Getting to Know You!

[Trek420]

Queen sez...The short list for moving is Key West *fingerscrossed*, but jobs down there are few and far between in her field so it may end up being Nor Cal or Chicago?

Cycling's better here. Weather too. Traffic's worse.

[SadieKate]

. . . so it may end up being Nor Cal or Chicago?

Cycling's better here. Weather too. Traffic's worse.

Re: traffic - speak for your nek-o-the-woods, Trek. Yolo, Solano, parts of Placer and El Dorado counties - wunderbar. Keep going north and get good stuff, too. Portions of the Delta also good. There is more to northern California than the Bay Area. Hmmpf. Did I get that last word spelled right?

[amandaesq04]

Real name: Amanda
Where do you live? Winchester, Virginia

Explanation of your handle: I am a lawyer (esq) - I graduated in 2004.

Explanation of your avatar:

Age (general or specific) 26

Occupation: Lawyer

Favorite bike: Trek 2200.

What's in your stable? Trek 2200, Giant Yukon

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 40.3 MS 150 in Lynchburg, VA, June 2005

Another picture of yourself or your ride?

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I don't remember

Most memorable moment on my bike: Finishing day one of the MS 150

Most fun ever had on a bike? It's always fun to get out with my friends!

[jeannierides]

welcome, Amanda!

[Pax]

Hiya Amanda! From one newbie to another.

[SadieKate]

See, my boyfriend (who is originally from Springfield) and I argue about whether that area is southern or central IL. I say anything south of I-80 is southern IL, he says it's central. Like you have to go to Carbondale to be in "southern" IL. Whatever Heck, Rockford is "down state" to many from Chicago. My friend who lives in springfield grew up up here so she's REAL excited to be down there. Not. Not that there's anything wrong with down there, but it's just slightly different than the big city. I know I wouldn't be able to adjust. But some really do like it. And good on them

My Springfield born and bred mother would be horrified if someone referred to Springfield as part of "southern" Illinois. In her day and age, southern Illinois was different politics and different accents. She would react the same way I do when I say that I grew up in Ventura County and get the response, "Oh, that's part of Los Angeles" when the town is over 60 miles away and separated by mountain ranges.

[Pax]

My Springfield born and bred mother would be horrified if someone referred to Springfield as part of "southern" Illinois. In her day and age, southern Illinois was different politics and different accents...

Still the same attitude/accents, my Mom is from Centralia IL (which actually IS in southern IL) and she swears she's from "how many times do I have to tell you - Central IL".

I'm not really from here so I don't much care what it's called, I'm from Cape Cod and most of my relatives are in Boston and Melrose.

[Kryn]

Real name: Karen

Where do you live? Upstate NY. I'm here for the weather.

Explanation of your handle: It's sort of my internet version of my name. By the time I get anywhere Karen is already taken.

Explanation of your avatar: My first road bike. How many times have I wished again for 3 wheels and a step on the back?

Age: 45 (shhh don't tell)

Occupation: Writer

Favorite bike: My only real bike:Terry Symmetry. I wish it was lighter. It probably wishes I were lighter.

What's in your stable? Terry, and some other bad weather no name bikes.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? I think 42mph, on a training ride down Ilion Gorge. Woo-Hoo!!!

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I have a few, they'll turn up eventually.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: "No, really, I'm not mad..." countless times.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Almost at the end of the Ride For Missing Children, the police escorts lined either side of the road, and with lights flashing, stood by their cars and saluted us.

Most fun ever had on a bike? The Ride for Missing children, 100 miles, 200 riders, half a dozen schools, silent tributes...

[Trek420]

Kryn welcome to the board! Does you wrote "Upstate NY. I'm here for the weather." does that qualify for biggest lie? It's nice there? Really?

Tell us about The Ride for Missing children, we've got a section here somewhere for the charity ride riders, love to hear about it. How much raised, how training went, all about it.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=2831

[Kryn]

Thanks Trek. I'm here for the weather is actually the second biggest lie!

Really-I like it, I lived in So. Cal for years and was miserable. I do like the change of seasons, the beautiful summer we're having this year, the days when the seasons are tripping from one to the next. On the other hand...The winter that can last from October to May, um, well that's kind of a drag. I mean really, waking up on Mother's Day to snow...sigh.

