I am an even 50 and have been riding bicycles on and off for most of my life. Kids bikes included a favorite Schwinn 24" with baloon tires a green paint job and chrome fenders (which were shortly removed). This was the early 60's and maybe we were the beginning of the mountain bike movement, even extreme cycling. I served as a US Marine on and off, more on for about 24 years, and in between bought a Crescent with the nice orange paint while doing the Rocky Mountain high life in Estes Park Colorado in the summer of 1974.

That was my first multi-speed rig, and I rode that for a couple years until work, marriage and life got in the way, and then a few years later while in college, after watching Breaking Away, and feeling the pull, I bought a Fuji S-12S, and the love affair began anew. Over the years I rode the Fuji when I had the time, the motive and the opportunity, and then eventually sold it to a young Marine who worked for me.

The time has come again, and I plunged deeply and dropped way too much money on my Rivendell Atlantis, and am happily puttering along again. I have some goals in mind, like commuting when ever possible, getting over a sore butt, and getting back to taking positive steps about fitness. Who knows, maybe a marathon is on the horizon.

The RIV! It rides nice, has enough nose up in the air components, and fits me well. It was kind of cool to see after I did all my searching around the internet, and decided on an Atlantis, that lots of older folks like me were into the same bike.

I know, I know, 50 is not old, but try dating a 20 something year old, and see how many comments you get about acting your age (from her and everyone else! Geez, you would think it was a crime to be born and to have the nerve to survive this long, let alone think that you could actually have a life!).

I do have aches and pains, and am not as flexible as I once was, but I still like to ride hard, and feel the good pain in my muscles, and the sweat and hard breathing from pulling up a hill a little faster and in a higher gear each time. I take some multiple vitamins, and once took Super Prostate Formula, and it did help. An irregular association with the Chiropractor keeps me off of a steady diet of Motrin, and if I do lose a couple pounds, maybe the back will settle down some.

My plans for riding include commuting, weekend workouts, and a possible trip down the Korean peninsula when time permits. I live in Seoul, working for the US Forces there, and enjoy riding on the prepared paths, and the narrow streets where you can't pass a pedestrian, let alone the dingbat in the van who just passed you by, and now is doing everything except putting a for sale sign on the thing while keeping you behind her.

If you have not noticed, I do tend to wander and am long winded, but I hope that you enjoyed the posting.

Ride on, have fun, be safe and live every day!

Ciao!