Never thought that I would be respondng to a thread like this, but I also never thought that I would be where I am right now.

I retired to Florida 10 years ago. I'm now 66. I have been riding bikes continuously for 60 years...the last 45 seriously, in Minnesota, then Illinois and now down here.Five years ago I came down with a painful ankle which stopped me from playing tennis. Repeated injuries in first high school and then college football and basketball finally caught up with me. One x-ray confirmed that old repeated damage coupled with age and now arthritis had resulted in a painful bone on bone condition that was not going to go away...but eventually get worse. When it became unbearable, ankle fusion or replacement (not yet refined to a point of good success like hips or knees) would be required. When was up to me. As the next several years went by I became pretty gimpy off of the bike. Had to learn to turn my foot outward and sort of drag it. A cane helped and crutches would be better. But the good news was that by a little modification of my pedal stroke I could ride. Keep the ankle immobile and all was well. (At least when on the bike). So I rode, pacelines at good speed, actually as fast as I had done 30 years ago, pulled when my turn came and let no one down.

Two years ago I found that I had an elevated PSA but was otherwise asymtomatic. Long story short....cancer...surgery..(Doc said it was aggressive and particularly nasty, but he got it all).. and two years off of the bike due to follow up surgery (botched a little the first time).

I sat and vegetated and with no real excuse, put on 40 pounds. Vicious cycle...too fat to ride and not able to drop the weight without excercise. Gimpy leg...etc. Six months ago I had had enough. My riding buddies would get in touch and my answer was always the same. "I will be back...eventually".

But I think they had ceased to believe me and had written me off. I finally decided to adhere to a strict diet and after dropping 20 pounds I got back on the bike. I suffered for a month and eventually started to come around. The next twenty fell away easily once I was up to speed and now I seldom even pee my pants during a particularly hard ride.

We ride at 18/22 MPH in a paceline, usually 35 to 40 miles and I have never felt better. I still will have to deal with the ankle replacement. Techniques and success rates have improved markedly in the last few years. I do dread having to start all over again after six months on crutches. But for now....Life is good again.