Back in the saddle

[Labarum]

Back in the saddle after 35 years and I am now 55.

I got on a 12 year old Trek 800 (Cromoly frame) for a month, having put slick tyres on it. I hated its sluggishess and straight bars. Then I started looking at light tourer/audax bikes.

I saw, however,  a 23in steel framed road bike (old Halfords frame) in a LBS for £55 and thought I couldn't loose at that. Wanted to see if I could still handle that geometry. Had a very similar bike - a Falcon in my youth - it was like being reunited with an old friend. I'm much happier with the drops and the 27 x 1 1/4 wheels. The downtube shifters is what I was used to, and I know it can be done better today.

So next spring I might treat myself - but the budget is going up - looking at those nice Thorn bikes. £700 for a light tourer seems oK if you say it fast - and, baring accidents, Reynold's steel should last as long as me. Those Aluminian things don't look too nice, and I have never sat on one so I don't know how hard the ride is.

So come on folks, talk me into it.

[daveireland]

Go for it! I'm 58 and after a few years of very little cycling returned to it seriously about 8/9 years ago. My 1976 700c Rory O Brien was too high geared to cope with Cornwall's hills and having arsed around doing loads of research, settled on a Thorn. I bought a 531-framed Nomad about 4 years ago and have not regretted it for one moment. My wife also has a Nomad with straight bars and about 18 months ag my brother went for a Thorn Raven with a Rohloff hub, which he thinks is the best thing since Sturmey Archer. We do a few Audax rides locally and see a number of Thorns out, includin Club Tour and Audax bikes and the occasional tandem. All seem to be very happy. I'd definitely give some though to a 26inch wheeled bike though, depending on what sort of riding you want to do. I find the Nomad plently fast enough and although it isn't the lightest frame around, it is pretty well bombproof and the wheels (Sun) are really strong. Good luck!

[nnnmvg]

I started regulary cycling to work (about 2 miles about 5 years ago. Then in the sales last year I bought a Trek 1200 road bike and entered a Swedish classic event of 300 km around the country's second largest lake. I compeleted 1800 km of training miles during the spring and completed the event in 13,5 hrs (11,75 cycling time) -- I'll be 63 next month and feel really energised by cycling.

I am slowly getting my Wife interested and now 'toying' with the idea of buying some touring bikes.

One tip -- I bought a Brooks Swift Saddle which totally eradicated all butt discomfort even after a 7 hrs non-stop ride!