Hi,

At 26 (I'm 54) you will rapidly improve at any exercise you do.

If you are a has been slob you may be incredibly shocked how
fit you can get in your twenties with some application but not
that much effort, its takes longer and is harder as you get old.

rgds, sreten.

A good piece of advice is don't ride in the gutter. I only do that
going very slowly up a hill. 2ft out from the kerb and passing
parked cars is about right, cars will give you a much wider
berth if you indicate by road position the space you expect.

Follow road lines that make sense to drivers, they will then
understand what you are doing, pull out early and slowly
to say pass a parked car, indicate your intentions slowly.