Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest
My busfare-saving log.
-
04-05-2011 10:53am#1Hello,
I've decided to risk embarrassment by making some goals public. This seems to be the place to do it
Background:
Male, mid 40s, 6ft, 15st
Commuting on and off for the last 4/5 years. Last year was very poor though. Never really got into it due to lifestyle and injuries. Commute is 10 or 11 miles each way depending on minor route variations.
I decided to cut down/out unhealthy habits and start running and cycling again. That was in January 2010. I finally got around to it on Paddy's Day 2011. The running fell by the wayside fairly quickly once I found that I preferred exercise you can do sitting down..
Goals: Get fit and save busfare. Do some long distance cycling for leisure.
Progress: I started commuting on a hybrid (Trek 7.1) and was completely wrecked at first. It was taking 55 minutes each way, but I have managed to improve.
I started to keep a log on RunKeeper at the outset, and I'm glad I did. It provides a small degree of motivation. Every bit helps.
http://runkeeper.com/user/dribble/profile
I was reminded of the bike to work scheme and decided to take it up a couple of weeks ago. So I went and got a Ridley Eos.
I immediately found a huge difference. Less comfort and more speed. It's my first proper bike ever and I'm still getting used to it. I decided to complicate things further by changing the pedals to those click-in jobbies. They cause minor improvements in the speed and falling-off departments.
So anyway, this is where I intend to write the story of how I converted myself from a lazy ****e into something resembling a cyclist.
P.S. Busfare saved to date: €101.207
Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
Another interesting week. Going to rest tomorrow so the cycling week is over for me.
Mon: 36.5km commute
Tue: 51km commute
Wed: 51km commute
Thurs: 45km commute
Fri: Rest
Sat: 150km inc. 100km sportive
Sun: Rest
Total distance this week: 333.5km
Yearly (since Paddy's Day): 1604km
Achievements: Longest distance in a week. Longest distance in a day, got a helmet at last
Stuff:
Went on my arse on College Green last Monday. Doing the "too cool for school" balancing act as I waited for a light to change...a lady walked across my front wheel..couldn't get out of the pedal in time. Slightly embarrassing.
Did the Garda Cycling Club 100km sportive today. Out from Islandbridge to Hill of Tara and back to Islandbridge. Cycled in gently to get warmed up and cycled home afterwards for a total of 150km. Of course it pissed rain most of the way. Got a puncture after a few kilometers and lost the main group. Missed the effort reduction which goes along with being in the group.
Cycling back across town I had a spill. Some things are in dispute, but the bits that aren't are as follows..
I was cycling in the cycling lane (at aound 25km/h).
2 pedestrians were trying to flag a taxi.
Taxi just ahead of me didn't stop, kept going.
I kept going.
Taxi behind and to my right pulled across cycle lane to kerb, ahead of me, and stopped.
I hit brakes and road. Ended up under the back of his car.
Right shoulder and elbow are sore, but was able to cycle my remaining 15km.
All in all an interesting week's cycling. Roll on next week!
Nearly forgot.. Busfare saved this week: €18.400 -
-
Advertisement
-
-
Thanks, they're not too bad. Bruising to leg, arm and shoulder. Can't raise my right arm without pain, but have tablets for thattawfeeredux wrote: »To say the least! Hope the injuries aren't too bad. Could have been worse.. 0 -
-
Rest week this week, so lowered mileage and effort.
Mon: 18.3km commute
Tue: 17.8km commute
Wed: 42.6km commute
Thurs: 16.1km commute
Fri: 25km commute
Sat: 52.3km commute
Sun: 51.2km commute
Weekly total: 223km.
Yearly total: 1,827km
Busfare saved: €23 (Yearly total: €142.60)
Stuff:
Still in a bit of a mess after last week's crash. Right shoulder and elbow particularly sore. Less confident as a result. I don't want injuries on my injuries.
The wind has been playing havoc with every spin this week, and this morning was just scary. Still, this wind can't last forever...can it?
I bought a Garmin Edge 500 during the week. Stuff like that appeals to my inner geek. Still haven't read the manual so I haven't a clue what I'm doing with it. It appears to work all the same. My average cadence seems to be around 77rpm, which is possibly nice to know.
While I was buying the garmin I picked up a couple of tubes and some CO2 bottle thingies, which I was glad of today when I had another puncture. My tyres look like they might need to be replaced. They are a month old I suppose..
Anyway, I managed a whole week without falling off the bike. Not something to be sniffed at. 0 -
-
-
-
-
Thanks,Great log, and well done on racking up some serious distance. Out of interest, in your first post you mentioned that the changeover from hybrid to drop bar road bike gave you more speed but less comfort. Any improvement on the comfort side of things? (I ask this as a mid 40s 6ft 13st bloke on a hybrid myself, who likes his comfort)
I find the racer much more comfortable now than I first did, and going out on the hybrid feels less comfy/more awkward now. I'm a stone lighter than when I started, which probably helps a bit. I think it was just a case of getting used to it, to be honest.
