Newbie Cycling Achievements

Managed to do 55k on Monday - Dundalk to Carlingford and back again. Done it in 2 hours and 17 mins and maintained an average speed of 23.5km/h.

Did my first century today, taking in both Sally Gap (eastbound) and Wicklow Gap (westbound), both for the first time. all total 104.7km, average speed 23km/h. Tough in spots but really enjoyed it. No sunburn, but my legs were on fire on the inside when I finished. The kids paddling pool came in handy as an ice bath of sorts. Feel a lot more ready for the Ring of Kerry now!

In keeping with the general theme of the thread, I changed my handlebar tape for the first time ever this evening! \o/ Been the same stuff since I bought the bike in June 2009, check out the original colour, compared to the exposed bit:



Cheers to Dave T in Joe Daly's for the friendly tips on how to change it.

Interesting thread Folks...

I started cycling about a year ago more less regularly on weekends and some evenings and since November I started commuting to work. This is now my every day activity and keeps my mental and physical health in better shape than when I was 15. My fitness level is still far from being excellent, but still a good bit better than last year, when it was at "Level 0".

Cycling gives me the feeling of freedom. Makes me happy, smiled and feeling good. Within the last 12 months I visited places I have never seen before, although they are all within 20-30 km radius from my house. It still happens, and even this week on my way from work, I cycled through roads I never new they exist.

Cycling changed the way I live and Bicycle is now my main form of transport. I still have to drive sometimes, but the score for this week is one of my best results so far:

Distance traveled by car: 3 km,
Distance traveled by Bike: 503 km .
And that is in fact the longest distance I cycled in a single week. I really hope it will stay that way .

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

That's very impressive and puts my 435kms last week in the shade!

Not at all sir. I never cycled 435km a week except my 503km last week, so if I covered 435km, it would have been my longest weekly distance .
Congratulations and keep on going .

What I am quite happy about is the fact that since November I rarely drive, even though I live 22km from my work place. And I like it that way.

Did my first solo 100k trip today. Stats: 102.2klm time 4:03:32 Average speed 24.9kph. Time excludes 15mins for food and 10mins for puncture :mad: Legs and ass are killing me :eek: Nice trip all the same:)

Gonna be cheeky here,
First proper century today (100 miles)
And done my first 200km as well.

Time was slow slow slow :P
Lost my gloves, so hands are in agony.
Arse is quite sore.

Scuba_Scoper wrote: »

A day for newbie achievements all round

Did my first 100km* today as well. Included 1500m of climbing. Quads are in ribbons but this beer in my hand is going down a treat.

*it was actually 99.3km but I was too wrecked to cycle around my back garden to make up the .7 of a km


http://app.strava.com/rides/9925833

That's quite a way to do your first 100, chapeau.

paulgalway wrote: »

...
guy went past me on a proper road bike seemed to be pedaling with ease; looked impressive but demoralising at the same time.

I know exactly what you mean. There is only one solution - be that guy on the road bike!
My average speeds have gone way up since I got mine (2nd hand). 2 reasons for this: Road bikes are more efficient; road bikes allow you to exercise better and therefore become fitter. On the last point, I felt my fitness "stalled" on my hybrid and the roadbike allowed me to get much fitter much faster.

route66 wrote: »

road bikes allow you to exercise better and therefore become fitter. On the last point, I felt my fitness "stalled" on my hybrid and the roadbike allowed me to get much fitter much faster.

Is this really true? Surely you can put in the same level of effort on a high-nelly or a penny-farthing or whatever - and therefore get the same fitness kick out of it. You will of course be faster on a road bike, but does it really improve your fitness.

ah feck it thought I was doing good until I started reading all these newbie achievements. I've a hybrid and only cycling since mid Feb and did 49.9km other day in 2hrs 2 mins. was delighted with myself cos it covered hills (mountains to me ) around Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare which I wasn't able to do few weeks ago - had to get off and walk, pure embarrassment. doing a 150km over 2 days later in summer. ah well, gotta keep pushing so :eek:

edited to add - average speed of 22.2km, with a max of 40km.

I thought I took leave of my senses yesterday. After a chill few hours in Tayto
Park with family I boarded my bike for a spin. Back of my mind was my 100k cherry to be popped. Forecast was a little dodgy but went on my way , almost 50k in , around balbriggan it started but bucket down, I was well drenched but not uncomfortable so kept motoring. I knew my way around on a map so headed home via walshestown not far from the naul (hillsville) but had to dismount on the way in. Hill just too steep. Kept going to rathbeale road and with 10k to go was well and truly miserable. Knackered, wet in every place possible,and Hungary and thirsty......just snailed my way home into a very hot and very long shower. Distance was 88k with a **** avg due to my walk up that hidden walshestown hill. Pb for distance but what a crap day to do it...better planning required next time out. Wife called off men in white coats she she saw me dragging my arse in the door. Strangely I want to go back out today but has decided this was a recovery day.