I cycled to work.

Diddums

Diddums

Diddums

Caporegime
Joined
24 Oct 2012
Posts
25,778
Location
Godalming
Yes. I did. I know most of you are probably looking at this and going "well whoop de doo, well done!" or something to that effect, but for me, this is a huge milestone.

It's only 6 miles each way so fairly short, but in my physical state, that's quite the achievement. I've done it three times so far this week, and make no mistake, Brixton Hill followed by Streatham Hill, on a £150 Halfords Special after a 12 hour night shift pretty much broke me.

I used to cycle everywhere when I lived in Holland, I didn't even own a car back then. That's the level of fitness I want to get back to and I'm determined to do it.

My bum hurt like hell after the first day so I skipped a day, then went for it the two days after that, and tonight I'll be cycling in again. Maybe tomorrow too, not sure yet.

It's amazing to be cycling again. I hadn't touched a pedal in about 8 years before doing this and I was pretty much a lazy slob who would drive 100 yards to the shops. My ultimate goal is to do the London to Brighton run but obviously that's a far cry away still. I'll get there though.

This thread isn't looking for anything in particular, I just felt like jotting down what to me is a fairly large accomplishment which has made me feel quite proud of myself and made me feel excellent.

That said, if anyone's willing to share some advice or tips I'd be more than happy to listen :)
 
Cheers all, I don't know if this is a mid life crysis or what but it's bloody brilliant, I really enjoy it.

grudas said:
I cycle daily through brixton hill and streatham hill :) I bet for an unfit person it's a challenge.. lots of people struggle at the end/steepest bit.
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Oh man, it's hard. I still haven't managed it without walking for a bit and I've also gone through the backroads and via Brockwell Park which is lovely in the morning.

Getting passed by people old enough to be my grandparents on shonky old bikes is bloody embarrassing but it's early days. I'll pass them eventually :)


I'm currently riding a Raleigh Altare but I'll be looking for something a bit more focussed in the near future. I suppose the advantage of riding a bike which is about as heavy as a Sherman tank with an eating disorder is that it makes me work that much harder to get anywhere. Might keep it a bit longer, at least until I can go all the way up the hill without needing to stop (that's a personal goal atm).
 
Thanks :)

I wonder what the wife would say if I told her I wanted to buy a Specialized Allez... I think a glass of wine might be in order :D

I'll need loads of gear too. Is Boris still doing that cycle scheme thing? I'm sure my employer (BT) would be in on that.
 
grudas said:
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I'm pushing as hard as I can, but it's seriously tough at this point. I'm definitely improving though, panting a lot les for a start!

I can't believe how quick you did that ride, that's 33%:of the time it takes me :eek:


Lovely footage too, can I ask what you recorded it with and how you added the speedo?
 
grudas said:
cycling is one of those things, it doesn't really get EASIER as such, you just go faster? I still work as hard as I worked day 1 when I started commuting my 12.7miles to work and same back - was a shock to the system for the first two weeks.

it was recorded with Garmin Virb, which then allows me to pull the GPX file off my garmin 800 and overlay the GPS Data on the video :) - it wasn't synced properly but you get the idea haha.

awesome bit of kit that, my youtube channel is full of great driving!
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Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. It's still hard, just for shorter periods. The input in this thread has me wanting to hit the road again, thanks all :)
 
Yeah, I've been using Endomondo up until now but Strava seems to have quite a following here so I'll give it a go tomorrow.


Had my first puncture this morning on the way home. This prompted me to go to Decathlon and grab a couple of new tubes, whilst I was there I also bought a high vis jacket, a reflector strap for my bag, some mud guards, a helmet, and a cage & bottle. It's really looking like a commuter bike now :D


I just need some lighting now. Nothing they had really performed well enough for me, do any of you guys have any suggestions?
 
