Saying Hello!

[Danariel]

I thank all of you kindly for the wonderful welcomes!

In regards to DH, you all might be suprised at how little of the Macho Dude there is in Jon. Honestly, he's sometimes even better with the emotional stuff than I am! I've often said that I'm more masculine (tom-boy, former Army and all that) than most girls of my acquaintance, and he's much more feminine (not to say he's effeminate or "swishy," just REALLY in touch with his emotions) than any straight male I've ever met. As far as too much information, I've never found ANYTHING to be truely TMI for him, his interest in everything (including the differences between boys and girls) is boundless.

He is truely the sweetest, kindest, gentlest man I have ever met. We have been married for 5 years, together for 6, and he still gets doors for me, holds my chair, won't sit at table until I do. I've had lots of people tell me that I trained him right, but he was that way when I met him. And it's certainly not his father's training! He raised himself up right, as he lost his mother at 9.

I will, however, let him know that a few "test posts" might be in order, and since you can set your own Title here, I'm sure he'd be willing to put Team Testosterone or something else to make it plain he's a guy. And I can suggest that he might want to stay out of some of the more embarrassing posts until/unless you ladies become that comfortable with him.

You know how sometimes, a gay male friend can seem almost like a girlfriend? Well, he's almost like that. Except that I really don't think a gay male would honestly want to hear about period problems (having NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER in female anatomy) where Jon would express sympathy, and perhaps a tiny bit of empathy (he's talked about there being a male "cycle" that kinda roughly corresponds with the female cycle, and sometimes he feels cranky, or headachy, when I'm menstruating.)

I'll let him read what you all have said, and if he'd still like to post here and get to know some kick *** chicks, he'll try very hard to win your friendship.

[snapdragen]

Sadiekate is spot on recommending bikejournal.com. You will both find friendly supportive folks over there. And when hubby has some "boy" questions (which he will!) there are lots of guys there to help.

I find Bicycling's site a bit of a snake pit, but maybe I'm just sensitive. cyclingforums.com has a lovely international feel, roadbikereview.com has a great beginners forum. All rbr members are under orders to be nice to newbies in the beginners forum . They're good people, if not a bit looney.

I don't mind the occasional post here, but I honestly feel he'll get bored after a while.

Welcome to both of you!

[Pedal Wench]

bikeforums.net is another good one with a good group in the general cycling and road cycling forums. Training and nutrition forum is good too. (Of course, the women's cycling forum is fun too, but off limits for him!)

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board Dana - your story was most interesting to say the least! and I appreciate you asking if Jon could post.

Here is my only concern: by having Jon post regularly or semi-regularly it sets precedent. If Jon can post then other men should be able to post also and pretty soon we run the risk of losing a place that is truly for women only.
As the others have said, we've had some DHs/SOs pop in once in awhile and the occasional man asking about something for his DW or SO, I know we have some male lurkers and one of the moderators is male but he stays out of the picture. While the decision is up to the moderators , I would just like to say it's nice to know there is one place in my life that is completely, truly, and utterly female.

But Jon sounds like the perfect man (*cigh* the kind I keep hoping I'm gonna have someday) and you should go give him a hug and a kiss from me!!

[Danariel]

*this is Jon, Tiffany's husband, using her account to post*

Hello, and thank you to everyone for the warm empathic welcome to Tiffany. She has permitted me to read her thread to see your responses regarding my possibly becoming a member. Needless to say I'm blushing at her many compliments, hard as I've worked to earn them.

I'll admit to having looked in on the TE forums as an anonymous guest - not for prurient reasons of any kind, but simply for technical advice on cycling, espcially for neophytes (since that means me ).

I do appreciate the consideration for me as a potential member and the general supportiveness of this forum. Such an attitude of friendly cooperation and encouragement is of indescribable value to people of any gender! Sadly, in all too many communities, be they online or RL, it's lacking. For my wife's sake I'm thrilled she's discovered an environment of not only skill relevant to her latest pursuit, but also compassion and understanding. Sometimes that kind of encouragement can take you the extra mile... and maybe even one or two more.

It looks like there are at least a few folks who would really rather keep TE a true ladies' only forum. I completely understand and respect that, and am happy to just look in now and again - maybe occasionally heterodyning Tif's account to post like this, but always with notification as above. Again, thanks to everyone for your positive attitudes and support for Tif. Safe journeys to all - may all the skies you travel under be bright.

