Getting to Know You!

[veloputt]

Hi all,

I've been enjoying reading the posts over the summer since I started getting back on the bike and commuting (17 mi each way--glad there's a shower at work!). I recently starting adding my 2cents into the forums:

Real name: Susan
Where do you live? Seattle, WA

Explanation of your handle: I love cycling and golf... though the last half sometimes describes my pace! (I tried racing for a couple summers, but not my thing--great admiration for those who do!)

Explanation of your avatar: On the sidewalks in Amsterdam--just love it!

Age (general or specific): documents say 40...

Occupation: "Quality" Engineer--solving problems others create!

Favorite bike: my Mercian "King of Mercia"

What's in your stable? Mercian "King of Mercia" road bike--gorgeous steel frame w/ various Shimano drive train components/stem, Mavic hubs/rims, fizik Arione saddle (awesome!), and a classic Bridgestone RB-5--a "suspension-free" mntn bike (out to pasture for the moment). Seems rather vintage, now, but they are great rides!

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 55 mph or so coming down off a hill in Eugene, OR back in '92 or so. Most recent top speed = upper 30s commuting into work...

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I do have photos of my "baby"

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: "Oh, that's OK"

Most memorable moment on my bike: Going 55mph!

Most fun ever had on a bike? This summer = riding on the velodrome at Marymoor park--makes you ride faster and do more laps than you think you can! It was a blast!

[velodrome.co.nr]

Real name: velodrome
Where do you live? Staffordshire, UK

Age (general or specific) 3rd April 1985
Occupation: Manage Broadband Installs at Hotels

Favorite bike: Carrera Valour 2003 and My Swinnertons Custom Track Bike

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 62mph, erm downhill near the Winking Man Climb in Leek, UK

i consider myself as more of a endurance rider on the Track
I am also really in to music and was in a highly successful band in the UK but now I've gone solo.

[CorsairMac]

welcome to the board both Velos! (are multiple Velos Veli?) Anyway, 55 mph?? 62 mph?? are you nuts?? (where were those hills..........I'm trying to break 50 mph!! lol) Velodrome: I love some of the names you've been riding "winking man climb"......just too cute!

hope to hear more from ya'll and welcome!

[Eden]

Real name: Eden - really!
Where do you live? Seattle WA

Explanation of your handle: It's really my name, but amusing enough to pass as a screen name, and then I don't have to remember all of the user names I've made up for various web sites...

Explanation of your avatar: I draw my own, so its me!

Age (general or specific) 33

Occupation: Graphic designer/ photographer

What's in your stable? 2005 Fuji Provence - its a 44cm, but still has 700c wheels- it was a suprise to me too, but it works out just fine. I've head tech heads tell me there is no way to make a decent road bike this small with those wheels that could fit, but I must have a weird body, because it works out smashingly for me

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 49mph, flying down a mountain side in Spain on a loaded touring bike wheeeee

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I've attatched a couple taken this summer up at Mt. Baker

Most fun ever had on a bike? on the way down the day those two photos were taken I got to try out the super aero position that you sometimes see guys use in big races -down on the bar and everything. The road was just paved so it was super smooth, there was no traffic and it was steep and straight yipeee

[velodrome.co.nr]

welcome to the board both Velos! (are multiple Velos Veli?) Anyway, 55 mph?? 62 mph?? are you nuts?? (where were those hills..........I'm trying to break 50 mph!! lol) Velodrome: I love some of the names you've been riding "winking man climb"......just too cute!

hope to hear more from ya'll and welcome!

ther names are genuine, its strange but true, us British
Yeah 62mph, was were scary but unbelieveable adrenaline rush i must be mad!! lol the hill was only 20% gradient aswell ha!

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board Eden!! Saw your avatar on one of your posts and thought it was very cool, now that I know you drew it - it's wayyy beyond cool! Nice stable btw!
Nice to meet ya!

Velo: Yup, we've got some of those hills here but last time I tried to hit 50+, I had headwind the whole way down!! I have a friend I ride with who always "loses" me when we descend coz I and the bike aren't very big to begin with and then I lay down pretty much on the seat/toptube when I descend!


Corsair "I feel the need for speed!" Mac

[veloputt]

Hi Corsair, thanks for the welcome--where in Alb-q do you live? I went to college in Socorro--still miss the fabulous food and sky!!