42 mins this morning, which is considerably faster than when I started. This was of course the downhill side so this afternoon is probably going to take me forever but it was a small victory for me given that my first run was an hour. I'm also gradually managing to get further up the little hilly bits without changing down or worse, walking. I still haven't managed all the way home without walking or taking a break. The day I manage that will be a huge triumph for me, I might run up and down some stairs and play Eye of the tiger to celebrate :p
 
Well, I did it. Apart from traffic lights, I went non-stop all the way home. Granted a small patch towards the end of Brixton Hill I had to go into my lowest gear and probably look like an old dear but I made it, and in no uncertain terms thanks to the posts on here :)

I also refused to drop to the lowest going up Leigham Court Road and forced that too.

Woop woop :D
 
Cheers all :)


Caught a tube in this morning, I just need a day off. My wife and I went swimming at the gym after work last night (first time swimming in years) and I think the chlorine messed me up a bit as I'm feeling a bit rough today. Also doesn't help that I've worked 84 hours in the last week and have 36 left to go.

I'll have a nice early night tonight and see how I feel in the morning, hopefully back on it then.
 
ThaReaperGuy said:
@Diddums, did you get back on yesterday/today? - Fight through the pain!
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Sadly not, I'm hoping to get back on tomorrow, but I'm seriously knackered at the moment.

To give you an idea, by Friday I will have worked 132 hours in 9 days, many of which are night shifts. I'm a bit dead atm :(


Well done on yours though, the burn is great isn't it?
 
Another day not up to it :(


I just need this damn week over and done with. I was meant to have 6 days off but I've already been roped in to work 3 of them, but I've refused to work Sat & Sun. The only other day I've got off for the foreseeable future is Wednesday, Thursday I go back on to nights. I prefer cycling after a night shift tbh. All the traffic and hustle & bustle is going in the opposite direction so I can just cruise home at a leisurely pace with no problem. Plus it's lovely to cycle through bits of park with nobody there with the early morning fresh air and the sun just up. It's really refreshing.

One more day, then hopefulyl I'll have some semblance of normality again and can continue cycling. I shall not give this up!
 
Cycled in again tonight. I seem considerably fitter than the last bout and bits which killed me last time took much less effort this time around. Generally more of a breeze than last time and again feeling great.

Don't know why I don't do this more often, it's so satisfying.
 
Ohai. Member me?

Fell out of it for a while but cycled in to work this morning again. 11.1km in 34 mins. Working a new job too, my shifts are now 7-4 and 10-7 weekdays only, so that should help a bit too.

Guess which schmuck thought "ah it's not too hot, I'll wear jeans for my ride to work" this morning.

This afternoon is going to be a killer. The majority of it is that route Grudas posted above whuch has a very slight but very long uphill gradient. In jeans. Oh well, no pain and all that :D
 
Thanks Roady. This morning's commute popped up on there no problem, at least I can rule myself out.

Tis still very enjoyable, but lawdy lawd, my homeward journey is a killer. Should get better with time though!

I'll be passing Grudas in no time :p
 
Update!

Starting to get a bit fitter I think. It's still seriously hard at times and one particular elevation home is an absolute killer, I still struggle quite badly with it but I'm getting better overall. My work-home time is now down to 34mins on average with one highlight being 31mins, I'm aiming to get that under 30mins but it'll take a while as that 31mins was really pushing it. Keep in mind that when I started, 45 mins felt like an achievement.

My fitness doesn't seem to be improving much but I put that down to my diet as well. Maybe it is. Dunno.

I still get passed by all sorts but it's getting less and less, I'm gradually starting to become the person passing others which is a great feeling.

I'm not in the position to buy a new bike yet having bought loads of things recently (my wife will kill me) but hopefully in a few months I'll pick up something new. Until then I'm stuck with this Raleigh heavyweight monster which suits me fine. Once I'm fit enough to get this thing under 30mins I'll probably do the journey in 30secs on a proper bike :p


Here's my Strava link in case anyone's interested. All comments and feedback appreciated as always!

http://www.strava.com/athletes/diddums
 
:eek:


Cheers guys, feels good. Incidentally, I was on my way home a few mins ago when my phone starts going nuts, had a quick peek and there's loads of Roady's Kudos all over my screen :p

Also Roady, I simply changed my URL in my profile on a PC. Roady's probably taken though.
 
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