Introductions - Hi from Long Island, NY

Hi! I just started seriously cycling this year. Last March, when I got back from a cruise I was probably the heaviest and most out of shape I've been in my entire life. I'm 5' 11" and weighed 212 lbs and flabby. When I had problems bending over to put on my socks, I decided that was it and needed a major diet and exercise program (and lifestyle change). I tried running, but the toll on my knees and feet was too much. So back in early May, I dusted off my 8 yr old Schwinn hybrid (which I had only ridden several times on vacations) and started riding 10 miles every morning. Also started eating right and weight training a couple nights a week. Sometime in mid-June I added 30 mile rides every Friday afternoon and Sunday morning. Sometime in mid-July I started doing 15 miles every morning instead of 10. I haven't missed a morning ride since starting in May until this past Saturday to rest for my first 50 mile ride, the Tour of the Hamptons this past Sunday. What a great ride, and I had plenty left in me at the end. At the end of July, I had decided that I had "outgrown" the Schwinn hybrid and bought a shiny new Trek Pilot 2.1. LOVE it! I feel like I went from a Jeep to a Porsche! And I'm now signed up to do the North Fork Century this Sunday!

I am sooo totally hooked. I started for fitness and weight loss and now I'm hooked. And BTW, I'm now at 174 lbs, down 38 lbs since April. And probably in the best shape of my life.

I'll need to update my profile and join in on some conversations.

~ TG

Congrats on the weight loss and the new Trek! And welcome to the forums :)

Damn! I'm jealous of the weight loss! Welcome to BF and post pics of the new bike! That's the rules.

Strong Island reprazent! Welcome to Bikeforums.

Damn! I'm jealous of the weight loss! Welcome to BF and post pics of the new bike! That's the rules.

I'll be posting pics later this afternoon or evening, check back!

Here are a couple pics. And thanks for the welcomes.

Here are a couple pics. And thanks for the welcomes.

oops, uploaded the wrong ones (bad quality), will upload the good ones shortly

Smaller but a little clearer pics. I need to get some better ones within the 100k size limit.

Which way do you ride it now, w/ the bars slanted up or down? And before anyone else says it, flip that stem!

BTW, nice bike!

Which way do you ride it now, w/ the bars slanted up or down? And before anyone else says it, flip that stem!

BTW, nice bike!

Thanks.

I know I have to slant the bars back down a bit. They're the same in each picture, it's just the camera angle that makes it look different. And I still have to learn the lingo, what exactly do you mean by "flip that stem"?

~ TG

Which way do you ride it now, w/ the bars slanted up or down? And before anyone else says it, flip that stem!

BTW, nice bike!

Now I see what you mean about flipping the stem. I'll slant the bars down to where they should be and get used to that first. I'm slowly getting used to and feeling more comfortable in the road bike postition vs what it was like on my hybrid.