Newbie weekly achievement thread

[PinkOnBlue]

First week using clip-ins and have only had one small hop and juggle at a red light yesterday but fortunately no full on falls!

[ToshaMack]

Accomplishment: I road 8.5 miles yesterday (2nd week riding). I went up a huge hill (DH called it barely an incline), but I'm sticking with my story

[Giulianna23]

Just came back from riding...I started last weekend... been out there about 5 times counting today. First time I managed to do 4 and a half miles with a constant 10-12MPH with a couple of sprints in between. It was a flat ride with a few small hills (they felt like the EVEREST ..lol )... it was pretty windy (I hate that). I was really impressed with myself though after about 20 years not touching a road bike. Today I managed to do 6 miles and my top speed was 18MPH with an average of 15 MPH with a lot of wind. I was planing on riding 2 more miles but my sinus started bothering.
I hope to improve every week and add 2 miles each week for the rest of the not too cold days we have left... Too bad its getting dark out there so early already..I might have to wait until weekends to ride my bike Unless I do it at soon as I get home from work .

[hebe]

Accomplishment: I road 8.5 miles yesterday (2nd week riding). I went up a huge hill (DH called it barely an incline), but I'm sticking with my story

Hurrah! Well done on your huge hill

[ToshaMack]

I had my first fall today in my clipless shoes. I was trying to avoid a dog a hundreds yards in front of me and end up stopping, but I didn't unclip....needless to say I went down! It wasn't too bad b/c I was in the grass, but I'm feeling the soreness now! My first war wound!!! I feel so bad azz!!!

[jyyanks]

Toshamack- I totally commend your use of clipless shoes (I'm a newbie and don't think I can hack them). Hoping your firs fall will be your last!

[hebe]

I rode the big roundabout at the end of my road this week. I normally go up a dropped kerb just before the roundabout and keep left onto a multi user path, but Small Girl's nursery is moving to new premises soon and I'll have to either ride straight over or walk the bike & trailer across the road. Anyway, it was fine. I have done plenty of the mini-roundabouts but this was my first full-size one. Go me Incidentally, the new route to nursery takes me up an embarassingly short hill that had me huffing and puffing the first time I ever rode it (just over a year ago). This week I shot up it without even noticing. Oh the joys of improved fitness and mountain bike gearing...

[hebe]

I cleaned and lubed three bike chains this morning (2 mine and one the Mister's). They hadn't been done before as my bike maintenance book said that they didn't need doing for the first few hundred miles, but my LBS was horrified when I owned up to never having actually lubed a chain. I had a short ride (just a couple of miles) on each bike afterwards and could really tell the difference.

[tealtreak]

Hi girls,
When I have my successes, it makes me want to come on here and share them with others new or newish to cycling. I also love to read the inspirational tales of success and progress of others So I wonder if it wouldn't be good to have a weekly successes thread?

Yesterday I managed to ride (drum roll . . .) my first corners broad sweeping ones, but hey, I was turning my bike. I could hardly believe it! I also seem to have finally mastered/mistressed stopping in a nice controlled way (apart from the odd crazy moment of panic e.g. wobbling into a bush, when I forget to use the brakes!). I also noticed I was feeling more confident and riding faster (no doubt connected).

I am thrilled to bits with this weeks progress and would love to hear about the progress of others

yahooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! I would love to share my incremental progress! I got started riding with my sons- sweet to hang out with them but DEMORALIZING from a skill acquisition standpoint!

[tealtreak]

I had my first fall today in my clipless shoes. I was trying to avoid a dog a hundreds yards in front of me and end up stopping, but I didn't unclip....needless to say I went down! It wasn't too bad b/c I was in the grass, but I'm feeling the soreness now! My first war wound!!! I feel so bad azz!!!

don't feel bad- my first day clipped I fell in the gravel, stuck to my bike in front of my 18yr old son and 4 of his friends! I am happy to say I have since lapped them uphill (though they torch me DH and jumps.................)

[tealtreak]

you are no way a newbie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tealtreak]

Well, poo! I signed up for an organized ride and opted for the $20 long sleeve T-shirt. As near as I can tell, the ride is composed of three loops, kinda shaped like Mickey Mouse. The loops are 50, 25, and 25 miles, and riders can do any combination. The (minor, I know) problem is that I am planning to ride 50, maybe 75 miles and the shirt proudly proclaims that it is a century ride.

I don't like wearing the shirt under false pretenses. Yes, I realize that only about 3 people will ever notice this and comment. Yes, I realize that I am married to one of them. Yes, I understand that this is trivial compared to pretty much everything else in the world.

Signed,

Century Ride Poser

no worries! Plenty of 18 yr olds wear rolling stones ts that were not born "in the day" lol

[tealtreak]

I just bought a bike last week. My goal right now is to keep it upright
Once I feel I've mastered that, my next goal will be a graceful stop. Sad but true!!! Clipless will be later, later, later...... I keep telling myself small achievements are better than none at all.

you are right!!!!!!!!! Hang in there- post if you need encouragement (:

[Owlie]

no worries! Plenty of 18 yr olds wear rolling stones ts that were not born "in the day" lol

LOL! Feel free to share, by all means.

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.

[Roadtrip]

Maybe mine is staffed by weird people.

Owlie, You ever find a LBS up there close to Campus or are all these 'weird' people down here?