Yip, struggling here. Up and down like a yo-yo at the moment. Head home to Belfast for 8 days tomorrow. Taking my bikes with me so hoping to do some riding and have a ride planned with mates from home. So trying to focus on things like that. Have had quite a few bad panic attacks recently which have knocked me for six.

I live in Chorlton. The first 30 minutes of any road ride from the house is infested with awful roads and usually equally bad drivers. My standard loop is out towards Whaley Bridge via the Brickworks, from Cheadle/Pott Shrigley. Then up the Brickworks, swing a right out towards Rainow, and home through Adlington/Poynton.

I feel your pain though, I have put off road bikes because of the battle with the crap roads and traffic at the start.

Sounds bliss. I live in south Manchester and it’s an absolute hole.

Starting from when? I’m 37 and only ran my first marathon in 2016. Before that I’d probably not ran more than 6/7 miles in one go.

Where any of you slower than this when you first started running?

I’m very curious about this. We had a new club record this weekend with a 2:27:57 at the Yorkshire marathon. The guy hasn’t been running long. We also have a runner who is sub 2:45 who started C25K a few years ago doing something like 9m/m.

I’ve managed a 3:23. Then long term back injury. Over the last couple of months I’ve tried to do more but my HR is through the roof, legs feel like lead with anything over 6 miles, and I can’t seem to go faster than I did in the past. It really is hard work to do 6 miles at sub 7m/m. I’m wondering why I bother as it really is hard work. I’m not feeling any progress.

Tough couple of days for me too.

I often get confused thinking about the details that are causing it. Sometimes I can pin point something, other days it’s just a huge wave of depression. Today I feel very anxious. I can’t keep any concentration. I am noticing that social interactions are becoming more difficult for me. And it happens a lot at very short notice. Say I have planned to do a running race with the club. It would normally be a great way to meet others, have a random chat and enjoy the day together. As soon as I wake up that morning I get filled with dread and start to doubt why I’m going. I feel like I just want to be invisible when I get there and that nobody talk to me. I’ll come across as reasonably normal, but maybe a little reserved. Now after a weekend of being in a social situation, I’ve curled up into myself feeling very vunerable. And I’ve got work to do, and lots of it needs doing today.

On the bright side, by this time tomorrow, you’ll have forgotten all about it.

Don’t know what you’re talking about.

Thanks for the replies. Yea, it really gets me down when I do something like this.

I remember the Optica (OP) over the skies of Belfast when I was a kid. I remember hearing the whine of an engine overhead one day riding my bike, spent ages looking for it in the sky, finally seeing the odd shape. It intrigued me for years and when the internet came around for me and my passion for aviation, I was really chuffed to find out about it. G-BMPF was the airframe that was used for a time for surveillance.

Hi. Really sorry, but I can’t make this one. I had been keeping my eye on the forum to see when this was. Unfortunately between still struggling and having to be somewhere else, I’ll miss it :(

Maybe next time.

Thanks for all the other replies, and @cr500dom

Things aren’t much better, overall. However I have managed some more exercise, a couple of bike rides and a few runs. I’m feeling really irritable, and getting easily agitated by things. I’m usually not bothered by the little things.

Also finding my diet is non existant. This has been a big issue for me for years anyway. My current diet consists of no breakfast, then perhaps a bowl of cereal at lunch or mid afternoon if I’m at home, and then a dinner that I don’t have much appetite for. Then I’m eat chocolate and crisps and that’ll make me feel much worse.

Off to Copenhagen this weekend for a short break, and the travel anxieties have started. I can’t explain it really, I always think that something awful will happen when I go away. Even in April when I went to Scotland on the bike for 4 days with mates from home. Had this constant worry that something would go wrong.

Interesting scaled. I may add, I am very new to road biking. When mountain biking, it’s more the elevation/strava PRs.

I’m finding that social media is denting my confidence too. I generally don’t care if I see others doing more, going higher, going faster, racing etc. In fact it used to help me motivate myself. Now, it’s making it worse.

forget any targets, plans or anything

This is what I wish I could do. When I bought my road bike recently I felt I needed to get out and every ride have a better average speed. Then that is all I focus on. The rationale is that well, if I’m not going faster, I’m not getting fitter.

Will keep an eye out for the next MNPR.

Thanks everyone for the replies, again.

Monday Night Pub Ride tonight mate

Sorry I missed this. There’s no way I would have made it out last night. I’m just staring at the bikes in the house and going no further. I breifly got back to riding more last month but it has just abruptly stopped. Every time I get back on I feel like I’ve lost even more fitness than before and than gives me huge amounts of anxiety and stress. I hope it was a good ride, the MNPRs are great.

