How you started cycling

[Speedbiker]

Hi,

I want to know where some of you started cycling? Why you started and the barriers you faced when you started.

I began at 13 and was not close to a club, so I started just riding the roads. I hated not having the best bike or looking the part, and over 5 years I built up my collection of magazines, parts, outfits, and learn't how to ride properly.

In school it was hard to tell everyone your a cyclist, but I ignored them and thought they are just jealous. I coudl go on forever. I cant work out how to attach my image, but will add this later.

Whats your story?

 

[Ben M]

Well I learned to ride a bike when I was really young (before I can remember)

I had a series of mountain bikes, until secondary school where I stopped riding much.

I came to uni and acquired a bike (an okayish apollo hybrid) off my grandfather to commute in on. I started to gain an interest then, and now I have an audax bike on order from an LBS, and am going to do a tour from Bristol to Strasbourg with a couple of friends this summer.

 

[spandex]

1st thing Speedbiker welcome to CC 2nd would you like to tell us why you would like to know all this given that it is your first post and all?.

 

[colinr]

Whats your story?

Petrol was ~120p/litre. Thought it might be time to use that thing with wheels that was gathering dust.

 

[Randochap]

1st thing Speedbiker welcome to CC 2nd would you like to tell us why you would like to know all this given that it is your first post and all?.

+1

 

[jimboalee]

My Mom bought me my first bike when I was six.

She said "Keep your eyes on the road ahead".

Since then, I've never looked back.

 

[HeartAttack]

This time round (last time was over 25 years ago) I got on the bike after the hospital said I needed light exercise following my heart attack, I don't think they meant 1000 miles a month, racing and generally doing anywhere near what I do, especially given the heart rate guidelines they gave me which went straight out of the window.

Consultant said I'll kill myself one day, but I know I'll die anyway so I may as well enjoy what I do and how I do it so now back from the gym and off to do a quick 40+ mile loop before getting back to work (oh I love being self employed)

 

[tyred]

I cycled quite a bit as a youngster, stopped for about ten years, decided I needed to lose a few pounds and dusted my bike of and statred riding again.

 

[colcazal]

The boredom of running made me go back to cycling. Cycling is sooo much easier on the old bones and much more fun, but slightly more expensive.

Colcazal

 

[Hilldodger]

Fell off a motorbike at Cadwell Park whilst still doing around 150mph.

Started cycling to rebuild my shattered right leg.

20 years later I run a cycling charity

 

[AWG]

Triumph "Palm Beach", - saw one in a local cycle shop, beautiful machine. pestered my parents that much they bought me one. Struggled at first to ride it but then really hit the road. The A6 "Long Hill" from Stockport to Buxton (with 3-speed Sturmey Archer luxury!). This bike made me a lifelong (if not continuous) cyclist. Age 15 it had a huge saddlebag full of sheet music going out playing piano for 8 shillings a night! (not the bike playing the piano - me). Then age 18 the poor thing just rotted away in favour of a 49 c.c. Mobylette and then a Morris Minor. Bikes have a life of their own, - always been interested in them. I look at the frame of my Raleigh Limited Edition MTB I bought when I was 40. Will have to take it to the tip soon I fear. This new Halford's Apollo thing is ok, it does what I need it to do, but basically just disposable crap I guess. Will it take the Edale Valley Trail without disintegrating? Will let you know when the day comes.

 

[roundisland]

Seperation made me cycle for the first time at 47...... why did my marrige have to last so long I could have discoverd cycling a lot earlier.

 

[Speedbiker]

Hiya,

I wanted to know, because I dont know many cyclists myself. I have always been passionate about the things I do, and I don't give up. I went through alot of trouble with my family convincing them I want to cycle. So everytime I hear someones story, i stay motivated.

I also love the great colour combinations you can get in cycling gear, you really look professional. Every one knows your serious when you look the part.

 

[HLaB]

I started cycling again when I moved to Dublin (I'd cycled as a kid but that went out the window when I got a driving license ). In Dublin 1/2 of the office cycled and I rediscovered how useful a way it was to get around and a sense of freedom. When I moved back to Scotland I kept it up and bought better bikes and got into it more.

 

[Tynan]

it's the only way to commute in London and not go insane, really

worked my way up from full on mtb with knobblies to my current blazingly fast lycra clad blur