torque25

how goes it? my name is ryan and i am from san bruno , california. it is about 10 minutes out from san francisco. think fog.

anyway, i am fairly new to road bikes and just cycling in general. i started about six months ago. doctor says i should stop running and take up something else. my ankles have been damaged from almost two decades of skateboarding. so, i got a stationary bike for home and sat pedalling in front of the tube. the workout was okay, but boring. a childhood friend rides and he invited me to go one day. needless to say, i fell in love with riding. i did my research and bought a scattante r650 . i knew (from reading things right here on this forum) that a shimano ultergra set was worth the price i paid for the bike, so i said that i would upgrade on a frame when i knew that this (cycling) was for me.

now, i have ai just scored a 2005 litespeed firenze. i want to not just ride my bike, but learn about bikes and maintenance, so i am going to swap parts out myself.

i am not the typical looking cyclist (if i could call myself that). years of skateboarding and skateboarding culture is all over me in tattoos and scars. but, hey....i never knew i would have to grow up soon and do "adult" activities. oh! i never use capital letters when i type. why? i dunno...my favorite author never used them, so i don't use them. whatever. so, this is me. i am glad to be here and i hope i can meet some good decent folk here.

Lionheart

How old are you? You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but the skateboarding "craze" hit when I was a youth (I think)... and I'm only 42.

Tattoos seem to be all the rage lately. Frankly I don't get it, and often wonder if there won't be legions pursuing laser removal in 10-15 years.

I dunno, maybe I'm older than I feel.

RonH

Welcome to BF.

Good looking bike.

Awesome!!

Nothing wrong with tattoos. I just my first two this past winter.

torque25

i am 33. i have been-or was- skating since 1985. i had many friends who were pros and i went on many tours. it was a great lifestyle.

my tattoos are who i am annd what i was in my youth and who i am now. good for storytelling to my future grandkids.

i would imagine many people will get laser removal. but those are the one's who did it because of the craze. people who get dragons and elves tattooed on them. or butterfly wings in tribal. me? i have full on japanese traditional sleeves. well...my right arm is all sleeved with japanese art. my left arm is all traditional sailor tatoos. there is a lot of symbolism in both styles. i pay homage to both.

no, you are not acting older than you are. tattoos are just not for some people, and i can totally respect that.

torque25

congrats! tattoos are are a passion in themselves.