| One for the cyclists here... 12:25 - Apr 28 with 112012 views | llangyfelach |
For varying reasons I'm not confident enough to get out and about on my bike, so for the next couple of months I'll be using my indoor Turbo Trainer. I'm mindful that at the moment I'll be training based on time rather than distance, so want to get myself a decent milometer. Any recommendations?
Ta in advance |  |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 22:50 - May 26 with 3850 views | max936 |
| One for the cyclists here... on 22:42 - May 26 by Pacemaker |
Tidy I am home by then so will text as soon as I am ready to go. Pity those roads are being wrecked. |
Yep, they're no problem for the racing snake I might add it just adds to his enjoyment, him pulling wheelies while climbing is annoying, while Im struggling to breathe,  |  |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 22:56 - May 26 with 3845 views | Pacemaker |
| One for the cyclists here... on 22:50 - May 26 by max936 |
Yep, they're no problem for the racing snake I might add it just adds to his enjoyment, him pulling wheelies while climbing is annoying, while Im struggling to breathe, |
Know that feeling my mate is the same, he doesn't know what the small ring on the front is for! |  |
| Life is an adventure or nothing at all. |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 07:32 - May 27 with 3818 views | 1jack |
What's the best way to record what you've done? Do you have to buy a gps device or is there something else? Could someone recommend a cheapish way of doing this please. |  | | |
| One for the cyclists here... on 08:30 - May 27 with 3807 views | max936 |
| One for the cyclists here... on 07:32 - May 27 by 1jack |
What's the best way to record what you've done? Do you have to buy a gps device or is there something else? Could someone recommend a cheapish way of doing this please. |
Download the app Strava, or Emundo to your phone, but you need to keep the mobile data on throughout the ride, lm on Tesco mobile and always seem to lose the signal uo and around the Afan Forestry routes, annoying so lve given up now. [Post edited 27 May 2014 8:31]
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| One for the cyclists here... on 08:39 - May 27 with 3797 views | jackmorsel |
| One for the cyclists here... on 21:44 - May 26 by Jackfath |
How far were you going when you started? What sort of times and on what sort of bike? |
Similar to you, started doing 10 miles, then 15, 25 and so on, my average speed was 14/15 mph over relatively flat rides. After a month of going out two-three times a week I stated to do some longer rides at the weekends and was soon doing 40 miles. Just try and increase your distance every week by 5-10 miles and it gets easier.
My legs did ache for days afterwards after these longer rides but after a few weeks the leg pain is gone within 24 hours.
I would say within a few weeks you will see a vast improvement in fitness, I have not done serious exercise for 15 or more years and am carrying a good three stone more than I should. I have dropped a stone in the last three months and am now doing 50-60 miles rides with relative ease.
The Carten 100 was something else though but I think given better weather a 100 miles should not be impossible within three months.
My bike is nothing special I bought a Triban 3 from Decathlon for £299, a very good bike and gets rave reviews from the biking fraternity. It's fine for me for now at my level.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-road-bike-white-id_8239800.html |  | | |
| One for the cyclists here... on 08:44 - May 27 with 3790 views | jackmorsel |
| One for the cyclists here... on 07:32 - May 27 by 1jack |
What's the best way to record what you've done? Do you have to buy a gps device or is there something else? Could someone recommend a cheapish way of doing this please. |
Personally Strava for me as its free and is great, but Map my Ride is also good. I did upgrade to premium though which gives it more functionality but it was only £30 or something.
I now use a Garmin 510 to collect the data as I am using a Heart Rate Monitor/Cadence sensor. This lasts all day and I just synch it to Strava when I get home, so much better and saves battery. | | | |
| One for the cyclists here... on 10:53 - May 27 with 3774 views | FearOfAJackPlanet |
| One for the cyclists here... on 07:32 - May 27 by 1jack |
What's the best way to record what you've done? Do you have to buy a gps device or is there something else? Could someone recommend a cheapish way of doing this please. |
Best cheap way is to get an app for a smartphone with GPS as other's have mentioned. Problem with using smartphones is the battery drain. It's not an issue for shorter rides under an hour or two, and if you don't go out longer than that you're laughing.
