Oh, and this is who I am....
05-01-17, 02:09 PM
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Oh, and this is who I am....
Okay, blown it already...
I just submitted a question in the introductions forum (although I did acknowledge that I probably should not have, and asked the nice moderators to repost as appropriate). It took me ages just to find out how to post.... anywhere... forgive me.
So, by way of introduction, I'm Brian, and I live on the edge of the beautiful (and cycle friendly) Cotswolds in the UK. My bike(s) do not see as much action as they should, and my brilliant wife puts me to shame these days. I've never been a club cyclist but do have a (very long time ago) back catalogue of longer rides, including the UK staple of Lands End to John O'Groats , unsupported, in eight days. I have aged since then but fondly remember the elation of being able to put 120-140 mile per day in over more than a week. I'm very, very far from being that fit these days, my age now starting with a 5, which completely blindsided me....
I'm in the market for a carbon bike these days, hoping to replace youth and vigour with a more cavalier attitude to fiscal reponsibility, buying ability (or spending more on buying less 'weight'), but I will never go to Dura Ace kit.... in the same way that my hearing does not justify spending silly money on high end sound systems these days, my knees will never benefit from the sort of potential that such high end componentary (is that a word?) would bring to some.
So there we have it: aging disgracefully, with a younger and fitter wife, and (having married later in life) I have young children (7 and 2 & 2/3rds) who will either keep me young, or kill me. I'm opting for the former, by preference, and hope that being here will help me get back on the bike and shifting some gears, if not perhaps a pound or three.
It's good to meet you all.
Dornfield (aka Brian)
I just submitted a question in the introductions forum (although I did acknowledge that I probably should not have, and asked the nice moderators to repost as appropriate). It took me ages just to find out how to post.... anywhere... forgive me.
So, by way of introduction, I'm Brian, and I live on the edge of the beautiful (and cycle friendly) Cotswolds in the UK. My bike(s) do not see as much action as they should, and my brilliant wife puts me to shame these days. I've never been a club cyclist but do have a (very long time ago) back catalogue of longer rides, including the UK staple of Lands End to John O'Groats , unsupported, in eight days. I have aged since then but fondly remember the elation of being able to put 120-140 mile per day in over more than a week. I'm very, very far from being that fit these days, my age now starting with a 5, which completely blindsided me....
I'm in the market for a carbon bike these days, hoping to replace youth and vigour with a more cavalier attitude to fiscal reponsibility, buying ability (or spending more on buying less 'weight'), but I will never go to Dura Ace kit.... in the same way that my hearing does not justify spending silly money on high end sound systems these days, my knees will never benefit from the sort of potential that such high end componentary (is that a word?) would bring to some.
So there we have it: aging disgracefully, with a younger and fitter wife, and (having married later in life) I have young children (7 and 2 & 2/3rds) who will either keep me young, or kill me. I'm opting for the former, by preference, and hope that being here will help me get back on the bike and shifting some gears, if not perhaps a pound or three.
It's good to meet you all.
Dornfield (aka Brian)
05-01-17, 02:54 PM
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Welcome to BikeForums Brian.
We will move your other thread to our Classic & Vintage forum.
We will move your other thread to our Classic & Vintage forum.
05-01-17, 04:32 PM
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Welcome Brian to Bike Forums. 
Aging disgracefully?? 
If you're THAT old you need to stop by the 50+ forum and say hello to the other old timers. I hang out there. I'm 72.
Have fun.
If you're THAT old you need to stop by the 50+ forum and say hello to the other old timers. I hang out there. I'm 72. Have fun.
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
05-01-17, 04:47 PM
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Welcome Brian.
As Ron said you'll find lots of other old timers in the 50 forum. There are several there that can put most any rider to shame regardless of age.
Stan
As Ron said you'll find lots of other old timers in the 50 forum. There are several there that can put most any rider to shame regardless of age.
Stan
05-01-17, 04:50 PM
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Welcome, Brian.
What bike are you considering? I get several emails from Ribble every week, I really like the style of their bikes. I love the Ribble R872 Black Ultegra Special Edition (just got the email on it earlier today) and at $1334 with CF wheels it's an incredible value.
All of the advertisements from UK vendors always has financing options right in the ad. Is financing bikes common over there?
What bike are you considering? I get several emails from Ribble every week, I really like the style of their bikes. I love the Ribble R872 Black Ultegra Special Edition (just got the email on it earlier today) and at $1334 with CF wheels it's an incredible value.
All of the advertisements from UK vendors always has financing options right in the ad. Is financing bikes common over there?
05-02-17, 05:39 AM
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Welcome, Brian!
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Keep the chain tight!
05-02-17, 05:41 AM
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Bike financing in the UK
Thanks all,
Regarding financing (dksix), what is worthwhile is that (depending on your employer) it is pretty common to take advantage of the Government's 'Cycle to Work' scheme here in the UK. That enables you to essentially take a loan, purchase a bike and then repay the loan through your monthly salary over a few years. As the repayments are deducted prior to any income tax or National Insurance, you end up paying taxes on an (effectively) smaller salary, and so you save money. The savings (as a higher rate tax payer) come in at about 42%. You do not have to justify that the bike is being used religiously to get to work (and I commute ~70 miles into London, both directions... bit of a stretch!). But the idea is to encourage exercise. Reducing traffic is a bonus.
Although on that point, when I did cycle to work in Oxford, mainly along country lanes, I'd frequently have a queue of cars following me at cycle speed, unable to pass. I'm not convinced a line of cars doing 20mph (tops) was in aggregate all that good for the environment..... or the blood pressure of the drivers.
Dornfield
Regarding financing (dksix), what is worthwhile is that (depending on your employer) it is pretty common to take advantage of the Government's 'Cycle to Work' scheme here in the UK. That enables you to essentially take a loan, purchase a bike and then repay the loan through your monthly salary over a few years. As the repayments are deducted prior to any income tax or National Insurance, you end up paying taxes on an (effectively) smaller salary, and so you save money. The savings (as a higher rate tax payer) come in at about 42%. You do not have to justify that the bike is being used religiously to get to work (and I commute ~70 miles into London, both directions... bit of a stretch!). But the idea is to encourage exercise. Reducing traffic is a bonus.
Although on that point, when I did cycle to work in Oxford, mainly along country lanes, I'd frequently have a queue of cars following me at cycle speed, unable to pass. I'm not convinced a line of cars doing 20mph (tops) was in aggregate all that good for the environment..... or the blood pressure of the drivers.
Dornfield
