Getting to Know You!

[blackhillsbiker]

Real name: Deb
Where do you live? Rapid City, SD

Explanation of your handle: I'm loving biking in the Black Hills. I adore the Mickelson Trail, as well as just enjoying all the bike paths here in Rapid.

Explanation of your avatar: It'll probably be Kermit the Frog, when I get it uploaded. Kermit makes me happy.

Age (general or specific) 47 on June 2

Occupation: Graphic Design/Prepress at a small print shop.

Favorite bike: My Cannondale 400. It just fits me. I have back and neck issues and am no longer able to ride a mountain or road bike. This one doesn't scream "weenie comfort bike." The only thing that is still stock is the frame.

What's in your stable? See above

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? About 20 going down Spearfish Canyon last summer.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I'll have to dig one up.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Usually only when I don't want to talk on the phone.

Most memorable moment on my bike: We decided to kick off the season with a 44 mile bike ride (MDH and I). I was trying out a new saddle. Big mistake. It was a gorgeous day, but boy were we whipped at the end of the ride. The last uphill went on forever!

Most fun ever had on a bike? The first time on the Mickelson, or the last time we biked Spearfish Canyon and ended up at the Bayleaf Cafe for lunch afterward. Good friends, beautiful day, what more could I want?!

Deb

[firestar]

Real name: Amy
Where do you live? Proctorsville, Vermont

Explanation of your handle: Firestar is actually a Spanish made semi automatic handgun of my husband's - I just like it as a handle! Other aliases: Enigma & Serendiptiy
Explanation of your avatar: Hey! I'm from Vermont, you know?

Age (general or specific) 33

Occupation: Real Estate Broker

Favorite bike: There are so many great bikes out there it's hard to choose a fave. But I am partial to Specialized

What's in your stable? a Dawes - and no, not the B.D. kind.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? I've never clocked myself before, but one day I was flying down a hill in 25 mph zone and those radar things they set up to flash at you if you are speeding was at the bottom and clocked me at 27 mph. Never thought I'd get tagged for speeding on my bike!
Another picture of yourself or your ride? You'd have to be verrry sneaky to get me in front of a camera

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Well, I didn't get the speeding ticket - so I have no regrets.... and my age

Most memorable moment on my bike: Getting hit at the intersection of 100 & 103 down by Jackson Gore. There isn't a signal for 'i'm not turning' HELLOOO! I wasn't seriously hurt, thank goodness.

[meggiestardust]

Real name: Meghan

Where do you live? CA Bay Area

Explanation of your handle: Meggie is a nickname when I was a kid, and i love the song Lady Stardust by David Bowie

Explanation of your avatar: I should get one of those

Age (general or specific) 21

Occupation: retail/student

Favorite bike: for the moment, mine

What's in your stable? Trek 2.1 WSD Orange/Cream

Fastest speed on a road bike? I have no idea, I'm pretty new at this

Another picture of yourself or your ride? not right now

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

Most memorable moment on my bike: Realizing that I was engaging in a physical activity and thoroughly enjoying it

Most fun ever had on a bike? Hopefully still to come, but just the feeling of getting out and doing something, its very freeing

[jessharris]

Real name: Jessica
Where do you live? Marion, MA

Explanation of your handle: its my name
Explanation of your avatar:a what?
Age (general or specific) 42 on Dec 13th!

Occupation: teacher

Favorite bike: something light and fast
What's in your stable? an old steel schwinn road bike that I got at a yard sale
Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? not sure - bought a cheap computer that I can't get to work.

Most memorable moment on my bike: The family went for a 23 mile bike ride today (both kids on trailer bikes) and then I ran a mile with my 5 year old son - it was each of our first brick.

[omachine]

Real name: Oktavia (and no I am not the eighth child)

Where do you live? Philadelphia

Explanation of your handle: My old email address.

Explanation of your avatar: I don’t have one

Age: Gen x-er

Occupation: Drone

Favorite bike: I’m partial to my old AMF

What's in your stable? Trek 1.2 and AMF

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? It hasn’t happen yet.

Another picture of yourself or your ride: I’ll add one later.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I told my best friend she was a good cook.

