Cycling Thread - pleasure peddlers to serious cyclists sign in here!

[Thistledew]

Hi All

I thought I would start a cycling thread. It would be great if we could make it all inclusive, so whether you currently just enjoy bike rides but are interested in taking it further, or already train seriously, please post what you are up to and what your aims are. By sharing knowledge and experiences, hopefully we can spur each other on.

If you want to, please post a quick biog of how long you have been cycling, how much you currently cycle, and what your goals are.

And for those who wish to engage in a bit of bike porn, please feel free to post what sort of bike you ride!

Happy peddling!

I have just got home from finishing the Richmond to Windsor ride and am feeling pretty chuffed with myself.

The ride was 37 miles but due to the fact that engineering works meant that we couldn't get a train to Richmond, DP and I decided to cycle to the start, so the total mileage was 45 miles.

We did the whole 45 miles in 3hrs 20 mins, about 25 mins of which was getting to the start, and were lucky to finish just before the heavens opened.

I was really pleased that I managed to keep up a good pace on the flat, and even at the end was keeping up to about 17-18 mph. I am also especially proud that I managed to cycle up a long steep hill that forced many people to get off and push. Hills really are my bête noir, as my asthma kicks in big time and I usually end up hyperventilating, but this time I just stuck the bike in the lowest gear, kept my cadence up, and focussed on breathing slowly and deeply. I did have a moment about 3/4 of the way up when my breathing got a bit ragged and I felt a bit panicy, but I managed to get it back under control to finish the climb.

I know it is nothing compared to a Vuelta stage, and I am pretty knackered now (and enjoying a hot bath) but I feel a great sense of achievement to have managed this having only starting cycling less than 9 months ago. I hope I am forgiven the boast if it encourages other people to up their training.

Thistledew Well done to you! You have every right to feel proud of yourself.

I am lying on the sofa feeling very sorry for myself as I went down with flu yesterday and today I was due to participate in a cycle challenge of between 74-90km. I have been aiming towards this all summer, even sent ds back to the UK a day early yesterday so I could do this! My friend I have been training with managed to do the 74km (decided not to do the steep mountain climb back up) and kept me up to date with her progress whenever she stopped. DH says we will do it together but that's not quite the same as doing it with 40 other people and celebrating your achievements.

Give yourself a huge pat on the back, you deserve it.

I'm looking forward to doing the Pedal for Scotland on Sunday - 51 miles. Going to be doing it ds (who turns 11 the day before) and my dad, who is 74.

I've done it before about 6 years ago on training that consisted of my commute to work (ie 3.1 miles each way 4 or 5 days a week). Let's just say my bum was sore the following day - but my aerobic strength held up.

I've been doing a bit more training this time: have done 2 c.20 mile runs so far and am just about to go out and do another one (to visit my mum), plus a number of 10+ mile cycles.

Ds has only done the 10+ mile cycles - but he comes in as fresh as a daisy, so I don't have any concerns about him.

My dad has done the Pedal for Scotland many times, so I don't have any concerns about him. It'll be the first time he has done it without my mum though, so it'll be bittersweet for him - so I am pleased he is going to be doing it with his grandson.

Bugger: the hanger of ds' gears has sheared again (we think it got damaged in a bad fall in early August and sheared about a week later, so Islabikes sent a replacement which my dad fitted).

Dad tried to get a replacement locally but 'cos the Islabikes are proper kids' bikes, couldn't get one the right size - so he has got Islabikes sending up two so that he can have a spare in his kit while we are doing the Pedal for Scotland on Sunday.

Ds was most dischuffed at having to walk to school today - he'll be really pissed off that he'll have to do the same again tomorrow and possible Friday. He's also upset 'cos he was in the middle of his (made-up) "Tour of Glasgow" - and yesterday (when it happened) he was apparently about to take the yellow jersey back from Ben [sic] Wiggins.

But at least it happened now and not during the ride.

I was also pleased with him for not panicing when it happened - I'd told him to let him cycle around locally by himself cos I was knackered and still wet from my own 21 mile ride and had got him to take his mobile with him (which he uses rarely). The only wee challenge was him trying to describe where he was - but to give him his due, he did so exactly - and I had to go out on my bike after all to find him. I thought it was just a matter of putting the chain back on - but the whole gear mechanism was hanging off.

I've not been out on my bike much over the last couple of days.
I had a mountain trail ride planned for this morning but the weather was shockingly bad. The wind would have been awful.
I went to spinning class for the first time and not sure how I feel about that ( apart from the fact I know I am going to be sore!!)

prettybird Hope the bike gets fixed and you all have a wonderful ride on Sunday.

upahill hope you are not too sore. My friend's friend lost 2 stone doing spinning classes.

Back on the bike tomorrow. Going to take it easy as I still had a fever this time last night.

Not sure I've got time for another mn thread (I'm on the running thread too) esp as work is busy at the moment but I thought I'd say hi and ask if any of you are doing Cycletta at Whipsnade zoo on Sunday?

