OPINION: Many readers may not yet be aware of a new Christchurch City Council bylaw which states every driver, no matter age or ability must now re-sit their licence by the end of this month.

Related: I have a brand new bicycle for tootling about the roads and I am terrified.

It's been a long time since I've ridden a bike and like they say, it's easy remembering how. What I'm not confident about is riding on the roads.

FAIRFAX NZ The dream version of cycle commuting. Beck's reality is different.

I'd been thinking about getting one for a few summers now, but just never got around to it.

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This summer I must have tried out every retro style bike in Christchurch under the $500 mark, including new and second hand ones on TradeMe. This led to an unfortunate mistake where I was trawling cycles on the auction site, which led me to exercise bikes, which led me to other exercise equipment where I impulsively made a $10 bid on an Ab Circle Pro in the belief someone would outbid me. They did not. As soon as I collect this thing, I'll be sure to put it under my bed where all such things go to collect dust and die.

Ross Giblin You don't have to wear lycra to commute by bike.

Anyway, on Monday afternoon I became the owner of a Malvern Wisp 1, promptly named Malcolm due to an autocorrect misadventure while texting a friend.

Malcolm is a fine sturdy beast. My first ride was from the store in town to my home which is about a 20-minute ride away.

Suddenly my world and perspective on everything changed and I know some cyclists can be terribly dreary evangelists but that hasn't stopped me from becoming Christchurch's biggest dinner party bore on the topic of bikes within the space of three days. So here I go!

Firstly I bumped into a neighbour on High St. She bikes to work too so she was able to tell me the safest path home.

I meandered across The Square, almost rode over some steps I didn't see coming and resolved to pay more attention to the terrain under me.

As soon as I got to the safe cycleway on Colombo St, I felt much better as I was separated from traffic by a raised gutter. I noticed another cyclist coming up behind me but thought he was riding just as slowly. Soon he passed me by going outside the pathway as I was taking up all the room.

I yelled: "Sorry, it's my first time," and he gave me a friendly wave.

A second later, I heard another cyclist say, "coming through on your right," as he zipped past.

"It's my first time!" I yelled after him, even more excited this time.

Then another fellow two-wheeled traveller waiting at an intersection said, "hi there," and I greeted him back, holding back from shouting what had become my catchphrase.

At that point, I become so overcome with emotion because of how nice other cyclists were that I felt like bursting into tears. My emotions have been all over the shop lately but this felt nice, if somewhat bizarre.

I'm so pleased my first ride went well. Last time I took my old bike to town things did not go well at all and it totally put me off but now I have a basket and a bell and a new attitude.

Perfectly for me, my new two-wheeling hobby coincides with the Aotearoa Bike Challenge, which aims to get more Kiwis on their bikes. I have signed up to keep me honest and encourage anyone who wants to give the streets a go with me. This is mainly so Malcolm doesn't end up residing under the bed next to the Ab Circle Pro.

I'm either going to have powerful thighs and a six-pack or a very crowded under-bed region.