Most memorable moment on my bike: One morning, around 5:30am I was biking the West River Drive and I looked up and saw this huge bear digging in a trash can. I, of course, screamed like Jamie Lee Curtis in a horror film, which startled the bear. It looked up and I realized it was tall homeless man draped in a huge brown quilt. What can I say? When I’m out in nature I tend to think that every thing is out to get me.

Most fun ever had on a bike? It’s always fun. Every time I get on my bike my heart races with excitement, it’s that simple.

[SpinSpinSugar]

Real name: Sugar
Where do you live? Minnesota

Explanation of your handle: that's what I tell myself on those long uphill grinds.. "C'mon.. Spin Spin Sugar!" [insert puffing and blowing noises here]

Explanation of your avatar: It's what my bike says to me every time I crash..haha

Age (general or specific) 35 in September - eek!

Occupation: Massage Therapist

Favorite bike: Oooh I'd love a Rivendell Rambouillet but they are out of smaller sizes. A Terry VALKYRIE TOUR looks really nice though...

What's in your stable? a Raleigh GRUV (best in town bike ever!), 1976 Raleigh Grand Prix Mixte, and a RAWLAND SOGN that I'm selling because it's too big

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? 38 mph downhill on a curvy trail that dumps out into a parking lot full of traffic..

Another picture of yourself or your ride? None atm

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: That my real name is Sugar ..lol...


Most memorable moment on my bike: Coming into the parking lot at the end of my longest ride to date - 77miles. It was an amazing feeling, and was greeted by hi-fives and hand slaps from all "the guys" in the group

Most fun ever had on a bike? Riding through my first singletrack on a very steep downhill with no ledge. It was fast and furious.. just hang onto the handlebars and trust the bike to do what it's made to do. Awesome .. just awesome

[pumpkinpony]

Real name: Stacey

Where do you live? SoCal

Explanation of your handle: Used to have a pony named Pumpkin.

Other aliases: LaughingCat

Explanation of your avatar: Alum Creek, Phase I (Ohio)

Age (general or specific) early 30's

Occupation: Travel!

Favorite bike: My old Mrazek HT.

What's in your stable? the Mrazek and a Lemond

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 37.9 MPH, going down a hill about a month ago. Haven't done that again!

Most memorable moment on my bike: Falling off a slimy boardwalk (about 3ft off the ground) with my bike into about a foot of mud and muck at a pretty good clip... Took my friend with me. Quite a mess. We had a very difficult time getting back onto the boardwalk as it was at a slant and slimy...

[radacrider]

Real name: Paula

Where do you live? Portland, OR

Explanation of your handle: my bestest Bridgestone Radac bike

Other aliases:

Explanation of your avatar: haven't decided on one, yet

Age (general or specific) nearing mid-50's

Occupation: Business Solutions Specialist for an education assessment research org.

Favorite bike: Bridgestone Radac w/Dura Ace

What's in your stable? Bridgestone Radac, Bridgestone MB-5

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? Don't know, stopped using a computer waaayyy long ago. Pretty fast coming down Mt. Rainier or Mt. Hood

Most memorable moment on my bike: completing RAMROD (ride around Mt. Rainier One Day) in 10hrs (some years ago, though)

Most fun ever had on a bike? don't know, so many, especially riding with friends.

[sgf726]

Real name: Sharon

Where do you live? Central MA
Explanation of your handle: Initials and Bday

Explanation of your avatar: avatar?? Don't have one yet

Age (general or specific) 44

Occupation: Program Manager

Favorite bike: Specailized Ruby Expert

What's in your stable? Specialized Ruby Expert, Trek 600 WSD

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? About 44 mph downhill near Okemo VT.

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

Most memorable moment on my bike: Riding in my first Pan Mass Challenge last year, it was so inspirational to see all the crowds on the roads cheering us on, especially the survivors, was glad I had sunglasses on.

Most fun ever had on a bike? This is a hard one, have had lots of fun on my bike. I will have to give it a tie between riding the carriage roads in Acadia NP and riding in the Tour de Isle Montreal this past June with 30,000 other people

[HillSlugger]

Welcome Sharon. Happy birthday!

