getting back on the bike in a bigger way
 

new to the forum. 60 yr old retired rn. been riding some kind of 10+ speed since '72, currently have a trek 820 of the late '80s vintage.
fell in love with observed trials motorcycling in the mid 80's and the bike took a back seat except for short rides with my wife from time to time.

an unfortunate run in with two very large rocks lead to a badly fractured right foot and a sad retirement from motorcycling. my sport provided me with exercise, conditioning and competition and i had hoped to ride into my 70's as some in my motorcycle club have.

i'm looking to replace it with the bicycle, but can't really get into the rough stuff due to fused bones, plates, screws and the like. i plan to ride on paved and unpaved bike paths, and some natural terrain, as long as nothing wants to pitch me off the bike. fitness is primary, improving time/performance next, maybe group rides/events as well.

want to ride year round as long as it's not raining or there's too much ice. wet is ok. rain isn't.

spent some time at the bike shop today as i have established that riding doesn't aggravate the recovering foot. looked at hybrids (not enough off road) 29 inch,(as heavy as my 820)
and may have settled on a trek 4500. weight is ok, like the locking fork, components are good, and i love the hydraulic discs that you can use with one finger like my montesa.

motorcycle sale proceeds will let me get most anything i want but i don't want to ride a bike so expensive i'll have to worry about someone pushing me off and riding away on it.

anybody have any thoughts or suggestions. i'll post a copy of this on the general board as well.

thanks, dabbindan

Around here, there's not that many good places to ride off-road, so I'd just as soon have a road-type bike and go for the milage on the road. So my thought is check out where all there is to ride off-road first, and then shop accordingly.

When you go shopping, remember the accessories. Depending on what kind of riding you end up doing you may want helmet, riding clothes, bike computer, pump, spares etc. Coming from motorcycling you may already know the value of all the other stuff besides just the bike.

--J

accessories
 

yeah, have most of those things or they are pending. next two items are clip on/off fenders and a computer. don't want wet to keep me off. i can use those on my 820 till i get the next bike. wardrobe is basic but will expand. mainly wondering if my bike selection is ok or if there's a better choice(s) out there.

dabbindan

Since you already have an upright riding bike that will do everything a hybrid will do, I'd get a road bike.

new bike
 

feeling sorry for myself, i'm going to treat myself to a new bike to compensate for my motorcycle loss. i don't trust traffic and don't plan to be on the road much at all. i've had enough surgery this summer. :lol:

dabbindan

Have you thought about a trials bicycle? You could ride it as hard as you feel is appropriate.

http://images.pediaportals.com/konfu...016_Trials.gif

just can't afford to take any unexpected, hard stresses to the repaired foot. would love to, but there are just too many unfriendly places to stick a foot. too tempting to do "just a little more, just a little bigger, just a little further. :^) sticking to smooth off road single track and bike paths.

dabbindan

I guess I'm missing something. Until your fitness/rehab is complete, or you are back in shape, for now, why not save some cash and just put some narrower, higher-pressure, smooth-tread tires on the 820? Is the frame too short?
Since you're staying on pavement, I'm afraid if you get a moderate "fitness bike" and you get "fit", you'll wish you bought a road bike.