Welcome from Brandon, Florida
 

A little bio,

48yo M. Started riding as an undergraduate at the University of the Florida in the late 70's, early 80's, completing the Cross Florida ride in 1980. Spent my 20's going to school and my 30's raising kids and starting a couple of businesses. Now, in my 40's I have more time (and money) to do things I like.

Last year, I started getting serious about fitness and started seeing a personal trainer and resumed biking after my weight hit 220. In November, I had an angioplasty and stent implant, from which I have recovered (but take a handful of meds daily) and started riding and working hard in January. I am down to 208 (with an ideal, i.e., six-pack weight goal of 185) and have increased my average speed to 19mph, the highest it has been since I was racing in my teens.

I enjoy exercising, cycling, boating, and spending quality time with my three teenage kids and wife of 27 years, but other than one son mountain biking with me weekly, the others are not into cycling so I have other friends/acquaintances for that.

My regular ride is a 1989 Klein Quantum with Campy Chorus components including downtube shifters that I bought new, a Falcon Race with Reynolds 531 and Shimano 105 that I picked up at a thrift store for $40 that I use if it's wet outside, three 70's era Schwinn Paramount, one of which I ride a couple of times / month on my weekly rides for retro days, a K2 mountain bike, and a collection of Schwinn Stingrays from the 70's, two of which I ride around the block.

Richard

Uh, did you know you are a candidate for the Classic & Vintage forum?

We'll immediately need photos of EVERYTHING (please :) ).

Sorry to hear about the angioplasty, but as you've discovered, cycling is a good way to get back to better health.

Not only would we be happy to have you come visit the C & V forum, but you might want to visit the Clydesdales/Athenas forum. They are a great group of people, and good for keeping up that motivation. You may be someone who can keep them motivated, as well.

Check out the regional forums--there are a lot of members down your way.

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

Brandon, Florida!
 

Hey greyg8r, I just registered on BikeForums yesterday and today I see another brand new member from Brandon. I also live in Brandon (Valrico), am about the same age, 47, and am just getting back into cycling after a couple of decades off. Some things never change, but some things are very different. Did you know they put the shifters in the brake levers now? Yes, I know y'all know that already, but I just learned that last week. No matter, I'm going to rebuild my old 70's steel frame road bike as a fixed gear. I've nearly been laughed out of a couple local bike shops, but have found a few sympathetic souls in the Tampa Bay area. Still learning, but nearly ready to buy some parts.

-Doug

Doug,

I ride with the Tampa Bay Freewheelers from Seffner Elementary to Buddy Freddy's in Plant City and back. There are different speed groups; rookies (13 - 15 mph who take the shorter route), intermeds (16 - 17 mph with a slightly longer route) and the fastest group (19 - 20mph, 30 - 50miles total) that I ride with.

Others have sarcastically informed me that the shifters are now on the brake levers, which I knew, it's just that I don't see a need to abandon my otherwise perfectly good downtube-shifting road bikes. Ironically, I get wisecracks about my vintage bikes as I'm passing someone. Experienced riders know the bike is the fourth most important thing to riding after legs, heart, and lungs and not necessarily in that order. You will definitely get a sympathetic ear from me.

If interestted, I can loan you my 57 cm Falcon (Reynolds 531, steel lugged frame with Shimano 600 components and Look pedals) if you need a bike now. That is no biggie. I picked it up at a thrift store for beer change and only use it when I don't want to get the Klein or Paramount dirty.

My email address is info@elbrasil.com

Richard

You don't actually eat at Buddy Freddy's do you?

Sure do! I like their grits, oatmeal and coffee.

howdy doug,

you should check out 66fixed bike shop in st. pete. 727.823.1563. i was in there the other day. they specialize in fixed gear... lots of stuff you won't find elsewhere, plus the guy i talked to really knows his stuff.

Thanks, roderage, 66Fixed does not immediately pop out when you start researching fixed gear online. I found out about it accidentally when someone mentioned on Craigslist that their bike could be seen at 66Fixed. I know it's where I need to go, but haven't made it over there, yet, because, you know, St. Petersburg is so far away from Tampa.