Bikelopnik, or (more accurately) an idiot attempts to be less lazy.

"Chinny Raccoon" (chinnyraccoon) 01/19/2020 at 06:40 • Filed to: None

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I’ve not been on a bike for probably 20 years, and a general dislike of sports has meant my exercise routine has been walking to the fridge to get more pies. However with the prospect of being 30 rapidly hoving into view that really should change.

So I bought a bike. A Whyte C7 to be precise (yes, that Whyte, of the Rich Energy Saga). Why that in particular? Well it was reasonably local, almost certainly not stolen and it’s orange. I was after something with Disc brakes as they are supposed to be better in the wet, and living in the UK that’s more often than not. It’s a bit nicer than some of the super entry level bikes as far as I can tell, but certainly nothing fancy.

I picked a jack of no trades Hybrid Bike as although I’m mostly going on road, the roads are less than optimal. In fact they are mostly craters with some gravelly tarmac in between and this probably wouldn’t be the best conditions for a pure road bike.

So far I’ve only been out a couple of times due to timing and weather. Last Sunday was the first time out, with my thought process being that I’d ride to the castle in the next village, which though the back lanes was a 9 km round trip or so. This went as well as you could expect for an out of shape schlub forgetting that he lives on the top of a hill. Lots of stops on the way back to recover.

Today was a more sensible option of a quick and flatter route around the village. Conditions were quite icy, but that wasn’t an issue. Only about 8km this time, in a quite leisurely 22 minutes.

Eventually I’d like to ride to work, but that’s some way off my capabilities. It’s about 11km, but with a big hill on the route home. Needing to be in the office for 7am is another issue I’m not going to think about for now.

The other thing I’m trying not to think about is what I’ve spent of this endeavour. The bike computer wasn’t really necessary, but is very nice and cost almost as much as the bike did. Everything else I’ve picked up on the cheap, as I’ve found out there is a lot of discounting of older and last season’s stock.

Even so, it’s cost me more than the MR2 cost to buy.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Chinny Raccoon 01/19/2020 at 06:51

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now to find some muddy trails

:D

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Chinny Raccoon 01/19/2020 at 07:06

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Nice choice of steed and a very sensible approach to getting started. Though that first ride does have a very non-trivial hill in it...so leave that route for a bit.

As for riding to work...that won’t take long. Our own social coffee ride is a 20 km return trip done in around 50 minutes by everyone and I’m typically the youngest person doing it...and I’m 50. The oldest is 70 something...

OPPOsaurus WRX > Chinny Raccoon 01/19/2020 at 07:58

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Awesome . I love bi king. I was thinking of getting a road bike to get to work and back in the summer. It’s 5 miles (8km) each way but no sidewalks and people suck at driving so I’m kinda nervous about doing that.  I'm much happier in the woods

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Chinny Raccoon 01/19/2020 at 10:22

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At one point we had an oppo strava club but there were only two or three of us who use strava. Good luck riding your bike it’s a passion of mine and I have loved riding bikes since I was a child.

Nom De Plume > Chinny Raccoon 01/19/2020 at 12:27

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The bike computer cost almost as much as the bike did.

Not only that, sensitive electronics are a great match with UK roads. :)

Reflective adhesive tape in place of wheel/handlebar/seatpost mounted reflectors. Hybrid tires with reflective sidewall are easy enough to find if not legally required there.

Front and rear lights . USB chargeable rear can be nice if well designed to prevent water intrusion.

Saddle made for pedaling and on bike efforts. Not sitting on.

As a fitness tool bike computers are of little use, offer confusing feedback, for beginners. Whose efforts are so unequal and varied, and physical reactions to efforts so unequal and varied due to unexpected stimulus, data they output is far from commiserate with reality. With exception of setting a HR alarm* that is obediently followed by stepping down effort. To focus on a smoother more relaxed full body and mind enjoyment with some small structured attempt towards correct posture and technique. Don’t push fitness, push up the road a bit when it’s fun (or a dog is chasing you).

*HR data is the most confusing of all. It implies some form of stress recorded well after it occurred. Yet it is highly useful for registering when effort has overcome the point of slow adaptation key to safely building fitness and especially health. This means less injury and internally feeling good. Rest makes you stronger. Avoiding shockingly  large amounts of p ositive stress makes you and your heart much happier.

Chinny Raccoon > Nom De Plume 01/19/2020 at 14:21

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Yes, it’s almost certainly overkill. I’m mostly interested in using it for navigation and recording how far and where I go. It claims to be suitable for use in rain.

I’ve got no hard targets, just having a go.

