Hello friends,

I am 59 years old, way overweight, and I have not done any cycling since 1985 when I sold my 10-speed (as we called them then) to pay an overdrawn check.

Before that, I was a dedicated cyclist and runner. Ran numerous 10k races and completed the 1981 L.A. marathon in 3:56.

After that, grad school, children, computers, etc.

Now I live in Taiwan on the top of a moderately steep mountain. No one up here has a bike because they fear the climb. Last Friday I said the heck with it and bought a Giant Yukon with disk brakes, 24 gears, big Michelin tires. Sweet, sweet bike. I have climbed this mountain every day since and I have never been happier. I cannot get all the way up yet without stopping to push it a little ways, but I always get back on.

Now that I have broken through the Fear Barrier, I have the joy of cycling. And since I have a job, I won't have to sell my Giant to settle bad debts like in 1985.

Jai yo, as we say in Taiwan.

Bill