Aging Athena Says Hello
 

Howdy,

I've already posted this info to the general introductions thread, but I'm a grrl of 200+ lbs of raging fury, so I thought I probably belong here & wanted to say hi.

I'm from Seattle. I'm 57. I've been riding bicycles for recreation for about 30 years. Sometimes I commute. For a living I work for a tiny printing company. For a loving I make pots. Another loving of mine is theater; I've done some acting, and a lot of puppetry. Not so much with the theater stuff anymore.

I've been unwell for a few years, put on a lot of weight, now I'm T2 diabetic...blah blah, long story...I'm working on getting my health back. I want to ride a bike. I have a Giant Innova hybrid I've been trying to make work for me practically since the day I bought it. Changed saddles (several times), changed stems (a couple of times), changed handlebars (a few times), had to put touring rims on because I kept popping spokes, etc. The bike never has fit me right. Plus the bike is so stiff & twitchy that I really don't feel as in control as I'd like to be. I've had a couple of spectacular crashes on it.

So, I decided it would be smarter to purchase a bike that I actually WANT to ride, as opposed to making do with one I really can't stand. I made a list of different kinds/brands of bikes (hybrid, road, urban, mountain) within my price range & went testing. I found a Marin Coast Trail Women's MTB. "Why an MTB when you'll mostly be riding on pavement?" you might ask. Well, when I first started biking as an adult in the 80's I fell in love with mountain bikes. I actually DID ride around the Marin headlands on my bikes, as well as commute when I lived in San Francisco.

The other day, when test-riding a hybrid & nearly having my fillings shaken loose while riding over a crappy, pot hole -strewn piece of urban street, I realized that the geometry of the mtb coupled with the fat tires could make my ride a lot cushier. Face it, I'll be 58 in a couple of months. I don't really give a rat's patootie about traveling at light speed. My reflexes aren't what they used to be (I was a terror in downtown San Francisco traffic :)) so going slower, bouncing over crap roads, riding on damp pavement (I live in Seattle - we're all about damp here) while feeling in control is OK by me. I can always switch out the knobbies for something a little less aggressive for commuting. Anyway, I love my new bike so much I want to marry it & have little tricycles together, that's how much I love it. :love: Boy are my quads sore! But it hurts so good in all the right places! ;)

Good for you! Now go ride some more.

Welcome. This is a good group of people if you're looking for encouragement.

Now, I see by the little green dot by your name that you're still online. Get off the forums and go ride! :D

Welcome to the forums! Glad you like your new bike. The more you like the bike, the more you will ride it.

Welcome from another aging Athena (I'm 61...). Although not as hardcore as I used to be, I still enjoy riding - both on the road and mountain biking. I've learned riding hard riding easy, doesn't matter its all good for your health and psyche. Great way to meet other people and get out and see the world. Stay with it. As we get older we need to stay active!

Welcome aboard!

LOL! I'm at work! Can't go riding for another 3 hours. Guess I better get back to the salt mines...

I'm from Washington state originally and having a MTB there is awesome as there are lovely trails.

Hello! I too am an aging Athena (with a little of her half-sister Artemis thrown in to boot), I'm 48 years old. Just started riding again after 32 years and yeah, found the adage true...it IS like riding a bike - something you never forget! I'm enjoying the process of reacquainting myself with riding after so long and, generally, aside from discomfort of getting used to the saddle, everything else is going fabulously!

I was originally motivated to start riding again in order that I might participate in the Tour de Cure but found out today that the Albuquerque ride has been canceled for this year. That's the bad news; the good news is that even without the Tour de Cure to strive for, I still enjoy, and plan to continue riding purely for my pleasure!

Riding makes me feel like a kid again! It's a blast!

Hi and welcome! I'm sure you'll see a fellow Seattlite or two posting here. The pics that are posted of rides up there make me jealous. What a beautiful place to ride! :)

Welcome! I am a 57 year old former Athena and have been riding for a little more than a year, after a 30 some year hiatus. I put the biggest tires I could on my hybrid and found that the ride was much, much more comfortable so I understand your bike choice. I ride that bike more than I ride my road bike.

Welcome! I'm glad to see our ranks of 55+ers growing here. (I'm 59, but not an Athena. Or a Clyde anymore, when you get technical about it...)

An upright, cushy ride is just the thing when you're starting back to riding. If you stick to it, this is probably NOT the last bike you're going to get. But for now, it sounds like the best choice.

Welcome!
Speed isn't everything ;) Ride often ... it makes you feel good!

57-58 pift we have older ;) . Your still young compared to some people here :innocent:

welcome to the fourms, and yea being stuck at work waiting to go for a ride blows big time :)