Does anyone else ride bicycles?

[dj1701]

I have not been on a bike in over 45 years. The last one I had was a Western Auto 12 speed all chrome.

My friend and co-worker Bill Colville who retired a couple of years before me has a really cool YouTube channel. It's all about trail riding with his bikes. He has both regular and e-bikes. He goes all over the place and documents it, as well as tips and information. It has sparked some interest for me. If you get a chance his link is here.

Bill Colville

Rating Rail Trails ,Bicycle touring, Bike riding, E-biking, Western New York Biking, Finger Lakes riding. Channel - Bill Colville, Logo - SADDLE UP AND RIDE. Adventure Bicycle touring, informative tips and Trail ratings. Channel - Bill Colville, Logo - Saddle Up And Ride.

www.youtube.com

 

[dougtrr2]

I retired in 2019 and started riding on the Wabash Trace. I am riding a Raleigh International that I bought new in 1975. It was a top of the line bike back then. It is like an old friend. Only did 1,000 miles this year due to shoulder surgery, but the year before I hit my high of 5,000. I prefer the bike trail. It is at least 70% shaded and since it is rails to trails the grades don't exceed 3%.

I volunteer cleaning up after storms on the sections I ride (I'm kind of selfish that way) and occasionally lend a hand to the trail guys when I meet them during rides.

I go out self contained with water/gatorade tubes, tools and a small folding saw for small blockages. I look at the new bikes and for my use, I just don't see any significant advantage to "upgrading".

It is my "thinking time" and I think it helps to keep the peace in retirement. Due to the abysmal cell coverage on the Trace I use the free app Strava so my wife can track me. It gives her peace of mind. The only downside is she can tell when I stop for ice cream in Silver city.

Doug in SW IA

 

[KennyG]

My bikes range from an almost 30 year old aluminum frame Trek to a 2 year old Trek Domane. The single biggest advantage of the new bikes is the disc brakes. They are a world better than the old rim brakes. Also, the new 12 speed rear sprockets are pretty cool. A very wide range of gearing and they shift like butter.

A change I'm not sold on is the switch to wider tubeless tires. They claim they are more flat resistant and faster, but I think I'm going to go back to 25 or 28 tube type Gatorskins on my new bike.

My favorite was the all carbon bike I built years ago that came in at 16 lbs. I've worn out the shifters and it's a little compact for my old body, but I'm thinking about rebuilding it.

 

[anomad]

A change I'm not sold on is the switch to wider tubeless tires. They claim they are more flat resistant and faster, but I think I'm going to go back to 25 or 28 tube type Gatorskins on my new bike.

28c Gatorskins, the good German ones, are my favorite do all tire. Put 2 ounces of Stans in the tubes and you have to do something very adventurous to get a flat.

 

[Mi-Troll]

I purchased two fat tire E bikes for the wife and I, we ride about 20 miles each ride, three times a week. At neatly 70, needing a full knee replacement in the left leg and a partially torn Achilles in the right, I can barely walk without pain, I can ride 20 miles and it doesn't hurt.
First surgery for the Achilles is in November and the knee will be after that, sure hope I can still ride after all the surgeries are done.

 

[Runner]

I retired in 2019 and started riding on the Wabash Trace. I am riding a Raleigh International that I bought new in 1975. It was a top of the line bike back then. It is like an old friend. Only did 1,000 miles this year due to shoulder surgery, but the year before I hit my high of 5,000. I prefer the bike trail. It is at least 70% shaded and since it is rails to trails the grades don't exceed 3%.

I volunteer cleaning up after storms on the sections I ride (I'm kind of selfish that way) and occasionally lend a hand to the trail guys when I meet them during rides.

I go out self contained with water/gatorade tubes, tools and a small folding saw for small blockages. I look at the new bikes and for my use, I just don't see any significant advantage to "upgrading".

It is my "thinking time" and I think it helps to keep the peace in retirement. Due to the abysmal cell coverage on the Trace I use the free app Strava so my wife can track me. It gives her peace of mind. The only downside is she can tell when I stop for ice cream in Silver city.