[CorsairMac]

and thank you Jon for your understanding! sooooooooooo do you have a brother or two..........or three..........or.........heck I can't keep track of how many of us are single anymore! LOL

and Tif - you're right........he is quite the guy! You along with quite a few of the married/attached ladies here have pretty special guys at your side which keeps me the hopeful romantic!

[Danariel]

He is certainly all that I said and more. I am truly lucky to have found him (been found by him.) Perhaps soon I'll share the wacky, wierd account of our meeting, and courtship.

Let me add that I have been married before (3 times before, to be truthful) and he is the only one of them I would have suggested allowing to post on a Women's forum. He's a keeper, for all the right reasons.

Oh, and he says he's very flattered by your question, and, for better or worse, he's an only child. :-)

[singletrackmind]

and thank you Jon for your understanding! sooooooooooo do you have a brother or two..........or three..........or.........heck I can't keep track of how many of us are single anymore! LOL

Don't forget about sisters, too! Being a wide variety of womens here, and all.

[Grog]

Thanks Danariel and Jon for your understanding!

Looking forward to hear more of you (directly in one case, perhaps more indirectly in the other... ) on this great forum!

[CorsairMac]

Don't forget about sisters, too! Being a wide variety of womens here, and all.

rofl - doggone it, once again it was all about me! I really gotta work on this remembering others stuff!

[Danariel]

I did it! I did it! I kicked that hill's BUTT! There's a long, steep, curvy hill that I have to get up one way or another to get back home from any ride off of my street. I was scared of it, just sure I'd never make it, but I was determined to try and see how far I could go, even after having more than 3.5 miles of gently rolling neighborhood ride behind me, and another hill roughly equivalent to half the other one (the gentler half.)

I stopped at the top of the smaller hill, drank a good portion of my Orange/Pineapple/Apple juice, and caught my breath. Then I rode back down the hill, turned right while trying to keep as much momentum as I could without spinning out on the gravel at the base of it, rode the short way to the next right, and up that little incline, then the next right, and I was on it. The big kahuna, my first nemesis hill, the one I was too scared to even try the other day.

Downshifting as necessary, I focused on my pedaling, and I think I do more circles than push-push anyway (I start the "push" at the top of the stroke, and push forward) and on taking the hill in manageable pieces. I first focused on the green minivan parked in that driveway there. Then, I looked up to the top, and realized I was more than halfway, so I focused on that mailbox halfway between me ant the top. Then I was sooooo close, I told myself if I quit now, I'd kick my own ***. I was all the way in granny gear, seated (gear was WAY too low to stand and pedal, I'd have ended up falling) and just powered my way up the steepest portion at like 3.4 mph (I've got a cheapy Schwinn bike comp, cost like $9.83 at Wal-Mart, but it works!) I gave myself a little cheer when I crested the hill, then zoomed down the little hill to our house. As soon as I got into the driveway, I grabbed the cellphone, and called my husband to share my elation.

Wow, what a feeling. I think I'm really going to enjoy this new hobby/form of excercise!

[singletrackmind]

WOOHOO!!! Accomplishment!
You go girl (and guy)!!!

[Danariel]

Thanks singletrack! I've been out of shape for so long, and Sunday Jon and I rode about 2.3 miles away, along a rolling but generally down hill two lane road that actually has a lot of traffic on it, and I chickened out for the return trip. I waited at a gas station for him to go home and get my truck to pick me and my bike up. What I was mostly afraid of was trying to climb that first hill on the return trip, where there's almost no shoulder, and going all wobbly and falling into traffic (40 mph on that stretch, 50 further down.)

So this accomplishment feels really good, and shows me that if I keep trying, eventually I'll buzz right up that hill with no wobblies, and not get run over. :-)

[CorsairMac]

Hills are our friends! We love hills! Hills make us stronger!! yarite! somedays ya'll just gotta go kick that hill right in the teeth and show it You're the boss!!

Goodonya!

[Danariel]

I did it again today, with less momentum to start with, but also with less ride behind me. I'm gonna try to ride that hill every day, until I can go up it on the second front sprocket (like DH did AFTER following me up it in Granny Gear once.)

I'm doing this because I want to be strong, fast, healthy. And also because it's fun!