Getting to Know You!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yeah, me and my DH too...we ride down the back farm roads, calling to the horses and cows ("Hi babies!"), calling out the kitties, barking back at dogs, etc.
One delapidated farm often has its animals wandering all over the road- bulls, horses, giant pigs, guinea hens and chickens... one time their huge turkey hen decided to trot along right alongside my bike for a 1/4 mile down the road. I wasn't sure what to make of it- was she trying to drive me away or in love with my bike??

[crazycanuck]

Umm..Nature is cool but how does one converse with a Kangaroo or Emu whilst mtn biking?



I talk to cows, sheep, bobtail lizards but not the snakes! Moooo..Baaaaaaaa...

Oh the joy of the wild & wacky wildlife in Australia.

c

[evangundy]

Well, I am also a member of Team Bag Balm...... I think most of our group will moo at the cows we see - we definitely moo when we see each other

I usually talk nice to the barking dogs. It surprises them, and they sometimes stop barking to hear what I am saying..... "well aren't you a pretty dog? why are you barking so loud? are you having fun or are all these bikes scaring you? etc, etc,
Edna

[Cha Cha]

I appreciate the warm welcome!

Amy

[Cyclo Kitty]

Real name: Kirsten
Where do you live? Providence, RI

Explanation of your handle: Always wanted a nickname--Kitty--and it works out in a kind of CycloKitty/PsychoKiller (Talking Heads song) way

Explanation of your avatar: Don't have one yet

Age (general or specific):40, turning 41 in June

Occupation: I say deputy circus master, but I'm the Deputy Director for Collections at a historical society & museum

Favorite bike: Mmmmm, bikes...Today, I wish I had a Van Dessel Gin & Trombones; tomorrow, it could be a Pashley Princess Sovereign

What's in your stable? Pale Horse: mid 1990s Gary Fisher Aquila that I commute on year-round; Mrs. Slocum, a 1969 Raleigh Superbe step-thru 3 speed for summer skirt-wearing commuting; and the Sea Snail, a CDale Optimo 3 Cross racer

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? No computer on the Sea Snail yet, but 22.5 mph on the Aquila commuting down Power Street today

Another picture of yourself or your ride? There are some on my blog & I need to take more....

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Blessedly, I have forgotten whatever it was!

Most memorable moment on my bike: Crashing on the bike path near Belmont Harbor in Chicago, riding with my Dad as a kid and scraping up my legs, so that a sun bather had to help me clean up. And the time that my coaster brake failed in Lincoln Park & I had to ride across the road w/o stopping....not long after that I got my first "real" bike with a 3-speed hub and hand brakes.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Every single ride! Well, almost. So far, the day I trimmed 2 minutes off the commute home. After that, test riding the CDale was pretty awesome all around.

[mimitabby]

Umm..Nature is cool but how does one converse with a Kangaroo or Emu whilst mtn biking?



I talk to cows, sheep, bobtail lizards but not the snakes! Moooo..Baaaaaaaa...

Oh the joy of the wild & wacky wildlife in Australia.

c

I don't know, what do Kangaroos say?? Emus? YOU have to tell us!

and welcome all you guys! we heehaw at Donkeys, Baaaaaaaaaaa at sheep and goats, MOOOOOOOOO at cows.

[Thistle]

I don't know, what do Kangaroos say?? Emus? YOU have to tell us!

feel better now that i know lots of you are as crazy as me

roos... make a click click sound... i dont know how to type it! ever seen skippy? "click click, what's up skip?"

riding home from uni one arvo i came up over a hill and as i crested the hill (on the bike path, about 500 metres from houses) i came face to face with an adolescent male roo cresting the hill from the other side. We both screeched to a stop (he was on the bike path too) and just looked at each other. it was so funny, shame it wasnt on video

i'm a bit scared of big roos (they can rip you open with their back legs) so i just kind of stood there not moving and after about 30 secs he turned around and hopped away back down the bike path. i started up and followed him at a distance...very funny. the shock on both our faces when we both came over the hill at the same time and came face to face must have looked funny.

totally agreee re snakes cc.... ugh luckily havent come across one.. probably cos i'm always on the bike path

[LadyinWhite]

Real name: Theresa
Where do you live? Monmouth Cty, NJ

Explanation of your handle: Totally random collection of ideas. I don't even own a white dress.

Explanation of your avatar: Don't have one yet

Age (general or specific):41, turning 42 day after tomorrow!

Occupation: p/t IT instructor, independent tech integration consultant and prof development instructor in grades k-12

Favorite bike: Although I just adore all the gorgeous whiz bang high tech bikes out there, I have a tender spot for my own steed because she is what got me turned on to road cycling.

What's in your stable? 2006 Trek 1000 WSD, gave away my Trek mtb to my mom.

Fastest speed on a road bike? hmmm.. good question. Don't really know, I haven't been outside off the trainer for a couple of months now.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? umm.. they know better than to take pics of me in spandex!

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Sure, I'd love to.

Most memorable moment on my bike: At the moment its a toss up between the day a rider new to my area stopped suddenly at a non stop intersection (no cross traffic option passing in front of our path) and I ended up crashing because I know the area and knew ASSUMED no stop was coming. I'm still in PT getting my knee worked on after blowing it out 4 mos ago.

Second most memorable moment was hauling up a hill and cresting at the top, coasting to a stop next to DH. I was PUMPED. What a thrill!

Most fun ever had on a bike? Getting up early, before the summer heat kicks in, before the commuter traffic builds up, taking her east, to the coastline, and just opening up, long flat ride along the ocean.

[IFjane]

Welcome, Lady! This is a great place to hang out - enjoy!