I'll post more about the Ride in the Charity Ride forum, thanks for asking.

[CorsairMac]

Welcome Amanda and Kryn!

I saw your avatar on another post Kryn and thought it was just too cute!!

Hope to see more of both of you!

[Trekhawk]

Real name: Leslie

Where do you live? Normally Australia but living in Nevada County California for two and a half years with my husbands job.


Explanation of your handle: I ride a Trek and Im always looking out like a hawk while riding for any nutter trying to help me meet my maker.

Explanation of your avatar: must get one of those.

Age (general or specific) 40

Occupation: Mother/domestic goddess

Favorite bike: Aaa so many bikes so little time - Opera Leonardo to name one of the many.

What's in your stable? Trek 5000

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 50kms, down a hill of course (might be able to manage it on a flat if we had some of them around here and I didnt suffer a heart attack first).

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Yuk I hate having my picture taken - you know the old saying a picture doesnt lie - I would rather stay blissfully ignorant thanks.


What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Im a mum of three little boys and "we dont tell lies".(Could this be it - I will leave that up to you to decide).

Most memorable moment on my bike: The first time I rode my new bike and remembered at each stop to unclip and completed the whole ride without falling off.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Havent been riding long but so far the most fun has been speeding down the hills and feeling the wind in my face and knowing that I might be getting older but that life is still there to live so grab it with both hands and run/ride into a new adventure.

[Hetty]

Real name: Heather

Where do you live?
Cheshire in England. Also lived in Minden, Nevada when I was 10 and apparently hid in the garden when it was time for us to go back to England cos I wanted to stay!

Explanation of your handle: My nickname.

Explanation of your avatar: muddy face and Bono glasses - what d'you mean that's not a good look?!

Age (general or specific) 30

Occupation: clinical research associate

Favorite bike: There's a Litespeed Bella in my LBS that makes me drool.

What's in your stable?
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Pro for the mud
A Cannondale R500 Fem which I pick up next week. I'm SO excited as I've never had a road bike before. I've been commuting 25 mile round trip every day on my full suspension mountain bike so I just can't wait to feel the power and accelaration of the road bike.

Fastest speed on a road bike? 0 so far but I'll let you know!

Another picture of yourself or your ride?
I'll have someone take a picture of me trying to ride the road bike for the first time - I will probably be lying in a hedge laughing hysterically still clipped into my pedals!

What is the biggest lie you've ever told:
To boyfriend: "No, I can't see a bald spot at all"

Most memorable moment on my bike:
On a mountain bike holiday in Verbier Switzerland the Guide took us on the most ridiculously difficult downhill route through trees on narrow paths with huge drops at the side. (I had already told him that I was a little nervous of heights before this).
Anyhoo - flying along the singletrack I reach a gap across the track. I try and bunnyhop it but forget I'm on a 40lb bike so get zero air and the front wheel plunges straight into the hole. I do a Buzz Lightyear impression over the handlebars and end up dangling over the edge with my Camelback hooked onto a tree root.
Fortunately my boyf was behind me (sensibly going much slower) so was able to pull me back onto the trail. The guide was miles down the track and had no idea what had happened. Needless to say we ditched him for the rest of the holiday and did easy fireroads!

Most fun ever had on a bike?
Cycling in our local park my boyf was trying to show off and overtook me shouting "EAT MY DUST" not realising that ahead was a huge boggy section that he nosedived into. I laughed so much I very nearly wet myself!

Hopefully we'll be less accident prone on road bikes!
p.s. I love this forum - it makes me want to go out and ride and I think you're all fab.

[Trek420]

welcome Trekhawk n Hetty!

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the US Hawk and welcome to the board. and Opera??.....yet ANother bike brand I'm unfamiliar with and will have to go "look up".......*cigh* and problaby end up drooling over!

welcome to the board Hetty - Loved reading your stories!! and I can't wait to hear your first road bike ride report.....after commuting 25 miles on a full suspension MTB riding a road bike is gonna feel like FLying!!! be sure and tell us all about it...and pixs!! we LOVE pixs!