First ride ever review... Fair play to you fellas..

~Muz~
~Muz~ Posts: 32
edited October 2011 in Road beginners
Just found a new respect for you guys & gals... Instead of being the car driver moaning about non tax paying road blocking cyclists i've joined the ranks..

In January I seriously ruined my knee, am just getting to the end of 8 months physio and putting on 3 stone.. The missus ain't impressed lol. About a month ago I decided that cycling would be the way forward in helping me get over my knee injury and get fit. I eventually decided that minimum outlay was required incase I don't stick with it, so I picked up a new end of line Carrera TDF for 260 squids at Halfords. Looks nice and shiney and ticks all my boxes :) It sat in my conservatory for ages as my leg wouldn't quite go around the pedals but eventually managed it backwards :)

Next I acquired all my gear, helmet, tights, top speedo, Endomondo App for my iphone etc.... And now put it all into practice. I warmed up for 3 days by doing a mile up the road to see if my leg was up to it, and today I went for the big push... After a while I gave up worrying that my arse crack was on show for all, I was sweating like a marine in a maths test and wishing I'd taken more than one of my sons fruit shoots!! The time was 6.07 miles in half hour averaging 10.07 mph, sounds cack I bet but I feel well chuffed with my fat self..

I'm amazed at how sh*te our road really are, how I never buckled a wheel i'll never know..

So I take my hat off o you bikecylelists and look forward to joining you again soon :)

Comments

  • bearfraser
    bearfraser Posts: 435
    Welcome to the insanity claus
  • ~Muz~
    ~Muz~ Posts: 32
    bearfraser wrote:
    Welcome to the insanity claus
    And the realms of the sore arse lol.. Cheers :)
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    Stick with it :-) Ride 3 or 4 times a week and a month from now you'll be amazed how far you've come.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • coman1985
    coman1985 Posts: 46
    it wont take long for you to addicted..

    sometimes i still moan about cyclists because some of us still do silly things like ride off a path in front of a 40mph van!! (only happened the other day)
  • Peddle Up!
    Peddle Up! Posts: 2,040
    Welcome to the road to wellness and penury. :D



    [Other roads to penury, cycling and otherwise, are available.]
    Purveyor of "up" :)
  • Paul057
    Paul057 Posts: 167
    I object to the "Marine in a maths test" comment! :x
  • Stone Glider
    Stone Glider Posts: 1,227
    Welcome. A word for those with too much flesh in places where friction occurs: SUDOCREM, the cyclists' friend. You can buy large tubs of it in the baby section of a pharmacy or a supermarket. It is cheap and effective. When you encounter the phrase 'chamois cream' think Sudocrem and save a fortune.
    The older I get the faster I was
  • corona
    corona Posts: 116
    I object to the "Marine in a maths test" comment

    Ok how about sweating like a Geordie in a spelling test :P
  • ~Muz~
    ~Muz~ Posts: 32
    Paul057 wrote:
    I object to the "Marine in a maths test" comment! :x

    Just my spelling, meant Margarine ;)

    Was hard enough keeping my tights up without sudocrem lol :)
  • MountainMonster
    MountainMonster Posts: 7,423
    Welcome to the ranks, you are sure to get addicted. I've lost almost 20kg in the last year and a few months, even with eating like a pig since I got so into cycling I ride whenever I can. Its a great feeling once you step on the scales and see your weight has significantly dropped.

    Best of luck with your cycling, hopefully you will stick at it.
    My London Road
  • ~Muz~
    ~Muz~ Posts: 32
    MountainMonster wrote:
    Welcome to the ranks, you are sure to get addicted. I've lost almost 20kg in the last year and a few months, even with eating like a pig since I got so into cycling I ride whenever I can. Its a great feeling once you step on the scales and see your weight has significantly dropped.

    Best of luck with your cycling, hopefully you will stick at it.
    Cheers mate.. And cheers to you all for the comments :)
  • Paul057
    Paul057 Posts: 167
    corona wrote:
    I object to the "Marine in a maths test" comment

    Ok how about sweating like a Geordie in a spelling test :P

    Much better :lol:
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    Welcome to the ranks and fair play to you for giving it a go. One thing I'd do is take off your computer/phone etc and just ride by feel. Don't get drawn into the willy waving contest of average speed and distance. Riding should be about enjoyment and pleasure at your stage. Go out and explore the lanes and roads near you that you never went down before cos' your car is too big, You'll be amazed at what you can find( I do this at least once a month just for the sheer pleasure of exploring)
    Norfolk, who nicked all the hills?

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/243 ... 8d.jpg?v=0
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  • ~Muz~
    ~Muz~ Posts: 32
    markos1963 wrote:
    Welcome to the ranks and fair play to you for giving it a go. One thing I'd do is take off your computer/phone etc and just ride by feel. Don't get drawn into the willy waving contest of average speed and distance. Riding should be about enjoyment and pleasure at your stage. Go out and explore the lanes and roads near you that you never went down before cos' your car is too big, You'll be amazed at what you can find( I do this at least once a month just for the sheer pleasure of exploring)
    Thanks for the welcome mate :) Went out again today and did nearer 7 miles... Learnt a vital lesson too, avoid long stretches with loads of traffic lights lol.. What a pita, nearly fell off trying to get my foot back in everytime..

    The computer is more to see how far I go really, never gonna be competitive times :)
  • Chad_c_Mulligan
    Chad_c_Mulligan Posts: 78
    markos1963 wrote:
    One thing I'd do is take off your computer/phone etc and just ride by feel.

    This is something I really agree with, for years I had a speedo and checked my watch and even got a HR monitor. While these are very useful for training I found they were spoiling the enjoyment of cycling.

    Now, unless I'm going to specifically go out to train in a structured manner I take off my watch and speedo and just check the GPS when I get back home. Although, I do have a rough idea how fast I'm going based on gear so I'll give myself a kick if I feel I'm going too slowly.
    --
    FCN 9
  • ~Muz~
    ~Muz~ Posts: 32
    Chad_c_Mulligan wrote:
    markos1963 wrote:
    One thing I'd do is take off your computer/phone etc and just ride by feel.

    This is something I really agree with, for years I had a speedo and checked my watch and even got a HR monitor. While these are very useful for training I found they were spoiling the enjoyment of cycling.

    Now, unless I'm going to specifically go out to train in a structured manner I take off my watch and speedo and just check the GPS when I get back home. Although, I do have a rough idea how fast I'm going based on gear so I'll give myself a kick if I feel I'm going too slowly.
    Thats pretty much what I do with my phon, see my route a home and prove to the missus I went out lol
  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    Good stuff OP - as couple of years ago I was pretty much where you are and now I have worked slowly up to 25 miles 3-4 times a week ave speed 14.8 mph - no comparison with some on here but a might acheivement for me and lost + 2 stone.

    Re chafing - the best things is Wheatgerm Oil - get it in any health food shop - cheap, light and prevents and cures chafing - try it an be amazed :D !!

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