I have not been riding long.. this summer is my first full season of riding. I went from huffing and puffing with just a mile on the bike, to getting in 140+ miles a week on the mtn bike with no issue. I also dropped over 50 pounds since January and am at a great weight now. I set little goals, took baby steps, and sometimes I go back and ride things that were BIG then, that are small now, to refresh my memory on how far I've come, to keep things in perspective. I absolutely LOVE this, and am on the bike every chance I get.