Last year, I started riding seriously again. However I am very fat. I lost 30 pounds last season. I aim for that and more. I intend to document my cycling this year with minimal inepensive bike and gear, alot of work and see what happens. Hopefully, the year after that, I will allow myself an upgrade based on this years results. quite frankly, I can't go to a group ride without cycle snobs, so I generally train alone. I have to admit I love showing up on my mountain bike and dropping some of the guys that just got sold their 4 k bike based on the LBS selling them on how much 10 pounds makes on the bike ( which it does but most of us can match that with body fat loss ). Unless you are in a competitive environ and training that way, BTFU and mind your own spandex and drivetrain.