Newbie from Greater Toronto Area
03-31-14, 07:36 AM
#1
Newbie
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Toronto
Posts: 591
Bikes: Fiori Roma, Currently building a Bianchi, Trek 330, formerly Monshee Nomad, Favorit, Bianchi Sport SX, Frankenbike
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Newbie from Greater Toronto Area
Will try to be brief...
I'm an older guy, 50+.
Grew up in the country, and bikes got me to see my friends, got me to town and when I didn't feel like the school bus, to high school. I was a competitive runner, on the high school cross country team.
Moved to Ottawa to go to university, switched from running to cycling as my main exercise because of constant low level running injuries.
Moved to Toronto, didn't buy a car, rode recreationally and sometimes commuted for work.
Bought a department store frankenbike that someone put together from unusual parts. It had braze ons for fenders and racks, clearly a touring frame. But it also had 27 x1" wheels, very light wheels. I racked it up and took it on a tour from Toronto to Quebec City (back by train). Not long after I found an old Favorit race bike, with tubulars and drive train. I learned mechanics by gradually upgrading parts. Eventually moved everything to a Bianchi Sport SX frame, got it cheap because of the unpopular purple colour. I did much riding along the Toronto waterfront trails, Humber valley trails, and the occasional ride to my parents 100 kms away.
Stopped riding a lot when family obligations came along. Selling those bikes was a bad decision.
Decades later, trying to get fit again. Bought a department store aluminum road bike with flat bars a couple of years back, recently bought an old Trek with proper drop bars. I found the aluminum bike a bit stiff on longer rides.
Hoping to fix up the trek and get in shape. My church has a few riders who tour and they have invited me to come along.
I'm an older guy, 50+.
Grew up in the country, and bikes got me to see my friends, got me to town and when I didn't feel like the school bus, to high school. I was a competitive runner, on the high school cross country team.
Moved to Ottawa to go to university, switched from running to cycling as my main exercise because of constant low level running injuries.
Moved to Toronto, didn't buy a car, rode recreationally and sometimes commuted for work.
Bought a department store frankenbike that someone put together from unusual parts. It had braze ons for fenders and racks, clearly a touring frame. But it also had 27 x1" wheels, very light wheels. I racked it up and took it on a tour from Toronto to Quebec City (back by train). Not long after I found an old Favorit race bike, with tubulars and drive train. I learned mechanics by gradually upgrading parts. Eventually moved everything to a Bianchi Sport SX frame, got it cheap because of the unpopular purple colour. I did much riding along the Toronto waterfront trails, Humber valley trails, and the occasional ride to my parents 100 kms away.
Stopped riding a lot when family obligations came along. Selling those bikes was a bad decision.
Decades later, trying to get fit again. Bought a department store aluminum road bike with flat bars a couple of years back, recently bought an old Trek with proper drop bars. I found the aluminum bike a bit stiff on longer rides.
Hoping to fix up the trek and get in shape. My church has a few riders who tour and they have invited me to come along.
03-31-14, 12:46 PM
#2
Formerly Known as Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Helsinki, Finland
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Hello JamesRL, welcome to BF!
--J
--J
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To err is human. To moo is bovine.
Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?
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To err is human. To moo is bovine.
Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?
Become a Registered Member in Bike Forums
Community guidelines
03-31-14, 03:50 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: The Frozen Mitten
Posts: 109
Bikes: Spec 2013 Carve Comp, Spec 2011 Allez Sport, 1991 Trek Antelope drop-bar conversion, 1 X 7 commuter frankenbike
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Hi and welcome! Good luck with your new goals!
