The Get fit club!

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Originally Posted by J4MIE

Picked my bike up today and went straight to Hamsterley and there is a massive difference to my old bike, very happy with my purchase. Just need to get fitter now so that I can ride for more than an hour at a time :(

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Congrats! It's a nice feeling having a new bike isn't it! The fitness will come quickly; even if you can't get to the forest then riding it on the road and tracks will help. There's a cycle route just North of you that you could try.

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Originally Posted by GridGirl

My road bike fell after I lent it up against the car yesterday and a gust of wind blew it over. I then dropped it today (and took a nice chunk out of my leg) when trying to fix my GPS on it. Not sure when I lost gears but I think I'm pretty sure I had all 30 yesterday. I went down to 9 gears having only three on each ring on todays ride before my other half made me choose which gear I wanted to ride home in and gave me orders not to change. He had a look at the rear derailleur when we got home but I think I might have broken the shifter. Looks like I'm on the mountain bike until its fixed. No more Queen of the Mountain titles either. :(

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Oh dear! You don't have the best of luck with your bikes mechanicals!

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Originally Posted by J4MIE

Picked my bike up today and went straight to Hamsterley and there is a massive difference to my old bike, very happy with my purchase. Just need to get fitter now so that I can ride for more than an hour at a time :(

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Nice :up: I want a new bike too, want to go back to full suspension!

The fitness will come Jamie. I did about a week or so of rides on the local cycle path and felt better for it. Not any longer than 8 miles at a time, but I felt the benefit.

Had a good ride last night. I'm bored of doing point-to-point stuff, so went to explore the back roads around here. Plan to do the same tonight, find another circular route. Just have to find one that doesn't require me lifting the bike over three stiles!

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Originally Posted by Iain

The fitness will come Jamie. I did about a week or so of rides on the local cycle path and felt better for it. Not any longer than 8 miles at a time, but I felt the benefit.

Had a good ride last night. I'm bored of doing point-to-point stuff, so went to explore the back roads around here. Plan to do the same tonight, find another circular route. Just have to find one that doesn't require me lifting the bike over three stiles!

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Decent mountain bike gives you a lot of options! I take it you aren't sticking to the 'authorised' routes then? ;)

Authorised? I took a gravel public path that I was probably last on 25 years ago, only to find it had stiles and gates on it!

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Well I'm sure your bike could get down routes which are footpaths rather than bridle ways / marked cycle routes.

Went out for 8km earlier in a quick loop around here, there seems to be quite a few bridleways around that can be used so will have a bit of exploring to do. Found myself driving to/from work looking at signs for footpaths or bridleways :laugh:

Don't think I'll be able to do the Evans event on 18th though as my little brother's decided to visit for two weeks and that weekend will be the only time I can see him. Gutted :(

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Originally Posted by Mark

Well I'm sure your bike could get down routes which are footpaths rather than bridle ways / marked cycle routes.

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Oh definitely. I don't stick exclusively to cycle paths. It's just handy having the main Glasgow - Edinburgh one right on my doorstep for a quick blast. :)

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Originally Posted by J4MIE

Went out for 8km earlier in a quick loop around here, there seems to be quite a few bridleways around that can be used so will have a bit of exploring to do. Found myself driving to/from work looking at signs for footpaths or bridleways :laugh:

Don't think I'll be able to do the Evans event on 18th though as my little brother's decided to visit for two weeks and that weekend will be the only time I can see him. Gutted :(

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I don't think I'd manage to do 15 miles of MTBing anyway! Decided to follow a route I checked out to a country park, which said it was suitable for cyclists and horses. Unbelievably steep hills which were grassy. I was knackered. I eventually gave up and went back down the hill, getting a face full of midges......I did get a good run out the Union Canal towpath after that though.

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Originally Posted by J4MIE

Went out for 8km earlier in a quick loop around here, there seems to be quite a few bridleways around that can be used so will have a bit of exploring to do. Found myself driving to/from work looking at signs for footpaths or bridleways :laugh:

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Oh yeah there's tonnes of them! Pro tip: Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions and select OS mapping or goto Google Maps and select Bicycling.

Yeah you theres route 14 which goes through Sherburn off to the coast meeting up with Route 1or back through Durham to Consett, further along there's Route 7 (usually referred to as 'the lines') which goes from Birtley up to Beamish and Consett to meet route then route 7 continues across the Pennines.

Damn, I want a mountain bike now! :laugh: