I started riding again last August after several years off the bikes. I don't know exactly when I tapered off, but it would have been 2010 or maybe '11. Since getting back, I've been looking for a forum to learn some more about bikes, what's new, what's cool, what's just hype; all that sort of stuff. I found this place and after looking around, went to register.

It said "this email is already in use". After a few "send me my password" and such exchanges, it opened my account. Turns out I registered here in 2005. Posted 51 times (IIRC). I think it said I last posted in 2007.

Despite all that, it's a new place to me. I'm a retired electrical engineer, circuit designer, in Florida. Located on the east coast south of the Space Center. Playing with hobbies and riding a few days a week.

Bob

Welcome to the forums.

Welcome back, BobL!

Glad you are back. I see you have an Airborne. I have one also, Zeppelin, not sure what year. I think 2004 to 06. I bought used in 2017 and I love riding it, light, comfortable and fast.

Sure do. Light, comfortable, and fast is an excellent description. Just got back from a short morning ride.

Mine was the most bizarre bike purchase of my life. Airborne apparently built some touring bikes for one of the bike touring companies and had leftovers for some reason. They were on eBay for well under a k-buck. Back when Airborne was still around, I compared geometry to other bikes and left myself a note that it matched the Airborne Carpe Diem.

It was an odd touring bike. Flat bars, kind of a hybrid geometry, but with skinny tires and Bontrager 20 spoke wheels instead of something like 700x36 with 36 spokes. It had grip shifters and the rear shifter operated backwards from every other bike I'd ever ridden. After riding a few months, I rebuilt it with drop bars, put Shimano 105 shifters on it, Mavic wheels for 700x23s, and honestly don't remember everything I changed. I left the triple front crank but changed the rear derailleur and the cluster to an Ultegra 25-12. It's safe to say there probably isn't another exactly like it in the world.

Welcome back, Bob!~