Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.BostonRoadee
09-26-07, 09:21 AM
Greetings, Two-wheeled Friends!
Some of you met me yesterday in the Road forum, where I posted a question about group rides. But I thought I'd formally introduce myself.
As a teen in NYC in the early 1980s, I threw myself into road cycling after two key incidents coincided: I booked my first AYH tour (Boston->White Mountains->Green Mountains->Boston), and the movie Breaking Away was released. Changed my life. My pop bought me a beautiful red Saint Tropez (low-end Japanese co., long defunct) for the summer tour. I bought myself Richard's Bicycle Book and a set of tools. Proceeded to pull that poor rig apart bearing by bearing -- I got so into it, I worried my parents. I trained every day in Central Park (a decent six-mile loop with a couple good moderate hills), and saw Eric Heiden race in a criterium there. Later, I graduated to a gorgeous deep purple, very light Austro-Daimler with silk tires (latest lightweight Euro-tech, circa 1982) -- right before I moved to college and forgot all about bikes for many, many years.
FF to 2007. I'm 43. My knees hurt. I've done many sports as hobbies -- climbing, hiking, running, softball and so on. Most of them are history, due to minor knee and back problems. I got on a bike this past Aug. because I had an urge -- and the 25-year old memories came flooding back. After about six rides, my knees didn't hurt. I researched like crazy and put down my dough for a 2007 Giant OCR 3 at my LBS. (A big purchase for me, just-married and a returning grad student living mostly off loans.) It made me sad to ride the $1100 bikes, the difference was so obvious; but I love my ride and plan on upgrading it, starting with pedals (strapped pedals are sooo 1980s). I don't remember a thing about working on bikes, and plan to buy tools again and start from scratch -- though probably not down to the bearings this time. The basic adjustments will do nicely, at least for now. I'm *supposed* to be building a new career, not futzing in the basement. (But those New England winter nights *are* long....)
I've built up to 20 miles of rolling-to-moderate hills in my rides, trying to add distance slowly, but basically charging in, as is my style. (And now my knees do hurt.) Classes have kicked in, a big, wonderful work project looms, and the winter weather is just around the corner. I hope I can milk the late season for all it's worth. Rolling past the farms of metro-west Boston, taking snack breaks in open fields, is quite addictive.
I have a hundred questions, and probably will post most of them. I'm very talkative -- as you know by now. Till next time -- enjoy the ride!
Some of you met me yesterday in the Road forum, where I posted a question about group rides. But I thought I'd formally introduce myself.
As a teen in NYC in the early 1980s, I threw myself into road cycling after two key incidents coincided: I booked my first AYH tour (Boston->White Mountains->Green Mountains->Boston), and the movie Breaking Away was released. Changed my life. My pop bought me a beautiful red Saint Tropez (low-end Japanese co., long defunct) for the summer tour. I bought myself Richard's Bicycle Book and a set of tools. Proceeded to pull that poor rig apart bearing by bearing -- I got so into it, I worried my parents. I trained every day in Central Park (a decent six-mile loop with a couple good moderate hills), and saw Eric Heiden race in a criterium there. Later, I graduated to a gorgeous deep purple, very light Austro-Daimler with silk tires (latest lightweight Euro-tech, circa 1982) -- right before I moved to college and forgot all about bikes for many, many years.
FF to 2007. I'm 43. My knees hurt. I've done many sports as hobbies -- climbing, hiking, running, softball and so on. Most of them are history, due to minor knee and back problems. I got on a bike this past Aug. because I had an urge -- and the 25-year old memories came flooding back. After about six rides, my knees didn't hurt. I researched like crazy and put down my dough for a 2007 Giant OCR 3 at my LBS. (A big purchase for me, just-married and a returning grad student living mostly off loans.) It made me sad to ride the $1100 bikes, the difference was so obvious; but I love my ride and plan on upgrading it, starting with pedals (strapped pedals are sooo 1980s). I don't remember a thing about working on bikes, and plan to buy tools again and start from scratch -- though probably not down to the bearings this time. The basic adjustments will do nicely, at least for now. I'm *supposed* to be building a new career, not futzing in the basement. (But those New England winter nights *are* long....)
I've built up to 20 miles of rolling-to-moderate hills in my rides, trying to add distance slowly, but basically charging in, as is my style. (And now my knees do hurt.) Classes have kicked in, a big, wonderful work project looms, and the winter weather is just around the corner. I hope I can milk the late season for all it's worth. Rolling past the farms of metro-west Boston, taking snack breaks in open fields, is quite addictive.
I have a hundred questions, and probably will post most of them. I'm very talkative -- as you know by now. Till next time -- enjoy the ride!