So Many Roads

Hey.

New to the forum.

Once upon a time, 20 years ago or so, I rode a department store bike all over SE Massachusetts and then Denver and the nearby foothills until it fell apart. Upon my return to PA I picked up a '91 Schwinn Voyager, but also a car, and the Schwinn was never ridden as much as I would have liked, because the car was faster, and I had discovered girls.

Worked in a bike shop for a while as a mechanic, mid-'90s. Bought a '96 Fisher Aquila, a rigid-fork steel mountain bike. Bought it for the frame, figuring I'd upgrade it, which I never did. Then the girl situation got out of control, and both bikes acquired dust and a thriving spider population.

Now, at age 40 and kinda overweight and very out of shape, I've ditched the car, paid less attention to the girls and dusted off the bikes. (The spiders all found new homes.)

I'm commuting (about a nine mile round trip, fairly short but with one big inbound hill) and making increasingly long day trips on my days off, on the Fisher. (Road slicks, cheapo plastic fenders, an old Rhode Gear back rack, and a new big-ass Arkel handlebar bag are the only mods I've given it.)

I've stripped the Schwinn down to the bare frame and am rebuilding her.

By the time the Schwinn is ready, I should be in good enough shape for some tours. That's the plan.

About six weeks into bike only travel. I'm losing weight, gaining endurance and muscle, and all goes well.

That's my story.

Hi!

Drew

10 Wheels

Welcome to Bike Forums Drew.
Thanks for joining.

Nice intro.

MangoPumpkin 

Hello & welcome to the forums Drew. Glad to see you started back up.

So Many Roads

Thanks for the welcomes!

TomT74

Hi Drew. You're from my old stomping grounds. I still have relatives in Butler, Cranberry Twp. and Evans City. You have some very nice riding out there.

So Many Roads

Very early on I noticed that this town is in a valley and there's no way out that doesn't involve a steep 200' vertical. THEN it gets nice.

TomT74

Have you gone out 68 to Evans City? I did that many years ago and recall it was a nice ride. Then, if you go through Evans City on 68, Rt 528/Lindsay Rd is on the left and it's a real hilly ride on that out to Perry Hwy. Might want to wait until you have the Schwinn ready for that one.

So Many Roads

not yet, but it's on my to-do list. I drove that in a car many times.

Hilly doesn't scare me any more; I make it up that hill to work every day! I've been out to McConnells Mill, up toward Slippery Rock, and before I was in any shape I rode the trail to Freeport and back. Longest road (not trail) ride so far has been 33 miles. Much more and the flat handlebars are what gets me. The MTB gearing is great for the hills around here, though!

Talus

Come up to Mercer some time and ride! I start on top of the hill here, so every ride ends with a climb.

So Many Roads

Ok, I'll have to do that.