you are no way a newbie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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you are no way a newbie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no worries! Plenty of 18 yr olds wear rolling stones ts that were not born "in the day" lolQuote:
Originally Posted by roo4
you are right!!!!!!!!! Hang in there- post if you need encouragement (:Quote:
Originally Posted by MrsHulley
LOL! Feel free to share, by all means.Quote:
Originally Posted by tealtreak
Hebe, I'm kind of surprised by your shop's reaction. Maybe mine is staffed by weird people. They were impressed that I changed my own tire, out on the "road." (I stopped in to have them top it up for me.) It takes some practice, to be sure, but really? I thought that was something that you should know.
Owlie, You ever find a LBS up there close to Campus or are all these 'weird' people down here? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Owlie
I think they were pretty pleased that I did follow their advice and lube the chains. Coming from a non-riding background even the most obvious basics are all new to me :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Owlie
Yesterday was a couple of minor firsts for me. The Marin was due in the shop for a free check, and the Mister needed a haircut so we rode in together and I showed him the bridleway into town. It was the first time in ages that we'd ridden together on our own, and our first time off-road together. He slowed in front of me and I skidded in the mud and came off. The cycling gods were smiling on me however, just a bit of mud on one glove and one boot. My other first was using a bungee for the first time - my handbag and resusable shopper were strapped onto the rack. Hurrah for small firsts!
My newbie achievement is my first fall. You know, the kind from a dead stop. I was riding my hybrid gear hauler and was wearing baggy shorts. I stopped to get off, the shorts got tangled in the seat, and over I went. Skinned my knee and bruised my hip. Most significantly, I felt like an ***.
Last week was another newbie achievement, my first flat. Got a flat close to the rv so walked back, patched the tire, and went riding again. It flattened again after six mile. But I was close to the rv so I changed and patched it again. Either I had bad luck or missed the thorn that likely pierced the tube. For neither flat could I find a thing in the tire and I was pretty careful about feeling and checking the inside of the tire. Anyway, another 15 miles on that bike and pressure is holding.
I am up to 1465 miles for my first year of riding. Hope to hit 1500 for the year.
I'm happy. I hit 1502 miles for the year, my first year of riding.
Did my first official brevet today, the "Last Chance" New Year's Eve 200k. I actually rode about 140 miles because we rode to and from the start, as well as doing some "bonus miles" because my boyfriend (who was captaining the tandem) took one of his infamous detours.
I completed my first year of cycling (actually, 10 months) with 3305 miles, 1500 being on a single bike; took nearly 100 rides between the tandem and my single bikes, including one metric century, two full centuries, Waves to Wine (100+ miles on day one, 72 on day two), one official brevet and one unofficial (designed and led by a friend); did a lot of difficult climbing (having a sadistic cyclist friend who tricked me into going out on some "small hills and rollers" out in the foothills) and climbed well over 62,000 feet (Strava only recorded that much; I did probably a good 20,000 not on Strava as well); bought three bikes (and sold my starter bike in order to pay for the carbon bike); and basically kicked some a** and am now a "seasoned newbie."
Wow MojoGrrl, what a first year! You have mojo!
Thanks. Actually, my name is in reference to my boyfriend's racing name (Mojo), so I literally do have mojo - ha ha - and he is what/who got me into riding and made me what I am today :)Quote:
Originally Posted by goldfinch
I met my goal of getting to 150 miles by year-end. I started riding on 10/29/11. I know it isn't a lot for this crew, but I'm really happy about it!
You did better than I did! My first full year of riding, I only did 83 miles. No, I did not forget a zero. Granted, I spent five months away from my bike and doing school work (blech!), but still.:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by sophiejo
wow.Quote:
Originally Posted by mojogrrl
Edit: My turn. I've figured out how to adjust the limit screws on my front derailleur. Up next: The rear one.
I rode for the first time today it was nice out so I deiced to ride I rode about 2.5 miles It was great!!!! LOVED IT!!!! cant wait to do more next weekend!!
I finally got in a little distance yesterday (38 miles total) and today we did 22 miles. My big achievements tho are that yesterday I averaged around 17.5 mph (I normally average about 14.5!) and today I finally tackled the huge hill just down the street from our apartment! It was HARD getting up that hill and I think I dropped down to 7 mph, in the lowest possible gear my bike has but I made it up that thing!! Yay!
Ok, you may remember me from a year ago, when I went out for my first ride on my new roadbike and was totally overwhelmed.
