So, after my worst six months of life I had to make a change. I'm 41 and in the first six months of 2013 I spent 90 days unable to walk or use my left leg. Oddly enough each "episode/attack" was 30 days long broken by about 30 days of recovery before the next attack. Without all the details of my issues I decided that perhaps this is the dreaded mid-life crisis that others talk about. The mental anguish of the first 6 months of 2013 was difficult to bear and I prayed to be able to even walk the dogs again and the chance to change my ways. In July I was able to start walking again. At 5'11.5" and 250lb's I wasn't the smallest guy on the street. I walked about 2 -3 miles a day for a month and a half. From there the decision to move to a bike was made as my feet weren't handling the pavement as well as I'd hoped. I hit three of the local bike shops representing Giant, Trek, and Specialized. I landed myself on a leftover 2012 Trek 2.1C with Sram Apex components.

Now I've owned the bike for ten days and been out on it for 8 days. I've racked up a measly 61 miles to date in that amount of time but my endurance is already coming around. I've gone from 250 lb's to 233 and I'm averaging 2-2.5 lb's a week of weight drop.

stopped back at the bike shop and picked up my wife a 2013 Trek Skye S mountain bike which she so far loves. I take my morning ride and push my limits and then in the evening when she gets home from work we take a leisurely ride around together.

Looking forward to virtually meeting some fellow enthusiasts and I'll be posting in the road section as I find questions that can't easily be answered with the plethora of great posts in this forum. I've had to maintain my composure with all the gear and gadgets that this sport has come alive with. I already know that I need bicycle shorts and some great shoes/pedals for my size 12 EEE width feet but I just keep giving myself mileage markers. "You get the shorts at 100 miles, you get the shoes/pedals at 300 miles... etc"

I can't believe how much I've missed biking. Being out on the road deciding on a left, right, or continue as the road keeps rolling by. The difference from when your take your first ride down a new route compared to how well you know it by your 3rd or 4th time on it. I live in an urban area and I can't believe the enjoyment I get from the area that I've lived for 20 years. It's a new world out there.

You may not realize but you.. BikeForums.. have already been a great help. I just wanted to say Hello and Thank You.