One month on

funkyg

It's true what everyone says. Just get out and ride. My ride times are getting quicker, and I'm going longer every time.
When I first started a month ago the hills were killing me. I have a triple chain ring and going up certain hills I had to drop to the small chain ring every time. On my last ride I was made up that I could climb on the middle chain ring, didn't use the small one at all the entire ride.
This may seem like something small, but to me it was a big deal. It's a sign that I'm getting better!
I still get overtaken sometimes but I don't care (Well, maybe I do!), I can see an improvement.

At what point does a beginner stop being a beginner? I know I'm still a beginner.

ai_1

It's just an arbitrary label really and anyone's opinion of what constitutes a beginner is going to be based on their own level of experience. Who cares?

junglist_matty

funkyg wrote:

It's true what everyone says. Just get out and ride. My ride times are getting quicker, and I'm going longer every time.
When I first started a month ago the hills were killing me. I have a triple chain ring and going up certain hills I had to drop to the small chain ring every time. On my last ride I was made up that I could climb on the middle chain ring, didn't use the small one at all the entire ride.
This may seem like something small, but to me it was a big deal. It's a sign that I'm getting better!
I still get overtaken sometimes but I don't care (Well, maybe I do!), I can see an improvement.

At what point does a beginner stop being a beginner? I know I'm still a beginner.

Beginner's shouldn't be judged by their performance but by their experience.

I've been riding for over 15 years, some days I use the granny ring to climb even the easiest of hills I've climbed hundreds of times before

ForumNewbie

funkyg wrote:

It's true what everyone says. Just get out and ride. My ride times are getting quicker, and I'm going longer every time.
When I first started a month ago the hills were killing me. I have a triple chain ring and going up certain hills I had to drop to the small chain ring every time. On my last ride I was made up that I could climb on the middle chain ring, didn't use the small one at all the entire ride.

Well done on getting stronger, but don't worry about dropping into smaller gears to keep up a reasonably fast cadence. It's better for fitness to spin up hills in low gears than grind up in bigger gears just because you can. You'll tire yourself out more if you're grinding in big gears.