Getting to Know You!

[BikeMomma]

Real name: Kim

Where do you live? Atwater, California

Explanation of your handle: I'm injecting cycling (i.e. my feel-good drug) back into my life after about 10-12 years of being out of it to get married (to a non-cyclist), create a home, have three kids (one of which WILL be a cyclist, so help me!), and go to night school to advance my career and self. All the while, I have identified myself by my parenthood and marital status, I realize now totally ignoring what really makes me tick - getting out on my bike and enjoying the health and euphoria that comes with it. That's the "bike" part. The "momma" half is the newer part of me that also makes me tick these days, and is what I answer to around the house.

Explanation of your avatar: an avatar... you mean I can have an avatar??? hehe Nope, not yet...not enough posts - still a newbie.

Age: 34
(before the injection of cycling bit mentioned above, I was probably more like croaking age, whatever that may be)

Occupation: City government, Land-use planning for a future college town....here come the cars. But there's hope...bike lanes are planned on most streets....

Favorite bike: any fast machine with a lovely paint job, shiny spokes, and that purring sound I love so much on the road..... Kestrel comes to mind. Saw one from across the grass at the Sea Otter Classic Expo and fell in love.... dropped everything! -- handed my daughter off to my hubby, said "I'll be over there" and I was, just like that. I haven't drooled like that since I was a wee-tiny baby in diapers. Oh my!

What's in your stable? A still-pretty (but dirty!), still purring Cannondale with a new Terry Butterfly saddle (love it! credit to the "Terry" threads for recommending!), but that is sadly showing it's age (I got it 17 years ago!). Keeping my eyes pealed for anything that fits the pocketbook, but that Kestrel is looking mighty yummy. Oh, and recently was given an older Bianchi that needs some tlc - not rideable at the moment, but couldn't beat the price.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? Oh my, it's been a while and how I DO miss the speed! I think probably about 45/50 mph is what I experienced before, while going downhill in the old mining town of Hornitos (near Mariposa, CA) and up a little bit past there. There is a certain downhill, though, before you get into Hornitos that I used to gun for at the top of the hill. I'd be positively sprinting all out at the top, and I'd carry that speed over the crest and down the other side. I'd do 45 around the next corner if I had the wind to my back. Soooo much fun.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? None at the moment...I'll work on that.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: how does that one go?? ummm, oh yea -- "I can't remember, which means I've either told too many, or I don't lie! (I'll let ya'll pick!)"

Most memorable moment on my bike: Every wednesday, I'd do the ride to Hornitos, about 65 miles from Merced, CA. I'd do another 10 mi loop - the long way home - if I didn't feel like going home yet (and it wasn't too hot). Those moments, all of them on those rides, were memorable. Especially in the spring, the landscape was gorgeously green, with wildflowers everywhere, and a view of the snow-capped Sierra range (aka Yosemite Nat'l Park locale) in the distance. Another memorable moment was beating a particular rider (a guy who was just SURE he'd always be faster than me) in a sprint on our tuesday sprint interval ride. Oh, life was sweet that day!

Most fun ever had on a bike? I agree with most here - every day, every ride is a joy, even when it hurts. But I had the most fun, I think, when I was able to keep up with the guys, the racers, every time I went out with them and finish a ride with the pack. One particular day, on a training race with another club in another city, I was riding in the middle of the pack, being sucked along by the draft, on a sweet, smooth road with the wind favorable, I looked down at my computer and we were going 35/36 easy. I was barely peddling, the wheels were humming all around me, the company was good, my legs were strong - oh, to go back in time! THAT was exhilaratingly fun. How I love this sport! Why did I ever wait so long to get back into this??