Perhaps this particular one should form part of the exciting things I have learned series - there is a hill the other side of Newington called Oak Hill. I have ridden it perhaps 10 times, mostly failed to get up it on my mountain bike, struggled to get up it on my hybrid and often failed, so last night I tried it on my road bike. Having been lulled into a false sense of security and spotted that I could even accelerate up a hill when I got my technique right, I reached the bottom of this one, and started out, confident that 20 Shimano gears would give me a nice choice to get to the top, still feeling as if my spine was intact. WRONG. It still killed me, I got to the top, much grunting and groaning, and breathing out of parts of my body with no recognised route to the lungs.
Ultimately I guess, it doesn't matter about the bike, (okay LA said it better) it's about the legs and heart. Mine are still beginners.
As I came down into Iwade I saw a group of club(?) riders all gathering, all gave me a strange look, maybe it was the tights, the mix and match long sleeve thermal top covered by lightweight cycle shirt (I don't have winter kit, and it felt like winter out there). They all had shiney bikes and lovely looking kit, so I expect it will be while before I consider giving that sort of thing a go.
Anyway - targets - that's what I am now looking at.
1. I want to get my 15 mile time down to less than 1 hour. This means that I have to shave 5 minutes off my time. Anyone know a 15 mile downhill in Kent?
2. I want the NHS to accept they were wrong and I am not overweight.
3. I want to reach 30 mph pedalling on the flat.
4. I want a crankset and brakes that are also Shimano 105. I don't really know why, but it seems that's where the money was saved on my bike.
5. 200 miles in one month - although this may turn out to easy?
6. By the end of June I want to cycle 50 miles in one go.
7. To carry on enjoying cycling as much as I am now, without having to give up on beer.
There are lots of other little targets that I think up as I am riding along, 20 mph minimum to the next lamp post, miss that cavernous pot hole, avoid that car, build a faster cadence. All adds to the fun, perhaps not the smartest training regime, but lack of actual regime is probably what will keep me going.
Last nights ride - 15.3 miles 1hr 5 minutes.
Todays ride, as far and as lomg as it takes to miss the inherited wealth and position wedding.
Friday 29 April 2011
Thursday 28 April 2011
Cogitations
I find myself thinking about cycling a lot - which leads me to worry - am I obsessing? Not given to that particular passtime much, but often given to thinking a lot I am wondering why I seem to have caught such a bug? I'll let blog know when I have an answer. But onto more important things...
Now, I know fat people (most of them know who they are, others must be blind) and I am not fat - just a little mishapen around the middle. No big deal, but I don't like the look. This is exacerbated by my trust in the NHS. They are professionals right? They wouldn't lie to me would they? So I used their tool for BMI calculation just for a bit a reassurance you see, only for it to appear in letters 10 inches high - or so it seems - Mr Knownothingbozo you really are a fat bastard. Officially over weight. With a BMI only 14 points below the truly enormous chap I had dealings with before my leave started. (He was massive!)
I checked my figures and shouted at them for good measure, but no it's official, I am overweight. Turns out the hurtful ones who profess to love me, also have an eye for fatness.
Well this won't do, so it now looks like I have to do something about it. I can't run, dodgy knees from many years of running in army boots. Refuse to pay to go to a gym. Hate doing any sort of sit ups and stuff. So I am hoping cycling will be my salvation. I have read fat man on a bikes blog, he did it, I also saw a headline in a magazine about a bloke who lost 26 stones on a bike. A Surly I imagine, as these seem to be the only ones designed for elephants to ride.
So I am hoping my obsession will last - but not cost too much. I have to keep a lead on my senses, Mrs Knownothing was happy enough for me to spend (for us) a small fortune on a bike ("as long as you use it" said out loud but thinking "if you ever say no to another pandora bead..." but how many items of kit will she be happy for me to buy?
I am already harbouring dreams of upgrades, shiney cranksets by Shimano to match the gears, that will give me the full 105 groupset and you know just how vital this is....But what about the brakes.... don't they need to be the same .... of course, can't have a bike made up of mixy matchy bits.... you can see where this could all end up. Cycling down to the bankruptcy court that's where.