I use a garmin 800. most definitely not a cheap option - overpriced at £250 imo - but I absolutely love it when I'm on a tour/long ride, especially as I can download free cycle maps for it. battery lasts around 13 hours of constant use, waterproof and its routing capabilities have got me out of a few holes. love it. |  |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 11:29 - May 27 with 3762 views | Batterseajack |
Has anyone here entered the Dragon Ride this year? or attempted it over previous years?
Its fast approaching in 2 weekends time and I'm starting to feel woefully under-prepared for it and I still haven't decided which bike to take with me! |  | | |
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| One for the cyclists here... (n/t) on 12:17 - May 27 with 3752 views | max936 |
| One for the cyclists here... on 11:29 - May 27 by Batterseajack |
Has anyone here entered the Dragon Ride this year? or attempted it over previous years?
Its fast approaching in 2 weekends time and I'm starting to feel woefully under-prepared for it and I still haven't decided which bike to take with me! |
[Post edited 27 May 2014 12:48]
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| One for the cyclists here... on 12:18 - May 27 with 3752 views | max936 |
| One for the cyclists here... on 11:29 - May 27 by Batterseajack |
Has anyone here entered the Dragon Ride this year? or attempted it over previous years?
Its fast approaching in 2 weekends time and I'm starting to feel woefully under-prepared for it and I still haven't decided which bike to take with me! |
My mate has been drafted in to do it on a behalf of his workmate who has suffered a nasty injury and is unable to do it. | |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 12:33 - May 27 with 3770 views | FearOfAJackPlanet |
The Dragon Devil - 300km and 3500 metres of climbing? How about...f*ck that?!
Don't think I'd be physically capable of that in one day, even with plenty of training. Most climbing I've ever done is just under 2000 metres and longest ride is 150km.
Kudos to anyone who does it though. | |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 12:52 - May 27 with 3755 views | max936 |
| One for the cyclists here... on 12:33 - May 27 by FearOfAJackPlanet |
The Dragon Devil - 300km and 3500 metres of climbing? How about...f*ck that?!
Don't think I'd be physically capable of that in one day, even with plenty of training. Most climbing I've ever done is just under 2000 metres and longest ride is 150km.
Kudos to anyone who does it though. |
Notsure what ride that is, but the ride my mate is doing is a 55 miler, l thought that to be the Dragon run. | |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 13:06 - May 27 with 3748 views | Neath_Jack |
Smashing thread this. It has encouraged me to get out on my mountain bike that i bought 3 years ago but hardly gets used, it's a Carerra something.
Right, now here's the thing.......I definitely aint fit enough to be racing up and down mountains, and i dont like riding on the road either due to the idiots about. Where can i find cycle routes online for the Neath area?
And do you lot wear all the gear as well? I think i'd feel a bit daft wearing it. |  |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 13:26 - May 27 with 3744 views | max936 |
| One for the cyclists here... on 13:06 - May 27 by Neath_Jack |
Smashing thread this. It has encouraged me to get out on my mountain bike that i bought 3 years ago but hardly gets used, it's a Carerra something.
Right, now here's the thing.......I definitely aint fit enough to be racing up and down mountains, and i dont like riding on the road either due to the idiots about. Where can i find cycle routes online for the Neath area?
