Moderately speedy me!

ansbaradigeidfran

I got off the train a stop earlier today (Llandudno Junction), to pop to see the other half at work. I then cycled on home, instead of waiting for another train to take me to Colwyn Bay. I made the five mile journey, along the country lane cycle route, in a little under thirty minutes. So that makes roughly 10mph. That lines up with my jaunt from Bangor to Llanfairfechan last week, 8.8 miles in ~50 minutes.

Now I need to work out how not to end up as a bundle of soggy sweat at the end of it, so I can do it on the way in as well as coming home...

Nick6891

keep doing it then your fitness will improve

i do 8.8miles in 28mins normally on way in and 35mins on way home

ansbaradigeidfran

Nick6891 wrote:

i do 8.8miles in 28mins normally on way in and 35mins on way home

Is that level or hilly? My routes have a bit of up-and-down to them, unless I head for Colwyn Bay station, in which case it's a level 2.5 miles. I'm now doing that somewhere under fifteen minutes, door-to-platform. I'll have to time it properly next week.

always_tyred

ansbaradigeidfran wrote:

Nick6891 wrote:

i do 8.8miles in 28mins normally on way in and 35mins on way home

Is that level or hilly? My routes have a bit of up-and-down to them, unless I head for Colwyn Bay station, in which case it's a level 2.5 miles. I'm now doing that somewhere under fifteen minutes, door-to-platform. I'll have to time it properly next week.

Yeah, there's not a flat mile of road in Wales.
Also, what sort of bike are you riding?
Whatever. Keep it up, but the bundle of soggy sweat thing never goes away I'm afraid.

ansbaradigeidfran

It's a cheap, Chinese, cheerful folding mountain bike, as seen here. I haven't actually weighed it to see if it matches the sold weight of 16kg, but with lock and toolbag it's at least a quarter of my bodyweight. I still like it, though (and the other half likes the fact that it's blue)

Kieran_Burns

I think anyone able to average anything in double figures while cycling in Wales is doing okay!

I was thinking about takng my commuter (stripped down) when we go to North Wales at New Year (just to keep some miles in) then I saw the OS map and the fact that most of the map was orange.

ansbaradigeidfran

But surely if it's all the same shade of orange you'll be fine!

Nick6891

ansbaradigeidfran wrote:

Nick6891 wrote:

i do 8.8miles in 28mins normally on way in and 35mins on way home

Is that level or hilly? My routes have a bit of up-and-down to them, unless I head for Colwyn Bay station, in which case it's a level 2.5 miles. I'm now doing that somewhere under fifteen minutes, door-to-platform. I'll have to time it properly next week.

its more hilly on the way back, but they are not very steep hills just really long, its the headwind that slows me down more.

if you keep riding and just keep your legs moving when you are going up hills then you will get quicker

always_tyred

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I think anyone able to average anything in double figures while cycling in Wales is doing okay!

I was thinking about takng my commuter (stripped down) when we go to North Wales at New Year (just to keep some miles in) then I saw the OS map and the fact that most of the map was orange.

Anyone who can average double figures on a cheap cheerful Chinese folding bike, in Wales, is in serious contention for the new UK pro road team. Seriously.

ansbaradigeidfran

Always Tyred wrote:

Anyone who can average double figures on a cheap cheerful Chinese folding bike, in Wales, is in serious contention for the new UK pro road team. Seriously.

I wouldn't go that far, but thanks

I've splurged on a little cyclocomp (Halfords £10 special issue), so I'll have more accurate figures than

distance on map / (last look at watch - first look at watch)

guesstimates in the future.

AndyManc

You must have bounced all the way on one of those things, If the rear suspension can be locked out someway ... then I would recommend you do it.

Half the energy you put in will go straight out that rear coil. :shock:

ansbaradigeidfran

Just cycled back (same route as yesterday) having driven the Mrs. to work. Cyclocomp says.... 12.7mph average! 8) Journey out again to pick her up was 10.3mph avg: not bad, given the darkness, tailwind, and drizzle.

I can't see any easy way of locking the rear suspension up, but I can get my trusty mole wrench to tighten it up stupidly. I'm light enough that it might think there's nobody on it (Yes, I know the important bit is the dynamic force applied to the pedals, not the constant force of my derrière on the saddle)