kstephens

It has been a while since I posted here (not just this forum, but this site). Long story short - about 10 years ago(maybe a little more) I started a quest to become more active and get fit. I got obsessed with cycling, lost a ton of weight, was healthy and happy - felt great. I never got to my target weight, but still the progress was apparent. I ended up taking a new job and fell out of good habits convincing myself it was only because I was too busy. That one year break turned into a multi year break. I had a very rough pretty rough bout of covid, that caused several health issues to spiral out of control - and before I knew it I was in worse shape (physical size and overall fitness) that I have ever been in. I stated eating healthy, walking, and cutting out fast food and alcohol back in October and have gotten back down to a comfortable riding weight. I've spent most of the day cleaning off my LHT I built up shortly before I quit riding. It feels great to get back on it. Not sure I trust the tubes that have sat for the past 5 years - so ordered several so I can hopefully start building back up the miles this week! This forum was very motivating for me in the past, and I hope I can keep this motivation going again!!! - I can retire in 5 years, and would like to do some touring.

ColonelSanders

Show pics of your Surly LHT.

Rage

Welcome back to the gang!

kstephens

This was before the break. Aside from a little dust and a few changes it is the same - it no longer has the fenders or front rack - I'll add them back if I start doing some overnight trips, or maybe just the fenders for commuting.

257 roberts

nice bike.....maybe we should start a Surly sub forum

257 roberts

My Surly Bridgeclub

Zoxe

Have always had a soft spot for the LHT. I never owned one but wanted one.

I settled on a frame-up build of a Cross Check around 2013. It ended up being heavier than I wanted but but was/is perfect for Chip n' Seal roads around me. Today it's my indoor trainer bike, and think I have more hours on it than any other.

TLDR: Bring on the Surlies!

Zoxe

Surly Cross Check w/ 105 components, Mavic Open Pro, circa 2015

Clyde1820

Have been eyeing the Bridge Club, this past year or so. Good-looking, and with great features.

deaninkl

Welcome back, and all the best for your quest. I started a similar regime in January havine seen a picture of myself on NY Eve... fat and out of shape was the only way to describe it... also the result of to much boose over many years. I had got back into cycling a year or so ago, so I added walking to work, walking at lunch times and being careful with food. Limit drinking to 2 x a month, and then limited. At 63 the hangovers are unwanted, and i need to grow up.... ).

9 weeks in and im averaging about 10km a day walking, have only missed my target of 10k steps a day on 4 days since January 1st (two of them were the first and 2nd of Jan whilst hungover and making my new regime plan). So far I'm down from 102.5kg to 97kg.. so something is working, but im also seeing many other beifits... now.., I have been setting such targets since 2007, so I'm far from out of the woods, but I have started, and I do seem to have a will that was not there with much strength before.

Let us know how you progress, every success (and setback) can help the rest of us on this journey to a better shape.

Lovely bike as well, very lucky to have that stashed away.... a mate had been on a waiting list for 18 months here in Taiwan for an LHT, finally gave up and had a custom build, as the local Surly shop could not say when, (or if), it would ever arrive... crazy as this where probaly every componant is made for Surly....

kstephens

Everything on the surly has been great after the break. Tubes replaced, scrubbed clean and lubed drive everything else seemed fine. Took it for my first ride earlier this week outside of the neighborhood and was just shy of 8 miles. Everything was good aside from the cheap tektro brake pads that have dried out and were slick as the rim. I was worried at a few stops. Ordered a set of kool stop brake pads. I also loved pulling my twins around in a trailer when they were toddlers. We used to regularly go on 15-20 mile rides through farmland and check out all of the animals. To fill that void I had to order another trailer for my little westie (love that dog - got the schwinn rascal which is made for small dogs). Was hoping to get some riding in this weekend and share some pics of the set up with the dog, but living in Ky I was riding in shorts two days ago, and now it is expected to snow a couple inches and drop back down in the teens this weekend, but who knows it may be in the 90's next week.

indyfabz

Two weeks in MT and ID in 2017.

257 roberts

at my age I can only dream about those kinds of road trips..... but good dreams they are!!!

indyfabz

Why is that? Back in 1999 I crossed the U.S. with, among people, a guy who turned 77 during the trip. When the group trip ended in ME he started riding home to the Philly suburbs. His wife finally made him stop in CT and drove there to pick him up.

Interesting guy. Originally from Canada. Before he worked as an engineer in the U.S. he had been in the RCAF and spent two years in a Nazi prison camp.

kstephens

Crap at my age (mid/late 40's) - I struggle to keep up with the "old guys" in our group rides. No joke - the oldest guy in our group will either set the pace for the fast group or spend time rotating the lead. Granted Last week was my first group ride in about 7 years - but the same guy that was "old" 7 years ago, is still leading us all. He is a great guy and I personally find his fitness journey inspiring (he took up cycling about 20 some years ago to loose some weight. Now he is a beast.

I am retiring in about 5 years. Kids go to college that same year. I am hoping my son and daughter would like to take a cross country bike trip before they start school or after first year. I also hope to do a thru hike of the John Muir trail with them too. But honestly, when I retire, I plan on doing all the long distance tours I can, as well as thru or section hikes that I have been putting off the last 27 years.