Hi, I'm Dan, living in Albuquerque NM. I retired from the USAF in 2002, and am now a US Postal Mail Carrier on a mounted route (deliver "out the window"). My wife Sandy and I are 49 years old, just starting to ride bicycles again today.
I rode a Scwhinn 3 speed many many miles as a youth. Used to be a runner, then shattered my left ankle in a MC accident; ankle still has 3 pins in it and limited to about 80% range of motion, with light to moderate pain bicycling 30 minutes to 1 hour, heavy pain running 20 minutes. I am in poor physical condition, Sandy in better condition as she rides a stationary recumbant.
I need to get aerobic activity, drop my blood pressure (now 140/90 average), lose weight, and basically get fit once again. Back around 1997 we rode MTBs, specialized hard rocks, for physical activity for around 1 year. We ride 95% on paved streets and paved bike trails, 5% or less on dirt roads and easy paths. We live in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains at 5,000 ft altitude, so I need to build up to conquer the hills.
I have carpal tunnel and can't do the dropped bars on the MTB any longer, so we donated the MTBs to the Salvation Army. We just purchased 2 Jamis Aragon Hybrids (with 700*38 tires)
http://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/06_aragon.html for both my wife and I. We tried the Giant Cypress and Sedona, Trek 7300, Bianchi Avenue, and a couple of others before buying the Aragons.
I've been searching and skimming the Bike Forums and find it very usefull.
Thanks,
Dan