When is a beginner's end?

[SheFly]

When I am around people like SheFly, I always feel like a beginner.

FWIW - I don't think of you as a beginner. Like you said, you are out there doing what so many others do not.

And I liked what GraysonKelly said about always learning new things. To many, I am not a beginner, and my racing license does say something about Expert somewhere on there. BUT - I have moved to my level of mediocrity, and consider myself a beginner in my new classes - the bottom of the totem pole (and often, the results!). I learn something from the people against whom I "race" and with whom I "train". To them, I am a beginner ...

Don't get caught up in labels. Go out and enjoy your riding!

SheFly

[cylegoddess]

the scars on your legs, from getting used to clipless pedals heal,
THEN...
its windy, you ride
it rains , you ride
your tired, you ride
you have your period, you ride
your ill, you ride
your sick of riding, you ride.
you get up earlier and earlier, to ride.Sometimes its dark.
the clothesline seems to be taken up with more and more lycra.
You catch yourself discussing Tour de France team tactics with strangers.

Thats when!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

When your dish drainer is completely full of biking water bottles drying and there's no room there for actual dishes....and you couldn't care less about that.

[OakLeaf]

You wash your bottles?

[redrhodie]

When you realize riding is easier than walking.

[Pink Diva]

I think it's when you are so freaking tired, and your stomach is upset, and you want to give up and throw the bicycle down a ravine, and you are thinking of crying and suddenly you're really crying, and you're yelling swear words to the gods and you hate your bra and you hate your shorts and your shoes are killing you and your saddle is making you scream and all you want is a long shower and to collapse on the couch at home...

and you keep going.

Love it! Haven't done this yet since I'm a newbie, but I've done this running so many times....yep, I am a masochist, hear me SCREAM!

[shamrox53]

I no longer felt like a beginner when i stopped getting nervous about riding with a group of people.

[DebTX]

I think it's when you are so freaking tired, and your stomach is upset, and you want to give up and throw the bicycle down a ravine, and you are thinking of crying and suddenly you're really crying, and you're yelling swear words to the gods and you hate your bra and you hate your shorts and your shoes are killing you and your saddle is making you scream and all you want is a long shower and to collapse on the couch at home...

and you keep going.

I loved this - I'm truly inspired by it.

For me, I think I'll stop thinking of myself as a beginner when I post more "answers" than "questions" on the TE "New Riders" Board

[channlluv]

After the first low speed fall when clipped in

Oh, geez, I did that at month one. I was strapped in, not clipped. Does it still count? Ha!

This has been a very inspiring thread. Thank you all for contributing.

Roxy

[RoadRaven]

Don't get caught up in labels. Go out and enjoy your riding!

SheFly

Thumbs up!

#1, SheFly... this is well said