Welcome Aica... you certainly have loads of fitness experience behind you... and if you want to be competitive, you will be.

I started cycling 2 years ago (training to be able to complete a 10km fun ride with my sons) and downhill my top speed was about 20km per hour.

I joined the local club last April, have won the spring series in the beginner's grade. I have moved up to the next grade (clubs grades are graded on ability, not age).

I am not fast enough uphill to have competed in last weeks Club Champs Road Race, but I am competing in next Saturday's Club Champs Time Trial. Next year I am aiming to have a go at the Nationals TT, although that will probably be experience rather than a place, though I hope to be competitive in my age group in a couple of years in a TT.

I now descend at about 40-45kph, and on a straight stretch of downhill I get up to 55-65kph.

Getting speed up is about experience, time on bike and getting to know the way your bike feels under you. I still do not descend fast enough to be competitive at the level I wish to be at, but with time I am hoping my confidence will continue to grow.

Give yourself time and opportunity and it will come.