Age: 53

How long and why:
Long answer: Um, I didn't get a driver's license 'til Elder Daughter was a year old and we lived in the geographic center of nowhere. Until that time I rode my bike whenever I wanted to go anywhere. I was much thinner then...

While living the homestead life, I gave up on riding, but managed somehow to stay active and busy.

We moved to the Big City and my weight ballooned. I blame the car. One day for grins I asked an RN at work to take my blood pressure. She turned white and sent me home with instructions not to stroke out on her.

Not long after I pulled out the old Raleigh and started amazing treks of up to 3 miles!!! One thing led to another and I bought a recumbent to take pressure off my hands and so I could tour.

Short answer: about 5 years - to stay alive.

Why continue:
To stay alive. Not just the body, but the mind, too. I'm happier when I ride, get more done, all that. I'm just more ALIVE. And then there are tours. To my mind there is nothing better than getting on a bike and going somewhere new. It's a feeling of freedom I can't get any other way.

Weight loss:
No. (great big sigh) I used to think that if I just rode 10-30 miles a day on a regular basis, weight would just fall off. Not off my body, it doesn't. Of course three (3) sedetary jobs have nothing to do with the weight loss problem. And don't give me the "fat weighs less than muscle" speech. Weight is weight. If you don't believe me, just ask my feet. Yes, I'm frustrated with my weight. At least when I ride I don't gain more.