Creaking newbie
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Please be gentle with me - I'm delurking rather cautiously.
I used to cycle a lot many years ago - mostly in the countryside round Peterborough and York, both
of which are fairly flat. I have an old ordinary bike - came from H*lf*rds about 15-20 years ago,
with Sturmey Archer hub. Once best beloved has got the thing roadworthy (can it be done, I ask
myself) I plan to start gently - heck, I'm no chicken, about as fit as a doughnut, and what is
known around these parts as "bonny". I'm starting with short trips into town instead of using the
bus, and local pottering to shops and the kids' school instead of the car. But this is *Sheffield*!
Whichever direction you go, it's always uphill, like some nightmarish Escher picture. I'm not
buying a newer bike until I've proved I can do it and keep it up, so I have to make do with less
than the ideal (ie, brand new tourer, lots of gears etc), so I expect I'll have to push it up the
steeper hills. I want to get fit enough by August to be able to seriously consider cycling/camping
in East Anglia (note- flat).
Best beloved knows enough about bikes to do the tinkering (I'm better with a car engine myself),
but I need advice and encouragement. So far it's been thin on the ground - the kids howled with
laughter and best beloved, who takes his cycling very seriously, is not entirely convinced that I
can hack it.
All advice/ encouragement/ warnings welcomed.
--
Debbie Urban Theology Unit, Sheffield Views expressed in this email are my own and are not
necessarily those of the University of Sheffield or UTU.
Sheffield is hilly.
Having a newer, lighter bike with more gears will make it easier, hence more enjoyable, for you and
quicker too. It'll make it easier for you to keep up.
Believe me - I am no spring chicken, and could, I suppose, be called "bonny"..
Incidentally - don't think you need to try to keep up a.s.a.p. - do it at *your* pace, even if it
means molluscs get there quicker ;-)
Choose your bit of East Anglia carefully - it isn't all flat. Mountainous it isn't but there's
plenty that is not flat.
You go girl! The more of us that cycle the better! Indeed, thell your other half you need a
nice lightweight tourer, fitted with Campagnolo parts - triple chainwheel at the front 9-speed
at the back with mudguard clearance and a nice pannier rack fitted. Oh, and a Terry's Liberator
TiLite saddle.
and if other half gives you grief - tell him he'll be getting a visit from the paving slab fairy,
whether or not he wears b*bs... ;-)
After all - he's only jealous that you'll put him in the shade.
Cheers, helen s
--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove dependency on fame &
fortune h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$
Debbie wrote: hack it.
>
> All advice/ encouragement/ warnings welcomed.
Go for it, build up gently maybe you can drive to a flatter area at a weekend and go for a longer
ride. Visit your old haunts around York, try out the York-Selby track (note to self, try this track
out). Perhaps try out the Trans Pennine Trail as it passes Sheffield.
Maybe set yourself a goal, get Best Beloved to buy that new bike for you if you are still cycling by
mid summer.
In article <n47020taufp5hhq9rr64jlm0cqvribv1d1@4ax.com>,
debbie@removethiscybertheology.org.uk says...
> Best beloved knows enough about bikes to do the tinkering (I'm better with a car engine myself),
> but I need advice and encouragement. So far it's been thin on the ground - the kids howled with
> laughter and best beloved, who takes his cycling very seriously, is not entirely convinced that I
> can hack it.
>
> All advice/ encouragement/ warnings welcomed.
>
I'm a fat git that started riding again in 2002 , joined bike club in Aug 2003 and now does 50 miles
club rides in S Wales. It can be done, and I'm sure you will enjoy it, when your heart tries to leap
out on a climb just remember the next time you do that climb you will be 100 yrds further up before
it tries to leap out , and there WILL come a time when you start thinking about how to get up the
hill faster, not just if you will get up it!
In article <20040203174140.21903.00000854@mb-m25.aol.com>, wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom says...
>
> Choose your bit of East Anglia carefully - it isn't all flat.
>
Snigger!
"dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers" <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote in
message news:20040203174140.21903.00000854@mb-m25.aol.com...
> Oh, and a Terry's Liberator TiLite saddle.
Sounds like something you get in an Ann Summers shop. ;)
Debbie, if you enjoyed cycling years ago, you'll love a new bike. It's a worthwhile investment if
you really are prepared to get into it again.
Good luck, and keep us up to date with your progress.
On Tue, 03 Feb 2004 22:29:02 +0000, Debbie
<debbie@removethiscybertheology.org.uk> wrote:
>Please be gentle with me - I'm delurking rather cautiously.
