Welcome to the Noobs - Nice Post

[Paul Ruinaard]

After seeing so many questions about where to start and what to buy, here is a great post:

 

https://web.facebook.com/notes/bbc-sa/welcoming-the-noobs/418565695292733/

 

 

[LeoKnight]

One of the Hubbers also started a thread here about how to start, etc, but can't seem to find it now

[Powder01]

I think there are a lot of people who fall into this trap of thinking that they are not fit/skilled enough to join group rides. I can def count myself as one of them!!

[Sidersky]

Great read, thanks. I can definitely also raise my hand to this. After a 20 year hiatus (which I will always regret) I started riding again. I am still learning, still improving.. The big turning point for me was the first time I entered a race. I was so nervous and scared that I was going to be the slowest person out there and hold people up, cause accidents etc etc... Instead, I spent the next 30 kays overtaking people. uphills, downhills... I was nowhere close to a podium contender and doubt I will ever be but I was far from the slowest or 'worst' rider out there. That gave me a huge boost of confidence and made me feel okay to enter more races and feel okay to join rides with faster, more experienced riders too. And often on those rides they would have a nice chill at the top of a hill waiting for me to huff and puff my way to the top to join them. But then the time they waited got shorter, until I got to the top alongside them and there was no waiting. Now, as invariably happens, there is another 'noob' we are encouraging and helping get to the top of that hill.