Originally Posted by H2OChick
It also might help if you tell us how old you are and whether you're a man or woman. Then people who are in your age group can weigh in with their experiences.
I'm a 32 yr old male. I played soccer in college and have stayed relatively fit since then. I'm looking for motivation to help me continue to train. That is why fun and goal-oriented improvement is what I'm searching right now. If I enjoy a few events and feel like I can do well, my competitive nature would force me to train harder and get a better bike. But, for the time being, I'm looking for motivation to exercise consistently.
I live in Cincinnati, which is pretty hilly compared to the surrounding areas. I plan to spectate an event or two here just to see how everything works. I haven't decided if I will compete locally or travel a bit to compete.
Thanks for all the responses.