Chinny Raccoon > OPPOsaurus WRX 01/19/2020 at 14:29

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Fortunately the roads around here are very quiet. Some forest trails not that far away which I’ll have to explore.

Chinny Raccoon > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/19/2020 at 14:29

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We call those roads...

VincentMalamute-Kim > OPPOsaurus WRX 01/19/2020 at 14:58

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I discovered mtn bikes last year after decades of road biking a long time ago. It’s really nice not worrying about drivers.

I’m back to road biking right now due to ice on the mtn bike trails. Not too bad. Drivers in Northern Colorado are much nicer than around Milwaukee.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/19/2020 at 15:00

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I just became a Strava user.  The leaderboard is pretty useless to me.  Although it’s very consistent.  I’m always at the bottom 2% of just about any segment.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Chinny Raccoon 01/19/2020 at 15:01

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That’s a decent hill! Do that every day and you’ll be ready for an Ironman.

And getting in shape at 30 is a lot better than waiting till you’re 50 to do it.

Nice color. Instead of the blacks, whites, grays I usually see.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Nom De Plume 01/19/2020 at 15:11

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As you know, I’m no longer keeping up with the latest and greatest. So no GPS bike computer.

I’m using Strava for the work kJ and average power W for rides. Not for the absolute values but I figure that on the same rides over time, the relative changes should tell me if I’m getting more or less fit.

I told someone else the Strava leaderboard is pointless for me. I’m consistently at the bottom 2%. I’m sure the ones I’m faster are >80 year olds. Last week, I got passed on a canyon descent by someone who set the #2 of 3100 riders for the climb. Strava Flyby said he’s a local on an international pro team. Mainly I was impressed that he descended the canyon in 15 min compared with 30 min for me. Given they dump a lot of sand on the road this time of year for snow.

T he power meters, HR monitors, etc are useful to someone like him.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/19/2020 at 16:19

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I was part of that for a while but stepped back when it became just people's commutes  and your occasional excursions...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > VincentMalamute-Kim 01/19/2020 at 16:23

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The Strava leaderboard is best used with respect to your own times.

And it’s always worth remembering that everybody’s GPS records differently, both in terms of time and position . So any leaderboard time within 10 to 15 seconds of another (plus or minus) is basically the same time...

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > VincentMalamute-Kim 01/19/2020 at 18:14

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Make your own segment that only you ride and then you can be the KOM.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Chinny Raccoon 01/19/2020 at 20:14

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Good work! Outside is always better than inside if you have a place to go. Since I decided to get back on the bike, I set up my smart trainer and connected it to Zwift. The feed back is amazing!

The white line is power output. The upward spikes are where the workout required a short sprint. The downward spikes are where I stopped pedaling to stretch. This also made me realize how weak I’ve let myself become. I have a LOT of work to do. :(

Nom De Plume > Chinny Raccoon 01/20/2020 at 10:52

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Ha, yes GPS can be quite useful when you are used to the best route in a vehicle. Tracing out a picture with your route can be fun too. Just try not to focus on the screen instead of your surroundings.

Nom De Plume > VincentMalamute-Kim 01/20/2020 at 12:02

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Strava power, any and every metric their software calculates , is nowhere in the realm of believable, repeatable, or usable. Fail to ignore them at your peril. USGS lookup of elevation gain/loss figures for devices lacking measuring capability (imagine accuracy of a pinhead sized scientific device in a Garmin/phone compared to a USGS months long siege using real equipment , lololololol) is the sole figure you can be assured is utterly concrete and based in reality. Do not believe anything you didn’t experience on the ride.

Forget the leaderboards too. Everything has long since been cheatable and every aspect of usage is highly gamed. “Digital EPO” was the most blatant public awareness campaign before it got shut down. It’s not by accident the most contested worldwide KOM segment is near Strava HQ in SF. Guys in the tech industry are renowned for their ability to maintain exceptional levels of physical fitness, right?

VincentMalamute-Kim > Nom De Plume 01/22/2020 at 17:46

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haha. Yes, everything you say makes sense. There’s no point for me to think much of the leaderboard since I’m consistently at the bottom 2%. Regardless of accuracy of the algorithms and cheating or not.

I agree with your opinions. yes, the watts and other numbers Strava gives has to be a gross approximation given lack of my input like weight. It said I was putting out 65 watts ave on the Rist Canyon downhill.

What I’d hoped for was some internal accuracy so I could roughly follow my fitness improvement (or decline ) based on ave watts for a segment . Given the rider, equipment, and segment are held as constants. Or I could just track times for a segment.