>
>I used to cycle a lot many years ago - mostly in the countryside round Peterborough and York, both
>of which are fairly flat. I have an old ordinary bike - came from H*lf*rds about 15-20 years ago,
>with Sturmey Archer hub. Once best beloved has got the thing roadworthy (can it be done, I ask
>myself) I plan to start gently - heck, I'm no chicken, about as fit as a doughnut, and what is
>known around these parts as "bonny". I'm starting with short trips into town instead of using the
>bus, and local pottering to shops and the kids' school instead of the car. But this is *Sheffield*!
>Whichever direction you go, it's always uphill, like some nightmarish Escher picture. I'm not
>buying a newer bike until I've proved I can do it and keep it up, so I have to make do with less
>than the ideal (ie, brand new tourer, lots of gears etc), so I expect I'll have to push it up the
>steeper hills. I want to get fit enough by August to be able to seriously consider cycling/camping
>in East Anglia (note- flat).
>
I always found climbing was a psychological thing (for me anyway) and being not of a climber build
(heavy and tall) I made myself do it in my head .... If that makes sense.. I turned out be virtually
unbeatable on most hills in our local club.
My advice ... You WILL hack it !New bike ( doesn't really need a zillion gears) build slowly, keep
those revs up, not silly high gears, think 'mountains' and enjoy it .....
Post back in summer and I bet you will be fitter ... as for the kids, what do they know :-)
Go For It !!!!!
Debbie <debbie@removethiscybertheology.org.uk> writes:
> Please be gentle with me - I'm delurking rather cautiously.
>
> I used to cycle a lot many years ago - mostly in the countryside round Peterborough and York, both
> of which are fairly flat. I have an old ordinary bike - came from H*lf*rds about 15-20 years ago,
> with Sturmey Archer hub. Once best beloved has got the thing roadworthy (can it be done, I ask
> myself) I plan to start gently - heck, I'm no chicken, about as fit as a doughnut, and what is
> known around these parts as "bonny". I'm starting with short trips into town instead of using the
> bus, and local pottering to shops and the kids' school instead of the car. But this is
> *Sheffield*! Whichever direction you go, it's always uphill, like some nightmarish Escher picture.
> I'm not buying a newer bike until I've proved I can do it and keep it up, so I have to make do
> with less than the ideal (ie, brand new tourer, lots of gears etc), so I expect I'll have to push
> it up the steeper hills. I want to get fit enough by August to be able to seriously consider
> cycling/camping in East Anglia (note- flat).
>
> Best beloved knows enough about bikes to do the tinkering (I'm better with a car engine myself),
> but I need advice and encouragement. So far it's been thin on the ground - the kids howled with
> laughter and best beloved, who takes his cycling very seriously, is not entirely convinced that I
> can hack it.
>
> All advice/ encouragement/ warnings welcomed.
A three-speed Halfords bike is not going to be ideal for cycling around a hilly place, and urban
traffic these days is pretty frightening. I think it might be good to do at least some of your
cycling in places which are more conducive to relaxation and enjoyment. Is there any where nearby
where you can hire a reasonably good, light, off-road bike for a day? If so, is there a forest park
or similar nearby with some 'green' grade off-road trails, or canal towpaths or abandoned railways?
Enjoy.
You will get a lot fitter amazingly quickly, particularly at first.
--
simon@jasmine.org.uk (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
A message from our sponsor: This site is now in free fall
"Debbie" <debbie@removethiscybertheology.org.uk> wrote in message
news:n47020taufp5hhq9rr64jlm0cqvribv1d1@4ax.com...
> I have an old ordinary bike - came from H*lf*rds about 15-20 years ago, with Sturmey Archer hub.
I rode one like that around the Peak District in my youth, including some offroad riding :-)
> But this is *Sheffield*! Whichever direction you go, it's always uphill, like some nightmarish
> Escher picture.
Heh! I had friends who lived in the Fields of Dron, not unadjacent. There was a man from the council
who would follow you around reversing the slope of the road so it was uphill both ways :-D
> I'm not buying a newer bike until I've proved I can do it and keep it up, so I have to make do
> with less than the ideal (ie, brand new tourer, lots of gears etc), so I expect I'll have to push
> it up the steeper hills.
No disgrace in that - but have a lok at the seoncd-hand offerings in the paper or the local bike
shops. An aluminium framed rigid (no suspension) mountain bike can be had for a song these days.
Stick a pair of road tyres on it and you've got a very practical town bike.
> I want to get fit enough by August to be able to seriously consider cycling/camping in East Anglia
> (note- flat).
Apart from the hills ;-)
> the kids howled with laughter and best beloved, who takes his cycling very seriously, is not
> entirely convinced that I can hack it.
Threaten him with loss of "privileges" unless he accompanies you on your rides ;-)
Hmmmm. In cases of differential fitness, tandems are often an amicable solution.
> All advice/ encouragement/ warnings welcomed.
