Javacat
09-03-07, 02:17 PM
I'm 6 foot 2, weigh just over 16 stone and quite unfit (having not done any exercise for about 5 or 6 years). I've just finished a computer networking degree and I'd been thinking of joining a gym for a long time, but when I started looking into it I realized I couldn't afford it. Someone mentioned buying a bike instead and it got me interested.
I eventually bought my bike a month ago, having rented a bike with one of my friends a week earlier and falling in love with cycling again (although I had been having to stop and make my friend wait every couple of miles).
I didn't get to actually ride it until last week, when I went on some crazy trail (I posted a bit about it in the MTB forum here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=338004)).
Today I decided to try the trail I had been on on the hired bike. It's a 12 miles, hilly track around a couple of dams.
I started riding and told myself that I would stop at the top of the first dam, but when I reached it I decided to carry on a bit further, then decided to stop at the next dam. I soon reached it, but then decided that I would go on a bit further (maybe to the top of a lil hill for an easy start), so carried on again.
I then decided to not bother stopping as it was only another couple of miles and pushed on to the end of the dams, to the bridge at slippery stones, just after an uber climb. I had to walk up the uber hill, but got back on me bike and carried on just before I reached the top.
I soon reached half way, which has a small bridge and an open grassy area, where I had a quick drink and then carried on again. There was a bike, long climb just after this which I surprised myself by going up in one go.
I know it's not brilliant, but I'm well pleased with myself for making all 12 miles (In just over an hour :eek:), up and down with only taking one quick break and walking up only the worst slope :D
It was a great feeling when I kept pushing myself on further, without stopping.
I just wish I could find more, longer tracks around where I am, as this is pretty much the only one I know. I don't want to ride around the roads here. Know/heard of far too many people killed/injured on them whilst cycling :(
I eventually bought my bike a month ago, having rented a bike with one of my friends a week earlier and falling in love with cycling again (although I had been having to stop and make my friend wait every couple of miles).
I didn't get to actually ride it until last week, when I went on some crazy trail (I posted a bit about it in the MTB forum here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=338004)).
Today I decided to try the trail I had been on on the hired bike. It's a 12 miles, hilly track around a couple of dams.
I started riding and told myself that I would stop at the top of the first dam, but when I reached it I decided to carry on a bit further, then decided to stop at the next dam. I soon reached it, but then decided that I would go on a bit further (maybe to the top of a lil hill for an easy start), so carried on again.
I then decided to not bother stopping as it was only another couple of miles and pushed on to the end of the dams, to the bridge at slippery stones, just after an uber climb. I had to walk up the uber hill, but got back on me bike and carried on just before I reached the top.
I soon reached half way, which has a small bridge and an open grassy area, where I had a quick drink and then carried on again. There was a bike, long climb just after this which I surprised myself by going up in one go.
I know it's not brilliant, but I'm well pleased with myself for making all 12 miles (In just over an hour :eek:), up and down with only taking one quick break and walking up only the worst slope :D
It was a great feeling when I kept pushing myself on further, without stopping.
I just wish I could find more, longer tracks around where I am, as this is pretty much the only one I know. I don't want to ride around the roads here. Know/heard of far too many people killed/injured on them whilst cycling :(