Getting to Know You!

[mimitabby]

hey Bikingmom
what's a suede W?

[deidre]

Real name: Deidre
Where do you live? Duluth, GA

Explanation of your handle: I don't have a handle (yet).
Explanation of your avatar: no avatar??....okay, I am starting to feel pretty boring. Maybe I need to get myself an avatar.

Age (general or specific) 38

Occupation: Consultant (systems implementations)

Favorite bike: I am such a newbie that I don't have a favorite bike.

What's in your stable? Raleigh c700 2005 (they changed the name: the 2006 is the Route 66), GT Timberline All Terrain 1993 (I don't do alot of off road anymore but I am keeping it just in case)

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? I am starting over as a newbie to biking on the roads. Last time I rode consistently, I was 15 and I have no idea how fast since that was a LONG time ago.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? No pictures yet

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I am not a good lier so that means I got caught or buckled and told the truth and have blocked it from my memory :)

Most memorable moment on my bike: I am just getting started again on the bike but what I remember most is the sense of freedom I felt being outdoors and using my own energy and power to zip by the world.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Biking with my DH on my mountain bike along the Brandywine River in Delaware.
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[mimitabby]

Real name: Deidre
Where do you live? Duluth, GA

Explanation of your handle: I don't have a handle (yet).
Explanation of your avatar: no avatar??....okay, I am starting to feel pretty boring. Maybe I need to get myself an avatar.

Age (general or specific) 38

Occupation: Consultant (systems implementations)

Favorite bike: I am such a newbie that I don't have a favorite bike.

What's in your stable? Raleigh c700 2005 (they changed the name: the 2006 is the Route 66), GT Timberline All Terrain 1993 (I don't do alot of off road anymore but I am keeping it just in case)

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? I am starting over as a newbie to biking on the roads. Last time I rode consistently, I was 15 and I have no idea how fast since that was a LONG time ago.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? No pictures yet

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I am not a good lier so that means I got caught or buckled and told the truth and have blocked it from my memory

Most memorable moment on my bike: I am just getting started again on the bike but what I remember most is the sense of freedom I felt being outdoors and using my own energy and power to zip by the world.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Biking with my DH on my mountain bike along the Brandywine River in Delaware.
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Welcome Dierdre, I have a Raleigh C700 as well, great tough bike!

[Dr. Liz]

Real name: Elizabeth, but everyone calls me Liz, so I’ve just accepted it!

Where do you live? Park City, UT

Explanation of your handle: The spousal unit started calling me Dr. Liz when he first realized that I had a few extra letters stuck on after my name (this was long before we got married), and hasn’t ever stopped. As an aside, with my married name, the Dr. ‘Married Name’ makes me sound like a baddie in a James Bond movie….

Age (general or specific): 35 (when did that happen? Last time I looked I was like 23 or something…)

Occupation: Officially I’m a research associate faculty person. In actually, I am the Queen of Tasks That No One Else Wants to Do. In my Real Life, I’m a wanna-be ski racer. I just started racing Masters a couple of years ago and am having a ball. The spouse convinced me that biking would be good off-season training. (And being me, I’m now thinking triathalons might be sort of fun… )

Favorite bike: At the moment, I’ve only got one – my very first bike (well, first since the Schwinn that I had when I was six that had red and white streamers on the handlebars). It’s a Motobecane that the spouse got for me new on eBay for cheap. It’s actually a really good bike, but a little heavy, so I’m looking into something else.

What's in your stable? The Motobecane, and (as I have just been informed) my husband’s compact frame Guru. The LBS guys are certain I will fit perfectly on the bike, and it will be much lighter. And won’t cost me anything, other than the fitting!

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? When? I’m new to this whole bike thing – I just started two and a half months ago, and speed is not exactly my thing. I think my all time fastest is coming down from Deer Valley into Park City, when I topped out at 34.6 mph. And I was scared to death. I’m sure I’ll get used to this speed thing eventually (especially since the spouse cruises down hills at 45+ mph – but then he raced as a teenager, and has been on and off bikes his entire life). I hope.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: The biggest? Erm. I’m not sure. But the most recent was ‘sorry I didn’t respond to your email, I’ve been swamped with work’ (when, in fact, I skipped out to go for a bike ride…the same lie works equally well when ski season rolls around).

