Beginners?

[SpokeyDokey]

Is this time base, mileage based or both?

Some of the fantastic mileages clocked up in this section are beyond my wildest expectations and to me qualify for Grizzly Veteran status.

 

[Kins]

I think its a state of mind thing rather than ability driven.

 

[simmi]

For me its time and knowledge, would think I will consider myself a beginner for a year at least.
As for knowledge my thirst for it is almost obsessive and compared to what I knew in October I would say it is now huge but there again I knew nothing in Oct so compared with some of the others on here I still know nothing!

 

[Biker Joe]

I would say that experience is the defining factor.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I guess you could be a beginner at a 50 mile route or even a complete novice when it comes to acheiving 100 miles in a day.
Done one, can't imagine ever managing the other... so that could make me a complete novice as well as an experienced rider...

 

[jim55]

yeah ,good point ,iv had my bike a while now (and tbh its mostly commuting i do) ,i think the most iv done is about 50 ml and it was a slog so in terms of mileage im a beginner ,and i dont cycle as much as a lot of so called "beginners"on here!

 

[simmi]

I guess you could also have to do a few rites of passage.
I'll start us off with a few
1. Ride a metric century
2. Go on a club ride
3. Fix a p******e by the side of the road
4. Overtake someone
5. Enter an event
6. Give someone advice
7. get bike envy

Not saying you need to do them.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I see myself as a beginner despite the mileage I have done so far this year. I started seriously commuting towards the end of November last year, therefore how can I be anything other than a beginner?

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I guess you could also have to do a few rights of passage.
I'll start us off with a few
1. Ride a metric century
2. Go on a club ride
3. Fix a p******e by the side of the road
4. Overtake someone
5. Enter an event
6. Give someone advice
7. get bike envy

Not saying you need to do them.

Not done 1,2,3,5 or 7 Given advice, though not sure how useful it has been.

 

[simmi]

Not done 1,2,3,5 or 7 Given advice, though not sure how useful it has been.

You got in before my edit didn't spell rite right

 

[Rob3rt]

You are a beginner until you are not.

 

[Sittingduck]

I think we're all still beginners, to a degree. Certainly not a point that you hit and wake the next thinking 'Yeaaah... I'm here!'. It's just a gradual progression, I think...?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I wouldn't class myself as a beginner as such, as I have ridden off and on since i was a kid, but as to something more serious then yes I am, and it's only been this last week or so that it's begining to show in terms of performance, though thats not what it's all about (well to me anyway, though I am a bit of a stats freak) I have always been able to do 20miles + though not always without stopping, which is now not a problem (or 30miles +) time is the constraint to larger distances (though as speed has improved the distance in a given time should).
I think things change when you look at a hill and are not filled with dread, but think bring it on, lets see what we (you and the bike) can do. This might sound odd but when you feel safer than in a car, though only an illusion I get that sometimes.

 

[DaveyM]

I still consider myself a beginner coz I have only been back on a bike for a few months...distance and speeds are all just numbers to me.
when I get my black belt in cycling I'll let you all know

 

[Kies]

I guess you could also have to do a few rites of passage.
I'll start us off with a few
1. Ride a metric century
2. Go on a club ride
3. Fix a p******e by the side of the road
4. Overtake someone
5. Enter an event
6. Give someone advice
7. get bike envy

Not saying you need to do them.

I would say your no longer a beginner when ...

1. You have gone clipless and had a clipless moment
2. Fixed a puncture on the side of the road
3. Ridden more than 10 miles in one go without stopping
4. Overtaken another cyclist with a bit of effort
5. Completed a group ride, be it friends,club or event
6. Have bought or started to consider N+1
7. Start watching other races than just TDF
8. Friends and family call you Lance (spit), Froomi,Wiggo or Cav
9. You carry two water bottles