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01-30-06, 03:42 PM
Hello all at BikeForums!
I started riding bikes again, after a long hiatus, in April of 2004! I started with the reasoning it would be easier to loose weight doing something fun then staying inside in some stuffy gym for hours on end. Since that time, I've lost the weight I wished to get rid of (200 lbs off my final, total weight of 350) and have become an avid bike advocate and staunch car-free individual. I've never had my license, and I've never had the interest in driving a car... though motorbikes have been interesting to me when it comes to some petrol-belching wretch of a machine.
Here are some basics about me;
Age: 20
Weight: 150 lbs
Height: 5'11
I'm riding presently a custom, college green, 1972 Schwinn Varsity which has been a great, smooth ride. A friend fished it out of a creek behind his house and when my 2005 Giant Sedona DX was stolen, he gave it to me. Together we made it ridable and since I received it a year ago, I've upgraded a lot of parts on it merely to have a competant and reliable ride at any time of thea year. One last repair on it's body and it'll be perfect. I've always liked vintage items, which I think I inherited from my father (he likes and used to restore vintage cars). And my experiences with my steel brute have just built upon my love for old things, particularly bikes. For ease in reffering to it, which I do a bit, I've named it Fagin. I think it fits the bike well! This bike has been a lot of places with me, and is used for 40 mile round trips with ease. A thing most people can't see a Varsity doing these days, apparently.
And I just procurred a 19?? Motobecane Nomade which led me to these forums in a hope to be able to date it. It's a beautiful bike in great condition. There is a thread going on about it in the vintage section. :) It's super fast!
I also have a 1971 Sears Lightweight which I'm lending my comrade until she gets enough money to restore her 1973 (or 1974) Raleigh 3-Speed. (Which I forbid her to ride until the repairs are done because it's about to fall apart! :eek: ) After hers is fixed, this bike (named Lloyd George), it's going to be donated to a local community outreach program I am helping with called "The People's Bike" in which bikes will be set up about the community for anyone that needs one. There are a number of people that would be benefited by this, and it cuts out the middle-men that consist of the charitable organizations around where I live.
I'm always involved with the local Critical Mass rides. I love reclaiming the streets with fellow cyclists of all ages! I'm very much into vehicular cycling. :D
I've never had problems riding in jeans, and a lot of the bicycle clothing out there is just not my thing.
I'm slowly learning how to work on my bikes myself, and am interested in being a mechanic as a career idea.
And finally, most of all, I love bikes and the people who ride them!
I started riding bikes again, after a long hiatus, in April of 2004! I started with the reasoning it would be easier to loose weight doing something fun then staying inside in some stuffy gym for hours on end. Since that time, I've lost the weight I wished to get rid of (200 lbs off my final, total weight of 350) and have become an avid bike advocate and staunch car-free individual. I've never had my license, and I've never had the interest in driving a car... though motorbikes have been interesting to me when it comes to some petrol-belching wretch of a machine.
Here are some basics about me;
Age: 20
Weight: 150 lbs
Height: 5'11
I'm riding presently a custom, college green, 1972 Schwinn Varsity which has been a great, smooth ride. A friend fished it out of a creek behind his house and when my 2005 Giant Sedona DX was stolen, he gave it to me. Together we made it ridable and since I received it a year ago, I've upgraded a lot of parts on it merely to have a competant and reliable ride at any time of thea year. One last repair on it's body and it'll be perfect. I've always liked vintage items, which I think I inherited from my father (he likes and used to restore vintage cars). And my experiences with my steel brute have just built upon my love for old things, particularly bikes. For ease in reffering to it, which I do a bit, I've named it Fagin. I think it fits the bike well! This bike has been a lot of places with me, and is used for 40 mile round trips with ease. A thing most people can't see a Varsity doing these days, apparently.
And I just procurred a 19?? Motobecane Nomade which led me to these forums in a hope to be able to date it. It's a beautiful bike in great condition. There is a thread going on about it in the vintage section. :) It's super fast!
I also have a 1971 Sears Lightweight which I'm lending my comrade until she gets enough money to restore her 1973 (or 1974) Raleigh 3-Speed. (Which I forbid her to ride until the repairs are done because it's about to fall apart! :eek: ) After hers is fixed, this bike (named Lloyd George), it's going to be donated to a local community outreach program I am helping with called "The People's Bike" in which bikes will be set up about the community for anyone that needs one. There are a number of people that would be benefited by this, and it cuts out the middle-men that consist of the charitable organizations around where I live.
I'm always involved with the local Critical Mass rides. I love reclaiming the streets with fellow cyclists of all ages! I'm very much into vehicular cycling. :D
I've never had problems riding in jeans, and a lot of the bicycle clothing out there is just not my thing.
I'm slowly learning how to work on my bikes myself, and am interested in being a mechanic as a career idea.
And finally, most of all, I love bikes and the people who ride them!