Newbie - Quick Intro

[Cooker]

After 30 plus years this 60 yr old bald fat guy is back in the saddle again! To improve health & fitness I had to confront diet & exercise. So 3 months ago a massive diet change and cycling became a way of life. Amazing results so far! I rode excellent quality road bikes in late 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s but quit after getting a real job, marriage, kids, motorcycles and the rest. Last November I got a new single speed, all rigid, steel, 29er MTB to ride gravel and horse trails around my place. I love that bike! Then I cleaned up a nice 2006 Cannondale 1000 to use as an everyday commuter and this also worked out well. A couple of weeks ago the decision to do some light touring was made and I’m excited about it. After I reach my targeted weight I will treat myself to a new touring bike. I hope to gain knowledge on touring bikes, touring in general and maybe thoughts and advice from the 60+ crowd. Cooker

[csykes]

Congratulations on your progress so far!  Do a little digging around on this site along crazyguyonabike.com and you will find much of the info you are looking for.  Keep biking, I have struggled with weight gain over the years and it always coincided with the times I was not riding regularly. I am fitter and feel much better now at 55 than I did at 45.

[johnsondasw]

I'm 64 and have been riding since I was about 8.  I have learned a lot about biking (and hiking and rock climbing) at what many would consider an "advanced" age.  Years ago, I never worried about bike fit, padded shorts, multiple long days in a row, etc.  I do now!  First, get a fit by a quaified, experienced specialist.  That has made a huge difference to me.  I now mix my exercise up between biking, hiking and climbing.  I'm careful to make sure I get rest days for biking and climbing.  Hiking, I seem to be able to do day after day as long as I don't go too hard on any one day.  I read a book called "biking after 50" and I think that's where I heard the three most important rules for the older athlete:  "rest, rest, and rest".  Anyway, be careful and pay attention to those aches and pains and, most of all, have fun.  I'm sure still having a lot of it!

[Westinghouse]

Google bicycle touring and you will find loads of information. Look for it in your local library. They should have books on it. If you have any particular questions about something specific, it would be easier to give advice. There is a lot to say about it.

[live4it]

found this forum by accident, but excited I stumbled across it. A little bit about me, I live in Southern Wisconsin. I have a road bike, and a mtn bike however my preference by far is on the trails. My road bike is a very old school Specialized Alez, I love it, but it is more of a spinning bike now. My mtn bikes are a stumpjumper comp, also an older bike, but I love it, its been through a lot with me. My third, and newest bike is a stumpjumper FSR expert, which I bought because it was just not cost affective to update my older stumpjumper. My favorite trails are singletrack and fast gravel roads such as logging roads. A little off topic, but a little not, my latest endeavor are extreme obstacle courses, If you know what the tough mudder is thats what I want to do. I'm working towards my first one, so if anyone wants in I'm looking for a partner to do it with.