A big thank you - to TE, and to all forum members

It's the end of one year, the beginning of another, a time for reflecting...

First, thank you to TE for hosting this forum. I find it awesome that there is a friendly place for women to talk about cycling (and other things too).

And a big thank you to all of the forum members. I've participated in other cycling discussion forums in the past, but I've never seen the respect between participants that always seems to prevail here. We don't always agree with each other, but that's ok. What impresses me is that everyone seems to feel free to express her own feelings / beliefs, but it is (usually) done in a civilized fashion that makes others feel free to participate - whether it is a discussion about cycling, health, sharing good news or bad news, or anything else.

I assume that others feel the same way too...

--- Denise

Thanks to everyone for all the help, support, companionship, listening, etc.

And I would just like to say- in the spirit of expressing my beliefs that everyone else disagrees with- Panties Rule!!!

Most of the time.

Nanci

(Oops, already into the wine, waiting for dinner to cook, enjoying my 4000 calorie deficit from my _wonderful_ 75 degree 80 mile ride today, with negative splits, which even the third spotting of Scary Guy couldn't ruin...)

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Originally Posted by Nanci

...from my _wonderful_ 75 degree 80 mile ride today, with negative splits, which even the third spotting of Scary Guy couldn't ruin...)

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Hey Nanci -
You're making me jealous! I rode today too, but I only managed 21 miles - but with temperatures in the mid-20s! Tomorrow? There's white stuff falling right now, so who knows what tomorrow's roads will bring! Enjoy your wonderful weather...

--- Denise

Denise, I just hope this weather holds, or at least semi-holds, for two more weeks until my 200k. I am not sure I have the motivation to do it in 45 degree rain.

To make you even _more_ jealous, I was wearing a new Shebeest tank, (with, unfortunately, wool socks...) and while I was riding, BF was _water skiing!

I love Florida. I put in my almost 40 years up North- this is heaven.

Nanci (into the sparkling wine, now!)

Denise,

I couldn't agree more. I tried another forum (OK, supplemented this forum) with another one for a while and just couldn't handle the disrespect, bitterness, and rudeness--and, oh, did I mention disrespect?-- I saw there. Most users seem to follow the ettiquette on that board, but there are just enough that don't that will keep me away from it. Too bad...lots of good discussion there (but you have to wade through the flames and insults) and lots of users. I feel for the moderators on that one...

Hooray for the TE boards! Lots of good discussion here and lots of people to learn from and share with. TE ROCKS! :)

y

Thanks Denise...

I could not have said it any better!! You all have been my link to continued recovery, and for that I am very grateful. I wish we could all get together somewhere and have a huge pasta party followed by a nice flat century with tailwinds:D

The best part about these boards is connecting with folks who live right here in Massachusetts!! I look forward to our upcoming party for the Spazz!


karen
ps-Denise be very careful if you ride in the morning, it is already very slick out there

Cheers! I wholeheartedly agree. I look forward to learning so much more from you great gals in 2006!:D

Happy New Year TE. :rolleyes:

It has been such a pleasure to hang here and learn so much. All of you have been such good teachers, as I learn from others experiences, and as you've so gently and kindly answered my questions!

I'm looking forward to a great year on my bike (as soon as this blasted rain stops!), and to completing ALC!

My thoughts exactly. Already I know that one of my goals for this year is a no fly, there is no way I will century on my heavy, winter, snow & ice bike. Maybe January thaw. I have especially enjoyed meeting some of the Mass members: Denise, Robyn and Spazz. Now I'm looking forward to meeting Annie.

Denise, thank you for saying it so well. I'll add my *thank you* to TE for sponsoring this forum and to you all for making this board a safe place for us to hang out and participate.

jeannie:p

Just want to add my thanks and wishes to all for a Happy New Year. It is truly remarkable how much support, respect, laughter and tears we can share here. Not to mention a wealth of info about cycling!

Looking forward to meeting some of the New England contingent later this month.

Linda

This is a wonderful board, and you are all a wonderful bunch! Looking forward to spend more time discussing and sharing with you in the new year!

And a BIG thanks to TeamEstrogen.

This is the first forum I have ever posted on and its bl**dy brilliant.
Where else could I learn so much about cycling, have a laugh and make such wonderful friends. Thanks Team Estrogen and a Happy and Safe New Year to all.

Denise,

Couldn't have said it better. The collective wisdom and respect of the folks that post to this board makes it a welcoming place for everyone.

Thanks to everyone and all the best in 2006!

Carol (traveller)

Thank you Denise and all the other members for all your great advise and good wishes when I fractured me shoulder. I have to admit that I have not been on any other cycling forums. Actually I don't know of any others. I came upon TE while searching for clothes. Which brings me to another thank you to TE. You are a great company to do business with. Your service is great and I love all the products that I ordered as well as all the things my husband ordered for my birthday.

Here to all for another great cycling year minus any injuries.

JoAnn

And I'll add my two cents worth! This is a fantastic forum with great people, where I feel I'm really part of a group of people like me!!!:p

Big Big thank you to TE, because it's hard enough to look after the core stuff in a business, but to also foster community and put resources into it, that's real commitment to cycling.


