Returning to 2 Wheels
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 137
Bikes: 2020 T-Lab X-3 w/GRX Di2, 2018 Trek FX-5S with GRX/Xt 1x drive train
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times
in
25 Posts
Returning to 2 Wheels
After an extended period off bikes (five years is extended isn't it?) I started bike commuting off and on in 2016, but only really started to go out for longer, 30 mile rides, late last year only to have that cut off by torrential rains in the SF Bay area. (I'm a wimp)
Part of the reason I'm back on is family history of heart issues and weight. When the scale said 244, my reply was I don't think so. I'm down to 230 and need to keep up the pedaling to keep the decline going. Target weight is to change that first digit of my weight to a 1, so even holding steady in the high 190s will be satisfactory to me.
Back in the day I did the Amgen California Coast Classic (Arthritis foundation ride) in 2003 from SF to LA on Highway one most of the way and in 2013 I subjected myself to the Canary Century which ended up being 107 miles with the last 20 on a rear wheel with a broken spoke.
Now I do a longer ride on the weekend (30 ish miles up the SF peninsula) and either a 14 or 26 mile ride home from work 3 or more times a week.
Current pet project is converting the Trek FX-S5 I bought for commuting into a 1x with drop bars, wider tires and GRX. The flat bar it came with doesn't do it for me, neither did the Tiagra drive train. Oh and building the perfect 1x Franken-Cassette 2 tooth jumps on a 1x with an 11t smallest cog just doesn't do it for me.
Why I took a break I don't know. But now I have a hobby that helps me shed pounds AND feeds my desire to tinker. Win Win!
Part of the reason I'm back on is family history of heart issues and weight. When the scale said 244, my reply was I don't think so. I'm down to 230 and need to keep up the pedaling to keep the decline going. Target weight is to change that first digit of my weight to a 1, so even holding steady in the high 190s will be satisfactory to me.
Back in the day I did the Amgen California Coast Classic (Arthritis foundation ride) in 2003 from SF to LA on Highway one most of the way and in 2013 I subjected myself to the Canary Century which ended up being 107 miles with the last 20 on a rear wheel with a broken spoke.
Now I do a longer ride on the weekend (30 ish miles up the SF peninsula) and either a 14 or 26 mile ride home from work 3 or more times a week.
Current pet project is converting the Trek FX-S5 I bought for commuting into a 1x with drop bars, wider tires and GRX. The flat bar it came with doesn't do it for me, neither did the Tiagra drive train. Oh and building the perfect 1x Franken-Cassette 2 tooth jumps on a 1x with an 11t smallest cog just doesn't do it for me.
Why I took a break I don't know. But now I have a hobby that helps me shed pounds AND feeds my desire to tinker. Win Win!
#2
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,636
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3085 Post(s)
Liked 6,569 Times
in
3,767 Posts
Welcome to Bike Forums. My personal extended period off of bikes was closer to 30 years!
#3
What happened?
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Around here somewhere
Posts: 7,927
Bikes: 3 Rollfasts, 3 Schwinns, a Shelby and a Higgins Flightliner in a pear tree!
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1835 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
255 Posts
But you have a Honda motorcycle according to your name, you just didn't pedal.
__________________
I don't know nothing, and I memorized it in school and got this here paper I'm proud of to show it.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 137
Bikes: 2020 T-Lab X-3 w/GRX Di2, 2018 Trek FX-5S with GRX/Xt 1x drive train
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times
in
25 Posts
Yes, a Hawk GT that I haven't ridden since 2004. Also a 1989 Suzuki RGV (track day bike) both have been objects of tinkering as well. The hills seem to be much easier on both of those bikes...
#5
Version 7.0
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 13,124
Bikes: Too Many
Mentioned: 297 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1340 Post(s)
Liked 2,479 Times
in
1,454 Posts
Welcome from SoCal and a former resident of NorCal peninsula rider.
#7
So it is
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 21,329
Bikes: Luzerne, 684, Boreas, Wheelhouse, Alize©®, Bayamo, Cayo
Mentioned: 246 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11393 Post(s)
Liked 4,735 Times
in
2,758 Posts
Welcome Back!
#9
Super Modest
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 23,465
Bikes: Trek Emonda, Giant Propel, Colnago V3, Co-Motion Supremo, ICE VTX WC
Mentioned: 107 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10963 Post(s)
Liked 4,618 Times
in
2,122 Posts
Welcome!
__________________
Keep the chain tight!
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 137
Bikes: 2020 T-Lab X-3 w/GRX Di2, 2018 Trek FX-5S with GRX/Xt 1x drive train
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times
in
25 Posts
You take a break and make newbie mistakes because you forgot all of your old routes.
NorCal South Bay folks might get this one. I totally blew the turn I was supposed to take off of Steven's Canyon and ended up climbing Redwood Gulch. And by climbing I mean pushing my bike up because OMG that thing is STEEP.
NorCal South Bay folks might get this one. I totally blew the turn I was supposed to take off of Steven's Canyon and ended up climbing Redwood Gulch. And by climbing I mean pushing my bike up because OMG that thing is STEEP.