Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New guy

Well hello to all. I have taken the plunge. I use to be skinny and I use to ride a bike. I bought a Trek 700 Tri Series bike some twenty years and about 100 lb ago. Never really liked the bike but it is the one I got. Long story short the bike got dusty and I got fat and older.

Well now it’s over weight, high blood pressure and Type II and a dusty bike. I joined the Y and took a spin class and the joy of riding came flooding back

And so… into the shop it went. I changed the tries to Marathons (700 x 28) wider handlebars with cork tape and changed the rings from 52/42 to 50/38. Kept the rear end with 14/28 (five cogs on the freewheel).

It should be ready with in the next week or so.

I don’t know why I am so nervous about riding again. But I am.

Oh and by the way I am 50yrs old. 6’4” (1.9m) 300lbs (21.5 stone) (137 kgs).

Type of riding I love is low and slow. Love that credit card touring. Or at least I use to.

Glad to have found yall! Oh yea I’m from the southeastern US.

Ponder deeply

Welcome to the herd L of B!

Funny how that how Tri thing of 20 years ago made us do weird things. I bought a set of Aero clip ons for my Criterium bike, of all things. They didn't last long, lol.

Your gearing choices sound like you should be spin your way up most hills with no problems. I just put cork wrap on my tourer, I see no reason to ever use much of anything else due to comfort. It looks cool too.

Depending on where you are in the S.E. we may have some members around you. When you get more back into the swing of things, riding with others is a lot more fun than constantly solo. I'm in Texas, so the upcoming months are prime riding time with the temps and humidity dropping off a bit.

Oh yea, we likes pics of bikes too, so be sure to post up a pic or two when your steed comes out of the LBS all tuned up and spiffy! Then it's time to ride!

You must be in Birmingham, UK! Welcome from across the pond, Leslie! We're glad to have you. We have a few other UK Clydes and Athenas as well.

way to much 'tire' for the Areo bars. The bike is a little twichy for me and the plan is to sell it as soon as i can try out some true touring bikes and see which one is for me. Thanks for the welcome.

You must be in Birmingham, UK! Welcome from across the pond, Leslie! We're glad to have you. We have a few other UK Clydes and Athenas as well.

Oh no. I am indeed from this side of the pond. That would be B'ham AL. Thank you as well for the welcome.

You must be in Birmingham, UK! Welcome from across the pond, Leslie! We're glad to have you. We have a few other UK Clydes and Athenas as well.


Me thinks he means B'Ham, Alabama, although the use of the metric units and stones threw me for a loop.

EDIT: Still slower than I need to be, lol.

Me thinks he means B'Ham, Alabama, although the use of the metric units and stones threw me for a loop.

EDIT: Still slower than I need to be, lol.
I did not know how many of us are from where so I thought it best to be inclusive.

Leslie of Bham

I did not know how many of us are from where so I thought it best to be inclusive.

Leslie of Bham

There is a sticky on the forum main page with a Google Map that shows locations. You need to post your location in the thread and Tom will update it. A nice resource for finding fellow cyclists.

Welcome to the forums :thumb:

Be sure to post a picture of your bike when it's back from the shop, forum rules ya know :D

I did not know how many of us are from where so I thought it best to be inclusive.

Leslie of Bham

I don't know why the Brit's keep hanging onto stone, (a stone is 14lbs or 6.3kg), it makes a weight so much harder to visualize, 17 tons, 15 stone, 3lbs and 2oz seems to be hard to visualize which is why it was mostly dropped in North America, Personally I prefer Metric, where you just shift the decimal around, to change units.

Hey Leslie, glad to have another Bama boy on here! I'm Karlo from Decatur, 50 x 240 myself! I've only been back into cycling for a couple of months after about 30 years off the pedals. Oh, by the way, Old and Fat - I speak it fluently!

I don't know why the Brit's keep hanging onto stone, (a stone is 14lbs or 6.3kg), it makes a weight so much harder to visualize, 17 tons, 15 stone, 3lbs and 2oz seems to be hard to visualize which is why it was mostly dropped in North America, Personally I prefer Metric, where you just shift the decimal around, to change units.

Metric or short tons?

Hey Leslie, glad to have another Bama boy on here! I'm Karlo from Decatur, 50 x 240 myself! I've only been back into cycling for a couple of months after about 30 years off the pedals. Oh, by the way, Old and Fat - I speak it fluently!
Two very nice bike. How is your rode bike geared? How are the hills doin' ya?