very dark and they were dressed in dark clothes. The young girl was looking at her mum and away from me and just stepped off the kerb without looking my way. Fortunately it was uphill so stopping was easy enough - and an unforseen pleasure.

So have I always to assume:

- every child may at any moment step off the pavement without looking;
- every car may turn left across your path without warning;
- and every parked car door that is shut may open unexpectedly?

Its seems like a bit of a survival situation out there. Maybe I'll get used to it. Or maybe nervousness is just the essential healthy survival instinct and I should hang on to it.

One more question. Another narrow but busy bit of road on my loop is used by cars as a rat run to avoid the congestion on the dual carriageway above. They seem to drive very fast and unsettlingly close. There is a white line on the tarmac about a foot out (30cms new money) from the grass verge. Its not a pavement - just a marking to delineate the edge of the road in the dark I guess (the verge is about 6 feet wide and flat but tussocky grass that would be hard work to cycle on). Am I supposed to cycle down that 30cm strip? Self-preservation suggests I should but the tarmac edge is raised and I'm not altogether sure my skills are up to such a narrow path. Or does that suggest I shouldn't yet be on the road at all?

 

[Kizibu]

Blimey. I've written an essay. Apologies for the length.

Kizibu

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

No worries Kizibu .. like I said before, I like your style.

For this ..

So have I always to assume:
- every child may at any moment step off the pavement without looking;
- every car may turn left across your path without warning;
- and every parked car door that is shut may open unexpectedly?

.. I would say:
- Yes, and adults as well. And dogs - on the lead or not.
- Absolutely.
- Absolutely.

In short, a healthy dose of paranoia is good.

Not sure if people should give way to you when turning left across a cycle lane (somone will know though!), but certainly if you're filtering up the inside of traffic where there's no cycle lane you'll be in trouble if you try to go up the inside of someone who's indicating. I know that latter doesn't apply in the situation you describe, but it's worth noting.

The best thing is to just assume that every car will turn whether they are indicating or not and whether it's your right of way or not. And assume they've not seen you - no matter how well lit up you are - and even if they have seen you they don't care about you. That way, you can only be pleasantly surprised when someone does help you out.