newbie's "schoolboy" error!

[lantern rouge]

Looks like I should have read all the web forums before I took up cycling this summer at the grand old age of 46!

I bought a Carrera Virtuoso 08...
From Halfords...
They set it up...
Got my gear from Aldi/Netto...
invisible on the road to The Lycra, team replica, Carbon Fibre mob!

guess I'm not in the gang then!

seriously though, loving every minute of it, aiming for 25 mile round trip commute by next spring, 10 miles is currently 40 minutes with lights, roundabouts and hills

should be better on the flat with clipless and more training hopefully.

This site is great, enjoyed lurking before taking the plunge

be safe everyone....nice to "meet" you all


Paul

 

[longers]

guess I'm not in the gang then!

You can be in our gang though

 

[Smokin Joe]

It's not what you ride, it's the pleasure you get from riding it that counts. You've passed the initiation ceromony with flying colours.

 

[ACS]

Welcome to the gang. Simple by getting the miles makes you a fully fledged member. Not everyone has Gucci kit.

Age 50
Second hand MTB from Raleigh with road tyres
Just purchased a second hand Specialized Sirrus 06 hybrid
Kit from Aldi / Lidi

And when the fast boys fly pass me maybe they grunt maybe not but hey their loss.

 

[Gary D]

That's 15mph average - not too shabby at all I would say

I am the same age as you and it took me a while to achieve that average.

Keep it up - well done

Gary.

 

[Crackle]

Yep! big mistake taking up cycling. It'll cost you.

Welcome to the forum from another Aldi cycling clone

 

[gratts]

I'm so cool they let me in the gang before I had a bike.

Welcome!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

welcome. my main bike was a virtuoso (still says so on the frame), and i too wear aldi cycling gear, as do a fair few members of the cycling club to which i belong.

if a decent cycling club can welcome someone on a bog standard virtuoso (as it was), i wouldn't lose sleep on what the snobs on posh bikes in rapha kit think. it's always great fun to overtake them too

 

[Dayvo]

Welcome, lantern rouge!

You should get together with Tetedelacourse, but you might never 'meet'!

Happy riding, and don't worry about bike snobs - there aren't (m)any here - do it for yourself, not others!

Stay around and enjoy yourself!

 

[lantern rouge]

thanks for the warm welcome everyone

will be back regularly for advice (clipless & shoes next!)

Thought it wouldn't take long for the username to get sussed

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Red Lantern. If it makes you feel better I ride a Circa early 1990's Apollo Kaos (Halfords Cheep and cheerless brand) and I can still knock out the occasional 70 miler in my Aldi gear and steel toecap groundwork trainers pushing £2.99 plastic pedals.

It is the engine that is important my friend and if you can already average 15mph you are looking set for a fun time ahead

 

[Scoosh]

the grand old age of 46!

Young at heart, then - that's what we like


and

 

[postman]

Never stop spending now.20 yearscycling andstill buying kit.Just got some superb bib shorts in the sale from prendas ciclisimo.Two pair £35 xxxl.Superb quality.Now i need a body to go with them.So a BIG WELCOME to you.

 

[Tynan]

yeah yeah to cheap but good gear make you feel faster and indded makes you go faster

and is much more comfortable, get it and enjoy it

 

[MarkF]

Hi Paul, you are more sensible than me, I am 46 and started 2 years ago, bought an old Muddy Fox with a 17" frame, I was never comfortable, I am 6' 1". I then discovered cycles came in different sizes

Then I heard Dawes Galaxy's were a "good bike", well mine was crap. The mudguards kept getting clogged up when I used it in the woods on my commute and it slithered all over in the mud, not a patch on the Muddy fox in fact. Got shut of it on Ebay at a bargain price and wondered why I was innundated with would-be buyers for the old pile of junk

Found this site and thank god I did, I think I might have given up. Now ride a Dawes Discovery 501 kitted out in all Aldi clothing and can do 50 mile trips. Not much for some but on my first ride I went 2 miles and was not sure I'd be able to get back

I have other hobbies but I wish I had done this years ago, I am fitter, weigh less and enjoy every minute of it and I am sure you will too, good luck.