Loungers who ride ... All things bike related

I did a bit of cycling last summer during the heat wave, but then work got to me and it was winter before I had free time again. I decided to go back at it again a few weeks ago.

I have a Felt QX65 Hybrid bike, but I really want to get a road bike now, I feel it'd help me go faster for longer (also it seems all the clubs around here want you to have a road bike as it's hard to keep up on a hybrid with thicker wheels.)

I started out three weeks ago, doing a loop of about 15/16km. I started building that up over these past few weeks. I bought a heart rate monitor at the beginning of last week. I set out on my 20km loop once I got it and noticed my heart rate was quite high for what was an hour's cycle. It seems I was pushing myself too hard, probably because I was only used to cycling for an hour. Then at the end of last week I set out with a plan to keep my heart rate a little lower. I got about 13km in, at the point I'd normally head the 7km home and I felt much better. I decided to keep going and managed my longest ever cycle at over 30km. That even included a proper categorised climb (which really had me puffing.) I've done this route twice now.

My goal is to build my distance, to eventually be putting in regular 60km+ rides. I think a road bike would help me with that but it's not on the cards yet. My dream is that I'd have enough money for that road bike, plus all the gear I'd need to go off touring. I love the idea of setting off with my panniers full of what I need to camp in a camp site, spend a day cycling with a few stops. Spend the night in a tent and a small village with a few drinks and a nice dinner and do that for a week or so.

Unfortunately that set off a wave of depression last night. I was down the coast with friends and I realised I'd never be able to manage that with my current situation of being stuck on disability allowance. So I decided to head back to my family's place for a few days. Telling my mother all this she decided to cheer me up and got me two cycling t-shirts, two pairs of cycling socks and two pairs of the long cycling tights and a chain cleaner in Lidl. I had put off a cycle today because it was a bit cold and windy to go out with my basic gear so this should have me set up for slightly more inclement weather over the summer.

My wheels? 2011 Trek Lexa S (nicknamed Xena by RacoonQueen when I got it), looks a bit like this:



Love the colour scheme - quite feminine without being pink. I wouldn't mind a better groupset than the Sora/Tiagra mix that's on it!

My aims? I'm doing the London Triathlon Olympic distance in August - bike leg is 40km, and I need to be able to do that with a 1500m swim for starters and a 10km run for dessert. I plan to build up to being able to cycle 60-70km before it, current long spin is around 40km.

Timeframe? 3-4 months.

What I'm actually doing to get there? Building up longer spins on my own. I'm considering giving the Islington cycling club beginner's spin a go in May too and see how I get on with that.

Sorry to interject, but every time I open the forum, the thread title makes me giggle. Good work

fits wrote: »

Some day hopefully you'll be able to do it. I am hoping to do a few days in the åland archipelago this summer. Would prefer to do it on the hybrid than the road bike as its sturdier. And already set up for panniers - a lot of road bikes can't carry panniers as they don't have the fittings to attach them.

Yeah, I understand that about the road bikes and touring. I'd plan to keep my hybrid in case I ever do that.

I've a Ridgeback, which is nice because it sounds like a dragon.

I can't remember ever not owning a bike. I've always cycled as a quick way to get about.

I don't race competitively, I don't do leisure tours and I don't particularly have any goals, I just like to cycle. And watch it on tv

Hello!

A little bit of background to me, I bought a bike around September last year aiming to commute to work placement for college, which was only about a 18km round trip. Prior to that I hadn't cycled since I gave it up at 13 because I was embarrassed being the only one out of 400 students to cycle to school :P I didn't get as much cycling in as I had hoped due to being a wuss in the rain, no changing/shower facilities in work and preferring the extra 30 mins in bed! I'm trying to get out a bit more now, starting a new job within cycling distance so will be aiming for that to be my main mode of transport! I have also gotten a kids carrier for the back so I can take my daughter and pick her up from the minder when necessary - no excuses!

Here's what I'm riding :pac:

Giant Escape 3W