Hi Seniorbabe - glad you decided to join us. Let me assure you there's most definitly room in the world for good novels & cycling.

Although I'm not a granny I can be a bit of a nervous nelly at times and if you've got a general feeling of uneasiness when you ride then don't worry. Be kind to yourself and congratulate yourself on how well you're doing. So you might not be ready to ride in the Tour de France or an inner city criterium yet but give it time...

Glad you've got someone experieced to ride with, but it may be worth getting him to cast his mind back to when he first started out. It's amazing how quickly you forget what it feels like to be a novice. Let him know if you don't feel comfortable - while it's good to stretch and challenge yourself, you don't want to be scared silly and afterall,the whole point is to enjoy yourself and want to keep coming back for more.

Just like your fitness, your confidence will grow over time... trust me! Keep us posted on your progress.