Doug in SW IA

Would love to see a piccy of the old Raleigh.

 

[Runner]

My bikes range from an almost 30 year old aluminum frame Trek to a 2 year old Trek Domane. The single biggest advantage of the new bikes is the disc brakes. They are a world better than the old rim brakes. Also, the new 12 speed rear sprockets are pretty cool. A very wide range of gearing and they shift like butter.

A change I'm not sold on is the switch to wider tubeless tires. They claim they are more flat resistant and faster, but I think I'm going to go back to 25 or 28 tube type Gatorskins on my new bike.

My favorite was the all carbon bike I built years ago that came in at 16 lbs. I've worn out the shifters and it's a little compact for my old body, but I'm thinking about rebuilding it.

This thread needs more pictures...

The Trek Dual Sport was my first bike with hydraulic disk brakes. I was concerned that the hydraulic part would be problematic, but they have been bulletproof and work great. Mine are noisy though.... have tried cleaning them but no joy. I just live with it.

Agree on the tubeless tires. My BIL does a lot of dirt trail riding and swears by them, but I'm not sold. I like being able to locate the source of a flat, pull out just that part of tube, stick a patch on it and be back on the road. Just old fashioned I guess.

 

[rontaki]

Looking at Facebook marketplace, the old skool non-electric bikes are going for a song. Some classic Italian racing bikes there for prices that would have made think I was dreaming, back when. Many of the current crop just look klunky, and seem viable only because they have motors to help overcome the deficiencies in frame weight and flex.

 

[Oaktree]

I have not been on a bike in over 45 years. The last one I had was a Western Auto 12 speed all chrome.

Same here. Other than when I was a kid (pre-drivers license days), the only time I did much bike riding was in the early-ish 90s when I was between jobs, and getting by working p/t at a supermarket. $ was tight, so I cobbed together one from a couple broken ones I found in the metal pile at the dump, used it to go back & forth to work.

Nothing I ever found especially enjoyable, and as others have noted, with narrow roads with not much in the way of shoulders not how I want to go out when my time comes.

So many people still ask this question of me. The bike is irrelevant. Any 70', 80's bike will do. Get a "FAT ASS SEAT." The big old school ones with springs. You may have to switch out the handlebars to midrisers. So you are riding up right. Move the gear selection to the handle bars. You only need three gears, even if its a ten speed. Use the set screws to just use three. Get rid of the front derailleur all together Paint it hot pink. So no one will steal it. Swap out the 27's for 26's cause the tires are cheaper and add some "suspension." Put on baskets and lights and fenders. Then ride it, every day, because its easy. And you don't have to worry about it. You won't even need a bike lock. Though I'd sell every bike with a lock. I made many conversions to this running a bike shop, and everyone was happy. They sold with in 30 minutes on C-list for my asking price. Its a bike no one wants to steal, but was entirely useful.

Must be fairly flat where you live. Here in northern New England, you need all the speeds you can get.

Never had to worry about anyone stealing my old beater bike either, didn't even need to paint it pink.

What's the deal with the bikes you see with what almost look like motorcycle tires on them? Can't help but think the rolling resistance would be quite high. Sure looks stupid.

 

[rontaki]

Speaking of Italian racing bikes, at one point I was able to afford a used all-Campagnolo Colnago (top-notch machine), being sold by an avid rider who needed the cash, and didn't really want to sell it. A few years later, when I gave up on riding the roads in the SF Bay Area due to traffic chaos and insanity, I put it up for sale. The buyer ended up being the guy I bought it from, happy to be reunited with his two-wheeled buddy.
Karma? Bikema??

p.s. I still rode a lot on my trusty, heavy mountain bike on the excellent Bay Area park trails. That bike was the most fun of any machine I had, including fast cars.
I sometimes descended steep, loose dirt hills with the bike laid on its side, me standing on the frame holding on to the handlebars with one hand. Fun times, didn't hurt the bike one bit. Heavy, and tough. Delicate, not!