Cyclists and bikes

[RobotDoctor]

I couldn't find any existing thread for those who are cyclists and take to the road or trails.  This thread's purpose is to create a place for those here who take to the road and trails using their own legs to power a bike to share their experiences and stories.  Also sharing their equipment and experiences with them.  
 

I'm looking to get back into road cycling again.  I have a 2011 Trek XO2 Cyclocross bike I purchased in 2011. I had been very active back in 2011/2012.  I was riding in and around Longmont, CO generally riding around 25-35 mile loops.  These were generally Longmont to Boulder rides or around the trail system throughout Longmont.  I had even made rides from Longmont to Fort Collins on hwy 287 (60+ mile loops).  The plan back then was to get into great riding shape, ride a couple/three centuries per month and build the stamina to make a cross country ride (St. Augustine, FL to Blaine, WA).  Then  work got in the way and I stopped riding (played more golf instead).  The cross country ride dream ended.  

 

Fast forward to present day and I now live in northeast Florida but still have the Trek.  I've got a long way to go before I can match what I had done back in 2011 but I need to start riding.  I'm trading in my Trek XO2 for a Specialized Roll 3.0.  I'm looking to get more active and lose some weight.  Once I get under (or near) the Clydesdale mark I'll look into trading the Roll for a road bike, probably an Allez or some decent non/competition/racing road bike.  I'm too old to ride with the fast young guys.  While I am not planning on riding cross country in the future, I am looking to ride frequently in and around Palm Coast.  There's over 110 miles of trails so I'll be able to figure out long routes.  There aren't the elevation changes as Colorado had so I'll have to make up for it with distance.   
 

 

I look forward to getting back to riding and getting to know those here who ride.  Cheers!

[ohioglfr]

I envy the fact you're getting back into riding.  I'm 70 now and have enough arthritis to keep me from biking again.  In the '70's and '80's I did criteriums and tour riding on my road bikes.  Back in the day when frames were made of double-butted steel (Reynolds, Vitus), Campagnolo components, sew-up tires, etc.  Frames and components are so different now.  Between going to the Nautilus gym and riding I was in the best shape of my life.  I hope you find similarly-minded group to ride with to push your goals.  

[gripandrip]

24 minutes ago, ohioglfr said:

I envy the fact you're getting back into riding.  I'm 70 now and have enough arthritis to keep me from biking again.  In the '70's and '80's I did criteriums and tour riding on my road bikes.  Back in the day when frames were made of double-butted steel (Reynolds, Vitus), Campagnolo components, sew-up tires, etc.  Frames and components are so different now.  Between going to the Nautilus gym and riding I was in the best shape of my life.  I hope you find similarly-minded group to ride with to push your goals.  

I'm trying to get back into it. Spent a lot of my youth racing for various local teams. Bikes today are incredible, but  still riding a Columbus SLX tube, Campy Record equiped 8 speed road bike made in the Bianchi race shop, and a Rocky Mountain MTB with an old Judy fork. However, I have abandoned sewups. Too big a pain in the butt, and still have memories of them getting hot and soft in the mountains. I even used to repair them when they flatted, sewing them back up and re-gluing the tape.

[RobotDoctor]

33 minutes ago, ohioglfr said:

I envy the fact you're getting back into riding.  I'm 70 now and have enough arthritis to keep me from biking again.  In the '70's and '80's I did criteriums and tour riding on my road bikes.  Back in the day when frames were made of double-butted steel (Reynolds, Vitus), Campagnolo components, sew-up tires, etc.  Frames and components are so different now.  Between going to the Nautilus gym and riding I was in the best shape of my life.  I hope you find similarly-minded group to ride with to push your goals.  

Thanks for sharing your experiences and the well wishes.  The next 5-6 months is ideal riding weather in northeast Florida.  Here's hoping to ride frequently!

[TiScape]

3 minutes ago, gripandrip said:

I'm trying to get back into it. Spent a lot of my youth racing for various local teams. Bikes today are incredible, but  still riding a Columbus SLX tube, Campy Record equiped 8 speed road bike made in the Bianchi race shop, and a Rocky Mountain MTB with an old Judy fork. However, I have abandoned sewups. Too big a pain in the butt, and still have memories of them getting hot and soft in the mountains. I even used to repair them when they flatted, sewing them back up and re-gluing the tape.

Yeah equipment has changed a lot since then. A buddy of mine is sponsored by a bike company that sends him a few frame sets every year. He keeps what he needs and sells (pretty certain he’s not supposed to 🤫) the others. Gets like $5k per set. Just nuts. 

[bscinstnct]

Go for it!

 

I don’t ride much anymore but when I got back into fitness 6 or so years ago, I had been just doing the elliptical and stuff at the gym

 

Then I got a bike 🚴. We have an awesome 3 mile loop by me that’s closed to traffic. And it’s got some great variations in incline. 
 

I got into it. Built some basic power then got into interval training and you know how that goes. Fat melted off and my cardiovascular function ramped up seriously 

 

I just got a basic hybrid by co-op, the REI brand. 24 speed, disk brakes, bout 28 pounds, solid bike. 
 

I don’t ride much now, I transitioned to other types of cardio but nothing gets you in shape like cycling 

 

Rock the house yo!

Edited December 5, 2023 by bscinstnct

[gripandrip]

I hope you find the time and a local group to ride with. For me that was always a great motivator.... a group that was always there for scheduled rides.

 

The issue for me was time. Golf (4-5 hour rounds)/cycling (4-5 hour rides). Tough to get them both in. My cycling kind of died out with kids, coaching hockey and starting to play more golf. Now I have more time, just need to get off my butt. When I was younger, I used to maximize my time on the bike by riding one of my track bikes on the street. Nothing like a fixed gear bike for the cardio workout. Maybe that will be the way for me to start again...

[PixlPutterman]

Its been a while since I rode, but Ill never sell my bike because I built it 🙂

[gripandrip]

21 hours ago, PixlPutterman said:

Its been a while since I rode, but Ill never sell my bike because I built it 🙂

Nice. Is that a Brooks saddle? I had a Selle San Marco leather saddle on one of my bikes for years.

[TiScape]

1 hour ago, gripandrip said:

Nice. Is that a Brooks saddle? I had a Selle San Marco leather saddle on one of my bikes for years.

How you know ppl really ride. They refer to a seat as a “saddle”. 

[PixlPutterman]

On 12/7/2023 at 12:08 PM, gripandrip said:

Nice. Is that a Brooks saddle? I had a Selle San Marco leather saddle on one of my bikes for years.

It is a brooks! so comfy

[mshills]

On 12/13/2023 at 12:34 PM, PixlPutterman said:

It is a brooks! so comfy

They take a bit to break in, and the guys who sweat removing that last 4oz of weight from the bike can’t tolerate the heft 🤣 but there is nothing better beyond about Mile 50. 
 

I cannot ride any more, but I salute anyone who can make time for golf and cycling.