Originally Posted by dirtypete

i went from 300+miles a week for 4 years, to nothing. i just stopped one day, and that was that. i was sick of the cold (i'm from the north of england), and realised that my 'heroes' were drugged up to the gills - i was completely disillusioned with the sport.

but last year, after 15 years off, i came back. and man, am i glad i did. i am absolutely loving it, getting 200+ in a week and even getting back into racing. the simplicity of it, the beauty, the meditation, that melding of body and mind that you experience as you take on a mountain, and the pain - the glorious pain!

i don't regret not riding for those 15 years, i look at it like this - i needed that time to rediscover my love for the bike. and the great thing is, the beautiful old lady will always take you back!