another newbie training log.

RossieMan

Hello there.

so i recently decided to give up the football, meaning i have a lot of spare time and too much food eaten.

so i decided that Cycling was the ideal way to lose them extra pounds(more like kgs) i've put on.

Started just last week, and i have to say, i'm enjoying it so far.

i started with a 2 days of the same route, around 24 km.

1st day i found the saddle to be an absolute c**t, but still did the route in just under an hour. The route is quite flat, but still has a couple of climbs, which according to Strava added up to 130m.

the 2rd day, i had planned on doing the same route, didn't want to wander to far as i'm still quite new and may be in need of a lift if i break down.

so i was plodding along, and seen that the road was closed, so i decide i'd cycle up a bit, forgetting how long the next turn off was, so i cycled and extra 12 km

doesn't sound much in comparison to some, but twas a lot for me.

The next day, twas a Saturday was the usual Irish summer day, Rain.
so i didn't have a cycle, said i'd watch the TdF for my exercise. :rolleyes:

on the Sunday i went out with the intention of just stretching the legs out a bit, So went just over 16 km in about 38 munutes.

Was working the on the Monday, so didn't get out.

Tuesday, i had spent the morning in the bog, about 5 hours of the damn thing, and after i just wanted to get out into something that wasn't black and soaking wet, so i went over to Carrick-on-Shannon and back,( should have said i live about 10 km's outside of Boyle), Which was just over 50 km, Was delighted with that and did it in just over 2 hours, with 2 hours 6 minutes according to my Strava. Back was feeling quite sore after this, thing the bog had something to do with it too:o

Wednesday i took a rest day after my previous day exploits.

And now today, Thursday, just back from my Cycle, not much planned today so i said i'd get out before i was given something to do around the house.
Took practically the same route as the 1st couple of days, had the intention of challenging one of the local KOM's out my area.
My distance traveled was 23.6km in just over 55 minutes, an average spped of 25km.
But most importantly, the KOM, its only 6.4 km, previous record was 14:04 with an average speed of 27.5 km, i did it in 13:06 with an average of 29.5 km:D

my first KOM in my first week, not bad going.

now lets see how long it lasts.:(

Week 1: total: 174km(ish).
Average speed: Around 24 km/h.

sorry for the long 1st post, not half as impressive as some of the other threads on here, but hey, everyone starts somewhere.

RossieMan

So week 2, and a bit.

Basically continuing along the same routes, with some diversity.

had a couple of "big cycles", 3 over 50 km in fact.

longest current cycle is just over 52 km, achieved in just under 2 hours.

Gained another KOM( by 4 seconds), but its practically the same route as my 1st KOM.

still, a KOM is a KOM

Getting a little closer to the other cyclists(according to strava) so my confidence is going up.

i have decided, however, that i hate the wind. :P

had my 1st tumble due to the shoes and stopping quickly, i wouldn't be out of place in the matrix!

so anyway.

Week 2 total:
Total cycled: 210 km( my strava was playing up all week, so most of my cycles weren't recorded, i've done more, but can't remember how far i went.

Updated to 16/07.

nilhg

Good going RossieMan, especially since you've only started.

I used to feel the same about the wind, but now I only hate it when it's raining as well:D
Get your head down, use the drops and go as hard as you can till you find some shelter, that's the way I find best at dealing with the wind.

RossieMan

nilhg wrote: »

Good going RossieMan, especially since you've only started.

I used to feel the same about the wind, but now I only hate it when it's raining as well:D
Get your head down, use the drops and go as hard as you can till you find some shelter, that's the way I find best at dealing with the wind.

thanks very much, nilhg.
I enjoy the cycling actually, keeps me out and about.

Thanks for the advice, i try to ride into the wind on the way out, and let it take me home with minimal effort.

hopefully summer might soon show its face, I plan on breaking 100km before college starts again!

Four of a kind

Best of luck dude. I'm from Boyle as you already know so I would suggest you join up with us Curlieu wheelers and come out for the sunday spins.

