Hi everybody, I feel like I've had such a positive experience of this forum already it was only proper to introduce myself!

Real name: Aisling

Where do you live? Dublin, Ireland

Explanation of your handle: Aisling is actually my first name. It's an old Irish (Gaelic) name which means a dream or a vision. It's pronounced Ash-ling, so a lot of people just call me Ash (or Ais!).

Explanation of your avatar: I'm taking up cycling with the goal of cycling 1000km for charity in New Zealand next September. I will be fundraising for the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s Charitable Trust, which provides assistance for people who have been paralysed or otherwise seriously injured playing rugby. So the avatar is a little reminder for me of what I'm training for.

Age: 23

Occupation: Communications

Favorite bike: While I was in college, I had a beautiful 1950s 3-speed city bike with a little wicker basket and everything. My ex-boyfriend broke one of the pedals clean off it one day, and as I was just about to move back to Dublin (where I live on a hill!), it unfortunately wasn't worth bringing back home. I left it there for my cousin instead, who got a beautiful bike for only to cost of fixing the pedals.

What's in your stable? Nothing! Well, technically, there's a Scott MTB of some description from my teenage years, but I've always found it pretty cumbersome and uncomfortable and I need a road bike for the kind of training I want to do, so lets not think about that!

Fastest speed on a road bike? Nothing - I've still to get on one.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Probably cycling to lectures at breakneck speed. Or coaching rowing from the side of the river while trying not to cycle into someone/something. My bike was such an integral part of my daily life in college, I miss it so much and I'm so excited about getting a bike that I love again!

Most fun ever had on a bike? As above, just everything! Where I went to college, everyone used their bikes for just about everything, but maybe if I had to pick one moment, it would be cycling through the town in all my evening finery (high heels included!) with my best friend in a mad rush to get to some formal dinner or other but just laughing away and having a great time.