Now, I know fat people (most of them know who they are, others must be blind) and I am not fat - just a little mishapen around the middle. No big deal, but I don't like the look. This is exacerbated by my trust in the NHS. They are professionals right? They wouldn't lie to me would they? So I used their tool for BMI calculation just for a bit a reassurance you see, only for it to appear in letters 10 inches high - or so it seems - Mr Knownothingbozo you really are a fat bastard. Officially over weight. With a BMI only 14 points below the truly enormous chap I had dealings with before my leave started. (He was massive!)
I checked my figures and shouted at them for good measure, but no it's official, I am overweight. Turns out the hurtful ones who profess to love me, also have an eye for fatness.
Well this won't do, so it now looks like I have to do something about it. I can't run, dodgy knees from many years of running in army boots. Refuse to pay to go to a gym. Hate doing any sort of sit ups and stuff. So I am hoping cycling will be my salvation. I have read fat man on a bikes blog, he did it, I also saw a headline in a magazine about a bloke who lost 26 stones on a bike. A Surly I imagine, as these seem to be the only ones designed for elephants to ride.
So I am hoping my obsession will last - but not cost too much. I have to keep a lead on my senses, Mrs Knownothing was happy enough for me to spend (for us) a small fortune on a bike ("as long as you use it" said out loud but thinking "if you ever say no to another pandora bead..." but how many items of kit will she be happy for me to buy?
I am already harbouring dreams of upgrades, shiney cranksets by Shimano to match the gears, that will give me the full 105 groupset and you know just how vital this is....But what about the brakes.... don't they need to be the same .... of course, can't have a bike made up of mixy matchy bits.... you can see where this could all end up. Cycling down to the bankruptcy court that's where.
Tuesday 26 April 2011
Things I have learnt part 2.
In the latest of lifes cycling lessons, here are some more things I have learn since taking up cycling.
1. The people you love the most can hurt you most deeply. This evening when I returned from my ride, my wife passed me in the car. She waited at the garage for me to tell me that I wasn't riding very fast. Then just to make sure I was out as well as down she told my daughter to look up Big Daddy the wrestler to see me in my bib shorts.
Well Mrs Knownothingbozo, I was on my warm down(!) and I have never knowingly belly splashed anyone.
2. The rape seed fields around Bredgar are beautiful at any time of the day, in the late evening sunshine, they are awesome. Not helpful when our local council leave holes the size of cheddar gorge at the side of the road awaiting the cyclist (or motorist or biker) who just happens to galnce sideways at natures masterpiece at the wrong time.
3. Even after a lovely sunny day, evening in April, especially with a stiff breeze can be bloody chilly.
There must be something about this lark that is getting me hooked. At 11 miles had a choice, one and half miles home if I turn right, 4 if I turn left. I was knackered and bit chilly, but turned left anyway.
15 miles this evening, and I note that I have now passed 100 miles on my bike. It gives me an idea of what challenge I could set myself for May - given that I'll be back to work and thus will have other matters competing for my attention. Perhaps a 200 mile month?
1. The people you love the most can hurt you most deeply. This evening when I returned from my ride, my wife passed me in the car. She waited at the garage for me to tell me that I wasn't riding very fast. Then just to make sure I was out as well as down she told my daughter to look up Big Daddy the wrestler to see me in my bib shorts.
Well Mrs Knownothingbozo, I was on my warm down(!) and I have never knowingly belly splashed anyone.
2. The rape seed fields around Bredgar are beautiful at any time of the day, in the late evening sunshine, they are awesome. Not helpful when our local council leave holes the size of cheddar gorge at the side of the road awaiting the cyclist (or motorist or biker) who just happens to galnce sideways at natures masterpiece at the wrong time.
3. Even after a lovely sunny day, evening in April, especially with a stiff breeze can be bloody chilly.
There must be something about this lark that is getting me hooked. At 11 miles had a choice, one and half miles home if I turn right, 4 if I turn left. I was knackered and bit chilly, but turned left anyway.
15 miles this evening, and I note that I have now passed 100 miles on my bike. It gives me an idea of what challenge I could set myself for May - given that I'll be back to work and thus will have other matters competing for my attention. Perhaps a 200 mile month?
