Summer of '81, when home on summer break from college, I bought a road bike for basic transportation (to/from summer school, to see girlfriends, and to take bike back to school for my main transportation around Wash., D.C.). Not to long after that, some guy named Greg Lemond won the World Pro Road Race Championship (I think 1982). That sparked an interest in riding fast and trying to look like a pro. Eventually, that lead to a 10 yr racing career from 1987 - 1997. Now, I ride my hybrid or MTB on the road for fitness.