Greetings from a new biker
 

Greetings-

I am a new member of this forum, in my late sixties, retired, and I just started biking.

I own two bikes, a TREK Hybrid 750, which I purchased new a few months ago and have been riding about 100 miles a week for 3-4 weeks. It is a nice bike, but too slow for most road biking.

So, I bought a Giant OCR - 2, which I purchased used. The bike looks brand new with only one scratch on it, good wheels and tires, and nicely equipped. The giant road bike was was ridden less than 500 miles and I paid $350 for it, It was a few years old, but had been equipped with 105's front and rear, which was not standard then. I think the new ones for 2004 are equppid with Shimano 105's all around.

I find the ride on the Giant to be a bit hard, especially when you hit bumps. So I decided to add a carbon fork and carbon seatpost. This also requires new "head set?" The cost installed is around $500. This brings the bike cost to about $850, not counting things I added like an odometer, mirror, seat, clipless pedals.

Does this sound crazy. I could take the $500 and put toward a new bike.

Any reactions?

AR

Welcome to BikeForums from another "old" cyclist. :beer:
I'm 59 and not retired but unemployed. No one wants to hire you when you're over 50. :crash:

Sounds like you got a good deal with the Giant. Don't worry about the $500 upgrades. Do what works for you and enjoy the ride.

RonH-

Thanks for the reply. It helps to hear someone who seems to believe that being outdoors and healthy doesn't have a pricetag. As I mentioned, I have only been riding for a few months. I used to run 25 miles a week, but at 67, I worry about my knee and hip joints. I discovered riding by going to spinning groups in the facility where I work out, and riding is a perfect exercise for me...plus you see so much.

My problem is that I never do anything part way. I always jump to whatever is needed to do it right. I ski about 30-40 days a year, have a season pass and a couple pair of down hill skis plus cross country and snow shoes. My wife says that I am just egocentric! What does she know?

Let me ask you another question. What do you think of Merlin ti frames? If I decide to build a bike in a year or so, does it make sense to buy a Merlin frame or some other frame and use my current Giant parts on the bike that I am building?

That is should I consider cannibalizing a bike for a new frame? I just keep thinking of the possibilities out there that will make biking even more fun.

Thanks again,

AR

Bucks county? I lived in Lansdale in the mid-70s. Nice area.


Merlin is a top-of-the-line bike. I know because I have a Litespeed. Merlin and Litespeed are both made at the Litespeed factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. If you look at the contact info on both websites they have the same phone number and P.O. box number. :rolleyes:

If you get a Merlin frame use new top-of-the-line parts (Dura-Ace or Campy something).
Personally, I'd get a bike of that caliber already built up. Just order it with the components you want, not what's listed in the catalog.

Lucky devil. :D Enjoy that Merlin. :beer:

I'm glad to find people my age and older who are starting biking. I've returned to biking in the last couple of months and find my older body to be less resilient than it once was. I went on my first organized ride (VineRide in Oregon) and it kicked me royal. I have a Specialized Sirrus Hybrid and it seems to work well as a road bike (skinny roadie tires). I am working out a training program aiming for the Seattle to Portland (STP) 206 mi.

Hi Rosemary and welcome. :beer:

Good luck with training for the STP.
Let us know how you did when it's over.

Congrats to all of us "more mature" riders who are riding (and some starting) in their 50's and 60's, and welcome to Arpolis and Hi! rosemaryt.

In this era of non-exercise, it is great to see some of us set examples for others.

I think that most stereotypes of exercise for older people, as portrayed in the media and by some trainer-types is someone who walks a mile or goes to a "seniors" exercise class at the rec center, and is viewed as "elderly," a word I hate because of all the baggage that goes with that word.

Personally, I think we are generally capable of much more intensive exercise than many would believe, if we ease into things and are careful about injuries.

At one time I started and hosted a forum entitled "senior fitness." We had a good number of folks who were master's champions in rowing, swimming and other activities.

Ed Mayhew has a book in which my wife and I are one of many seniors featured

http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore...43slXzbkQ%253d

and a website for fitter after 50.

http://www.fitterafter50.com/

From a "senior" who rides several thousands of miles each year, weight lifts and does other resistive exercises, cross country skis and hikes!

ALSO SEE: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=63147

(RonH - I renewed my teaching credential at 59 and taught math for four years. Is somethihg like this a possibility for you?)

Hey Denver,
Thanks for the links. When I have some time I'll check them out. I think you're absolutely right about how we tend to limit our expectations and reduce our physical AND mental capacities as we get older. Your stories are inspiring. As for me, I own my own business that I started 12 years ago and am completing a PhD that I've been hammering at for several years. I'm near completion. My husband who is 53 will be going to law school fall of 2005. So, I guess you could say we are continually re-tooling and re-inventing ourselves. We raised 5 kids and are just now beginning to actually pursue something other than childrearing, work and school. Our youngest is almost 22 and we are really at the end of that era. So--bicycling is our new passion. Retirement? Not it the picture. I think that in itself continues to keep our dendritic connections popping. Teaching math? Now that is cool. Good for you--lucky students too.