And do you lot wear all the gear as well? I think i'd feel a bit daft wearing it. |
Get the bike up to the car park by the viaduct at Pontrhydyfen and either take the right or left route up to the refresh pub and turn round and come back do that a few times then stick to the right hand track and go off left up at Cymer and ride up to Glyncorrwg ponds and then back to car park, or you could park at Cefn Season school and go up past Tbones and down and go over viaduct and up to the above, just get those wheels turning and your cycle fitness will improve in no time, as for wat to wear, get a pair of mountain bike padded shorts chuck a t shirt on and maybe a tracky top, pair of trainers and off you go, a helmet is a consideration as wheel, as its all to easy to go arse over tit. [Post edited 27 May 2014 13:57]
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| One for the cyclists here... on 13:32 - May 27 with 3733 views | Neath_Jack |
| One for the cyclists here... on 13:26 - May 27 by max936 |
Get the bike up to the car park by the viaduct at Pontrhydyfen and either take the right or left route up to the refresh pub and turn round and come back do that a few times then stick to the right hand track and go off left up at Cymer and ride up to Glyncorrwg ponds and then back to car park, or you could park at Cefn Season school and go up past Tbones and down and go over viaduct and up to the above, just get those wheels turning and your cycle fitness will improve in no time, as for wat to wear, get a pair of mountain bike padded shorts chuck a t shirt on and maybe a tracky top, pair of trainers and off you go, a helmet is a consideration as wheel, as its all to easy to go arse over tit. [Post edited 27 May 2014 13:57]
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Cheers, but that sounds like there's loads of hills involved, i'd have to build myself up to that, furthest ive gone on it is down to Aberavon beach and back last summer. Isn't there any flat cycle paths around the place? I know there's fabian way down to Swansea, but anywhere else? | |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 13:35 - May 27 with 3726 views | Pacemaker |
| One for the cyclists here... on 13:06 - May 27 by Neath_Jack |
Smashing thread this. It has encouraged me to get out on my mountain bike that i bought 3 years ago but hardly gets used, it's a Carerra something.
Right, now here's the thing.......I definitely aint fit enough to be racing up and down mountains, and i dont like riding on the road either due to the idiots about. Where can i find cycle routes online for the Neath area?
And do you lot wear all the gear as well? I think i'd feel a bit daft wearing it. |
As Max says the Afan Trail is a good place to start, however wherever you live in Neath you must be close to the canal?
Ride from town up to Resolven on the canal path or down to Britton Ferry in the opposite direction, you can cross B/Ferry bridge from there and all the way down to Mumbles or Loughor without really going on any roads at all.
Great ride almost flat the entire way.
Sustrans is the place for all the cycle routes in the UK both online and in maps, I have a couple of maps but Neath Port Talbot Council website should also have links for their routes.
http://www.npt.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2782 [Post edited 27 May 2014 13:48]
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| Life is an adventure or nothing at all. |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 13:37 - May 27 with 3725 views | max936 |
| One for the cyclists here... on 13:32 - May 27 by Neath_Jack |
Cheers, but that sounds like there's loads of hills involved, i'd have to build myself up to that, furthest ive gone on it is down to Aberavon beach and back last summer. Isn't there any flat cycle paths around the place? I know there's fabian way down to Swansea, but anywhere else? |
Gradual climbs mostly flat easy peasy honestly, alternatively take a ride along the canal bank on the neath canal. | |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 13:44 - May 27 with 3712 views | FearOfAJackPlanet |
| One for the cyclists here... on 12:52 - May 27 by max936 |
Notsure what ride that is, but the ride my mate is doing is a 55 miler, l thought that to be the Dragon run. |
I googled it and found this website: http://humanrace.co.uk/events/cycling/dragon-ride
Not sure if it's the same event.
Different levels as with all sportives. I could probably manage the 'Medio Fondo' in my current state of fitness, anything above that and it's a case of pre-booking the ambulance... | |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 13:47 - May 27 with 3711 views | Batterseajack |
| One for the cyclists here... on 12:33 - May 27 by FearOfAJackPlanet |
The Dragon Devil - 300km and 3500 metres of climbing? How about...f*ck that?!
Don't think I'd be physically capable of that in one day, even with plenty of training. Most climbing I've ever done is just under 2000 metres and longest ride is 150km.
Kudos to anyone who does it though. |
Oh no I wasn't stupid enough to attempt the dragon devil distance and opted for the Gran Fondo instead (222km with 2900m climbing). I was feeling pretty cocky when I entered all them months ago, not so now.
A 100 mile round trip up to and around the Brecon beacons a few weeks back nearly killed me. | | | |
| One for the cyclists here... on 13:56 - May 27 with 3699 views | Pacemaker |
| One for the cyclists here... on 11:29 - May 27 by Batterseajack |
Has anyone here entered the Dragon Ride this year? or attempted it over previous years?