[FireFlower]

Real name: Chris
Where do you live? Wiesbaden Germany

Explanation of your handle: II'm a fire protection engineer and my last name means flower in french

Explanation of your avatar: none

Age (general or specific) 41
Occupation: see handle explanation

Favorite bike: Blue and white Sears Roebuck with banana seat and chopper handle bars - my first bike took me everywhere, never stranded me, never got stolen, never had a flat....

What's in your stable? Trek 7.6 FX, GT Terrera Hybrid 1993

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 35 mph, down a crazy hill in the Taunus
Another picture of yourself or your ride? not recently

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Not good at lying. I've been burned too many times with small lies, I don't go for big ones...

Most memorable moment on my bike: Someone stole the quick release off my front wheel in college and I did not realize until I headed down those stairs by the post office....

Most fun ever had on a bike? Fat tire bike tour in Paris last summer with a pack of friends

[jobob]

Whee, lots of funny & interesting new folks. Hi all!

[GulfCoastAmy]

Hey all! I'm new here...

Real name: Amy

Where do you live? Mobile, AL

Explanation of your handle: I'm so new I don't even know what this means - ha!

Explanation of your avatar: don't have one yet! I'll add a pic of me, I guess!

Age (general or specific): 32

Occupation: TV Syndication

Favorite bike: my crappy huffy because it's all I have right now

What's in your stable? just the huffy, lol!

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? No clue. My mantra is strength over speed.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Don't have one yet!

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Hmmm...not sure. That's a toughie!

Most memorable moment on my bike: crashing into my brother when we were around 10 & 15 or so... We were riding around a campground in Canada. I was fine, he got all banged up.

Most fun ever had on a bike? This morning! My first ride that wasn't on neighborhood roads! (did I mention I'm REALLY new?!)

[nj_likes]

Real name: Nancy

Where do you live? Wheeling, IL (hmmm...kinda appropriate for a bike forum, no?)

Explanation of your handle: I'm not creative. Parts of my name.

Explanation of your avatar: none yet.

Age (general or specific): 31

Occupation: New stay-at-home mom

Favorite bike: The last bike I loved to ride had a plastic basket on the front and streamers on the handlebars. Now, I'm working on learning to ride without worrying about falling off.

What's in your stable? Trek Pilot something or other, Trek mountain bike.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? Not very. Going fast on my "road" bike makes me think about how much it would hurt if I crash.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Not yet.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Can't think of one off the top of my head. When I was little, I used to tell people that I was born in Antarctica just to see if they believed me, though...


Most memorable moment on my bike: being knocked off my bike by a tree branch on my first bike ride with my then boyfriend (now husband). I still have 2 ugly scars on my knee to remember it by!


Looking forward to getting to know you!!

[jef09]

Real name: Joy

Where do you live? Alexandria, VA

Explanation of your handle: My initials once I am married (Oct 09)

Explanation of your avatar: Need to pick one

Age (general or specific): 32

Occupation: Business Development, Federal

Favorite bike: My blue Kona Jake the Snake. It was the first 105 bike I bought, and was a near perfect fit from day one. It has been a blast to ride, and although I have added to my stable, it is still my go to bike. And the decals glow in the dark.

What's in your stable? Lemond Versaille, Kona Jake the Snake, Trek 4500 MTB

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? Probably a 25 mph descent during my first triathlon. I am very grateful I knew how to corner. Fast is very cool, being out of control is not.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Need to find one.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: How I got my first hickey, I have never asked my mom if she bought the story, because being a nurse I am pretty sure she didn't. After that I figured out to just not say anything at all, unless she asked first.


Most memorable moment on my bike: My first mountain bike ride with my (now)fiance. My old mtb was too big and he is a more experienced mtb rider than I (just learning). I was miserable for the entire 9 mile loop, and when we got back to his car I said nothing. I just knew he was trying to kill me, and he just knew we were breaking up. Two weeks later the bike got sold, and 6 moths later he helped me buy a bike that fit. We still laugh about that ride.

I am eternally grateful to the bike gods for giving me sufficient challenges so I could figure out just how strong I really am (or stupid and reckless if you ask my mom )