Any cyclists here?

I have been riding my bike again and really like it. I have a Giant OCR1 that I bought new back in 2008. Yes, I know it's an older road bike, but it's nicely equipped with Shimano 105 components. It's an aluminum frame, size 58cm, and weighs about 20-21 lbs. Sure there are much lighter bikes out there, and I'd love to get one. However, I'm determined to ride this one on a much more regular basis before forking out the cash on a new bike; I want to prove to myself that I can do it.

So who else rides?

 

I picked a 2021 Specialized Tarmac SL6 base model last May and upgraded it to Ultegra Di2 over the winter. It’s a beast…just need to put more miles on it. I’m doing 15-20 miles a few times per week but trying to ramp that up to do a century.

 

Sounds like a nice bike, and I like your way of thinking; using the bike you have. Check out this thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/all-things-bikes-and-tacos.445155/page-1986#post-27638870

 

Ex-cyclist here. I had to give it up in 2014 after my back went out. I started out with a Motobecane with all Ultegra components back in early 2000's. I bought if from bikesdirect.com an advice from avid cyclists at work. I think I paid about $1098.00 total including shipping. Only had carbon forks all aluminum bike. I put over 10k miles on that bike before I sold it for $300.00 dollars and purchase a full carbon bike from performance bike. Again I went with all Ultegra components about $1400. I did the MS150 for 5 years, WOW if you haven't done that you're missing out. I know that they have different bike rides for other parts of the country. Here in NC we have a ride in the mountains called Blood, Sweat, and Tears, and believe me the name is appropriate. After 4 spinal fusion surgeries, ask me how much I miss riding. I used to tell my buddies that I'd give up my right or left (T) you figure it out, just to be able to ride again. For those of you still hitting the pavement, Be safe and stay aware of your surroundings. In the 12 years that I rode, I discovered that people in cars are completely oblivious to bike riders. On at least 4-5 different occasions, I missed being killed or crippled, sometimes by a few feet, and others by inches.

 

I was a very competitive road cyclist until a few years ago when I realized cycling was taking me away from my family too much. 15+/- hours a week on the bike plus a 40-hour-a-week job meant I never saw the wife and kid, and when I did, I was half asleep. I keep trying to get back on just to lose weight but the urge to take it too seriously always comes back. It is a real struggle to keep it from becoming life-consuming. Here is what I ride now, I got rid of all the road bikes.

 

I agree 100%. I too became a road bike junky for almost 12 years. It becomes your go to drug. I regret losing out on time lost with wife and kids which can never be recovered. Good luck balancing riding and family life. Maybe try and get the family involved with bike riding. I tried but it didn't work out for me.

 

Very active thread, mainly MTB: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...s-and-now-vans.445155/page-2110#post-28130594