Hello. I'm new to this forum.

After not being on a bike for well over 25 years, I've just bought one

We have a local market and hubby and I went up there today. There is a stall that sells second-hand bikes and I spotted a ladies racer. It had a fairly small frame which suited my short legs and was only £25 It is a Raleigh. It is very lightweight, needs a bit of a clean-up and the gears aren't working (Derailleur) but is probably the cable needing adjustment. Everything else on the bike is fine. I was undecided so the chap selling it said £20. Still undecided. Meanwhile hubby is looking on in amusement. Although I used to ride a bike in my younger day I'd never ridden a racer before. Eventually, the chap says £18. Well, that's an offer I couldn't refuse, so I am now the proud owner of the racer

The only way to get it home (just under 3 miles) was to ride it as it wouldn't fit in the car - so I did. Hubby arrived home 5 minutes before I did.

I was very surprised at how well it went - and how easy it is to ride. I rode my son's bike (a mountain bike) last week and only went round the block, less than half a mile and was completely shattered when I came back, out of breath and legs like jelly. With this bike, I wasn't even out of breath and barely warm. It's probably the nicest bike I've ever ridden - and I've ridden a few in my time

Hubby changed his job recently and now uses the family car more than I do. I didn't want to get another car because of the ever increasing costs of running a car so the bike is an ideal solution. I'm quite lucky where we live as we have quite a few cycle routes and a lot of cycle paths plus use of the bus lanes.

The only snag is, where I live, if I go into town it's downhill all the way...and uphill all the way back

Anyway, I'm feeling really pleased with myself and my bike and think bike and me are going to have a long and happy relationship