[Batbike]

Real name: Suzanne

Where do you live? Lynchburg, VA

Explanation of your handle: I ride an obscure Italian carbon frame: Battaglin. Being Italian, it is a difficult name to pronounce correctly, so I just started calling it "The Bat". Hey it is black, red, and white -- good *Bat* colors, so the name fits in more ways than one!

Explanation of your avatar: I liked it -- pretty and a bike theme.

Age (general or specific): 43, as of this month (January)

Occupation: full-time mom; part-time sales rep for food broker

Favorite bike: Italian heritage, European geometry, and just my size!

What's in your stable? Battaglin Compact Carbon with full Campy Carbon drivetrain and Topolino wheels; traditional '98 Bianchi steel frame (haven't decided what to do with it yet); and, an old Giant hardtail mountain bike I use for both easy trail riding and quick runs to the grocery store (when I take the time to change the tires to slicks)

Fastest speed on a road bike? almost 50 on a downhill (I think) -- wouldn't that be super if it was an uphill?! what is life without dreams?

Another picture of yourself or your ride? go to 811velo.com and look for my name under the photos

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: no need to go there ... life is too short!

Most memorable moment on my bike: every bike ride is a memory ... I love to ride!! The best times are with friends when we are casually talking, jumping into a chase, pedaling hard in a pace line, and laughing because it was so exhausting and OH SO MUCH FUN!

Most fun ever had on a bike? see above answer

[IFjane]

Happy (late) Birthday, Bat!

So....why are there no photos of you at Mountains of Misery???

[Batbike]

Happy (late) Birthday, Bat!

So....why are there no photos of you at Mountains of Misery???

OH IFjane -- I am an *old* woman (note your bday greeting ... thanks, by the way) and that is an awfully BIG mountain!! Actually, if I ever invest in a compact crank and a very low gear cassette combo, I may attempt it one day ... MAY is the big big word in sentence!

The Wilderness Ride is LOTS of fun (day before Mountains of Misery) ... my kind of ride!! Beautiful and enough hills to let you know you did something!

[mimitabby]

Real name: Suzanne

Where do you live? Lynchburg, VA

Explanation of your handle: I ride an obscure Italian carbon frame: Battaglin. Being Italian, it is a difficult name to pronounce correctly, so I just started calling it "The Bat". Hey it is black, red, and white -- good *Bat* colors, so the name fits in more ways than one!

Explanation of your avatar: I liked it -- pretty and a bike theme.

Age (general or specific): 43, as of this month (January)

Occupation: full-time mom; part-time sales rep for food broker

Favorite bike: Italian heritage, European geometry, and just my size!

What's in your stable? Battaglin Compact Carbon with full Campy Carbon drivetrain and Topolino wheels; traditional '98 Bianchi steel frame (haven't decided what to do with it yet); and, an old Giant hardtail mountain bike I use for both easy trail riding and quick runs to the grocery store (when I take the time to change the tires to slicks)

Fastest speed on a road bike? almost 50 on a downhill (I think) -- wouldn't that be super if it was an uphill?! what is life without dreams?

Another picture of yourself or your ride? go to 811velo.com and look for my name under the photos

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: no need to go there ... life is too short!

Most memorable moment on my bike: every bike ride is a memory ... I love to ride!! The best times are with friends when we are casually talking, jumping into a chase, pedaling hard in a pace line, and laughing because it was so exhausting and OH SO MUCH FUN!

Most fun ever had on a bike? see above answer

hey Bat, you have to be a member to see those pictures. You must show us a picture of your bike and you!! I want to see. I love obscure italian stuff.
Sono un'italiana!

[Batbike]

yes, obscure Italian is a good thing!

as for photos, those of my bike did not turn out well -- fuzzy/bad reflection/sun glare ... need to reshoot.

with the bike being relatively new, i only have one photo of me on bike and i don't like it -- my butt looks big -- so will wait for a better photo to share!

if you go to www.811velo.com (not the yahoo group site) and click on *Photos* and look for my name, Suzanne, you can see a few photos of me when I was riding the Bianchi.

but to give you an idea of Battaglin, here is photo of frame/fork prior to being built:

[DarkEros07]

Real name: Kristen
Where do you live? Wolverine, Michigan, Saranac, Michigan*both houses are mine* Lake Butler, Florida*winter home @ my brothers when we actually go*

Explanation of your handle: It's always been something I used. Dark because I am a dark person in sense of my poetry and my style. Eros someone told me to use it so I did. and 07 because 7 is my favorite number I was born on the 7th and so was my hubby.

Explanation of your avatar: Tried but it didnt work.

Age (general or specific) 20, I will be 21 Sept 7th, oddly enough I am going to the bar the NEXT night so that I can sing Kareoke and not drink. lol

Occupation: I am going to be going back to work in March to redo my Certified Nursing Assistant Training after losing it because I haven't worked since 2003

Favorite bike: I don't have one really.

What's in your stable? NOTHING! Yeap thats right Not a single bike. They were all stolen.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? That was 50 going down a big hill coming home from my friends house. Almost crashed. Pedaling it would have to be 30 going threw the Ionia State Park in Ionia Michigan this was all a few years back.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I don't have very many pixs of myself - I hate having my pix taken


What is the biggest lie you've ever told: "I don't love you anymore"

Most memorable moment on my bike: I guess riding with my dad.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Riding with my dad on the trails at the Ionia State Park in Ionia Michigan


My father passed away July 7th 2005. Which was my husbands 20th birthday. He is greatly missed and I ride for him. He started me riding when I was 3 and I rode for the first time without training wheels at the age of 4 and havent stoped yet. Anyways thats bout all. Oh and all my stuff was stolen from my dads house so I no longer have a bike, tools, or anything.

-Kristen-