Back in the saddle - posted 24apr2011
Maybe it's the first blush of love, or lust, but I went away for a weeks camping with the soup dragon, and found myself missing my bike. This is not some weird form of mechanophilia (it's real look it up - I saw a very scary programme on it) but a feeling that I could still be popping out for a ride on the beautiful quiet lanes of North Norfolk. It would have helped take away the shame of the mandatory camp site cooked breakfast as well. (yes six of them - how many miles do I have to do in penitence?)
Gawd bless her cotton socks but the wife then says it's so beautiful here I'd be happy enough to sit and sun bathe whilst you go out on your bike - argument won before it even started!
Anyhow back on Friday after a hell of a journey - feeling sorry for all those who are just travelling up to start their holidays, called in via Decathlon sports and now I am the proud owner of a pair of bib shorts - slightly less proud that it appears I am now size extra large. I may look a bit foolish in front of the bedroom mirror, but they are far more comfortable. Add that to my two riding shirts for £7 bargain from ebay, and my own spd shoes, I now feel the part, look the part(?) and if all goes well will soon start riding as if I know what I am doing.
Time to unpack the tent etc and then out for a quick 8 miles around the local lanes, just for the fun of it. Then the following day (yesterday) another 15.5 miles, my longest ride yet. It passes by in such a flash I am finding it hard to imagine the distances. Still it took just over an hour, but I am confident that as we go along I'll soon be comfortably doing much further. Need to get a groips of using the full rotation of the pedal properly esp[ecially when going up hill, still very much a conscious effort to make sure the spd's give me the benefit. As soon as I remember, I find myself accelerating up hills.
Feel like I am starting to be a bike nerd going on about distances, perhaps a throw back from army days, when I used to enjoy the challenge of running long distances. I don't even have a clue what a good daily distance should be, or even if there is such a thing. Perhaps a good daily distance = the distance you can cycle whilst enjoying yourself plus a little bit more, just to build in improvement.
Another thing I have learnt though - other road riders are a cheery lot, a wave of the hand, nod of the head, a smile as they pass. If this keeps up, I may have to find myself a cycle club!
Gawd bless her cotton socks but the wife then says it's so beautiful here I'd be happy enough to sit and sun bathe whilst you go out on your bike - argument won before it even started!
Anyhow back on Friday after a hell of a journey - feeling sorry for all those who are just travelling up to start their holidays, called in via Decathlon sports and now I am the proud owner of a pair of bib shorts - slightly less proud that it appears I am now size extra large. I may look a bit foolish in front of the bedroom mirror, but they are far more comfortable. Add that to my two riding shirts for £7 bargain from ebay, and my own spd shoes, I now feel the part, look the part(?) and if all goes well will soon start riding as if I know what I am doing.
Time to unpack the tent etc and then out for a quick 8 miles around the local lanes, just for the fun of it. Then the following day (yesterday) another 15.5 miles, my longest ride yet. It passes by in such a flash I am finding it hard to imagine the distances. Still it took just over an hour, but I am confident that as we go along I'll soon be comfortably doing much further. Need to get a groips of using the full rotation of the pedal properly esp[ecially when going up hill, still very much a conscious effort to make sure the spd's give me the benefit. As soon as I remember, I find myself accelerating up hills.
Feel like I am starting to be a bike nerd going on about distances, perhaps a throw back from army days, when I used to enjoy the challenge of running long distances. I don't even have a clue what a good daily distance should be, or even if there is such a thing. Perhaps a good daily distance = the distance you can cycle whilst enjoying yourself plus a little bit more, just to build in improvement.
Another thing I have learnt though - other road riders are a cheery lot, a wave of the hand, nod of the head, a smile as they pass. If this keeps up, I may have to find myself a cycle club!
Things I am learning - posted 12apr2011
Took a ride out today, a chill wind blowing, which had the effect of clearing my mind of work and allowing me to realise that I have learnt some stuff already.
1. Riding a road bike, means that your average speed is higher - this means that if you crash the speed of your body hitting something like the ground will be higher. This in turn means it will hurt. Alot.
2. Riding a road bike means that if you crash, you are more likely to crash on a road. This in turn means that when you hit something it will be hard, like the road, or a metal post or a car. This in turn means it will hurt. Alot.
3. Riding a road bike is fun.
I may not be starting out with the most optimistic frame of mind, however if I do crash, at least I won't be surprised.
Given all the above, why is that people riding mountain bikes wear lots of protective clothing, where as people riding road bikes, ride as near to naked as is morally and legally possible? Just a thought. After all you don't actually crash into mountains do you?