And welcome Velodrome and Eden (yea! another Seattle-ite). Might have to pick your brain for good cycling routes--the B-G trail is good for commuting, but need to learn the good roads in the area!

[Eden]

(yea! another Seattle-ite). Might have to pick your brain for good cycling routes--the B-G trail is good for commuting, but need to learn the good roads in the area!

Feel free to pick away! Yeah- B-G gets crowded and boring in the summer. Sounds like you might have moved up here recently? Monday women's rides from Gasworks park should start up again in the spring!

I've been hanging out at cyclingforums for a while now, but its getting booooring, almost all guys repeating the same darn conversations over and over again. I do see a few familiar "faces" here though!

[BikeMomma]

Eden, your pics are really good!

Will your team be making it down to California for any racing this year, or do you gals mainly stay up north(west)?

sorry...little OT.
-BikeMomma

[Eden]

Thanks BikeMomma!
I probably won't go very far afield (this will be my first year!), but some of the higher cat gals get out and about. We had two or three at the cross-nats a couple weekends ago and will have one at British cross-nationals coming up.

[CorsairMac]

Hi Corsair, thanks for the welcome--where in Alb-q do you live? I went to college in Socorro--still miss the fabulous food and sky!!

And welcome Velodrome and Eden (yea! another Seattle-ite). Might have to pick your brain for good cycling routes--the B-G trail is good for commuting, but need to learn the good roads in the area!

I live in the heights on the east side of town. College in Socorro?? didn't know there was one??? as for the food - red or green!! and the sky?? Gorgeous today as always with a high predicted of 53.

[veloputt]

Feel free to pick away! Yeah- B-G gets crowded and boring in the summer. Sounds like you might have moved up here recently? Monday women's rides from Gasworks park should start up again in the spring!

I've been hanging out at cyclingforums for a while now, but its getting booooring, almost all guys repeating the same darn conversations over and over again. I do see a few familiar "faces" here though!

Great photos, Eden! Good luck w/ the team! Are you going to do road, crit or track?

I'll check out more group rides. And I will be as a fan at the races!

FYI, I was introduced to racing when I lived in Illinois about 10 years ago--very exciting, and tried some road & crits for a couple summers. I didn't train hard enough to race well since I golf a lot, too! I grew up in this area, but away to college in NM and then my "adult" life had been in Peoria and Eugene (fab place to ride), and back to Seattle in 2000, but only really started riding again last year and just scratching the surface of cycling community in the area. I commuted from Northgate to Redmond end of June thru Sept--travel for work and then days got too short and wet for me!

[veloputt]

I live in the heights on the east side of town. College in Socorro?? didn't know there was one??? as for the food - red or green!! and the sky?? Gorgeous today as always with a high predicted of 53.

Green!
And a small school--NMIMT--a mouthfull, but Tech to those crazy enough to stay there (or driven crazy by staying there?). Lots of alum now work at Microsoft (not me), and recently we had a dinner at Sante Fe Cafe in town to get a fix of about as good-as-you-can-get-outside-the-state-New Mexican food.

Have a good holiday everyone!

[costarica95]

Real name: Stacy
Where do you live? near Sacramento, California

Explanation of your handle: I studied at the University of Costa Rica in 1995.

Explanation of your avatar: Patience, my friends...

Age (general or specific) 30

Occupation: Registered Nurse

Favorite bike: BMW. But that's a different kind of bike. I haven't found my favorite bicycle yet, that's partly why I'm here. Looking for tips on bike fit and a good LBS.

What's in your stable? Road: Marin San Marino; Dirt: Gary Fisher Mamba

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 35mph, a long downhill on one of the centuries I've ridden.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Have patience...

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: hmm, I'm not in the habit of telling big lies...

Most memorable moment on my bike: Probably that downhill going 35 mph! Unless you want a bad memory - that would be my first ever mtn bike race, where I did my first-ever superman over the handlebars maneuver, sufficiently knocking the wind out of me. Not to mention the embarrassment.

Most fun ever had on a bike? That same downhill - love that speed!!!

[jobob]

grettings Stacy !

I'm sure our lovely Ms. SadieKate could advise you on good LBSs in the Sacramento area.

( Me, I'm just good for scoping out pizza & beer )