Introductions - hi from the circle city

Hey everybody. Just joined the forum as I'm looking to get back into cycling after a looooong absence. I'm 51 and a former road rider (and one-time citizen class racer). I live in Indianapolis, though I consider myself an Illinois boy (Peoria) since I was born and raised there and spent my formative riding years with the Illinois Valley Wheelmen. I need the boost cycling will give me to help lose the weight I've piled on since I stopped riding and took up eating full time.

So I thought I'd join up for support, encouragement and information (looking for a zippy, responsive ride with a more upright, lower-back-friendly posture - possibly a Trek 7500FX). Also have an '84 Gitane TdF bought at Williamson Cycles in Madison, and a circa 1990 Trek 1500 from Vitesse in Peoria Heights (or it *was* a 1500 until I broke the frame 5 or 6 years ago and Trek replaced it with something called a "ZX," about which they gave me zero technical information). As you can probably guess, I've been out of the cycling community for a while. The last technical advance I experienced firsthand was indexed shifting!

I'm 51 and a former road rider...

So I thought I'd join up for support, encouragement and information (looking for a zippy, responsive ride with a more upright, lower-back-friendly posture - possibly a Trek 7500FX).
Welcome Craig. :beer:

You're just a kid and you want a "more upright, lower-back-friendly posture" bike? Please tell me you're kidding. Just pour some holy water on the Trek 1500 and bring it back from the dead.

Welcome to the forums CraigB. It's a great place!

You left Illinois and went to Indiana? Smart guy. ;) I'd do that too if I could, but my wife says if we move, it has to be into a warm climate. In her words:
"I can freeze in a parka just fine right where I am."

Naptown! I'm a Bloomington Cutter myself! Welcome!

I wish it were that simple, Ron. Actually, the 1500 is fine. It might need some new tires and tubes, and good cleaning and lube, but other than that it's OK. It's my back that complicates things. I'm the last generation of architect that got through college before CAD, which means I spent 10 years or more bent over a drafting table. I wasn't even out of college before I had my first back "episode." When I last rode the 1500 (a few years ago), I found pretty consistently after 15 or 20 miles I'd get this very uncomfortable sensation of pressure and muscle fatique in my lower back. I know I'll be better off without the excess weight I'm currently carrying, but whether it ever gets back to normal, I won't know for some time.

Actually, Don, I miss the topography around Peoria, where I was born and raised. No monster hills, but at least some variety. Here in Indy it's pretty darned flat, though not as flat as east central Illinois (Champaign) where we had to find an interstate overpass to do any "hills." That was like living on a billiard table.

I've also found Indy too socio-politically conservative for my tastes, and Indiana in general even more so. But that's just me. I gather from your other interests that's not you ;)

Thanks, dirt! Bloomington has a lot of beautiful countryside to ride in. I was only brave enought to do the Hilly Hundred once, many years ago, but I've always wanted to get back and do it again.