Consularrider

I've just joined the forum. I've recently moved to northern Virginia from Spain and will be a bike commuter. So far I've managed to keep to that goal with only four days on the Metro in the three months I've been here. I'm fortunate in that 95% of my five and a half mile commute is on MUP. I'm riding an older rigid Raleigh M60 mountain bike that's been traveling with me. I used it off and on to commute in northern Mexico for a year and again in the DC area three years later. Unfortunately, it sat in storage for about seven years since I was living in places where it was not easy to ride (and I was lazy). I had begun riding for exercise and relaxation during law school and rode the Hilly Hundred in Bloomingotn, IN three times, 1985-1987. After that I moved overseas with my job and enjoyed cycling in Mexico and London before hanging up the bike for several years.

During 2005 I decided I needed to get back in shape so I got the bike out. I found several good routes for Sunday rides in Madrid and eventually worked up to 50 miles in preparation for riding in the Hilly Hundred in 2006. Took a risk and bought an old Raliegh road bike for that ride on ebay. After getting in shape for the ride and traveling from Spain to Indiana, I ended up having an appendectomy the Wednesday before the ride and couldn't participate. Now I'm looking forward to participating in group rides in the area and seeing if I enjoy road biking enough to get a new bike.

East Hill

Hello Consularrider, that's terrible about the appendectomy ! On the other hand, you did manage to live through the experience.

My prediction is that you will love road cycling, so start saving... .

Welcome to BF!

East Hill