Well, guess what I've done? I've made a plan to get happy on my bike indoors so I can then ride it happily and safely outdoors this season!
I joined a power-based training class (my bike, their trainer & power tap) at my local bike shop, and signed up for 12 weeks! I did my first class yesterday, and I am so proud of my first ride... I did the equivalent of 23 km, and they measured my kph, and power for the ride, and they store the numbers in their computer so I can see improvements over the 12 weeks.
I stuck it out for the whole 90 minutes, and I am SO proud, and excited for next week. I'm happy to be slow (focused on form after a back injury from spinning classes last year) and steady and GROWING.
Thanks for the encouragement and support here -- I knew I wanted to get back on the bike so I could come report here and be a part of the community :)
Happy cycling!
Me again... super proud of my second indoor class with my bike on the power trainer -- I think I've figured out this high-cadence business... I kept my resistance REALLY low and just spun away. I got an improvement in my kph as well as in how I felt. And I DOUBLED my avg power (34 to 70 W) compared to last class!
How's everyone else doing?
my achievement this week is that ive cycled for 20 miles!!
was a pretty eventful ride, fell of twice, broke the chain, got lost.
But over all i loved it, and its SUCH an achievement. :D
Woo Hoo! Congratulations, well done and welcome! Tell us more please :DQuote:
Originally Posted by pinkshoes
Well, for me, I think achievements are going to be measured by lessons learned, mostly the hard way. After three weeks with my Specialized Crossroads, I learned I hated it, and traded it in for a Trek FX 7.5, which a friend will buy as soon as my Gunnar Sport arrives. I've learned that the bike lane in my town suddenly disappears in the busiest section of town, leaving no safe place to be. I've learned to not breathe with my mouth open unless liking the feeling of a mass of gnats in the back of your throat. Today, I got out for about 10 miles and learned that I can go happily and easily at 18 mph, but as soon as the wind kicks in, that drops to about 10 mph and I'm back to breathing with my mouth open, hating feeling out of shape. This afternoon, I'm attending a flat tire clinic at a lbs to learn how to change a tire, trying to ward off learning that lesson that hard way. I've also learned that I love the freedom of just getting out on my bike and riding around. I'm going to start commuting two days a week, starting next week (8.5 miles each way), and am hoping to be in shape enough to really enjoy my new bike when it arrives in another month or so.
Today was my first day with clipless pedals. I got the two-sided SPDs in case I got too nervous and wimped out using them (I was very nervous). My LBS let me practice in a trainer before leaving the shop. I had to stop at traffic lights multiple times, and didn't have a single fall. Yay!
Does surviving first fall count as an achievement? :)
Most definitely! Are you and the bike both ok?Quote:
Originally Posted by murielalex
Yes, thank you. My new Brooks saddle has a scuff mark on the edge, but I'm calling that "character."Quote:
Originally Posted by hebe
It was a classic newbie move, and I hadn't even made it out of my neighborhood yet. I was coming to the edge of my street where there is a diner. I could tell some lady was going to back out without seeing me, and I slowed down, and got so obsessed with watching her, I didn't even notice I'd come to a stop and just flopped over. Of course, a couple diners came out to see if I was okay, but the lady, who did back out, didn't even notice I'd fallen behind her.
I went on to a beautiful 20-mile ride down A1A (any South Floridians here?) by the ocean. It was my first time pedaling out that way, though I live only one mile away. I was expecting to see a lot of cyclists, and I did as they were all passing me :) What surprised me, though, was how rude the joggers were and how many: they tended to jog in pairs in the bike lane against the traffic, and wouldn't split up into a singles when I was nearing them, forcing me into the traffic. Since there is only one lane going each direction, I'm just glad it was early in the morning and not too much traffic.
Tomorrow is my first commute by bike (8 miles each way). I go in early enough to not have to contend with traffic, but coming home is a different story. Although there is a bike lane on one main road I'll be on, it stops abruptly in the busiest section of town and becomes a lane for parked cars. There really isn't a safe road going East to West, and I will have to ride a sidewalk (wide, thank goodness) on the last two miles going in. Keeping fingers crossed. I've got my lights and day glo vest. Since I got my first fall out of the way, I'm thinking I'm ready!
How did your commute go? I'm glad that you weren't injured, and I'm sure that Brooks can only improve with a bit of character.
I decided that it was time to learn how to change a tube. Not a success, I couldn't get the tube and tyre back on again (though on the plus side I had no problem getting them off). I then tried to book in for a maintenance lesson at the lbs, but can't do it for a couple of months because of dh's work commitments. Sigh. I'm going to try again tomorrow. I really want to get my mileage up, and don't want to end up walking home because of not being able to fix a flat.
