Amateur cyclist here - just starting to get into it again. Do it purely for fitness & enjoyment, although the enjoyment factor starts to wilt a bit in the 30 degree plu, 85% humidity HK summer days. Have both mountain & road bikes... both of pretty crap quality. Wasn't overly bothered about their weight (as doing for fitness, gut loss) until I rode my mates lightweight prof bike and the speed you can get to and maintain on the thigns is awesome - really motivating.
Still ride in loose fit tops and shorts, not moved onto Lycra yet. There are so many try hards in HK (people who have ALL the kit, none of the fitness/talent) who I love to laugh at & with my moobs/gut I'd be rather hypocritical if I bought into the lycra now... I suspect it's a matter of time though. I don't even have the clip on pedals yet, that's how amatuer I am! Might be a year end present to myself, a cervero (sp?), but looking at current markets/funds, it seems a long long way away!
Current bikes are a Giant 24spd mountain bike - weighs a ton or so, chain is rusty/rattley, shocks are bloody loose but it's good for commuting through the HK pot hole riddled streets for my daily commute to work (8km each way). Weekend road bike is a Fuji Newest 2.0 24 spd roadie (add on of a speedo!). Do love doing good pace on this bike & regularly do 50km on the weekends. Best ride ever done is also my biggest - round HK island. Loads of hills, which at the moment I FUCKING HATE, but as the fitness gets up, I do start to crave them a bit. The muscles do enjoy them, just the breathing is a prick - any tips you guys can offer I would definately appreciate. Ride also takes in villages, beaches, resevoirs and finishes off with 15km on teh flat stuff in traffic right through the guts of teh city. Can be a bit hairy, but get used to it.
So yeah, I'm amatuer as all hell, and as fit as Matt Dunning, but I love it & am getting into it... Any tips offered out there from others, would be gratefully received. I follow Will Carling on twitter, and I see he just finished a London - Paris ride for charity & my aim is to complete this within 2 years of my better half having her way and us moving back to London.