Fifty Plus (50+) - Random musings

I'm pretty stoked about bringing my new bike home last night. I'm going to take it out on its maiden voyage today, I think. I'm going to name the bike "Aw crap" so it knows I'm calling its name when we go up steep hills.

Two years ago my family owned one bike, a $79 Walmart bike we had bought for my 14 y/o son. We thought we paid too much for a bike at that time. I then bought a Wahoo because my feet gave out while I was training for the Marine Corp. marathon. We started trail riding. My son broke the fork to his Walmart bike at Mohican Park, so I bought him a GF Piranha. My youngest daughter returned home from college with her 4 y/o rust-encased Jamis hard-tail, which, with some loving care and a new chain and fork actually rides pretty well now. Her husband then gets a vintage GT Pantera, my other son-in-law gets a used GF Pirahna, my wife gets a power-blue Electra, we both get a Trek T1000 tandem.

Finally, yesterday, as I'm standing around admiring my new bike, my older daughter buys the by-this-time-world-famous Lemond Reno.

So, I'm thinking 1) I'm blessed to be with such a wonderful family. The fact that they've all become bike fanatics doesn't hurt. 2) Is this a great country or what?

PS. Hey freeranger, my wife is out of town this weekend so I can ride my little legs off. I'd like to do a 35-40 miler but that might be a little further than you'd be interested in. We'll stay in touch.

I'll play. Two years ago my family owned zero bikes. My knees were so shot I was seriously considering replacement. For both of them.

Youngest son Kevin bought a Trek 4300 to ride from where he parks his Jeep to various points on Campus. I did not give up and bought a Schwinn Air Dyne. One day I borrowed his 4300. Next day I bought a Trek Navigator. I should have traded the Air Dyne in. Have not spent two hours on it since. Not long after that, older son Chris decides he needs a bike too, and buys a Specialized RockHopper. Son Kevin starts riding his 4300 off road.

Son Chris starts riding his RockHopper off road and with me on the bike paths and roads on the Navigator. I cannot keep up :mad: . Chris and I are having such a great time riding, we talk his mother (AKA Lovey) into buying a bike too. She likes the Specialized Expedition. She starts riding with Chris and I. She cannot keep up either :mad: . I learn my lesson :eek: . All of a sudden, now she can keep up. Life is good :) . Son Kevin crashes the 4300 downhilling. Trashes the crank, fork, rear wheel and rear derailer. Son Kevin buys a RockHopper too.

Son Chris decides he likes mountain biking and wants a real mountain bike. Buys and builds up a Santa Cruz. Son Chris and I ride my age less than a year after getting on a bike again for the first time in many many years, him on a RockHopper and me on a Navigator. I buy a Coda Elite. Now I can keep up with Chris :D . Chris does not like that I can keep up with him. He starts converting the RockHopper to a 29'er with 23's, carbon fork and so on. Now I can't keep up with Chris anymore :mad:.

He can't wait til the conversion is done to ride too fast. With only a front brake. Front brake fails and he crashes the RockHopper, trashes front wheel. Fork survives apparently. We go from thinking riding ten miles after work is a good workout to thinking riding thirty miles after work is a good workout. Knees are so much better that there are lots of days I don't even think about them. Son Chris decides to rebuild the trashed 4300, just so there is a spare bike for company to ride. We have a box that is getting fuller of bike parts. LBS economic status is enhanced. Yup, it's a great country and I have a great family too.

P.S. I start wearing Lycra. In public.

Finally, yesterday, as I'm standing around admiring my new bike, my older daughter buys the by-this-time-world-famous Lemond Reno
Your daughter obviously has exquisite taste ;)
Yes, this is a great country
And I'm just hoping our new puppy will want to run alonside of me when she's old enough.
Assuming we *do* get the puppy of course.
Until we actually have her in her new home, we don't

My wife got me into respectable bikes. She did not drive so got a GT Talera to ride around locally on. I tried it and Bought a GT Pantera A 92 version and it had a "U" brake on it- Fantastic brake but don't show it any mud as it used to collect it.
So two in the family with decent bikes- Then the two daughters wanted bikes so a couple of Trek 820's were bought. Then the boyfriends arrived and they Bought Univega Mountain bikes- (Bad reputation but these were not too bad) Then the daughters got cars and one boyfriend changed but there are now 8 bikes in the shed. The Treks have gone, the Pantera's gone but the Talera is still there in mint condition. Reason for 8 Bikes- The two daughters have just bought their new houses and they both live within 1/2 a mile of where I live. And "DaD-can you sort the bike out for our next ride next week- as I know you llike to tinker with them occasionally" Get that every week and I know its just cos they don't like cleaning them. The extra two are the road bike and the Tandem so 3 of them are mine, but the two boys keep wanting to try out the road bike- No way- but I'll take them on the Tandem if they want- No Way is their reply.

So, I'm thinking 1) I'm blessed to be with such a wonderful family. The fact that they've all become bike fanatics doesn't hurt. 2) Is this a great country or what?

+1
My 23 yr old has a Trek Madone, Surly LHT, rebuilt fixed gear, and a bunch of others he's built up. Works PT in a bike shop while going to school. This, from a kid who (in high school) thought exercise was changing channels on the remote. He used to think my bike touring was as stupid as it gets.
One of my greatest joys as a father is watching my kids excel in something I like, and thoroughly exceeding my capabilities with it. We went coast to coast last year.

It is indeed a great country. My son is a State Policeman in Iowa. I took him my oldest Hybrid a month or so ago, and now he is slowly getting the bug. We are talking about doing a tour next year. Nothing huge, but I have some routes in mind. This has opened up a whole new area of things we can enjoy together. Yep, a great country.

I took the Buenos Aires out for the first time tonite and returned with a huge SEG (smile ever-so grateful).

It'll take some time to get over the Acute Carbon Intoxication: "Oh Nooo, I sweat on the frame!" "Oh Nooo, I got some PowerAde on the downtube!" Oh Nooo, it might rain and get my bike wet!!!". I'm sure I'll get over it, but it was pretty cool.