Most memorable moment on my bike: The first time I came to an intersection and was able to actually clip out of the pedals confidently, and come to a stop without falling over. Since I had had MANY failed attempts (and luckily very many understanding people in cars who didn’t run over the chick who just ended up on the ground…), it was thrilling!

Most fun ever had on a bike? It’s hard to say. I’ve had a lot of nice rides that go through some really pretty (although really hilly) alpine areas. I live in such a beautiful spot that every ride that doesn’t involve idiots on the road is a fun one!

Oh, and pictures? This was taken on one of our local hill climbs by DH. The clothes are an eBay special, and quite comfortable! The bike is the Motobecane.



BTW, thanks for all your great tips! The DH has been riding forever, and doesn't seem to quite understand some of the 'issues' that the new, female rider experiences. You guys (in the general, gender-neutral sense, of course!) are fantastic!!!! Thanks!!!

(I keep editing this as I update my profile...) The avatar is from a race at Grand Targhee last year. Yes, that is a knee brace on my leg (ACL replacement 2 years ago after going 10 years without an ACL).... And the 'Powered by Rossignol' thing is a tribute to my main ski racing sponsor - Rossignol has been extremely generous to me (mostly because of the efforts of the spouse), and I like to give them credit whenever possible.

[CorsairMac]

Welcome one and all!!!

Deidre: welcome back to the wonderful world of cycling! we - the bikes - missed you!

Dr Liz: ok so I gotta ask: did you get the clothes coz they matched your bike?..(yeah...a girly thing lol) I have a friend here who telemark skies (is that the right way to say that?) and she rides off-season to stay in shape too.

[Dr. Liz]

Welcome one and all!!!
Dr Liz: ok so I gotta ask: did you get the clothes coz they matched your bike?..(yeah...a girly thing lol) I have a friend here who telemark skies (is that the right way to say that?) and she rides off-season to stay in shape too.

Heh. Actually, the color coordination wasn't totally planned, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a consideration! The bummer is that I'll be inheriting my spouse's Guru in about 3 weeks, and it is mostly blue, with a little red and white, so I'm going to have to totally re-coordinate my wardrobe!

Actually, I shouldn't say that getting DH's Guru is a bummer. I just spent 2 hours getting a professional fit (because DH is gettting a custom built Seven, poor man! ), and I'm actually going to have a bike that fits me. Which should make a big difference, I'm hoping!

And yup, telemark skiing is the phrase. I tried it many years ago and discovered that I wasn't coordinated enough to have my heel free. I definitely need my feet locked in!

[gozlin7]

Real name: Patty

Where do you live? Marysville, Michigan

Explanation of your handle: My dog's name and how old she was when I got her (She's 18 now).

Age (general or specific) 46

Occupation: Systems and Database Manager

Favorite bike: Novara Fusion (commuter bike)

What's in your stable? Novara Fusion, Muddy Fox (unknown model)

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? According to my cyclocomputer it 32.6 at a stop light. It sometimes thinks I go very fast while sitting still.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? hmmm (note to self.... must take some pics)

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Yeah, I've been buying a lot of cycling stuff but it was all on clearance plus I had a coupon!

Most memorable moment on my bike: Finding a neighhborhood with lots of small, steep (for here) hills and not having to walk up them. And riding along
the St Clair River with the fog lifting and seeing the freighters emerging like phantoms.

Most fun ever had on a bike? When I was in high school, I got to go on a weeklong supported bicycling trip. Lots of big hills and a bear or two thrown in for a little excitment.

I started riding again 2 months ago and now commute every day to and from work. I've grown to love the "virtuous-I've-ridden-my-bike-to-work-glow" I have when I get there every morning because I'm constantly trying to beat my last time. Logging my time and stats on bikejournal.com has become addictive.

Thank you everyone for all the great stories and suggestions that you post on the forums here.

[LaBiker]

Real name: Marsha
Where do you live? Bellevue, Washington

Explanation of your handle: It's a vaguely French combo of labrador retrievers, which I've always had, and bicycling, which I've done since 5th grade.

Explanation of your avatar: later.

Age (general or specific) 50s

Occupation: marriage and family therapist

Favorite bike: I'm so non-current with what's available, I just don't know.