Consider yourself encouraged :-)
--
Guy
===
WARNING: may contain traces of irony. Contents may settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk (http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/)
"Debbie" <debbie@removethiscybertheology.org.uk> wrote in message
news:n47020taufp5hhq9rr64jlm0cqvribv1d1@4ax.com...
> Please be gentle with me - I'm delurking rather cautiously.
<snip>
I'm not buying
> a newer bike until I've proved I can do it and keep it up, so I have to make do with less than
> the ideal (ie, brand new tourer, lots of gears etc), so I expect I'll have to push it up the
> steeper hills.
I think this is a good approach as it shows a determination that this will not be a passing fad. If
you can get to grips with riding on this bike, then when you are comfortable with the idea of
cycling regularly, you can reward yourself with a bike that will make it even more enjoyable ;-)
<snip>
So
> far it's been thin on the ground - the kids howled with laughter
<snip>
I work as a lifeguard. There's a guy who was 24 stone, determined to come down to about 16 stone.
Imagine, 24stone in speedos, swimcap and goggles. The local yoofs who come and splash a bit would
howl with laughter and point. Once the guy started his swim, they'd try and get in his way on
purpose (kids can be so cruel!!)....I'd wander over to them and ask if they could keep up with him.
They'd start swimming half a length ahead of him. By the end of the length he'd invariably have
overtaken them. I'd just smile at the kids and more importantly their friends. They stopped pointing
and laughing and treat him with respect now. The guy is down to 17 stone and looking really good. He
swims 80 lengths of a 25metre pool every evening. The kids have also learnt valuable lessons ;-)
Determination is a wonderful thing. Ignore others views. You know you can do it for yourself, not
anyone else. As they say in the advert, just do it!!
>
> All advice/ encouragement/ warnings welcomed.
You're welcome...good luck and enjoy!!
>
> --
>
> Debbie Urban Theology Unit, Sheffield Views expressed in this email are my own and are not
> necessarily those of the University of Sheffield or UTU.
Dave.
Debbie <debbie@removethiscybertheology.org.uk> wrote in message news:<n47020taufp5hhq9rr64jlm0cqvribv1d1@4ax.com>...
> But this is *Sheffield*! Whichever direction you go, it's always uphill, like some nightmarish
> Escher picture. I'm not buying a newer bike until I've proved I can do it and keep it up, so I
> have to make do with less than the ideal (ie, brand new tourer, lots of gears etc), so I expect
> I'll have to push it up the steeper hills.
Bicycle technology has come on enormously in recent years, and you really should treat yourself to a
new steed. Your cycling will be that much easier and you'll be more likely to keep it up, not as an
exercise in self-flagellation but as a rewarding and enoyable, even addictive, thing to do. Make
sure it has a triple at the front to get you up those Sheffield hills.
> I want to get fit enough by August to be able to seriously consider cycling/camping in East Anglia
> (note- flat).
If you're in normal good health that will be no problem at all. At this stage concentrate on
increasing your distance little by little and don't worry at all about your speed. That will start
to increase by itself as you get stronger. Don't worry about your body shape either; with time in
the saddle and a sensible healthy diet that will also change.
> So far it's been thin on the ground - the kids howled with laughter and best beloved, who takes
> his cycling very seriously, is not entirely convinced that I can hack it.
To quote Droopy: "That makes me mad." Fixing up the old clunker for you to fail on is a reflection
of that attitude. You need to show them what you already know and they evidently don't: that women
have greater endurance, greater tolerance of pain, and greater mental toughness than men do. You
need someone to inspire you. Look here http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/1998/mar/longo.jpg or here
http://members.rogers.com/randallbutler/pages/Jeannie%20Longo.htm . I'd like to see best beloved
hang on to that wheel.
> All advice/ encouragement/ warnings welcomed.
Get a nice bike. Learn basic maintenance skills and look after it yourself. Ride it often. Use low
gears - spin rather than push. Stay out of lurk.
--
Dave...
On Wed, 4 Feb 2004 10:28:04 -0000, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
<outlook.bugs@microsoft.com> wrote:
>Hmmmm. In cases of differential fitness, tandems are often an amicable solution.
I mentioned that. He didn't seem over amicable about the idea. I forget the exact words, but it was
something like "when Hell freezes over".
>> All advice/ encouragement/ warnings welcomed.
>
>
>Consider yourself encouraged :-)
Thanks to you and to all for helping to convince me it's not the premature onset of senility. I can
do it, I can do it... Now if this rain would just stop, I could get started.
Debbie
--
Debbie Urban Theology Unit, Sheffield Views expressed in this email are my own and are not
necessarily those of the University of Sheffield or UTU.
On 03 Feb 2004 22:41:40 GMT, wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom
(dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers) wrote:
>Sheffield is hilly.
I can see most of the city from the top of this one.
>Having a newer, lighter bike with more gears will make it easier, hence more enjoyable, for you and
>quicker too. It'll make it easier for you to keep up.
