I've been prompted by a welcome message to come and introduce myself, so here I am.
I've been cycling since childhood, and it was my main mode of transport all through my student days and much of my working life - don't have a car, don't want one.
But about 20 years ago, aged around 38, I started working from home, didn't commute, bike got forgotten about... I'm sure you know.
10 years ago I had a heart attack and a quadruple bypass. Recovery went well and I've been fine since -- apparently my heart has good collateral circulation, which helped (it means the minor coronary blood vessels are well developed - I like to think it's because of my years of cycling everywhere).
I've been moved to get back on my bike this year, by a few things...
I'm still overweight and really need to lose some, and diet alone has been too painful to succeed. It was the tenth anniversary of my heart attack recently. And once again I've been inspired by the Olympic cyclists (more, in fact, by the Paralympians - if they can overcome their hurdles and reach top world standards, I can surely get off my bum and back on my bike).
So my old Orbit Gold Medal is once again fitted out and shiny, and I've also built up a second bike on a Raleigh Royal tourer frame - the Orbit is lightly equipped with slick road tyres, and the Raleigh has knobblies, cantilever brakes, mudguards, lights, pannier rack.
And it's a lot of fun again.
Cheers,
Alan
I've been cycling since childhood, and it was my main mode of transport all through my student days and much of my working life - don't have a car, don't want one.
But about 20 years ago, aged around 38, I started working from home, didn't commute, bike got forgotten about... I'm sure you know.
10 years ago I had a heart attack and a quadruple bypass. Recovery went well and I've been fine since -- apparently my heart has good collateral circulation, which helped (it means the minor coronary blood vessels are well developed - I like to think it's because of my years of cycling everywhere).
I've been moved to get back on my bike this year, by a few things...
I'm still overweight and really need to lose some, and diet alone has been too painful to succeed. It was the tenth anniversary of my heart attack recently. And once again I've been inspired by the Olympic cyclists (more, in fact, by the Paralympians - if they can overcome their hurdles and reach top world standards, I can surely get off my bum and back on my bike).
So my old Orbit Gold Medal is once again fitted out and shiny, and I've also built up a second bike on a Raleigh Royal tourer frame - the Orbit is lightly equipped with slick road tyres, and the Raleigh has knobblies, cantilever brakes, mudguards, lights, pannier rack.
And it's a lot of fun again.
Cheers,
Alan
Alan, isn't it great to "discover" the joys of cycling again, enjoy the forum.
)
