I used to be one of those ultra- fit youngsters you see occasionally but at 34 had to give up XC running with a knee injury and a family to bring up. Then in 1990 I found out how unfit I was and a friend suggested I came out on a ride with him. He may have taken me up all the longest steepest hills round where I live and on the bike I had- I walked up most of them but following week and I was out again.

20 years later and I am still riding- but I have stopped walking up the hills.