A friend, the beautiful Donna Bryant of PDX, sent me some engineer jokes. In a past life I used to work with lots of engineers so she probably got a kick out of the jokes. Not seeing the story about the thief, priest, and engineer at the guillotine, I googled that series of words. One of the first search returns was this site. I never found that story on this site. But since I ride my bike more and more and am probably going to get a 29er mountain bike, I thought Bike Forums a good place to check on what's current and if a prospective mountain bike choice would be any good. Anyway here is hoping that Sports Authority has a decent 29er bike as a granddaughter will resume her employment there during her summer break from classes at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

Personally, I'm just another 72 year-old guy who might have just survived prostate cancer. I have a wife, several cars, a pickup, a couple of houses (not rentals), a skiff, and a bunch of junk. In no particular order I've been a firefighter, trucker, banker, janitor, planner, municipal manager, and a few other things. I might go back to long-haul trucking or commercial lending. I have several old road bikes in reasonable condition but mostly I ride an old Raleigh 10 speed of uncertain vintage but there is a license on it from 1974.

As I didn't see any guidelines (didn't look for 'em) or check the FAQs, here is hoping that this suffices for an introduction. It's a beautiful day in Anchorage so soon I'll buzz about the neighborhood.

Welcome! You sound like a pretty active 72 year old, an inspiration to young bucks like me, only 63.

hmmm....thief, priest, engineer, guillotine. Wasn't Guillotine a French made bike back in the 60's? I enjoyed reading your post. But what does it mean to be 72 these days? I strongly believe though that we will all live to 120 years, run out of money and travel in packs like Mad Max on bicycles, scavenging for food and chain lube.

Cheers Fageol, welcome to Bike Forums!

--J

Had a Gitane when I lived in CA. That was as close as I could come to a Guillotine. The Gitane was a 21 speed; unfortunately it didn't have a 21-speed rider. Don't know what it means to be 72. I'll probably find out when I'm 73. I know, this is some trick existential question. I like the idea of being a vagabond and scrounging food and chain lube. My long haul experience should help. And that activity would complete some sort of circle of life. When I was a trucker I hated bikes (not the riders) on the road for fear of hitting one. Assuming my future is a bike vagabond, I can start hating big rigs like I used to drive.
https://vimeo.com/87617353

Welcome to BF!