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Howdy from Dallas, TX

Old 08-02-05, 01:25 PM
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Howdy! I'm getting back into cycling after a long (10 years +) layoff. Currently have a 2003 Trek 4300, stock except for toe clips. Usually ride White Rock Lake or the hike/bike trail north of White Rock Lake.

Lessee, cycling history & stuff: Started riding seriously at ~13-14 on an old AMF or Roadmaster "27 inch racing bike." I completely tore it down and repainted it when I was 13, using "Anybody's Bike Book" - great book, with steps like, "keep your largest wrench handy to fling across the garage when you hurt yourself on this next step." I fitted it with toe clips from Wal Mart. One summer, me and a couple friends rode all the way to the next town and back, man do those cutoff jean shorts chafe! Got a Univega 12 speed sport-tourer at 16 - drove 60 miles to the big city (Dallas) to buy it, had to ride home with the bike in the back of a hatchback Chevy Vega with the seat folded down, 'cuz Dad and stepmom were in the front seats. Rode the heck out of that bike. Discovered the beauty of upgrading via the Bike Nashbar catalog and UPS. Got a Trek 560 (aero bars & levers!) at 19 while in the Army, rode in N. New Jersey around Ft. Monmouth. Learned that metal deck bridges aren't fun in the rain! Later received Cannondale 900 road frame as guilt gift 'cuz Mom took my sister to France for a week (I couldn't skip a week of college...). Worked one college summer at Daniel Boone Cycle in Houston, bought old "excess inventory" Stumpjumper at deep discount, as they couldn't sell it, along with some Look pedals (the cool black ones) and some Mavic rims. Picked up a used set of Dura Ace hubs and learned to build wheels from the Wheelsmith series of articles in Bicycling Magazine. Worked ~2-1/2 years part time at Bicycle Sport Shop in Austin (the cool old store on Barton Springs Rd.), built new MTB on Ritchey Ultra frameset that I had repainted by Skip Hujsak (red with blue pearl overcoat, a sweet ride). Inaugural member of the Austin Ridge Riders Mtn bike club. Finished school, started working, went back to school, got married. Had to sell the dust-collecting bikes in grad school, as I wasn't riding them and my kids were hungry...

Now, here I am, 41 years old, and getting back into riding simply to lose the excess pounds. This bike (the 4300) is an adventure, since I've never seen a threadless headset or suspension fork. And sealed bearings take all the fun out of maintenance. I mean, what am I going to do with my 15-year-old tube of green Phil Wood waterproof grease?

James Wilson

Last edited by jswilson64; 08-02-05 at 01:50 PM.
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Old 08-02-05, 01:59 PM
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Welcome aboard James!
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Old 08-02-05, 02:14 PM
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Howdy and welcome to the forum.
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