First decent ride on my new steed. « CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum

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First decent ride on my new steed.

(28 posts)

Started 13 years ago by Mabs
Latest reply from Stepdoh

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Mabs
Member

As sundays are for relaxing and being awake between 3/4am (because of our puppy) and getting up rather early I decided today would be perfect for cruising some cycle routes to wake myself up.

Popped down to Mussleburgh through the Inoccent Tunnel way, had a cruise around there then headed along to Leith via Portabello (went along the promenade but there seems to be cycling prohibited signs?).
Stopped to check the map once in Leith and went up the Roseburn path right back to Haymarket then scooted along to Caledonian Crescent.

Was good doing some distance (For some I doubt its even a training run) and I hope my back isn't too sore tomorrow.
Its beena bit nippy on the short runs to KB but I'm putting it down to poor posture and simple not being used to a drop bar bike.

I'm thinking of heading of doing another decent run on tuesday but I'm not sure where to this time.
It seemed there was hardly any up hill sections on the route today and the single speed was perfect for keeping me rolling.

I really must get a wee computer to note my distances and all that jazz.

Gotta say I am loving this cycling lark. Much more civilised than my BMX'ing days.

Posted 13 years ago #
recombodna
Member

That's pretty much my morning training run at the momment. I chuck in a cycle round arthur seat for some hill action. It's just about 20 miles on the nose and it takes me just under an hour so it's perfect for me to fit in between nursery drop of and pick up.

Posted 13 years ago #
tammytroot
Member

Hey, must have been the weather or something but I was out Sat am on my new bike. Did a very similar route from Porty to Port Seton then up to Tranent and then back through Wallyford/Musselburgh and back to Porty. First 20 Miler of the year. My new bike is a Claude Butler. A bit of a step up from my old hard tail MTB.
Maybe we passed en route?
Anyway well done, keep getting the miles in.

Posted 13 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

(went along the promenade but there seems to be cycling prohibited signs?).

Like this one (I think they're pretty much on every second lamp post, the swine)

Not welcome here by kaputniq

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

Was good doing some distance (For some I doubt its even a training run) and I hope my back isn't too sore tomorrow.

@Mabs : To put this in perspective, after a few training runs around the estate, I went for my first distance <cough> run this morning: Silverknowes to Riccarton via the Roseburn path and the Union Canal towpath (and back again). 18 miles I think. As you say Mabs, not even a training run for some.

My legs now feel like I have dangled them all day in waders full of concrete (which has set) and my arms and shoulders are aching with an incandescence reminiscent of what one might suffer after a visit to a particularly vindictive Turkish masseur. On the plus side, my nose, throat, ears and eyes have dripped and watered themselves clear of all the week's gunge, and my abs feel as taught as any beer-gutted fifty something's abs could be. The six pack may be invisible, but at least the barrel is better defined. And I think I will sleep well tonight. :-)

En route, I did my best to make eye contact with all fellow cyclists in the hope that - despite never having laid eyes on one single CCE poster in the flesh - I might be recognised by a welter of pedallers with a cheery salutation (something along the lines of "Nice wheels and a fine turn of speed if I might make so bold, Mr Knees.."). If any of you were subjected to a curiously fixed, slightly maniacal stare from a fat and profoundly sweaty bloke whose expression suggested he was suffering from simultaneous bouts of constipation and lockjaw, can I just apologise to you now for any disturbance this may have caused.

Despite all this, like yourself Mabs, I'm quite enjoying this cycling lark...

Posted 13 years ago #
Mabs
Member

It is rather the fun.
I too tried to make eye contact with as many as I could and got a few smiles from folk heading up the hill near mussleburgh as I was bombing down.
Those on the roseburn path weren't as friendly. Perhaps they're not used to someone smiling at them?

I actually did some stretches when I got back in and I hope it has helped. I had a trapped nerve or such on friday afternoon. It was hellish sitting in class but I was fun walking and on the ride home.

What do you ride Mr Knees?
I am on a black Ridgeback Solo with silver guards and a panier. I shall more than likely be wearing shorts with a black HH base layer or a yellow/black running jacket.
I look forward to the day of meeting another CCE minion.

Posted 13 years ago #
ruggtomcat
Member

lol @knees, thats my favorite post this year :D

20 miles is a good training run, its what I started out with last year. Doing 20 miles once or twice a week was enough to condition me for 60 mile camping trips. It all adds up and remember most people would never guess that 20 miles could be possible on a bike.

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

@Mabs : Having followed some of your other posts I'm aware of your new Ridgeback purchase - I'll look out for you. I myself have a rather beautiful Dawes Geneva hybrid which I bought from TBC just in time for the snow at the end of last year, and which I have wrapped in cotton wool lest it catch a cold or scrape it's metaphorical knees. I'll take it out again when the potholes are all filled and the weather is more Santa Monica and less Roseburn Terrace...

So today I was riding my tuppence ha'penny suspensionless Falcon MTB that I bought from JJB Sports about ten years ago. Mostly white, no panniers, squeaky back brake. I canvassed opinion on this bike a few weeks ago on CCE in the hope that everyone would say get rid and buy something a bit more 'pro' (which I could then have used to justify another purchase to Mrs. Knees) but interestingly no-one suggested I junk it.

When I got home I had a warm shower and walked about a bit to try to 'warm down' my legs but the concrete waders were too far set by then. The Big Ache may not arrive 'til Tuesday (a sad trait about ageing is that any aches associated with exercise hit you with a progressively longer delay, so after one sleep you may feel that you got away with it while after two sleeps...).

