I cycled to work.

Fair enough. It's a little hard to tell from the video but 3 miles of incline, even not particularly steep incline, can be pretty tough and easy to push yourself too hard on/blow out.
 
It's a great feeling especially in the warm sunshine. Last summer i was riding every day. Is only 3 miles each way to work and back but between Croydon, Epsom, Kingston, Wimbledon and Morden there are some epic cycling routes. On one ride I got a bit lost and ended up going through Richmond Park before finally realising where I was and got home. Think I did 24 miles that day.

My bike is currently on a turbo trainer for the pregnant wife to have a go on but she barely used it so I'm gonna take it off and use it to go work again from next week.
 
grudas said:
Just keep going at it :) I know your brain and body get to a point where it hurts but you just gotta keep going and forcing yourself out of your "comfort" zone :) I see a lot of people walking the top bit which is a bit of a shame.. get out of the saddle and push! ha :)

snip24:45.. - one of my commutes home, far from my fastest times up the hill - 20mph/avg is my best for the full hill!

get on STRAVA too, which will help you motivate yourself :)
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That looks flipping terrifying to me!
 
Jonny69 said:
That's my old stomping ground! Thirded about Brixton Hill, it just goes on and on and on. Not as bad as that drag from Herne Hill to Crystal Palace where the gradient just keeps getting steeper and steeper though!
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you mean the "college road" climb? :)


Cleisthenes said:
That looks flipping terrifying to me!
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which part? the video or the hill(I'll start calling a bump on the road if damien/frenctart keep mocking me!!! ;( )
 
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I've been doing my 5 mile commute for the past 3 weeks now (mile end to covent garden) and have got it down to around 17 minutes depending on traffic with my average speed steadily going up week by week. My legs didn't like me for the first week but I don't have any issues now and like to push as high a cadence as my legs will give me.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/technique-cadence-matters-16394/

I've had a few knocks from idiotic pedestrians just walking into the road and regularly use my most annoyed shouting voice at them and subsequently have a cheap SJ4000 helmet camera from the bay which has helped keep vehicles away from me.

If your bum is sore you might be using a saddle that's not right for your sit bones/ride posture and most good cycle shops will have some measuring equipment to help.

Just keep cycling :)
 
Diddums said:
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.
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I think you'll find people outside of GD supportive and encouraged that you've taken the first steps - and supportive that you will hopefully go on.

And of course we'll recommend how you can bankrupt yourself by chasing the lycra dream ;).
 
Diddums said:
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.
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When I first started riding, my 5 mile commute was tortuous. It felt like an incredible distance. Experienced riders should never criticise the people starting out as we've all been there. It's just one of those things you have to build up. Keep it up for a month and you'll find yourself going so much faster!

Using a GPS tracking device (or your mobile phone) and an app like STRAVA is a great motivator. Tracks your rides\training with calorie burn, fitness stats, speed, distance travelled, time exercised etc. It's great to watch your progress. :)
 
Murf said:
When I first started riding, my 5 mile commute was tortuous. It felt like an incredible distance. Experienced riders should never criticise the people starting out as we've all been there. It's just one of those things you have to build up. Keep it up for a month and you'll find yourself going so much faster!

Using a GPS tracking device (or your mobile phone) and an app like STRAVA is a great motivator. Tracks your rides\training with calorie burn, fitness stats, speed, distance travelled, time exercised etc. It's great to watch your progress. :)
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This is all very true. I recall one morning getting to work and feeling quite sick... 2.8 miles door to door :p Even this year after a long break from cycling I felt bad after a 7 mile ride at the start of the year, this week I did a 36 mile ride and felt fine afterwards if a little heavy in the legs.

The best thing about Strava is that everyone elses stats are irrelevant really. Seeing "PR" next to a segment is always nice, as is the graph showing your mileage gaining week by week. I started off with Endomondo which is pretty good but moved over to Strava and never looked back.
 
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?
 
anything over 15mph average is proper good imo, flat or hills.

will be doing the iow randonnee soon and will be be aiming for 13mph average :)
 
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