“Step-by-Step”

This is what I want to do, but the reality is that I overload my mind with everything and it turns into a mental mess. Then, panic attacks.

fitter than I have ever been

Again, this is what I want but I don’t like it is possible at all. I seem to make good intentions and then it comes crashing down.

Hi all. So here I am again. It’s 1130 and I’ve absolutely done no work. Feel like I have a hangover, however I have been drinking alot recently. No huge sessions, but a couple most nights. Haven’t been on a bike in a month, even my new road bike. Have stopped keeping my back exercises going and have been having issues.

Get into the Wicklow mountains just outside Dublin. Djouce Woods, Ballinastoe etc. Some great riding in there. Ticknock is a decent trail center too.

So….road bike has arrived. Went for a Ribble Endurance AL disc. Ribble built it much earlier than they said so need to get some pedals before the maiden voyage. Ribble have been great to be fair, impressed by the set-up in Preston.

Ah, good old Garmin. I’ve owned various products over the years. My current devices are hit and miss. All issues are bluetooth related. My new 520 Plus doesn’t connect to my phone every other ride. It needs unpaired/paired. My Forerunner 230 was the same for months, but seems to have settled recently. Both devices are up to date with the latest firmware.

Can I just comment on the cleanliness of your tires and wheels? Remarkable!

You should see the rest of it….

lowey, that’s impressive!

Surprised it took so long to notice the absolute mess of a shed.

Put it the other way round when taking your Instabangers?

Good point.

Thanks for all the quick replies. It’s the sticker that has creased, which is stressing me out just as much….

I’d just leave it, but maybe avoid looking at it.

20190501_125915 by Colin[/url], on Flickr

20190501_125711 by Colin[/url], on Flickr

Hi markhammill. Unfortunately I went through 3 giant droppers in 2 years. All had heavy wear on the post stantion, so also suffered from very ‘draggy’ operation. I did try to re grease and clean a cartridge before with no luck.

Just bought a new pair of the Burgtec Mk4 composite. My Nukeproof Electrons finally died after 2 and a bit years of abuse. Could never justify the extra cost of metal pedals. These Mk4’s have replaceable axles which is nice for longevity.

Enjoyed that, despite the winds. Definitely get up to the Pike next time.

I’m in. See you later.

Blast around Healey Nab, Brinscall Woods and up to Great Hill on Saturday. Weather was decent, only a few soft spots under tyre

Provisionally in.

Jeez, that’s crazy fella. I’d say there is CCTV around. Hope you are okay. I wouldn’t hold out much hope with the Police, or even Deliveroo. Good luck.

Not sure yet. Will be a Saturday for me this week. Possibly Peak district, but maybe something more local like Rivington…

Sorry to hear that. As time goes on I’m finding social situations more and more stressful. Tonight I am supposed to going on a head torch run with my running club. And as the day goes on, the more I’m getting anxious about it. And you’re right, so difficult to express to others what is going on.

Things have taken a dive again after starting to feel a little better. I have been suffering from vertigo the last few days which hasn’t helped.

Sorry I couldn’t make it tonight. Unfortunately any plans to ride have been scuppered by vertigo :(

Thanks again for all the replies and offers of rides and bikes. I’ll be after something large or beyond.

I have my mind leaning towards the Ribble at the moment, but will keep my options open. Watch this space.

Road bike? Are you sure?

I know, right?

First road bike so assume it’s a year round option?

Yes.

Well, I popped into the Ribble shop today for a nosey. Nice set-up up there, even with many bikes down at the London bikes show. Had a look at the aluminium CGR. Really nice bike. The 105 spec (inc hydros) with Aksium is £1400. Great clearance for wider tyres (comes with G-Ones as standard) and mudguards. Above my budget, but sure…

All great information, thanks everyone.

My nervousness with a gravel/cx type bike is loss of on road performance. Will it feel more sluggish than a road bike with 25mm slicks and better gearing? Certainly happy to consider all options right now.

Is there much difference between wider tyres on road, or those with a little extra tread?

Thanks Joe.

Yes, will probably use it in winter. I thoughts as much, regarding the brakes. Just need to try some for size, as I’ve never ridden a road bike before!

Thanks for that. Much needed today. Sorry I didn’t hang around, hope the crisps were good.

What are you trying to say?

I read it that he’s pointing out the laughable juxtaposition of someone basically rubbishing a commercial pilots opinion, cos he’s read a bit about planes n that, online.

Well, another problem with the internet. Misunderstanding what is being said. I was only having an issue with his choice of wording, the way he was making his point. Absolutely nothing else. I’m certainly not trying to say he is wrong or that I know better.