Its fast approaching in 2 weekends time and I'm starting to feel woefully under-prepared for it and I still haven't decided which bike to take with me! |
Did the Dragon Medio last year and entered the same ride this year, however it has gained an extra 15 miles this year!
Last year was quite tough without being a killer, my photo is on the last climb on top of the Bwlch I was cramping up allover and in a fair bit of pain but once I got over the top I wa sok.
This year I have ridden the entire route albeit in two seperate legs of about 60 miles each, the start will be a bit tough with the Bwlch and Rhigos to start but take your time and it will be ok.
The Devils elbow is a tough climb but fairly short I think Cimla will be a little bit of a twist at the end but otherwise not too bad!. | |
| Life is an adventure or nothing at all. |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 14:04 - May 27 with 3691 views | max936 |
| One for the cyclists here... on 13:56 - May 27 by Pacemaker |
Did the Dragon Medio last year and entered the same ride this year, however it has gained an extra 15 miles this year!
Last year was quite tough without being a killer, my photo is on the last climb on top of the Bwlch I was cramping up allover and in a fair bit of pain but once I got over the top I wa sok.
This year I have ridden the entire route albeit in two seperate legs of about 60 miles each, the start will be a bit tough with the Bwlch and Rhigos to start but take your time and it will be ok.
The Devils elbow is a tough climb but fairly short I think Cimla will be a little bit of a twist at the end but otherwise not too bad!. |
Lee, lm out tonite going about 6ish up to ponds then see how lm feeling, gonna do the foel Thursday though come hell or high water, got to get into a habit of doing it twice a week at least. | |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 14:08 - May 27 with 3690 views | FearOfAJackPlanet |
| One for the cyclists here... on 13:06 - May 27 by Neath_Jack |
Smashing thread this. It has encouraged me to get out on my mountain bike that i bought 3 years ago but hardly gets used, it's a Carerra something.
Right, now here's the thing.......I definitely aint fit enough to be racing up and down mountains, and i dont like riding on the road either due to the idiots about. Where can i find cycle routes online for the Neath area?
And do you lot wear all the gear as well? I think i'd feel a bit daft wearing it. |
You don't need all the specialist gear. Always been a bit of a bugbear of mine the 'all the gear, no idea' cycling culture in this country. It seems like people can't fathom the idea of going out for a ride without spending hundreds of quid on imitation racing clobber. I'm not against it all of course, some cycling gear have basic advantages, like high rising shorts (to prevent your arse crack being displayed to the world) but people go way over the top imo and just look like chumps for no reason - great for the retail industry in this country though.
I much prefer/admire the cycling culture in places like Scandinavia and Holland where you're unlikely to find people dressing like a Tour De France entrant on their commute to work or to pop down to Mumbles. People only wear that stuff if racing or training.
I cycled 8000km on tour last year, mainly wearing a pair of trainers, running socks from sports direct, a couple of swans tops and a pair of lightweight mountain biking shorts. Done. As I say, cycle shorts/jacket to cover your crack is a good idea, as for the rest, take it or leave it. | |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 14:13 - May 27 with 3680 views | Pacemaker |
I will probably ride from the house takes me about 20 mins to Rhyslyn Car Park will text you when I am leaving should be there by 6 no problem. | |
| Life is an adventure or nothing at all. |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 14:34 - May 27 with 3670 views | max936 |
| One for the cyclists here... on 14:13 - May 27 by Pacemaker |
I will probably ride from the house takes me about 20 mins to Rhyslyn Car Park will text you when I am leaving should be there by 6 no problem. |
Probably take me 15mins to get to carpark l'll leave at 6. | |
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| One for the cyclists here... on 21:43 - May 27 with 3631 views | Pacemaker |
| One for the cyclists here... on 13:47 - May 27 by Batterseajack |
Oh no I wasn't stupid enough to attempt the dragon devil distance and opted for the Gran Fondo instead (222km with 2900m climbing). I was feeling pretty cocky when I entered all them months ago, not so now.
A 100 mile round trip up to and around the Brecon beacons a few weeks back nearly killed me. |
There will be a crossover on the ride where the grand and medio split and if it's too much just take the medio, I know quite a few did it last year. | |
| Life is an adventure or nothing at all. |
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