Yesterday was a lovely 50km route out to Gurteen, Ballymote and back and had about 15 cyclists so everyone had someone who matched their pace.

It's completely different than cycling on your own as you know. I got a good buzz out of it and you can steam ahead or fall back at your own pace.

Pm me your strava name if you want and we can follow each other. I'd be interested in seeing your progress as well...even if we don't get to meet for a few spins.

Best of luck and you'll be flying in no time.

Carlo

RossieMan

Four of a kind wrote: »

Best of luck dude. I'm from Boyle as you already know so I would suggest you join up with us Curlieu wheelers and come out for the sunday spins.

Yesterday was a lovely 50km route out to Gurteen, Ballymote and back and had about 15 cyclists so everyone had someone who matched their pace.

It's completely different than cycling on your own as you know. I got a good buzz out of it and you can steam ahead or fall back at your own pace.

Pm me your strava name if you want and we can follow each other. I'd be interested in seeing your progress as well...even if we don't get to meet for a few spins.

Best of luck and you'll be flying in no time.

Carlo

Hey Carlo,
if im around the weekend I may take a spin out on Sunday and see what the fuzz is about, but im not around most weekends, sadly.

I'll add you on strava now, but i wouldn't pay to much attention to it as it doesn't seem to work half the time

That Gurteen-Boyle road is a nice, quiet cycle, did it last week.

RossieMan

So the Irish weather today decided to play a nice trick on me, was raining most of the day so i waited till the sun showed its pretty face.

anyways, went out, the 1st 10 km in "sunshine".
then the rain came, and my god, it came.

I nearly rang the guards i was raped so badly.

only cycled 24km because i was so wet, but i actually enjoyed it, still in a decent time of 55 mins.

was drier when i came out of the shower than i was when i went in.

j@utis

lol, today the same happened to me too. got out in lovely sunshine, 25km away from home it started pouring by bucket loads. I don't mind my clothes getting wet but when water gets into the shoes - the fun is over. got back home, stopped at the front door, took the shoes off, poured the water out - a cup from each. now have my shoes stuffed with newspaper hoping they'll be dry for tomorrow (way too optimistic). time to buy 2nd pair of cycling shoes me thinks.

RossieMan

j@utis wrote: »

lol, today the same happened to me too. got out in lovely sunshine, 25km away from home it started pouring by bucket loads. I don't mind my clothes getting wet but when water gets into the shoes - the fun is over. got back home, stopped at the front door, took the shoes off, poured the water out - a cup from each. now have my shoes stuffed with newspaper hoping they'll be dry for tomorrow (way too optimistic). time to buy 2nd pair of cycling shoes me thinks.

yea its not nice cycling in wet shoes and socks.

The water on the back is a killer too.

you can just see people in cars laughing at you too, some seem to feel sorry for you as they pass you out though:p

joys of an Irish summer eh, time to invest in a turbo trainer:rolleyes:

j@utis

oh and last week I climbed this killer hill up to Roundwood dreaming about over 8km descent afterwards where rain met me. again I was soaked and because I couldn't pedal hard downhill I got so cold I barely could squeeze the break levers when needed. I nearly stopped at some point thinking I'd be better off walking it down... and that wonderful feeling of COLD water running down your ar$e crack, priceless!

yeah, that's the cycling irish way for ya: in the rain, up the hill, through the potholes, against the wind. pick at least two of these four for you next cycle and ENJOY!

RossieMan

j@utis wrote: »

oh and last week I climbed this killer hill up to Roundwood dreaming about over 8km descent afterwards where rain met me. again I was soaked and because I couldn't pedal hard downhill I got so cold I barely could squeeze the break levers when needed. I nearly stopped at some point thinking I'd be better off walking it down... and that wonderful feeling of COLD water running down your ar$e crack, priceless!

yeah, that's the cycling irish way for ya: in the rain, up the hill, through the potholes, against the wind. pick at least two of these four for you next cycle and ENJOY!

Potholes, Rain and wind are a given, hill's can be got around:D