Widge
Baldy Go
welcome, welcome, Martin!
My heart goes zing when I read new riders glorious epiphanies because I've loved low-key cyclinge all my lif but only discovered the joy of Road bikes in recent years.
I too have a somewhat obsessional personality and road biking is indeed splendidly addictive! (Provided you keep enjoyment as your main motivation.) Cycle at a level that maintains that enjoyment and you have discovered something life enhancing. You don't have to be the fastest, leanest most expensively kitted-out rider in the peleton. I came to this pushing 60 yrs old and while I would love to be 30yrs younger, riding at 25mph on a 6 grand carbon Colnago at the front of a club echelon...lets get real.......? I do it because it keeps me off the streets (Shorely Shome Mistake?-ed)....I love the whir of the gears, (Is it 'supposed to make that noise!!?) and riding round my local pubs (Ahem) in the great outdoors.
I live on the edge of Dartmoor....punishing hills.....but if I can't quite make them I just get off or rest for a bit. I try to ignore the disdain of of bronzed adonis Roadies who pass me! (pretend you are adjusting your brakes if it worries you?) I suppose I have gradually become a little fitter and sort of 'better' at it...but I try not to let that be my sole motivation for doing it.
I too ride on some (rather nice) minimalist lightweight flat pedals and never made the leap of faith to clipless. I may yet....but don't feel an overpowering need at the moment. I have a stack of mostly cheap and cheerful cycling kit-including padded shorts aplenty....but strangely I never got on with any of these. Having newly discovered I have a thing called a prostate gland I invested in an outrageously orthopedic SMP'Extra' race saddle with mahoosive cut outs, drooped nose and enough padding in the right places (for me) to pretty much negate any need for additional padding-particularily at the sort of distances I tend to ride at a time. But everyone is different in this respect so go with what you find comfortable and not too much with what you are told is the only 'right' way to be....although the general consensus is that clipless and padded is a good thing.
Motivation is key-enjoyment can be that motivation. Don't punish yourself? Make sure your bike is adjusted to fit YOU...keep her clean and maintained (suits obsessives!). Finally - however proud you may be to be riding on a budget-or just starting out - it is (IMO) wise to invest in GOOD rubber and a helmet (if you have chosen to ride with one-NOT everybody does and there is still room for argument - don't go there) that fits and is safe and comfortable.
I bought a 'KasK' just like Team Sky's and was disappointed to find it didn't turn me into Chris Froome overnight-but such is life!
Enjoy,
and Best wishes
My heart goes zing when I read new riders glorious epiphanies because I've loved low-key cyclinge all my lif but only discovered the joy of Road bikes in recent years.
I too have a somewhat obsessional personality and road biking is indeed splendidly addictive! (Provided you keep enjoyment as your main motivation.) Cycle at a level that maintains that enjoyment and you have discovered something life enhancing. You don't have to be the fastest, leanest most expensively kitted-out rider in the peleton. I came to this pushing 60 yrs old and while I would love to be 30yrs younger, riding at 25mph on a 6 grand carbon Colnago at the front of a club echelon...lets get real.......? I do it because it keeps me off the streets (Shorely Shome Mistake?-ed)....I love the whir of the gears, (Is it 'supposed to make that noise!!?) and riding round my local pubs (Ahem) in the great outdoors.
I live on the edge of Dartmoor....punishing hills.....but if I can't quite make them I just get off or rest for a bit. I try to ignore the disdain of of bronzed adonis Roadies who pass me! (pretend you are adjusting your brakes if it worries you?) I suppose I have gradually become a little fitter and sort of 'better' at it...but I try not to let that be my sole motivation for doing it.
I too ride on some (rather nice) minimalist lightweight flat pedals and never made the leap of faith to clipless. I may yet....but don't feel an overpowering need at the moment. I have a stack of mostly cheap and cheerful cycling kit-including padded shorts aplenty....but strangely I never got on with any of these. Having newly discovered I have a thing called a prostate gland I invested in an outrageously orthopedic SMP'Extra' race saddle with mahoosive cut outs, drooped nose and enough padding in the right places (for me) to pretty much negate any need for additional padding-particularily at the sort of distances I tend to ride at a time. But everyone is different in this respect so go with what you find comfortable and not too much with what you are told is the only 'right' way to be....although the general consensus is that clipless and padded is a good thing.
Motivation is key-enjoyment can be that motivation. Don't punish yourself? Make sure your bike is adjusted to fit YOU...keep her clean and maintained (suits obsessives!). Finally - however proud you may be to be riding on a budget-or just starting out - it is (IMO) wise to invest in GOOD rubber and a helmet (if you have chosen to ride with one-NOT everybody does and there is still room for argument - don't go there) that fits and is safe and comfortable.
I bought a 'KasK' just like Team Sky's and was disappointed to find it didn't turn me into Chris Froome overnight-but such is life!
Enjoy,
and Best wishes
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10 miles for your 1st run is great, you'll be munching the miles soon, try and find some local cyclists as riding alone is fine but riding in company is better
