How long are you a "Beginner"?

[iggibizzle]

I am posting in the newbie thread still as its my 1st full year proper cycling. Even though I've done as many miles this year as some pros do training. Only until the end of this year. Just showing what is possible if you put your body / mind to it

 

[mjr]

I am posting in the newbie thread still as its my 1st full year proper cycling.

Did you only do improper cycling before that?

 

[iggibizzle]

Yea thats right

 

[buggi]

I think when you start being more confident and assertive, taking primary etc, without really thinking about it, that's when you're coming out of beginner stage. But you never stop learning.

Also, when you go clipless and stop falling off haha

 

[Tin Pot]

I think it's amazing how strong our desire is to label ourselves and one another.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

It's my wife that doesn't like them! They live in the garage

That's your answer: when she doesn't bat an eyelid as you change a chain or fit new tyres in the front room as your brew goes cold and she's watching TV through the spokes, then you've moved beyond beginner status.

Don't get hung up on it, enjoy the forum and chip in as appropriate, beginners is nothing more than the aisle signs in Tesco, going down the vegetable ailse doesn't make you a vegetarian. Not riding fast with a number on your back & not knowing how to strip a 1960s Sturmey hub on a Holdsworth cruiser doesn't make you any less of a Cyclist.

Ride and enjoy.

 

[ufkacbln]

To my mind, the first time you can offer advice or help to another cyclist

 

[mjr]

beginners is nothing more than the aisle signs in Tesco, going down the vegetable ailse doesn't make you a vegetarian.

First visit to a tossco for a while yesterday. They've replaced the useful signs in the aisles (like fruit, salad, prepared veg and so on) with bleeding adverts (like "fresh", "love" and "enjoy"). I guess the idea is to show us more adverts and make us spend more time looking along often-shuffled shelves and possibly impulse-buying stuff. I'll stick to the less obnoxious shops, just like non-beginners do with bike shops

 

[Subotai72]

That's your answer: when she doesn't bat an eyelid as you change a chain or fit new tyres in the front room as your brew goes cold and she's watching TV through the spokes, then you've moved beyond beginner status.

Don't get hung up on it, enjoy the forum and chip in as appropriate, beginners is nothing more than the aisle signs in Tesco, going down the vegetable ailse doesn't make you a vegetarian. Not riding fast with a number on your back & not knowing how to strip a 1960s Sturmey hub on a Holdsworth cruiser doesn't make you any less of a Cyclist.

Ride and enjoy.

Fantastic advice, succinctly put! It's what I try to do in any case.

Not sure we'll ever reach the point where she'll be watching the TV through my wheel spokes though! Sometime they do get a couple of nights in the conservatory, so that's a start!

 

[snorri]

I don't think clipless, lycra or plastic hats existed when I started cycling and I haven't felt inclined to adopt any of them, I tried padded shorts once, but only once. I've never taken part in a sportive, race or audax and never understood the fascination for hill climbing. I doubt anyone who knows me would describe me as a beginner, but I don't care anyway.

 

[totallyfixed]

Tricky question, I still see people who have been riding for years yet still do things that a beginner would do. Then you get those that splash out several thousand on their first bike, buy all the pro team clothing and a couple of weeks down the line after reading Cycling Weekly consider themselves an expert.
If pushed I would say competence and confidence in all areas would probably come close.

 

[Sbudge]

Tricky question, I still see people who have been riding for years yet still do things that a beginner would do. Then you get those that splash out several thousand on their first bike, buy all the pro team clothing and a couple of weeks down the line after reading Cycling Weekly consider themselves an expert.
If pushed I would say competence and confidence in all areas would probably come close.

I absolutely agree that no amount or value of kit confers ability (certainly doesn't for me!) but I do resent some of the 'experts' who seem to disagree with anyone less able than them having decent kit.

 

[ChrisEyles]

Acquiring basic riding skills is something most do in a short period of time, improvement in technique after that tends to be slow and incremental in my experience, same with the dreaded average speed etc etc.

For me, one big thing that differentiates "beginners" from "experienced" cyclists is knowing how to fix/replace pretty much anything on their bikes themselves.

Perhaps most important of all is simply working out for yourself what bike, components, and riding style suits you best, and then just enjoying your cycling without worrying about what other people might think... Yep, that sounds about right, you stop being a beginner when you stop worrying about whether you're a beginner or not

 

[ANT 666]

Untill you watch Belleville rendezvous at least once a week.

 

[Subotai72]

...you stop being a beginner when you stop worrying about whether you're a beginner or not

Perfect. Can I use that as my signature?!