My 150km spin on the 14th involved nearly 6 hours in the saddle, but comfort wasn't really much of an issue. At some stage in the future I'll probably start looking at getting the bike set up to suit me properly, but it's not a big priority just now.
On the differences between the two types of bike, overall I'd say comfort is way down the list. The road bike is lighter and faster, so factoring in how to stop becomes a bigger issue, particularly in built-up areas and especially in the wet. On a road bike you're more likely to use clip-in shoes as well, which also adds speed. It also adds an obstacle to your safety if you need to stop suddenly. I've ended up on my arse 3 times in the last month. The last time I fell off a bike prior to that was over 20 years ago.
So currently my issues are shoes/pedals, tyres and brakes. Basically safety issues. I find the bike comfortable enough that I'd happily go anywhere in this country on it, and I'm starting to ponder some epic solo journeys.
0 -
An uneventful week, which is no bad thing at times.
Mon: Rest
Tue: Rest
Wed: Rest
Thurs: 51km commuting.
Fri: 51km commuting
Sat: 48km commuting
Sun: 59km commuting
I've been taking the long way around going in and out of work mostly and I'm finding that it's working out well for me. If I'm under time pressure I can go direct, but it's generally not happening. The wind was driving me bananas at the beginning of the week so I took the opportunity to rest.
I had another puncture on Thursday, so will probably be changing the tyres this week.
On the physical side of things, my shoulder and arm are still quite sore but slowly improving. Leg and back muscles have stopped complaining about the sudden onslaught of mileage I've thrown at them, so maybe I'll have to start putting the occasional hill session into the mix.
Didn't get a long one in this week, so will try to make amends for that in the next week.
Weekly Total: 209km
Annual total: 2,036km
Busfare saved: €18.40 (Yearly total €161)0 -
Advertisement
-
-
-
This week was all about putting some mileage in, although I did also go up Howth a couple of times to see where the TT route was. Working away from my usual place robbed me of 4x25km journeys, but I made up for it elsewhere. Saturday was a really nice day and I joined the Swords 9.15 group for a spin up to Tara, after which I cycled the scenic route to work. I had intended going to try meet the 8.30 group at Blake's Cross, but Friday night beer put paid to that idea. I wasn't hungover or anything, just didn't get up in time.
Today was ok in the morning, but coming come out the coast was miserable. The worst day I've been on a bike this year by a long way. I'm just glad I hadn't done something silly like signing up for the W200.
I ended up not adjusting my saddle as it's not causing me any discomfort. Last week was probably about not being used to it.
All is good. No crashes, no punctures.
Mon: 25km commuting
Tue: 36km commuting with Howth detour
Wed: 62km commuting with Howth detour
Thurs: 18km commuting
Fri: 25km commuting
Sat: 131km, group spin & commuting
Sun: 50km commuting
Weekly Total: 348km
Yearly Total: 2,727km
Busfare saved: €23 (Yearly €202.40)0 -
-
Another reasonably good week.
I went to Bog of the ring on Wednesday evening to see the Swords CC race. Weather was a bit crap. Punctured on the way over, and again the following morning while commuting so I replaced the front tyre.
Had a nice spin out around NCD with the Swords CC 9.15 group on Saturday with a stop in the Naul for tea and scones
Today I did the Swords CC Tour. Well organised, with a big group traveling at a nice pace. The tea-stop at the Boyne was lovely. Sandwiches and tea in the sun. A very well chosen spot, so kudos to whoever picked it. I went on the 150km route and tried to stay with the leading group, but got dropped after 95km or so when we hit the hills. Finished out at my own pace, with a stop for a 99 in Rush
Mon: Rest
Tue: 40km incl. Hill of Howth
Wed: 26km
Thurs: 51km commuting
Fri: 51km commuting
Sat: 85km
Sun: 152km Swords CC Tour
Weekly total: 405km
Yearly total: 3,534km
Busfare saved: €9.20 (YTD €234.60)0 -
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
Another enjoyable week on the bike. Just one puncture, and it happened close enough to home that it didn't matter. I've ordered a 53T ring to replace the 50T that came with the bike, and I'm getting the stem shortened by 1cm at the same time. We shall see how that works out.
I was a bit bold on Monday. I was tight for time going to work so had to go the direct route. Just before Fairview on the Malahide Rd I spotted 2 guys commuter racing ahead of me. The guy in front on a racer doing a decent pace, and the guy on his wheel was on a hybrid. I sat spectating well behind until the 5 lamps, where the hybrid jumped the lights and raced down the road to take the chequered flag...or so he thought for one tiny moment. Had an idiot grin on me for a while after that. Not so much for the commuter racing nonsense as for the fact that I was feeling strong. It's a nice feeling.
