Done first half century ride today!

#david2012
#david2012 Posts: 275
edited December 2012 in Road beginners
Went out with a friend today who is an experienced rider, it really helps you as a beginner to pull you along when you really just want a rest :D
I kind of knew part of our route but as I've entered the dragon ride he is taking me out on training rides to build up. Anyway cut a long story short by the time I arrived home 51.7 miles showed on the computer sooooo pleased :D:D
Route had its challenges apart from just the distance but I kept digging in and got up all of the hills, he on the other hand never dropped out of the big ring! Kudos where it's due.
This on the day when my 6yr old stood on the scales this morning and shouted "daddy it says 3.6" I lay there and thought Christ that's how much weight I've lost in a year!! The same as an average sized 6 yr old lol

Comments

  • elderone
    elderone Posts: 1,410
    congrats on the fifty,its a milestone and from what i,ve seen of the dragon on utube your going to need all the riding you can get.
    nice one
    Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori
  • #david2012
    #david2012 Posts: 275
    Cheers elderone.. I know I've watched the ascent clips ! I'm doing the medio fondo which is the shortest one u can enter now! ... I've got 6 more full months to pack in the miles. 6 months ago I hadn't ridden a bike for 25 years, so I'm really chuffed with my effort today
  • TommyB61
    TommyB61 Posts: 103
    Well done David..fantastic milestone & weight loss.
  • #david2012
    #david2012 Posts: 275
    TommyB61 wrote:
    Well done David..fantastic milestone & weight loss.

    Cheers Tommy
  • baldwin471
    baldwin471 Posts: 366
    Good job. Did my first 150km last week. Took me nearly a whole day :P Well done on the weight loss too buddy :)
  • IWearSpandex
    IWearSpandex Posts: 10
    Great job reaching that milestone! 50 miles is huge! That's the best feeling, looking down at the end of the ride and seeing it click over to 50.0 on the cycling computer.

    I think the best thing for long rides is to sign up for the ride you want to do, just like you did. Then you have a goal to work towards. That really gets you out the door to train on the tough days, when you don't have all the energy you want. Good thinking. And riding with a buddy is great, too.

    Good luck with the long rides and on reaching the next milestone!

    -Brian
    I Wear Spandex
    http://www.iwearspandex.com
  • MaxwellBygraves
    MaxwellBygraves Posts: 1,353
    Well done dude, keep it up!!
    "That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college! " - Homer
  • teisetrotter
    teisetrotter Posts: 342
    Well done. Sounds like we are doing same thing. Lost nearly 4 stone this year, last two months been riding 50 milers a couple of times a week.

    It feels mega good to be fit and healthy again. Although the new wardrobe has cost me a fortune.
  • #david2012
    #david2012 Posts: 275
    Teisetrotter wrote:
    Well done. Sounds like we are doing same thing. Lost nearly 4 stone this year, last two months been riding 50 milers a couple of times a week.

    It feels mega good to be fit and healthy again. Although the new wardrobe has cost me a fortune.

    :D xxl to a medium so yup going to be expensive !! Well done to you to.... I've only managed the one 50 miler but looking forward to next year already
  • djm501
    djm501 Posts: 378
    Did you pay for the guaranteed place in the Dragon then? I entered the ballot as I wanted the Dragon to be my first sportive (did my first 50 miler back in August) and have not made the cut which is gutting since it was my real motivation to train :-(

    I have entered the much cheaper Tour of Pembrokeshire instead now. Not such a newbie now and have found plenty of other - guaranteed entry - events to do instead. Have entered a 200 km audax in January also and am hoping to do a first century sometime this month.

    Well done on the weight loss - as with you I have lost a six year old since May :-D
  • #david2012
    #david2012 Posts: 275
    djm501 yes I paid the extra.. My friend encouraged me to enter the dragon with him, it seemed less risky to make sure we both definately got in. It's my first entered sportive, although I think I will try a couple before for some experience
  • djm501
    djm501 Posts: 378
    Good idea, lot of climbing in the Dragon. Don't necessarily believe the hype though. I tried the Bwlch climb (last big hill on the Dragon route) outside Treorchy on Saturday and it's not that bad in fact - managed it quite well on my first attempt. The 'little' hill in Cardiff I've been using to train myself up (Caerphilly mountain) is in fact much harder as it's much steeper at times.
    Tour of Pembrokeshire is £20, audax event has cost me £6. I didn't really know about these before I went for the more famous Dragon. I'm a bit disappointed still but I'm much happier with my bank balance - or at least I will be when I get my entry fee back.
  • #david2012
    #david2012 Posts: 275
    I think the plan is to drive down and do one of the climbs before the day... Problem where I'm based in Northants the climbs are short but steep so not really the same from all accounts... But just looking forward to the challenge!
  • djm501
    djm501 Posts: 378
    Oh I know, I'm originally from Bedford so I know the sort of terrain you're on. It can be really vicious with the climbs around here. Right by one of my regular routes through Pontypridd is a notorious hill that I haven't even dared to try yet - it's got about 1.5 miles of slopes going up to 25% and apparently has a cattle grid at 17% at one point. Not sure I want to try it too much as the cattle grid sounds like a good way of destroying the bike if it wobbles inappropriately.
    The Devil's Elbow in the Brecons - which you will be doing - is similar in its slopes by all accounts. That is the one to worry about I think.
  • #david2012
    #david2012 Posts: 275
    Your filling me with even more fear! Lol

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