I came aboard BikeForums around 2012 shortly after I bought a new bike and returned to riding after a 25-year lay-off. During those 25 years, everything had changed, including bike comfort & gearing, bike paths and riding techniques.

I was lost. I had a whole lot of issues that I didn’t even know I had, and I signed into the BikeForums’ Fifty Plus arena hoping to learn a few things.

I lucked out. One of the Forum members named Keith lived nearby, and he offered to take me on a weekly no-drop group ride. The first time I rode with him, he taught me not to wear myself out by using nothing but my fastest gears; he taught me about cadence; about rider courtesy; about braking and hill-climbing.

Even though he was a 25-mph rider who rode centuries almost routinely, he stayed with me patiently, week after week, and converted me from a dummy into a confident cyclist who enjoyed his surroundings and was able to ride independently, confidently.

After I get back into good physical condition after a few health issues, I’ve pledged to myself that I’m gonna help anyone I can, the way Keith helped me.