There appears to have been some growing tension on one of the threads over the last day or so and just I thought I would move off that thread, make appologies for my part in it, and try to explain to Bonj where I personally am coming from in the hope that he may be a bit more sympathetic in the future. not just to me but to other beginers as well.
One sunny morning in 2005 I took it upon myself to hijack my daughters bike and take a ride, I now know I managed an amazing 5 miles in just over an hour! I then continued through the summer and into the autumn but just for a bit of fitness and to loose some weight. I know it sounds a very middle aged womanly thing to do, which to some degree it may be but I assure you I will be dragged kicking and screeming into that time of life.
However through 2006 first ill health then working on home improvements meant no cycling. When I signed up for cycle India in March this year I had not been on a bike in over a year, I was 2 stone overweight and although my fitness level wasn't exactly in my boots, it wasn't far above my ankles. So the challenge to cycle just over 240 miles over 5 days, the longest being about 60 miles, I knew there was going to be a lot of hard work ahead of me. For months I have tried very hard, lost over 1 1/2 stone and increased my fitness far beyond what it has ever been. I then found I could actually make quicker progress with my cycling by using the correct tequniques and was directed to this forum. I have gained a lot from here and made many improvements, even if I do have to I plow through the occasional bulges of testosterone.
I acknowledge at times that I may seem a bit serious, but I have 4 months left to try and build myself to the sort of knowledge that many of you guys have taken possibly years to develope and learn. I do not expect to be a top class cyclist by Feb next year, but I would like to get some enjoyment out of it rather than it being merely a test of endurance. I invested in a new mtb in April, a big upgrade from my daughter's bike, and possibly it is s**** to your standard but I love it. I also stuck with a mtb as we will be doing a degree of off road in India.
However at the end of the day I am now hooked and fully intend to continue cycling after Feb, I am also playing with the idea I may also look at a road bike aswell when I can afford it.
You may well find cause to mock this thread or even disregard it altogether. I assure you I am not on a winge I am just trying to smooth out some growing bad feeling before it developes too far. I'm sure you may well often respond tongue in cheek, saddly it doesnt always come over that way, but I am sure at some point we have all been guilty of that. Just spare a thought that most of us are on this page to help us progress in our new found passion. The time for sparing with you can come on the more senior pages as we progress in confidence and experience.
(PS I appologise for any spilling mistakes!!)
One sunny morning in 2005 I took it upon myself to hijack my daughters bike and take a ride, I now know I managed an amazing 5 miles in just over an hour! I then continued through the summer and into the autumn but just for a bit of fitness and to loose some weight. I know it sounds a very middle aged womanly thing to do, which to some degree it may be but I assure you I will be dragged kicking and screeming into that time of life.
However through 2006 first ill health then working on home improvements meant no cycling. When I signed up for cycle India in March this year I had not been on a bike in over a year, I was 2 stone overweight and although my fitness level wasn't exactly in my boots, it wasn't far above my ankles. So the challenge to cycle just over 240 miles over 5 days, the longest being about 60 miles, I knew there was going to be a lot of hard work ahead of me. For months I have tried very hard, lost over 1 1/2 stone and increased my fitness far beyond what it has ever been. I then found I could actually make quicker progress with my cycling by using the correct tequniques and was directed to this forum. I have gained a lot from here and made many improvements, even if I do have to I plow through the occasional bulges of testosterone.
I acknowledge at times that I may seem a bit serious, but I have 4 months left to try and build myself to the sort of knowledge that many of you guys have taken possibly years to develope and learn. I do not expect to be a top class cyclist by Feb next year, but I would like to get some enjoyment out of it rather than it being merely a test of endurance. I invested in a new mtb in April, a big upgrade from my daughter's bike, and possibly it is s**** to your standard but I love it. I also stuck with a mtb as we will be doing a degree of off road in India.
However at the end of the day I am now hooked and fully intend to continue cycling after Feb, I am also playing with the idea I may also look at a road bike aswell when I can afford it.
You may well find cause to mock this thread or even disregard it altogether. I assure you I am not on a winge I am just trying to smooth out some growing bad feeling before it developes too far. I'm sure you may well often respond tongue in cheek, saddly it doesnt always come over that way, but I am sure at some point we have all been guilty of that. Just spare a thought that most of us are on this page to help us progress in our new found passion. The time for sparing with you can come on the more senior pages as we progress in confidence and experience.
(PS I appologise for any spilling mistakes!!)