when are you no longer a beginner.
Comments
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Dork discs and hairy legs?0
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When you can track stand........0
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Being a beginner is a state of mind, I don't think it matters how long you have been riding or how far you have ridden. Once you feel like you are no longer a newbie - you're not!
Most of all - have fun and enjoy it, what ever level you think you are...0 -
lotus49 wrote:This reminds me of a conversation I had with my father about sex when I was a teenager. He said then that you are no longer a beginner once you have forgotten how many times you have done it. I'm not sure that quite applies to cycling though.
/quote]
I think that is the perfect way to describe the learning of anything. If you can still remember the amount of times you have had sex then you could in no way consider yourself anything but a beginner.
Here are mine - considering that I am still very much a beginner and know very little!
1) You will have "gone clipless" - Having to ride a bike without clips feels like you are "naked"
2) You will actively seek out cycling specific clothing when you could just get something "normal".
3) You won't feel self conscious at all about wearing said clothing / shoes / even lycra!
4) You will record the distances / speeds you go and start challenging yourself.
5) You will get absolutely livid at the nob heads who cycle without lights when it is dark. Even more livid when you see people who wear a helmet and high viz jacket / bag cover and seem to think this is sufficient. It's not. Your choice entirely to dress like a pillock - if you have no lights on then you tarnish all cyclists.
Probably just me that last one - but massive pet hate of mine.0 -
I meant Dennis Wiggles, The 20 stone bloke in our parts department.
We had a lovely chat on the virtues of red sauce on fish n chips !!!!0 -
Thebigbee wrote:lotus49 wrote:This reminds me of a conversation I had with my father about sex when I was a teenager. He said then that you are no longer a beginner once you have forgotten how many times you have done it. I'm not sure that quite applies to cycling though.
/quote]
I think that is the perfect way to describe the learning of anything. If you can still remember the amount of times you have had sex then you could in no way consider yourself anything but a beginner.
Here are mine - considering that I am still very much a beginner and know very little!
1) You will have "gone clipless" - Having to ride a bike without clips feels like you are "naked"
2) You will actively seek out cycling specific clothing when you could just get something "normal".
3) You won't feel self conscious at all about wearing said clothing / shoes / even lycra!
4) You will record the distances / speeds you go and start challenging yourself.
5) You will get absolutely livid at the doorknob heads who cycle without lights when it is dark. Even more livid when you see people who wear a helmet and high viz jacket / bag cover and seem to think this is sufficient. It's not. Your choice entirely to dress like a pillock - if you have no lights on then you tarnish all cyclists.
Probably just me that last one - but massive pet hate of mine.
I moreorless agree with all of those, but not the first.
Firstly, I don't agree that being able to use clipless pedals is a major step in a cyclist's development. Any idiot can do it.
Secondly, 'clips' and 'clipless' are both legitimate solutions to the same problem (let no-one tell you otherwise), and the terms cannot be used interchangeably; if you're talking about 'clips', you mean an actual toeclip that's (generally) used with a strap. For what it's worth I love my old clips and straps; I actually have a pair of clipless pedals that I've been meaning to put on my favourite bike but I'll always have at least one bike with clips and straps.
However, I do not enjoy cycling on a plain platform, and believe that there aren't all that many cyclists that wouldn't benefit from having something to hold their foot in place, even if it's just one of those plastic 'half clips' that don't use straps.0 -
You are invited to a week long stag do in Ibiza and your first thought is "I wonder if I should bring my bike" (happened to me this weekend)0
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simona75 wrote:You are invited to a week long stag do in Ibiza and your first thought is "I wonder if I should bring my bike" (happened to me this weekend)
My rugby club had a match in Italy. I went for a week and spent 4 days cycling. There was no way I was going anywhere & not cycling for a week.0 -
simona75 wrote:You are invited to a week long stag do in Ibiza and your first thought is "I wonder if I should bring my bike" (happened to me this weekend)
LOL - there is definitely something about the Baleiarics then! Was there in the summer and walked past a bike shop hiring out decent carbon bikes for about 20 Euros a day and was kicking myself that I didn't bring my shoes.
Then again - if anything had gone wrong 20 miles and a few 1000 feet up in 35% + I would have been bug gered.
Note to self; take shoes, tool, repair kit and water bottles when next visit the Baleiarics.0 -
Simon Masterson wrote:Thebigbee wrote:lotus49 wrote:This reminds me of a conversation I had with my father about sex when I was a teenager. He said then that you are no longer a beginner once you have forgotten how many times you have done it. I'm not sure that quite applies to cycling though.
/quote]
I think that is the perfect way to describe the learning of anything. If you can still remember the amount of times you have had sex then you could in no way consider yourself anything but a beginner.
Here are mine - considering that I am still very much a beginner and know very little!
1) You will have "gone clipless" - Having to ride a bike without clips feels like you are "naked"
2) You will actively seek out cycling specific clothing when you could just get something "normal".
3) You won't feel self conscious at all about wearing said clothing / shoes / even lycra!
4) You will record the distances / speeds you go and start challenging yourself.
5) You will get absolutely livid at the doorknob heads who cycle without lights when it is dark. Even more livid when you see people who wear a helmet and high viz jacket / bag cover and seem to think this is sufficient. It's not. Your choice entirely to dress like a pillock - if you have no lights on then you tarnish all cyclists.
Probably just me that last one - but massive pet hate of mine.
I moreorless agree with all of those, but not the first.
Firstly, I don't agree that being able to use clipless pedals is a major step in a cyclist's development. Any idiot can do it.
Secondly, 'clips' and 'clipless' are both legitimate solutions to the same problem (let no-one tell you otherwise), and the terms cannot be used interchangeably; if you're talking about 'clips', you mean an actual toeclip that's (generally) used with a strap. For what it's worth I love my old clips and straps; I actually have a pair of clipless pedals that I've been meaning to put on my favourite bike but I'll always have at least one bike with clips and straps.
However, I do not enjoy cycling on a plain platform, and believe that there aren't all that many cyclists that wouldn't benefit from having something to hold their foot in place, even if it's just one of those plastic 'half clips' that don't use straps.
Sure - any idiot can go clipless. I used to be an avid toe clip / strap user.
However since I have gone clipless - only SPD - I don't enjoy cycling as much without them.
They have made a huge difference to my technique and enjoyment of cycling. And IMO probably the biggest and most cost effective improvement.
There is no way I could go back to having to spin straps around and getting crushed toes.
Think the last pic I saw of someone using toe straps was Jimmy Savile - and don't want to be reminded of him ever again!0