>
>Believe me - I am no spring chicken, and could, I suppose, be called "bonny"..
>
>Incidentally - don't think you need to try to keep up a.s.a.p. - do it at *your* pace, even if it
>means molluscs get there quicker ;-)
That's the most useful thing anyone has said to me! I know I'm going to be a terrible wimp to begin
with, but I have to start somewhere.
>Choose your bit of East Anglia carefully - it isn't all flat. Mountainous it isn't but there's
>plenty that is not flat.
>
>You go girl! The more of us that cycle the better! Indeed, thell your other half you need a
>nice lightweight tourer, fitted with Campagnolo parts - triple chainwheel at the front 9-speed
>at the back with mudguard clearance and a nice pannier rack fitted. Oh, and a Terry's Liberator
>TiLite saddle.
I've started a wish list. Best beloved has seen and blanched.
>and if other half gives you grief - tell him he'll be getting a visit from the paving slab fairy,
>whether or not he wears b*bs... ;-)
>
>After all - he's only jealous that you'll put him in the shade.
I can create plenty of shade already :-)
Debbie
--
Debbie Urban Theology Unit, Sheffield Views expressed in this email are my own and are not
necessarily those of the University of Sheffield or UTU.
dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:
> Oh good! Do remind him of the rules of the world according to Wafflycat
>
> 1. One can never have too many bikes, bike bits and bike accessories
> 2. One can never spend too much money on bikes, bike bits and bike accessories.
I presume you're merely being careless in restricting your options to 2 wheels there? ;-)
Just to get the wish list on the right track, Debbie, what you want is a recumbent! If you're going
to have people staring at you, might as well do a proper job...
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote:
> Sheffield is hilly.
>
> Having a newer, lighter bike with more gears will make it easier, hence more enjoyable, for you
> and quicker too. It'll make it easier for you to keep up.
Wot she said! :-)
I started out riding a three speed hub gear bike, which was Ok, but a few more gears make life so
much more pleasant, and might make the difference between walking up a hill and being able to ride
up in some cases.
>
> Believe me - I am no spring chicken, and could, I suppose, be called "bonny"..
Likewise.
>
> Incidentally - don't think you need to try to keep up a.s.a.p. - do it at *your* pace, even if it
> means molluscs get there quicker ;-)
S'right. Gears will help with that too.
>
> Choose your bit of East Anglia carefully - it isn't all flat. Mountainous it isn't but there's
> plenty that is not flat.
Norwich is quite bumpy as I recall. :-)
>
> You go girl! The more of us that cycle the better!
Time to found S.L.L.O.W. ? (Senior Large Ladies On Wheels) ;-)
--
Carol Hague
Time to found S.L.L.O.W. ? (Senior Large Ladies On Wheels) ;-)
But what possible relevance could such an organisation have upon such a sylph like personage as yourself Carol?
On 04 Feb 2004 14:54:35 GMT, dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:
>>Time to found S.L.L.O.W. ? (Senior Large Ladies On Wheels) ;-)
>
> OOOOOH! I like that, but how about less of the senior - some of us aren't *quite* there yet
Yeah, anyway, 'silly' would be more accurate.
--
Michael MacClancy Random pleonasm - Seen somewhere in the U.S. ˇX ˇ§Fish and chips with French
fries.ˇ¨ www.macclancy.demon.co.uk www.macclancy.co.uk
How about SLOW - Stylish Lardies On Wheels.
small typo there somewhere...?
or in Helen's case, Slab Laden, On Watch
--
Guy
===
WARNING: may contain traces of irony. Contents may settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk (http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/)
dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote:
> >Time to found S.L.L.O.W. ? (Senior Large Ladies On Wheels) ;-)
>
> OOOOOH! I like that, but how about less of the senior - some of us aren't *quite* there yet ;-)
Yebbut, the acronym won't work properly else :-)
> Did I ever send you my "fatbirdonabike" logo -
Don't think so...
>*not* that I am susggesting *you* are that, Carol
'Course I'm not - I ride a trike :-)
>- but it's a not bad logo ;-)
Please feel free to bung it my way then :-)
--
Carol Hague "If tin whistles are made of tin, what do they make fog horns out of?"
- Lonnie Donegan
Michael MacClancy <herzelNOSPAM@o2.co.uk> wrote:
> On 04 Feb 2004 14:54:35 GMT, dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:
>
> >>Time to found S.L.L.O.W. ? (Senior Large Ladies On Wheels) ;-)
> >
> > OOOOOH! I like that, but how about less of the senior - some of us aren't *quite* there yet
>
> Yeah, anyway, 'silly' would be more accurate.
You say that like it's a *bad* thing :-)
--
Carol Hague "If tin whistles are made of tin, what do they make fog horns out of?"
- Lonnie Donegan
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