An Inauspicious Start
This blog chronicles my two-wheeled journey. The story begins in my mid 50's. I was so out of shape that I would get winded walking up a slight hill. I decided to make my health a priority and had always enjoyed bike riding. So, I started biking again.
The first ride was a simple 12-mile loop over relatively flat terrain. I was so winded I had to stop a mile short and rest for 10 or 15 minutes before continuing, all the while debating whether to call my wife and have her pick me up because I couldn't finish the ride. I eventually made it home, but it wasn't pretty.
My bike at the time was a 2007 Raleigh Venture 3.0, pictured above. My wife and I purchased new bikes in 2007 with the intention of riding as a family. We did, for awhile, but as the kids got older, the rides faded. Sometimes I could get the family to ride with me on Father's Day, but that was about it.
Getting a mountain bike probably wasn't the best choice. I thought I would enjoy single-track riding but never did any. My wife got the better bike, a Raleigh Passage 5.5 hybrid. I switched to using the Passage as my primary bike in 2020. The Passage is better for bike trails, which includes most of the riding opportunities near my house.
