Podagrower

So, I'm about 2 months back into this whole cycling thing. I've learned a lot, like just today I figured out where the adjuster nut was for the derailers after fighting to get the rear one set correctly by changing the cable length. My average weekday ride is between 5 and 10 miles, and the weekend rides are mostly in the 12.5 mile range. Longest ride so far was 16.5. Today was goal day-20 miles. It was probably over ambitious, as I have not ridden at all this week, and the drinking started early Friday. But my first 20 mile trip is done. Most of our area is flat by most standards, but there are some slopes. At 18 miles, I hit the last one of them, and realized my legs were done. There was no spinning left, there was no mashing left, and at the top of that hill there was only one gear left.

Now, my ultimate cycling goals are: 1. Get below 200 pounds, or back into 34 jeans, I will take either. 2. Century. My current average speed is just under 10 MPH, so that's going to make 100 miles seem like a century. I did start at 7.7 MPH average for my first ride, so I think I'm improving.

I think I'm going to start using Strava to log all my rides, and since there is almost nobody else around here using it, I'll get to be KOM for a while, even at 10 MPH.

Dad 2 3

Congrats on your first 20 miler. Keep it up. Soon 20 miles will feel like 5.

lenny866

Well done....keep it up!

AerobaticDreams

Keep rolling, I am at nearly the same point as you are for speed and size. My first step towards a Century will be the Tour de Cure Half Century in March (American Diabetes Association fundraiser). I got a lot of work to do to make it.

I have been using Goggle My Tracks on my Galaxy S3 phone to track my rides. It gives lots of details and has encouraged me by being able to see even small gains. In addition, it has some method of uploading the data to your google site for record keeping on your computer. It was free under something or other on the phone when I got it(!).

I'm out in Oviedo, have been working on riding on the Cross Seminole Trail. Where in Central Florida are you? (Wondering if you are one of the hardy souls we see when we are out for our rides.....).

Buckeye370

Good work! I have been using mapmyride on my phone to track. I like it so far.

LiamSkymom

From an average of 7.7 to 10 is great. Central Florida covers a fairly big area. Have you tried the Van Fleet trail. If you just want to get some mileage in, it doesn't seem to get much flatter than it. There is only about 3 road crossing through the whole thing.

Podagrower

You were more right than you meant to be. That first 20 did feel like the first 5

Podagrower

I have not made any of the Seminole trails yet, although the Markham Road end of the Seminole Wekiva trail has been on my list for a couple of weeks, it's only about 15 minutes drive from the house.

My current riding area is 10 miles of local neighborhoods, and some back roads around Lake Norris

Podagrower

We don't get that way often, but at this point, every trail that I don't need a flak jacket for is on my list of places I want to ride.

Yo Spiff

Great start, keep it up! This time next year you will be easily riding up those hills, considering them to just be minor inclines and wondering how you ever found them so tough.

IBOHUNT

Great start, keep it up

bpointer01

I liked it too until I tried cyclemeter. Best $4.99 I've spent on the app store yet.

AerobaticDreams

Good deal! MY wife and I are at the other end of the world, about 2 miles from UCF. We head down to Oviedo and pick up the trail there. Neither of us are Road Weenies (yet), so our pace is slower as we improve our fitness. We've made it to Longwood and back (Big Trees), which is a 27 mile loop. That is just near the south end of the SWT by what the maps show. We are trying to do about 15 miles every other day, and a 30 mile on one weekend. I am struggling over pulling the trigger on a new Road Bike (the 27 year old Centurion isn't filling the bill like it did when I was in my 20's...), as my Marin Muirwoods 29er just isn't the bike for improving times and stacking on the miles. It has been awesome toget me rolling again- and will become my sort of 4 x 4 play bike once a Roadie fills the slot I need for March's Diabetes Tour de Cure...

Keep on riding!!!

LiamSkymom

We have more Central Florida riders here than I realized. We might have to try a small get together ride at some point.

Podagrower

So, I started working towards that using the map from "Where are we" but it ain't easy to navigate that map. I started a second private map just for myself with the Florida Clydes who are on the other map, and thought I would eventually verify who is still active and looking to share.

Podagrower

So, I need to change the title to The First 28. I was trying for 30 today, but it was not in the legs; I could have done it with a long rest stop, but there are other things I must do today. During the last week, I got a flat on Tuesday, that ended that ride at 5 miles, and everything conspired against me to keep me off the bike the rest of the week. Trying to make up for 5 days of not riding all at the same time is not the right approach, and I must vow this week to ride every night after work, regardless of how dark it is when I get home.

On the bright side, these 700x35 tires seem very easy to change, barely needed a leveler, but I bought em, so I used em.

99Klein 

Way to go!

Bikehog

Congrats and keep on keeping on. I started last August @ 320 , short rides at first in the neighborhood. Once I got up to 10 Miles / riide (untimed)in the flat neighborhood for a few weeks, I ventured out. It took me awhile to venture out because no matter which direction I headed, it would be hilly. My first ride out was 18 miles , took over 2-1/2 hours and included some walking. Once I ventured out, the $20 used mongoose was not up to task. Busted a few spokes. Upgraded to a Giant Cypress DX- great bike for big Clyde's - rated up to 350 lbs. it took a few months to average 10 mph. Weight this AM was 270. Current bike is Kestrel Talon now averaging 13-14 mph in the hills where I live (Northeast PA). The 18 mile ride is now down to about 80 minutes on a good day. Down in Georgia where it's flat , my rides are in the 16-17 mph range for twenty miles. Love biking. Will turn 57 in March. Keep on keeping on.

Podagrower

30.5 miles today, longest ride to date. 27 miles into the ride, I saw another guy on a flat bar bike ahead, and said to myself "wonder if I can catch him?" If I had realized he was doing 15mph, I wouldn't have tried, but I gave it a shot. I caught him going uphill (which surprised and impressed me), we rode side by side and chatted until the next hill, where he promptly dropped me, but I did get my first 30 mile ride done.