Hi,

Following the 3 month report, time for the six month report.

I got a road bike at Easter to go with the 20" folder I bought at Christmas.

I've racked up 900 miles + on the folder (not sure, the computer is now
erratic, needs a new battery, which will wipe the data), and 600 miles
on the road bike, which is a far better distance and hills machine.

I expected improvements from 3 to 6 months and got them. I'm a much
smoother pedaller now, and can now both push higher gears and spin
usual gears to effectively extend the effective range of my gearing.

Hills and headwinds (or both) are no longer such an issue as I've learned
to go faster with more power output on the flat, so now they just slow
me down and take longer, rather than requiring a lot more effort.
I still don't push that hard on the flat to go that little bit faster.

Still I would say I expect the biggest improvement over the next 6 months
would be in the improving ability to deal with hills. For the first 3 months
I generally avoided them, now I avoid nasty ones, but now always include
some hill stuff on a ride, (not difficult in Brighton), and have a twice weekly
35 mile route than takes in various hills, though none of them are vicious.

Also do about 15 miles 3 days a week, on the seafront, 2 on the folder east,
1 on the road bike west, always don't ride one day, but may ride or may not
tootling about on the folder the other spare day, but no real distance.

FWIW I'm much fitter without trying too hard, all my belts are in the shortest
hole, and it hasn't been too hard, but a significant time investment is needed.

rgds, sreten.

Guess I should aim for a half or metric century this year.