1. Riding a road bike, means that your average speed is higher - this means that if you crash the speed of your body hitting something like the ground will be higher. This in turn means it will hurt. Alot.
2. Riding a road bike means that if you crash, you are more likely to crash on a road. This in turn means that when you hit something it will be hard, like the road, or a metal post or a car. This in turn means it will hurt. Alot.
3. Riding a road bike is fun.
I may not be starting out with the most optimistic frame of mind, however if I do crash, at least I won't be surprised.
Given all the above, why is that people riding mountain bikes wear lots of protective clothing, where as people riding road bikes, ride as near to naked as is morally and legally possible? Just a thought. After all you don't actually crash into mountains do you?
Starting on a new road - posted 7apr2011
44 years old, dabbled in mountain biking, till the sad realisation that my son, who I ride with is just too good, whilst I remain a ditherer, he is a confident hill eating psycho. So not much fun to traipse around after, get back to the car and watch, breathing through my arse, as he just goes off for another circuit. I like to ride, I want to ride, so my darling wife, allowed me to buy a road bike. It seems to me that mountain biking is something to have fun with friends on, a road bike can be far more solitary. Besides I've always been in awe of the professional cyclists and what they do.
So it was hours of research on the internet, pondering my realistic budget, along with the realistic financial situation we find ourselves in, consideration of finance options, but ultimately scared to buy a bike I hadn't sat on and given a ride at least up and down the road. This turned out to be a well founded worry.
Off to Evans at Gatwick I went - advertised as a warehouse store - in truth no bigger in size than most Evans I have been into. At my budget they had available a specialised, a trek, a jamis, a fuji and a pinnacle. I was aware of pinnacle as they had made my sons first mountain bike, he'd found it an excellent ride, and he had been able to upgrade it substantially, till some thieving grot bag stole it.
The Fuji and Trek were in my size and I gave them a ride. The Trek too short, the Fuji like riding a bag of nails, this left a pinnacle sentinal 3, reduced in price by 300, with Shimano 105 groupset, but not a lot else I could really recognise from my research. It was a revelation compared to the others, comfortable ride, slick gear change, fast (to my plodding experience at least) and right in a budget that I could convince the wife to live with. It's now mine, research since suggests I may have brought the lost one in stock. The 2011 Pinnacle range is an ugly bunch of ducks, so I'm glad I got there on time.
I've now been out on three rides, only short, lets be sensible here I have age and a fat belly against me for anything to drastic to soon, and after about a mile at speeds consistently over 20mph, I now know why people love road riding so much.
My intention in this blog is to chart (for my own purposes more than anyone else) the ups and downs and progress of a middle aged, out of shape bloke with dodgy knees as I foray into the world of road bikes.
So it was hours of research on the internet, pondering my realistic budget, along with the realistic financial situation we find ourselves in, consideration of finance options, but ultimately scared to buy a bike I hadn't sat on and given a ride at least up and down the road. This turned out to be a well founded worry.
Off to Evans at Gatwick I went - advertised as a warehouse store - in truth no bigger in size than most Evans I have been into. At my budget they had available a specialised, a trek, a jamis, a fuji and a pinnacle. I was aware of pinnacle as they had made my sons first mountain bike, he'd found it an excellent ride, and he had been able to upgrade it substantially, till some thieving grot bag stole it.
The Fuji and Trek were in my size and I gave them a ride. The Trek too short, the Fuji like riding a bag of nails, this left a pinnacle sentinal 3, reduced in price by 300, with Shimano 105 groupset, but not a lot else I could really recognise from my research. It was a revelation compared to the others, comfortable ride, slick gear change, fast (to my plodding experience at least) and right in a budget that I could convince the wife to live with. It's now mine, research since suggests I may have brought the lost one in stock. The 2011 Pinnacle range is an ugly bunch of ducks, so I'm glad I got there on time.
I've now been out on three rides, only short, lets be sensible here I have age and a fat belly against me for anything to drastic to soon, and after about a mile at speeds consistently over 20mph, I now know why people love road riding so much.
My intention in this blog is to chart (for my own purposes more than anyone else) the ups and downs and progress of a middle aged, out of shape bloke with dodgy knees as I foray into the world of road bikes.
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