The rest of the commuting week was uneventful. I've taken to using standing starts from the lights as an unstructured training tool of sorts, but have deliberately slowed down my general speed in built-up areas while trying to compensate by increasing it on the open road. I read on here where someone mentioned stopping at lights and then sprinting to overtake all the cyclists who ran them. This I've been trying and I can vouch for it being enjoyable.
On Thursday I went for a spin up Howth Hill with a friend and Friday was a rest day.
Saturday went for a spin with the lads and ladies from Swords CC out around Meath, with a tea-stop in Trim. It was a lovely day, with long sunny spells and light winds. However, the peloton was attacked by unrestrained dogs on 3 occasions and we had one faller as a result. Obviously we could do without that sort of thing.. I wonder can you get handlebar-mounted high-pitched dog-scaring thingies?
Anyway, that was the week that was. Next week will be quieter as I'll be away somewhere sunny resting my legs and exercising my elbow.
Mon: 41.5km Commuting
Tue: 50.5km Commuting
Wed: 50km Commuting
Thurs: 45km
Fri: Rest
Sat: 168.5km (118.5 spin, 50km Commuting)
Sun: 50km Commuting
Weekly mileage: 405km
Yearly mileage: 4,291km
Busfare saved: €23 (YTD €276)
Edit #2: I forgot my biggest achievement. I found out during the week that I was in a class of cyclists known as clydesdales (6ft and over + 200lbs and over). I lost that status over the weekend when I dropped a few pounds 0 -
-
insinkerator wrote: »Congratulations on the shift in class
Where did you find out about the classes of cyclists? I wouldn't mind having a read through all the different ones!
Thanks,
I found it going through old posts while researching gear ratios, and something caught my eye about parts only being rated up to certain weights.
From googling it would appear to be a class in some MTB races which allows your average Yank to compete
They even have websites and websites dedicated to it.0 -
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
Holidays and outside world (fishing mostly) played havoc with my cycling again this week, but I still managed to get out a couple of times. I went to Donegal on Tuesday and came home yesterday, so traveling messed with the schedule a bit. I did bring the bike with me though, and I got out a couple of times. The hills were a bit of a shock to the system. Tuesday's spin around Culdaff, Glengad, Malin Head, Malin, Carndonagh & Gleneally was lovely but the hills were savage. I'm a total novice when it comes to the hilly stuff so they nearly had me getting off and walking at times.
I had a short spin on Thursday around Tremore Bay in Inishowen, an area I'd never explored before. Basically I just got off the main road and headed down some narrow lanes to see where they would lead. For my 1st time ever I had no option but to stand on the pedals. I normally stay seated 100% of the time, but I found myself going up a neverending hill which I absolutely had to stand up for. Looking at the data afterwards on Strava it would appear that the grade was around 10.5% at one point near the start of the climb. :eek:
I also had a newbie-type fall on the same spin. Coming down a severe descent I had to stop because I could see a car approaching the bottom of the hill and there wasn't enough room to do downhill speeds past it. Stopped and freed my right shoe as I normally do....but the camber of the road was drifting to left. Ended up on my arse in a hedge.
After the climb out of Tremore Bay I found myself on the brakes as the descent reached a grade of -15% on it's way to a T junction!!! This was the moment I learned that I was not made to descend rapidly. Just as I approached the junction I got off and walked. The grade, combined with the gravel that seems to be shoveled freely onto Donegal's roads, meant that it wasn't safe to cycle it. All the same, I'll be back..
Mon: 42km commuting
Tue: 64km around the Malin Head area.
Wed: Rest
Thurs: 27km around some big hills
Fri: Rest
Sat: Rest
Sun: 63km commuting and hill of Howth.
Weekly mileage: 196km
Yearly mileage: 5,022km
Busfare saved: €9.20 (YTD €317.40)0 -
A nice week on two wheels for me this week. Started off with a wind-assisted 9.37 on the Howth climb on Monday, then met two boardsies (kemase & cdaly_) on my commutes during the week. Did 42km with kennyb3* on Saturday morning, but couldn't stay the pace longer than that so went home for a cup of tea. Suitably refreshed I went to Swords and did 83km with the 9.15 group. Finished off the week with an extended commute for a weekly total of 410km, which I'm happy with. My legs feel a little bit tired, but nothing too bad.
*Lusk Doyle started out with us, but came to grief in Malahide. On the plus side, when faced with the choice of hitting me or kennyb3 he chose wisely.
