Skip

Hi, everyone! Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm in the Atlanta area, new to this forum and just getting back into biking after a long absence.

Like most, I grew up with bikes from single-speed cruisers to 5-speed banana-seat bikes (since this is a dead give-away for my age, I'll go ahead and admit that I've also just qualified for the 50+ forum which I'll be visiting shortly). Twenty-plus years ago I had fairly decent Schwinn road bike that I used regularly. Now a wife and 2 kids later, I find myself in desparate need of exercise!

I've just gotten a Trek 4300 and plan to use it in the neighborhood with my kids and also take in some light to moderate trails with friends (my wife's not interested in riding at this point). Any words of wisdom as I get back in shape will be appreciated.

Cheers!

Skip

jabike

Welcome, Skip. I too live in the Atlanta area. I live in Morrow. I like to ride the Silver Comet from time to time. By the way, I have qualified for the 50+ group for many years. I ride both a mountain bike and a road bike. Both work fine on the Silver Comet. My wife has a Trek 4500, which is the same frame as yours. If you want to get your wife interested in cycling, the Silver Comet is also a good place to do that. There's a bike rental shop at the Floyd Road trailhead where she can rent a bike if she ever wants to give it a try with you. Jeff

RonH

Hi Skip and welcome.


Words of wisdom about exercise and getting into shape: Ride!! Often and hard. Hills are your friends.
Got any plans to start commuting by bike? Great way to get some training time in every day of the week.

slugo

Hi, mind if I ask about the silver comet????
We have family in Atlanta area and have thought sometime we might take our bikes.

jabike

Hey, slugo. The silver comet is on the west side of atlanta and runs toward the alabama border. Eventually it will tie into the Chief Ladiga in alabama and run all the way to anniston. Right now there are about 40 miles of uninterrupted trail that is part asphalt and part concrete. There is another 10 mile section completed from cedartown to the alabama border.

RonH

Hi slugo and welcome.

For more info on the Silver Comet Trail go to
https://www.pathfoundation.org/trails/sc.cfm and https://www.trailexpress.com/silvercomet/.
The Silver Comet Depot (https://www.silvercometdepot.com/index.php3) can also help with bike repairs and rentals and can give you details about the trail. They are right on the trail at about mile post 4.3.

jabike

Today at about 2 p.m. I plan on being at mile post 4.3 to get in about 50-60 miles this afternoon. I got my bike in my car and as soon as my boss isn't looking, I am out of here. Shhh.....don't tell anyone.

RonH

You shouldn't have told us. Now we're all jealous and we're calling your boss right after lunch.

jabike

Don't call, just sneak off and ride. Besides, my boss is usually taking a nap after lunch and it's tough to wake him up. You're probably better off trying him on his cell phone. That number is BR-549. I think the weather is going to be about perfect for a good ride.

RonH

Wow is it ever perfect!!!!
I just got back from delivering bike safety literature and flyers to 4 bike shops and stopped at Sevananda for lunch. Coming back to work on such a gorgeous day was tougher than riding uphill in a headwind.

jabike

Yes, the silver comet was nice today. I rode from the Depot to Rockmart. 67 miles total and a time of three hours 48 minutes. Not bad for an old fat guy.

RonH

17.6 mph. That IS good considering it was a little windy today.

jabike

Because of the few breaks that I took that apparently aren't counted by my computer it came out to 18.4, but I like to figure it on total time as well. I think the last 20 miles or so I kept it right on the edge of cramping up. I had to pick an easier gear and increase my cranking to 105, but it was nice to have the lung power to be able to do that after 45 miles.

RonH

OK so tell us. Did you get fired when you went to work? You know, the tell-tale sunburn.

jabike

No, I just said I was red from all the stress. They need to give me some time off to cycle and relax.