Hi from Shropshire

[rossg1990]

Hi all, i've been lurking round these forums for a while reading others posts but only just got round to introducing myself.

I'm 23 and got into cycling in late 2012 (post olympic fever an all that) after not riding a bike since I was about 15. Was a huge shock at first when I realised just how unfit I was after 2 years of eating junk food every other day! Only started taking it a bit more seriously in the last 6 months or so. I mainly do road riding with the odd mountain bike ride (although my mountain bike skills leave alot to be desired!). Anyway, after finally building myself up after many months to defeat the dreaded local hills, this is my latest ride from earlier in the week:

http://www.strava.com/activities/108000407

I know, i'm not the speediest just yet

 

[Biker Joe]

Hi and a warm to you.
I'm glad you're enjoying your cycling.
I'm a roady and,for me, it's not about speed or distance but just the pure enjoyment of cycling.
At 23 I was a speed freak but ,these days, those are just good memories.
Happy riding.

 

[Bryony]

Hello Don't worry about how fast you're going just enjoy the ride!! That's what I do

 

[rossg1990]

Thanks At the moment i'm just happy to keep upping the distances. I remember the first time I went out the day I got my new bike, got all the gear on, went out expecting to be Bradley Wiggins, came back after 5 minutes and collapsed in a heap on my driveway I was so demoralised and dreaded going out on it again, hence why I took so long to start doing more regular riding!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi @rossg1990 and from a former Kidderminster lad.

That's quite a lumpy part of the country so I wouldn't worry too much about the speed at the moment, it'll improve.

Do you have two bikes or doing the road stuff on the mountain bike?

 

[rossg1990]

Hi @Rickshaw Phil, the hills round here can be a struggle, I live the other side of Clee Hill so every ride is an uphill challenge I'm thinking of sticking the bike in the car and finding somewhere a little flatter to ride though.

I have two bikes. I use the Triban 3 for road riding. It's so much easier than the mountain bike up the hills. I've recently gone clipless too as I got fed up with sliding off the pedals in the wet!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

If popping the bike in the car, there's some flatter and fairly quiet roads round Ludlow that you might like. Down towards Leominster too. I'm sure you could put together a few good routes around there.

Good choice getting the Triban 3 - I'm sure you've already seen that it's well liked on here.

 

[rossg1990]

Hi @Rockymountain

If popping the bike in the car, there's some flatter and fairly quiet roads round Ludlow that you might like. Down towards Leominster too. I'm sure you could put together a few good routes around there.

Thanks, I don't mind the hills too much but it'd be nice to see what sort of speed i'll average on the flat for the same effort

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Welcome!
Go out there and enjoy: surely you're not slower than me?

 

[rossg1990]

Go out there and enjoy: surely you're not slower than me?

I wouldn't be so sure, on one of the local climbs I sometimes get overtaken by horse riders from the local farm

 

[Andy Jeffery]

Hi from Market Drayton