Cycling - a chat about all things bike.

Hey there folks. I was wondering if there were any other cyclists here?

Do you ride for fitness, transport or leisure? What bike(s) do you ride? Have you ridden all your life or come to it later in life?

I've been a cyclist most of my life. I took my Cycling Proficiency Test a year early, aged 8yrs old, at school and then took it again at the proper age a year later (this was the early 70s, I have no idea if kids take a similar test anymore). I cycled everywhere for many years, riding everything from cheap Shopper bikes and olde stylee ladies Raleighs through to ancient Moultons and prototype 'bents. Then, about 13yrs ago, I just stopped cycling regularly. My lovely KHS true temper hard tail (and nose) mountain bike was stolen, despite being locked to several other bikes in the garden, leaving me with no functioning bike.

Since giving up smoking last April I've been trying to keep the 50% lung function I have in as good a condition as I can by cycling again. I love that around here we have a wonderfully long National Cycle Route that ranges all through the county.

What are your favourite routes to ride? Do you keep training diaries? Are mph and cadence important to you or do you just ride regardless of the figures?