Thank you for making me feel right at home.:)

Eva

I agree. I have never belonged to a forum before. How lucky am I to find the support & friendship here first off? All of you have been immesurably supportive during times when I have felt alone & isolated during some difficult changes in my life. Like most, I've had the experience of so called friends turning into adversaries for no good reason. That doesn't happen here. There are not many places in this complex world where you can be 100% real & still be accepted. Most people interact at a fairly superficial level. They don't really want to know about your difficulties because that may require more of themselves than what they are prepared/comfortable to give.Thanks girls.
I wish you all every hppiness for 2006. Be healthy & SAFE!:)

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Originally Posted by DeniseGoldberg

Hey Nanci -
You're making me jealous! I rode today too, but I only managed 21 miles - but with temperatures in the mid-20s! Tomorrow? There's white stuff falling right now, so who knows what tomorrow's roads will bring! Enjoy your wonderful weather...

--- Denise

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Happy New Year to all. I haven't been on this forum long ( haven't been cycling that long), but you all seem amazingly supportive of each other. Spazz - good luck with your new life! Re the Xmas/NY weather - Dec 30 we reached 42 degrees Celsius - I think about 106F - had our warmest overnight in over 100 years, with a minimum of 29C. Of course I didn't bother to listen to the weather report before heading out at 7.30am. By 9am the dry heat was a killer, I'd barely done 60k (about 35 miles - not that I can do much more on the trot yet) - and on New Year's Day it poured with rain (temp still in high 20s). Still, went out again on the 2nd - we're back to our perfect blue skies and mid to late 20C, and the roads are full of cyclists - local, national and international - as we gear up for the Tour Down Under which starts in a couple of weeks. Crikey, I love summer!
:)

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Originally Posted by arnaew

Happy New Year to all. I haven't been on this forum long ( haven't been cycling that long), but you all seem amazingly supportive of each other. Spazz - good luck with your new life! Re the Xmas/NY weather - Dec 30 we reached 42 degrees Celsius - I think about 106F - had our warmest overnight in over 100 years, with a minimum of 29C. Of course I didn't bother to listen to the weather report before heading out at 7.30am. By 9am the dry heat was a killer, I'd barely done 60k (about 35 miles - not that I can do much more on the trot yet) - and on New Year's Day it poured with rain (temp still in high 20s). Still, went out again on the 2nd - we're back to our perfect blue skies and mid to late 20C, and the roads are full of cyclists - local, national and international - as we gear up for the Tour Down Under which starts in a couple of weeks. Crikey, I love summer!
:)

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Hi Arnaew and Yasmin

Nice to hear from other Aussies! I just posted on another thread that Sydney had 44C on NY Day. We were in balmy Canberra at the time and it was a measily 38C! You're lucky to be in Adelaide, are you going to see the Jacobs Creek race?

Eva

Ditto to what all have said!! This is a great forum and I feel like I know all of you. Happy and safe riding to all for 2006 and a big THANKS to TE!!

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Originally Posted by allabouteva

Hi Arnaew and Yasmin

Nice to hear from other Aussies! You're lucky to be in Adelaide, are you going to see the Jacobs Creek race?

Eva

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Hi Eva,
Usually I wouldn't miss the Tour under any circumstances. But this year my team & I are doing the Audax Alpine Classic centered around Bright in Victoria. As both occur at approx' the same time I'm missing out on the TDU this year. I only hope they have a fuctional TV where we're staying so I can glue myself to it at every opportunity!
Last year my team & I did the Be Active tour (150km trek prior to the professionals organised bvy BikeSA). Really tough conditions: 36C, humid, no breeze, not much shade, but great fun.

Originally Posted by allabouteva

"Nice to hear from other Aussies! You're lucky to be in Adelaide, are you going to see the Jacobs Creek race?"

Hey Yasmin,
You're obviously in a way different league to me - I did the 30K ride (d'etape) b4 the Tour last year and that was a big deal for me - I'm going to try the 93k this year, but I fear those hills will do me in. And yes, allabout eva, I go and watch the Tour each day, take a trillion shots, then go home and watch it on the telly! Sad huh?
A

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Originally Posted by arnaew

Originally Posted by allabouteva

"Nice to hear from other Aussies! You're lucky to be in Adelaide, are you going to see the Jacobs Creek race?"

Hey Yasmin,
You're obviously in a way different league to me - I did the 30K ride (d'etape) b4 the Tour last year and that was a big deal for me - I'm going to try the 93k this year, but I fear those hills will do me in. And yes, allabout eva, I go and watch the Tour each day, take a trillion shots, then go home and watch it on the telly! Sad huh?
A

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Not sad at all! Totally reasonable and understandable!:D Men in lycra, in fantastic shape, and on awesome BIKES!!! what's not to like!!!;)

Good luck to you all! I think I'm where you were last year. The 30k ride would be about right for me now, and the 93k would do me in... I'm going to try for the Sydney to Gong at the end of the year tho!

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Originally Posted by yellow

I tried another forum (OK, supplemented this forum) with another one for a while and just couldn't handle the disrespect, bitterness, and rudeness--and, oh, did I mention disrespect?-- I saw there.

Hooray for the TE boards! Lots of good discussion here and lots of people to learn from and share with. TE ROCKS! :)

y

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I'm with Yellow... having dipped into a few other forums, I really like this one... friendly, safe to "put yourself out there", good discussions and debates without getting nasty...

Thanks to the mods and admin who manage this environment for us... thanks to all the posters who make it the very cool place it is. :D