The first signs that you're getting there with fitness

[GrumpyGregry]

Cruising at speed.
Not having to say "Shut up legs"
Big ring riding.
Seeking out hills.
Riding home the long way and then finding you've plenty time to add a few more km.
Finding it really quite difficult to hit max HR.
Having hit a high, or max., HR noticing how quickly is settles again.
Having conversations with riding companions who are gasping for breath.
Dropping folk for dead on the climbs.

Won't last though....

(All this talk of reduced guts. Can't see it myself. I like beer, pies, and malt whisky, way to much to lose weight)

 

[Ghost Donkey]

Overtaking someone on a road bike on the flat riding a heavy comuter bike with panniers.

Overtaking and staying ahead of a cyclist on a shared cycle path while out running.

OK, both these rely on the other party not actually trying

Being able to run in zone 2 was the first sign for me. I used to jog and not be able to speak at all for ages. Being able to keep up with people comfortably on the bike who I used to kill myself trying to keep in sight is another good one. You have a draft bonus which makes it easier but that's a nice psychological boost.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

When it takes over 7 miles for the egs to warm rather than start to scream to stop

 

[2wd]

When you can finally cycle past a skip without wanting to launch your bike in it

 

[NotthatJasonKenny]

For me it was looking down and being able to see the saddle because my belly isn't totally in the way and being able to ride on the hoods without feeling the pull of gravity from said belly!

Last Sunday I felt a huge improvement, cruising at 18mph 15 miles into a ride without even feeling it.

#gettingthere

 

[MattHB]

Unfortunately most of these points are depressing as I still have so far to go! I did do my first ride with some of the clubs faster riders today and kept up ok.

 

[defy-one]

When your not breaking sweat but still dropping riders on your commuter bike

 

[smutchin]

Not having to say "Shut up legs"

I still have to say "Shut up legs" but now it's when I'm trying to sustain a 30km/h average rather than 25km/h...

Seeking out hills.

Oh yes, definitely this.

d.

 

[Aiden_23]

When you stop doing that lunge foward with your Groin onto the head tube to stretch your back. When you stop making little bitch noises and wimpering on hills because you are hanging out!!!!! I still do both of these cant wait to stop them though!!!!!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

When my commute only needs to be this, but ends up being this.

 

[tyred]

I had upped the mileage in recent years but had actually put on a little weight and felt I had made zero progress on fitness until it dawned on me I regularly ride effortlessly at 20ish mph on the flat on a 63" fixed gear which is in excess of 100rpm cadence.

 

[GrasB]

When my commute only needs to be this, but ends up being this.

Then there are some of us who think that doing a 45mile day is on the light side... guess who has a 250w 3h - 3h 15m tempo ride scheduled for this afternoon

 

[Hacienda71]

When you curse your compact chainset and wish you had a standard double climbing up a cat 1 or 2 climb.

 

[400bhp]

When you own a pair of bollox and you have replied to this thread.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

When my commute only needs to be this, but ends up being this.

I see you and raise you! lol

used to be this Then became this at least once a week until i moved down to cornwall. this morning i did this and will stretch it further once the shower is fixed! plus i sometimes go hill hunting at lunch ( this 570 ft climb ends at my office!)