Mon: 35km spin to Howth & back
Tue: 43.5km commuting
Wed: 50km commuting
Thurs: 50km commuting
Fri: 50km commuting
Sat: 125km
Sun: 56.5km commuting
Weekly mileage: 410km
Yearly mileage: 5,432km
Busfare saved: €23 (YTD €340.40)0 -
Nearly all commuting this week, and no long run.
Did a commute in to work at 2.30am on Tuesday, which felt a bit strange. Took the opportunity to try out a potential winter route. Nothing much else interesting happened during the week.
Then came the weekend.. I got to go to Sundrive Rd velodrome on Saturday for training/accreditation and had an absolute blast. First time on a track bike, first time on a track and first time on a fixed-gear bike. I think I might be in love...been googling Fuji Track Classics all day as a possible entry into all this fun, or maybe a Dolan Track Champion, or a Ridley Oval? Either way, my wallet will definitely be lighter as a result of this surprisingly fun day.
Mon: 50km commuting
Tue: 19km commuting (at night)
Wed: 36km commuting
Thurs: 50km commuting
Fri: 44km commuting
Sat: 70km
Sun: 50km commuting
Weekly mileage: 319km
Yearly mileage: 5,751km
Busfare saved: €25.30 (YTD €365.70)0 -
-
Advertisement
-
insinkerator wrote: »Just out of interest, have you compared the money you are saving by not getting the bus, to the amount of money spent on this extremely expensive hobbie we have taken upon ourselves? :P
I'm trying really hard not to
The bike I got on the work scheme so it's nearly paid for itself already. I just need to keep cycling to help pay for the pedals, shoes, cleats, garmin, tools, giro jersey, bibshorts, shades, led lights, track pump, club subs, CI licence, tyres, tubes, chains, cassettes, bike fit and a year's supply of high 5 zero (berry).
Which means I need to cycle through the winter.
So then I'll be needing heavier shorts, base layers, waterproof jacket, overshoes, more lights, waterproof socks and a winter bike.
It's bound to level out in the end, right?0 -
-
those are some serious distances you're posting!
wish i hadn't read this log now!
seriously though, fair play, you seem to be flying
Thanks! I'm quite happy with how it's going at the moment. To be perfectly honest though, most of my mileage is down to laziness/routine. I know that might seem strange, but I can get in 250km per week just commuting. It's quicker than public transport so I get to stay in bed longer, and I don't have to run/wait for a bus. I don't have to plan journeys, which is important when you're as fundamentally lazy and disorganised as I am.
I may add suffering to the equation next year though..0 -
All commuting, and no leisure runs this week
So just 250km of commuting at avg 27kph.
I forced myself to rest on Friday, and was too busy/lazy/hungover to go out on Saturday. I do think it was a good idea. My legs have stopped complaining at any rate.
On the plus side, I got new wheels for the road bike, new pedals and saddle for the winter hack and I've gone over 6,000km for the year
Mon: 50km commuting
Tue: 50km commuting
Wed: 50km commuting
Thurs: 50km commuting
Fri: Rest
Sat: Rest
Sun: 50km commuting
Weekly mileage: 250km
Yearly mileage: 6,001km
Busfare saved: €23 (YTD €388.70)0 -
-
Work really screwed with my cycling this week. I had to go away for a couple of days midweek so missed out. Saturday was a rest day due to my being bold on Friday night.
I changed the pedals on the road bike to SPDs and I'm now using my Lidl MTB shoes and finding them very comfy. I've ordered overshoes for the coming weather as well.
Meanwhile, I've put the SPD-SL pedals on the hybrid. While I was at it I changed the saddle to Selle Italia XO. I'll be dumping the seatpost for something that isn't hydraulic/bouncy, and I've ordered 700x28c tyres to replace the 35mm ones it came with. A bit of a service and I'll have it as an option for when the weather gets really bad.
Mon: 50km commuting
Tue: 25km commuting
Wed: 25km commuting
Thurs: Rest
Fri: 25km commuting
Sat: Rest
Sun: 86km
Weekly mileage: 211km
Yearly mileage: 6,212km
Busfare saved: €16.10 (YTD €404.80)0 -
This week was a pain. I wanted to hit 500km for the first time, but lost a couple of miles on Wednesday, then took it easy on Friday in preparation for Into The West.
Then ITW itself fell foul of the weather and I only ended up with 150km for the weekend instead of 300km. The return trip was called off due to high winds. At least we got the first half into the wind
Mon: Rest
Tue: 50km commuting
Wed: 43km commuting
Thurs: 50km
Fri: 43km commuting
Sat: 150km Into the west
Sun: Rest I DON'T WANT REST!!!!
This week's dilemma... Dolan Pre Cursa or Fuji Feather?
Weekly mileage: 336km
Yearly mileage: 6,548km
Busfare saved: €16.10 (YTD €418.60)
Here.0 -
-
-
-
Advertisement
Advertisement