tpadul 

Hello,
I'm trying to get back into riding after not being on a bicycle in many years due to sheer laziness, I've put on a few pounds and I'm trying to shed that weight and get excited again about riding my bike. I live in Northwest Indiana right outside of Michigan City. Originally from the Chicago area.

I have an old vintage (that word scares me ) 1987 Raleigh Seneca Mountain Tour that I bought brand new back in 1987/88 so the bike is going on 30 years old almost. It's in excellent condition as it has been kept indoors and also garage kept for most of those 29 years. It's only been the last year when I moved to Indiana has it been kept outdoors during the winter, and while it was protected somewhat from the elements under a breezeway in my apartment complex, it was still outside for an entire year. So I brought it in the other day and cleaned it up and it looks great overall. I'm keeping it indoors now in my extra room. The last major tune-up it had was about 4 years ago at a bike shop on the North side of Chicago and the guys that tuned it up then said it was in excellent condition for it's age.

I have a friend here in Indiana that is going to help me tune up the bike, and change out the tires for me, he suggested the Compass Rat Trap Pass tires and new tubes, and then we are going to decide on some new handlebars for me as I don't like the straight bar I have now on the bike and get some new grips, he suggested the Ergon Biokork grips.

I'm totally ignorant to all the terminology for the bike parts and during my youth I just loved riding my bike, prior to my Raleigh I owned a Schwinn World that I bought back in the early 1980's and spent my summers riding all over town. I never really got into fixing it up so I don't really know anything about repairs and such.

I'm hoping this becomes a new way of life for me riding for my health and enjoyment as well. I'll probably stay on paved paths and have no real desire to do true mountain biking with dirt and such, so I think the Rat Trap Pass tires will be pretty good on my bike for what I want to do, get some exercise and lose some weight, and get back to enjoying the outdoors.

I'm also an avid hobby photographer that loves outdoor and nature photography so at some point I hope to incorporate my love of photography and bike riding.

I'm looking forward to learning a lot about the biking world from this forum and my friend that is going to help me fix up my Raleigh.

obed7

welcome to the forums... don't sweat having been off the bike for that short period of time...
some of us here got back into riding after 40 to 50 years off a bike...just get out there and have fun.

tpadul 

Thanks Obed7!!! I don't feel so bad now

Jean3n16

Welcome!