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

@ruggtomcat lol @knees, thats my favorite post this year :D

They say the best humour is inspired by conflict and pain. Little doubt about the pain today, some of which was borne out of the conflict between saddle and nether regions...

Posted 13 years ago #
ruggtomcat
Member

get bent ;-)

Posted 13 years ago #
amir
Member

Glad, you're enjoying it Mabs. Nothing like a new bike.

Mind you the first time that I went out on my newest steed, the rear wheel fell off. Twice.

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

@ ruggtomcat: On my old (car-based) commute I used to drive along West Harbour Road at Granton and regularly saw one of these machines coming in the other direction. My first thought was that it was only a matter of time before the pilot and machine disappeared under the wheels of one of the Biffa trucks that regularly scuttle up and down that road, but they were clearly more tenacious than I had given them credit for and kept reappearing (a CCE poster, by any chance?).

Reclining, in all its forms, appeals greatly to me, but I confess there's something of the Sinclair C5 about the concept (sans leccy motor of course). I like the look of the trikes though, and it's true that my nads might have been better preserved after a long run on one of those.

Posted 13 years ago #
Smudge
Member

@IM Knees, as one who's steadily catching up with my elders ( ;-) ) I often find that if I've had a (for me) hard exercise session, if I have a very gentle short bit of the same type of exercise the next day then the following day doesn't hurt nearly as much and recovery seems faster.
That said, it seems I have no intention of practicing what I preach as I'm taking tomorrow off as a "rest day" and not taking the bike to work (I'll use the c*r just for the one day! Hopefully I wont be excommunicated from the forum lol)

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

@Smudge: That sort of makes sense...a delayed warm-down reduces the delayed muscle aches. That means I should maybe do one of my wee training runs tomorrow night. I'll report back if it works. Which is kind of obvious, because if it doesn't work, then the chances of me being able to walk to the computer and raise my arms to the keyboard come Tuesday are pretty thin anyway.

Posted 13 years ago #
Mabs
Member

I'm questioning why I ever thought driving in Edinburgh was fun. Also questioning the £50 a month I am paying for insurance...

Just cycled out to Asda to get some maple syrup for breakfast pancakes the morn and was surprised at how quickly I got there.
Granted the times I have gone in the car its been busy etc but wow. Cycling is the way.
I'm looking forward to bringing the girlfriend's bike down after easter so we can both go out cycling.

I second what Smudge says. I always found after long runs if I was sedentry the next day my ITB's would be on fire however light exercise+stretching really slowed down and reduced the onset of any cramps and sore muscles.

Posted 13 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

Also questioning the £50 a month I am paying for insurance...

Add to that the fuel and MOT etc. and that's your next bike fund :)

Posted 13 years ago #
Mabs
Member

It fairly adds up.
Its going into the garage soon to get the steering sorted and that's a good few £ straight away. Just terrible!

Posted 13 years ago #
ruggtomcat
Member

get rid of it! :)

Posted 13 years ago #
recombodna
Member

..or learn to fix it yourself.

Posted 13 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

just cycled out to Asda

on the canal? there's a path that leaves the canal just after the meggetland flats (the multi-coloured ones) and takes you to Slateford station, so you just backtrack a few yards to the Asda entrance.

Posted 13 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"so you just backtrack a few yards to the Asda entrance"

Except that turning right out of Meggetgate is one of the most unpleasant/dangerous things to do!

At least there is the option of turning left and doing a U turn when traffic 'allows'.

If you're walking (or have a light bike) the station footbridge gives a more direct route.

That ASDA is moderately well connected to the WoL path with a link to New Mart Road.

Posted 13 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

Except that turning right out of Meggetgate is one of the most unpleasant/dangerous things to do! At least there is the option of turning left and doing a U turn when traffic 'allows'.

I usually walk the bike across the pedestrian crossing!

Posted 13 years ago #
Mabs
Member

Alas I didn't take the scenic route. Went up Gorgie and took a left up to Slateford and down the the Walmart chainery.

How is the Canal at night. Bein new to the city I avoid such areas at night ;)

Posted 13 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

How is the Canal at night.

Got to watch out for late night dog walkers and joggers and bat spotters concentrating on their ultrasonic detectors

Posted 13 years ago #
Stepdoh
Member

Those on the roseburn path weren't as friendly. Perhaps they're not used to someone smiling at them?

Yep, pretty much everyone on the Roseburn path are morose bs. I never think there's any excuse as from Roseburn to Leith it's pretty much all downhill and is rather good fun to tear down.

Going the other way on the other hand.

Posted 13 years ago #
steveo
Member

Those on the roseburn path weren't as friendly. Perhaps they're not used to someone smiling at them?

You probably just spotted Spytfyre, he gets upset at the Innocent bias round here. ;)

Posted 13 years ago #
Mabs
Member

@Stepdoh they were all heading towards Leith so they have no excuses. Or perhaps it was because they knew they were getting closer to Leith and once you're there there's no escape!

I on the other hand was heading 'uphill' and didn't even notice it was uphill.
Just can't get the staff these days.

Posted 13 years ago #
Stepdoh
Member

It's not really uphill, just a very slight incline I use as an excuse to mask my unfitness :)

Posted 13 years ago #

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First decent ride on my new steed.

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