I'm a relatively new competitive (not that I'm ever going to win anything) cyclist in that I've done 2 sprint triathlons this year and am doing Cycletta (40km) and hope to do a duathlon in the autumn. Have always cycled on and off but getting into it again now and have just bought a new road bike with the hope of improving my bike times and enjoying road cycling more- sometimes get frustrated on the mountain bike on the road with the amount of effort needed.
So anyway, the point of my post was- any tips for starting a cycling race? I'm happy enough about the race (well they're saying it's not a race but it's timed and we're starting in 3 waves depending on expected finish time) but a bit nervous about the start as in a triathlon you obviously don't start the cycle with many other people.

mountaingirl my arse is getting sore as I type!!

Looks like there won't be much mountain biking tomorrow. Lots of gusting wind expected.
we go out for fun, not to be blown off the moors.

May go to another spin class instead.

Debi I looked at the Cycletta, it looked really good but so expensive! So I didn't enter.
I would think that you'll probably move off in a big slow wave and then people will find their own pace and you'll be able to spread out and find your own space. Good luck, hope it all goes well for you!

Hi Debi

I am doing the Cycletta too. I gather we will be given our start times on Friday. How long did you estimate that it will take you? I put myself in the second fastest bracket 1hr 15 to 1hr 30. I am guessing that they will set people off in these groupings.

I think I put down 1hr 30. Have you not had your race pack and 'final email' thistle? I have and my race pack says I'm starting at 9.10 which according to the email is in the first wave which is 9-9.10. What number are you? I'm 214. I wonder how many are doing it.

I didn't think it was that expensive as it includes entry to the zoo. I used tesco vouchers to get tickets for dh and the kids so it should be a good day out. Some of the triathlons I've looked at are way more expensive.

Debi. I only entered today

I am trying to persuade DP to let me use his slick road tyres rather than the 35 mm cyclocross ones I have on at the moment. We use the same type of cassette so it should be easier to swap the whole wheel rather than just the tyres.

Hi Debi I have just got the email with my start time - 9.20. I would like to say that I will catch up with you en route, but if you are a triathlon regular, I very much doubt that I will!

Has anyone done that route or cycled around there before? I have looked at the route profile and google streetview and am trying to work out how tough the hills will be. The last one seems to be quite steep at the end, but otherwise not too bad.

Hi, can i join in?

I am not sure what you would call me, maybe a wannabe serious cyclist .

I purchased by bike 2 summers ago, a lovely muddy fox hybrid! I only started riding it this summer . I started in May this year after a rib injury put a stop to my running. I have done one 36mile event so far, 4 weeks ago. I have another 32 miles event planned for Sunday. I haven't managed any training betweeen to the 2 so could be a little tender on monday!!

I have also enquired about doing a cycle trek through morocco next july .

I love cycling and often go out on a sunday for a little ride and end up doing 20-25 miles.

So that is me, hello.

Hi all, I am on a cycling weekend this Sat/Sun, in Lancaster. Weather forecast for tomorrow is not too bad, but Sunday... oh dear!

I thought about doing the Cycletta near here (Tatton Park), but the entry cost put me off.

Hello morethanyoubargainfor :)

Hello Paddington, nice to meet you .

Oh Hi Paddington!
Where about in Lancaster are you going?

C'mon DebiTheScott. How abouts a race then?

Waves to MTYBF and Paddington.

thistle I'm not very fast. Only 16mph ish fast. My road bile is new so I'm not totally used to it yet and am not going much faster than I was on my mountain bike yet (but don't tell dh that or he won't he happy as I had to fight to get this bike!)
I don't know if I should take anything with me. Are you carrying repair kit, inner tubes etc? Layers of clothes? I need to move my wee saddle bag thing with those bits in it from my other bike.
I've had too much wine too. And I'm doing parkrun at 9am.

upahill, we're staying at Lancaster University tonight. Not sure how wise that is, as it's on the top of a hill - we might get blown away! I did my degree there many years ago, and haven't been back since, so it will be interesting. Today's ride should be fairly flat - some canal and cycle paths around Hest Bank/Morecambe - but tomorrow's is hilly, around the Lune Valley.

Debi I am really not very fast either, but I am looking forward to cycling with a group of women of similar abilities to see how I measure up.

I will have a seat bag with spare inner tube and CO2 canister, and will put my phone in there as well. It is not a long distance so I am planning to just take one bottle of energy drink.

The weather forecast looks good so I am just going to wear a short sleeve jersey, and then I can put my inhaler and contact details etc in the back pocket.

I was thinking the same clotheswise. I haven't put an inner tube in tho. Maybe I should altho not sure if I'll fit my phone in too.
Contact details go on the back of the number.

Paddington, I know that area fairly well.
how did you get on today.

I got out on my MB round the West Pennine Moors today for a few hours today. Lots of uphill but plenty of down hill too!

I hope everyone is watching the Tour of Britain on ITV4 every evening for the next week? It was miserable weather for the first stage, yesterday, and some very dodgy roads resulted in Jens Voight crashing out. However, Mark Renshaw and Mark Cavendish still managed to show why they're the best sprint team in the business.