Newbie weekly achievement thread

[hebe]

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.

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

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!

[goldfinch]

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.

[goldfinch]

I'm happy. I hit 1502 miles for the year, my first year of riding.

[MojoGrrl]

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."

[goldfinch]

Wow MojoGrrl, what a first year! You have mojo!

[MojoGrrl]

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

[sophiejo]

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!

[Owlie]

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.

[Owlie]

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.

Edit: My turn. I've figured out how to adjust the limit screws on my front derailleur. Up next: The rear one.

[kziggy]

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!!

[DolceVida]

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!

[linzq]

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!

[linzq]

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?

[pinkshoes]

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.

[hebe]

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.

Woo Hoo! Congratulations, well done and welcome! Tell us more please