geminicricket

If you can count a 25 year hiatus as pushing the reset button on "New".
My last active stint of bicycling was between college classes during my one year of college in 1982-83.

I've browsed the forums a bit and have already found some information of value to me.

My brakes aren't good enough. I must attend to that.

Riding the mile between here and Wal-Mart 10 days ago proved adequately that my saddle isn't good enough. The soreness is beginning to fade.

My tail rack has a weight limit.

Available gadgets and gizmos have come a long way in 25 years.

The heavy gauge chain and padlock I use to secure my Huffy 18-speed mountain bike are the epitome of excess.

I am preparing to begin commuting on 2 wheels. Whether I use a 50 cc scooter or an electric bicycle is not yet determined. The distance to my work is 14 miles. Pedaling would take about 2 hours, and would allow me to cancel the gym membership. Electric would take about 1 hour. Scooting would be a bit quicker than electric biking. My breakpoint is $4 gas.

RonH

Welcome to BF.

Cancel the gym membership and commute by bicycle and gain all the health benefits and experience.
The commute to my old job (2001-2003) was 14+ miles one way. I did it for the 2 years I worked for that company. I dropped 20 pounds and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I was 56 when I started bike commuting.

East Hill

Hi geminicricket, a tough choice there! We'd always advocate more pedal than not, but it's your commute, and your time . Pedaling is faster with a lighter bike, though.

What are you currently riding?

Check out the regional forums, too. You're in DFW, which is a hotbed of BF members, including many of the moderators (the folks with the blue stars by their names).

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

geminicricket

Currently, the only bicycle I have is the old Huffy 18-speed mountain bike. I keep it for the sentimentality of the "Made in USA" label on it. The top 6 gears are not available in it's present state. The inner tubes, though are fairly recent and both are loaded with Slime. The real work of upgrading simply has to wait a few months until a couple of car payments fall away. #1 on the list, Brooks saddle. #2, disc brakes. #3&4, lights and mirrors, #5-20, panniers, fenders, an actual helmet, and all the gear it seems a wise commuter biker needs to commute with.

One actual benefit I do have is that my workplace has a shower.

I have commuted on a bicycle before. When I was a teenager, I occasionally rode the 3 miles to work at a K-Mart. Once in Houston, I rode the 5 miles to my work at Texas Instruments.
And, of course, bicycling to school for grades 4-10.

Thanks for the welcome.

East Hill

Do stop in at the Texas regional forum--you might be able to find a member or two in the area who could possibly give you a hand with restoring the top six gears .

East Hill