First commute didn't happen. I have my regular job and a private practice that I do out of my job location, but on my own time, and I ended up scheduling a 7AM session. Since I don't have the timing figured out yet, I wasn't willing to risk being late or not having time to clean up before. Friday will now be my first commute.
I'm in the same situation as you with the tire thing. I went to a flat tire clinic two weeks ago, but it was all observation. I have yet to practice fixing one, and I'm nervous to try, but know it's better to try it out now and fail rather than try it out for the first time on the road.
Good luck for Friday! It's easier to do it with less time pressure, I think.
I finished changing the tyre this morning - I watched a load of you-tube videos last night and read plenty of threads on here and it went quite smoothly. It took me two goes to get the front wheel centred so that it wasn't rubbing on the brakes. Next up is to do the rear wheel. It looks like I'll be able to book a bike maintenance session at the beginning of April, so I'm looking forward to that.
My flat change didn't work - I managed to get a pinch flat in a previously good tube. Oh well, this is why I am practising.
I did my first proper double-figure ride this morning - 12 miles on the Vita. I am stupidly proud of myself. I can't believe it took me this long, but I suppose my utility riding is much shorter distances and rides have often been limited by both ability and time. woo hoo!
Go ahead and be proud of yourself!
Last week I completed my first 12 miles on the "maiden voyage" on my new Trek Lexa. This week the achievement is going to be mastering the new Speedplay Light pedals and want to ride at least 25 miles. Yay!
woo hoo! Enjoy :)
Definite achievement!Quote:
Originally Posted by Maye
This weekend was the first time I didn't ride alone, and I didn't kill anyone by plowing into them! That feels pretty good.
This is an amazing achievement, it feels so very good to do this the very first time. It's only been two years since I could say the same thing :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by murielalex
Great achievement! I still ride into the Mister sometimes :o
I did a roadside-repair maintenance course last night, and this evening I took the rear wheel off the Marin and put it back on again. Everything still seems to work...
After quite a while off the bike I finally got out today... I hate to admit it, but the last outdoors ride I did was last fall just before Thankgiving. The crash/shouder Injury last Spring really ruined my season. I was feeling strong before and after three months off the bike all the hardwork I'd done over the winter was down the drain. I struggled to complete five miles when I had been riding 20-ish mile rides before the crash.
I had hoped to train over the winter and really kick butt come spring, but I have to be honest I just was depressed and found it hard to get enthused about biking. All my rides last year after the crash were a real struggle and no fun what so ever. I ended up sitting beside the path in tears after having just chucked my bike away in the tall grass. After wiping away my tears I collected my bike and limped back to the car... That was my last ride.
My knee has been hurting but I still wanted to feel the sunshine and wind in my hair... I just didn't expect 13mph with gusts closer to 20. Just as soon as I started riding into the headwind the knee started talking at me, so I cut the ride off and not risk a further injury, but it was good to feel the bike again!
Shannon
Roadtrip - glad to hear that you were able to enjoy getting out there - and equally glad that you listened to your knee :) I am jealous because I really wanted to ride one of my bikes today but my quads are toast. Too much to even go for a hike. So you did better than I today.
Finished my bike build with a velo 5 computer. Now I can keep better track of my miles. Last week I did 25 on Monday and 16 on Wednesday. The week before I rode about 30 on Wednesday. I going to try to do two rides a week through the spring. I've been riding bike paths but I want to build enough strength to ride on the road.
Roadtrip, well done on getting out on the bike again. I wish you a happy and healthy season of riding and hope your knee's ok. I'm in Cornwall this week and my bikes have gone in for servicing whilst I'm away, but I can't wait to ride again when I get back.
Two achievements today: went further than I've done before, just shy of 40 miles, and I successfully reached for and drank from my water bottle while riding. Towards the end, my left foot was bothering me a bit on the outside (achey), and I just wasn't liking being clipped in anymore. I really really really wanted to free the foot! I don't know if any of you have experienced this before. I think it was more psychological than anything, but it turned me into a nutty person. Also, my neck and shoulders starting feeling it around mile thirty. I don't know if I'm still getting used to a road bike or if I need to return to my fitter for some tweaks. We'll see. I feel fine right now. My butt's a bit sore, but not bad at all, and I didn't use chamois cream. I now have about 200 miles on the Brooks B17. I need to get a couple longer rides in to be sure, but I do think it's working out.