late

Hi,
my internet handle is rninl8 (runnin late). Used to play a internet WW2 aerial combat game called Warbirds. By the time someone typed 'rninl8
check 6' to warn me someone was sneaking up behind me....it was too late. So it got shortened to late. Unlike many handles, I don't see a lot of late214. I'm the only one I know of.
I got my first bike close to half a century ago. That bike was a hand me down Columbia from the 30's with a shock absorbing front hub. It was heavy and slow, but I slowly came to appreciate it .
Somewhere in the late 60's or early 70's I got a Schwinn varsity. Nice bike. There is a long and regettable gap until nearly 10 years ago, when I got a mountain bike, a Gary Fisher SuperCalibre.
Really nice bike.I rode it until it died. I was into backpacking at that point, and putting my money into down bags and such. Somewhere in there i bought a used Cannondale roadie. It rode like a truck if you didn't ride fast.
A few years ago I picked up a GT hybrid. I was having numerous health problems, and the bike wasn't quite right for me. So mostly it sat in the garage. Last year my wife was riding occasionally
with a group of roadie girls. They would drop her, but it was somebody to ride with.One day I was going to go to the corner with her, and turn back. She turned, and headed up the mountain, and something inside snapped.
I had been a hiker, I love mountains,after an injury forced me to stop, my weight ballooned to 290. I figured going up would kill me, and it didn't seem that big of a deal. I can do the triangular loop now in about 45 min. You just go across, up, and down the back side of a little mountain. It took me close to 2 hours, but I made it. I enrolled in a gym, spent the winter holed up there, did several hundred miles on the bike this summer, and i weigh about 250 now.
During the summer, I got an email from Airborne. They had a leftover touring frame for $400. I just could not resist. I bought it, and I have been getting parts for it since then. i just finished paying for the wheels; don't think my LBS was expecting the money so soon. he hasn't put them together yet.
With some help from the guys here, and talking with lots of people, I am putting together what should be a pretty nice bike. It will be a Ti
tourer with Ultegra shifters and cranks. Splurged on the hubs and got Dura Ace. I plan on finishing the build when my tax refund comes. Last summer we did a 5 day trip to the next state over. Next year, I am hoping to do a 7-9 day trip that will be 2 to 3 times the distance. Not sure where yet,
but Portland Maine to Burlington Vermont is a thought.
My hybrid is just a $500 bike, I added a nice suspesion stem they don't make any more, and a pretty nice seat. I don't think the frame was ever perfectly true. It certainly isn't now. It weighs a ton, 32 pounds. Add a pannier,water bottle,lock, and work clothes and it must get close to 40. I can't wait to get my new bike, but leaving my hybrid is a bittersweet thought. It did me a good turn.

MeHT

Hi there!
I have a friend who's playing Warbirds as well. His nickname is Th - do you know him?

late

Hi,
I played for a few years, but I quit about a year ago. Sorry.

webist

Welcome to the forums.