Liz B story for Newcomers to cycling .....

[Fab Foodie]

Liz B has been riding for 5 weeks & is an inspiration to anyone thinking of starting to ride with a club (A really friendly and special social cycling club :-) ). Here is her story in her own words:

In 2014 I decided it was time to get back out on my bike to get fit and for other reasons. I started off doing 8-9 mile ride by myself but found myself wanting more miles but knowing how further I could I was unsure about. I spoke to a friend of a friend who was into cycling and they suggested I try this groups (Abingdon Freewheeling) Thursday night ride.

In the beginning of August I went along for my first ride on my mountain bike and that night got my first personal best - completed 20 miles. The sense of achievement this gave me was immense. Delighted. This setting of personal bests continued as the weeks past and my fitness improved. Before too long I was chipping time off how long it took and I had the ambition to do more.

The Lycra came next along with my induction to the freewheeling clan (who are so welcoming, friendly, supportive and quite simply amazing).

I am now looking at events for next year to complete myself to raise money for the British Heart Foundation a charity close to my heart.

As for the cycling as feared it seems I’m hooked, all I need to do now is to carry on coming along and enter an event next year.

For anyone reading this and thinking I fancy that - come along and see for yourself what an amazing group this. It was quite simply the best thing I did and now find myself trying to encourage my friends to come along.

Last Sunday Liz came along on our First Sunday of the Month 'Beginners distance ride' and set a new PB of just over 35 miles. Since starting she's changed knobbles for slicks on a basic MTB and ditched the rucksac. Her enthusiasm is infectious.

Why do I post this? Because we all know a Liz, we all have the ability to help and encourage. Every new cyclist is a victory. The sheer joy of 12 cyclists cheering a tired but elated Liz home on Sunday is bloody hard to beat.

Be inspired.
Be inspirational.

For all the Lizs' out there, the newbies, be proud.
Keep it up.

 

[London Female]

Hello @Fab Foodie I saw this on the Facebook page and thought it was a fantastic achievement. I hope to get along to a ride soon, although it's been a while since I've done much cycling of any distance.

 

[Fab Foodie]

@London Female
Where've you been? Good 25 miler planned for Sunday morn ....

 

[London Female]

Work took over and I seemed to get all the late and weekend shifts leaving no time or energy for anything else. I've been on some short, slow rides with my children but that's about it. I am going out with Wantage ctc (first time out with them in months too) Sunday but hope to make next Thursday and will look out for any weekend rides on the Facebook page.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Work took over and I seemed to get all the late and weekend shifts leaving no time or energy for anything else. I've been on some short, slow rides with my children but that's about it. I am going out with Wantage ctc (first time out with them in months too) Sunday but hope to make next Thursday and will look out for any weekend rides on the Facebook page.

 

[Fubar]

Liz B has been riding for 5 weeks & is an inspiration to anyone thinking of starting to ride with a club (A really friendly and special social cycling club :-) ). Here is her story in her own words:

In 2014 I decided it was time to get back out on my bike to get fit and for other reasons. I started off doing 8-9 mile ride by myself but found myself wanting more miles but knowing how further I could I was unsure about. I spoke to a friend of a friend who was into cycling and they suggested I try this groups (Abingdon Freewheeling) Thursday night ride.

In the beginning of August I went along for my first ride on my mountain bike and that night got my first personal best - completed 20 miles. The sense of achievement this gave me was immense. Delighted. This setting of personal bests continued as the weeks past and my fitness improved. Before too long I was chipping time off how long it took and I had the ambition to do more.

The Lycra came next along with my induction to the freewheeling clan (who are so welcoming, friendly, supportive and quite simply amazing).

I am now looking at events for next year to complete myself to raise money for the British Heart Foundation a charity close to my heart.

As for the cycling as feared it seems I’m hooked, all I need to do now is to carry on coming along and enter an event next year.

For anyone reading this and thinking I fancy that - come along and see for yourself what an amazing group this. It was quite simply the best thing I did and now find myself trying to encourage my friends to come along.

Last Sunday Liz came along on our First Sunday of the Month 'Beginners distance ride' and set a new PB of just over 35 miles. Since starting she's changed knobbles for slicks on a basic MTB and ditched the rucksac. Her enthusiasm is infectious.

Why do I post this? Because we all know a Liz, we all have the ability to help and encourage. Every new cyclist is a victory. The sheer joy of 12 cyclists cheering a tired but elated Liz home on Sunday is bloody hard to beat.

Be inspired.
Be inspirational.

For all the Lizs' out there, the newbies, be proud.
Keep it up.

Great story, I think you should re-post this in the Beginners Sub for all the newbies saying "I only manage 3 miles, I can't believe I'll ever make it past 10 miles in one ride".

I think cycling clubs (along with supporting racing, TT's etc) have a moral duty to support beginners, great that your club does that and an example to follow.

 

[Cyclist33]

Great story, although I must say in my own case I found that I achieved all the same physical and psychological milestones and joy without / as a direct result of *not* doing it with anyone else!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Great story, I think you should re-post this in the Beginners Sub for all the newbies saying "I only manage 3 miles, I can't believe I'll ever make it past 10 miles in one ride".

I think cycling clubs (along with supporting racing, TT's etc) have a moral duty to support beginners, great that your club does that and an example to follow.

Why didn't I think of that?
Actually, I posted it here hoping that it might inspire other competent cyclists to help beginners 'in the flesh' so to speak, (and I know many already do) not just with advice on here (which is also) most excellent.

You're right though, with a few exceptions, most cycle clubs don't do enough to encourage general cycling and newbies. That's why we formed our own. It's far from perfect but it's a good start and a lot of now competent cyclists, racing cyclists, commuters social and fun cyclists have passed through our hands. It's a beautiful thing!