What's in your stable? my roadbike is a Trek 1100 and I've also got a Trek 720 hybrid.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 37.7, coming down a long hill on a training ride, about 15 years ago. I loved it, but don't think I'll ever try that again!

Another picture of yourself or your ride? no bike pics scanned into my computer at this time.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I'll pass on this one.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Finishing the STP pedaling with only one leg due to a severe knee problem.

Most fun ever had on a bike? An improptu 3-day ride on Whidbey Island, two ferry rides, and camping overnight in what turned out to be a cemetery.
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[Gail]

Real name: Alyson

Where do you live? Tucson, AZ

Explanation of your handle: Its just my middle name. Seemed simple.

Explanation of your avatar: haven't gotten one yet.

Age (general or specific): 31

Occupation: Grad student at U of A

Favorite bike: Seven

What's in your stable? Seven Alaris ti, Bianchi San Jose

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 28 MPH on a flat in Ohio. I'm still not certain the reading was right, but I sure like to think it was!

Another picture of yourself or your ride? No pics yet

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I'd have to think about that one

Most memorable moment on my bike: Riding 60 miles in the Tour de Cure for the first time. It was my first metric century.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Riding in the Tour de Feed, just enjoying the scenery and the road and feeling really good, even after the first 50 miles!

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board Gail and nice to meet ya! and of Course you're reading was right!

Tucson is a lot like Albuquerque as far as altitude and winter weather, isn't it great to be able to ride pretty much year round!

[Gail]

Yeah, it seems great. Although I've lived in Tucson for less than a week now, so I'm still trying to figure out a good route for riding. I can tell I'm going to like it though!

[LynneK]

I'm a long-time lurker, finally uncloaking to say hello!

Real name: Lynne

Where do you live? Chicago, IL (a few blocks north of Wrigley Field)

Explanation of your handle: My name; I don't have any nicknames other than the occasional "LK" or "Dr. K", and I am always forgetting other handles!

Explanation of your avatar: At the tip of the north end of Maui, December 2005. The dramatic elevation changes kicked my butt, but the scenery was gorgeous.

Age (general or specific) 41

Occupation: College professor (economics)

Favorite bike: My road bike

What's in your stable? Felt F70 road bike, Cannondale F300 mountain bike

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 35 mph, going down a hill west of Mineral Point, Wisconsin, surrounded by picturesque dairy farms. Three years ago, when I still had my 1986 Nishiki TriA triathlon bike.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I have a few tri pics, but they sure are not seeing the light of day! I may want to buy my husband a faster camera before next season ...

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I can't think of one . Uh oh, I think that gets me in a recursive lie loop!

Most memorable moment on my bike: Coming back up that Wisconsin hill, chasing after my husband on his brand-new Bianchi. He goes screaming up the hill, I start to slow, and I think "OK, time to switch to my granny gear". Problem was that I didn't have a granny gear! I bought a Trek 1000WSD shortly thereafter, but she and I didn't agree with each other, so I sold it and bought my Felt, which I love.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Going downhill around the side of Haleakala to the Tedeschi Winery, Maui, December 2005. Breathtaking scenery! Of course it was literally uphill all the way back, but it was sure worth it. A close second is riding up to the Maroon Bells outside of Aspen, CO.

[Lise]

Hi Lynne! Look out the window! You can see me waving! I'm 1.5 miles straight west of Wrigley. Maybe we can ride together someday!

[Teddyparker]

Real name: Jane
Where do you live? Peabody MA

Explanation of your handle: Teddy and Parker are my dogs.
Explanation of your avatar: a picture of my dogs
Age (general or specific) 50
Occupation: Preschoool Director
Favorite bike: I would love a Luna someday.

What's in your stable? Specialized Dolce Comp, Trek fx7500 and my old Hookooekoo

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? I am still getting used to speed maybe 22 mph on a decline.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? no pictures right now


What is the biggest lie you've ever told:I am not a good liar so I stay away from it.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Riding the trails at Mount St Anne in Quebec on afmily vacation. On oneof the many inclines I waited at the top for my husband(the boys had already gone on). When he got to the top he fogot to clip out and fell against me and we both toppled over. The bruises lasted weeks.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Just riding as much as I can.

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board Teddy. Oh yeah - would I Ever love a Luna and since she's located just 55 miles away from me, it makes it all the more tempting............but for now...........