Real name: Lorri Lee Lown
Where do you live? San Mateo, CA (just south of San Francisco)
Explanation of your handle: It's my company name -- Velo Girls
Age (general or specific) 40 -- but I say I'm 35 in my online dating profiles -- men don't understand that 40 year old women are sexy, savvy, and sassy!
Occupation: Cycling Coach (how lucky am I?)
Favorite bike: I can't play favorites because the others will get jealous
What's in your stable? Trek Madone 5.9 SL with Campy Record (white with pink & silver flames and wheels I built myself -- pink Chris King hubs laced with silver spokes and silver Velocity rims), Lemond Victoire (for sale, wanna buy it?), Felt S22 time trial bike with a Zipp disk, Luna Orbit custom cyclocross bike (pink and purple) currently built up as a single speed (more pink hubs), Ritchey Break-Away steel cyclocross frame (also for sale), Ritchey Break-Away titanium cyclocross bike (a prototype frame that I was lucky enough to get for nationals -- thank you, Ritchey), Litespeed Pisgah hardtail mountain bike (with pink and silver streamers), Rivendell Atlantis touring bike that I built up myself, and a really cool track bike that I need to sell because I don't ride it and it deserves to be loved a lot (built by Dale Sasso for Bobby Walthour). Oh, and a 1968 Murray tricycle (red ) that was my very first bike!
What bikes do you covet? I'm planning to build up a single speed mountain bike soon. I've got my eyes on the Bianchi P.U.S.S. just because it's pink. I also want to get a true single speed cyclocross bike to replace the Luna. Alas.....no more new bikes until I sell a few.....
Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 56.2 on one of the California AIDS Rides -- descending from the Evil Twins. Luckily, I couldn't see the speed on my computer at the time or I probably would've freaked out. Anything over 45 usually makes that little voice in my head scream.
Another picture of yourself or your ride? I don't like to be photographed.
What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I don't really lie (well, except for my age in my online dating profiles).
Most memorable moment on my bike: Dang! That's a tough one. Recently, it would be my three-week self-supported tour in upstate NY (where I grew up) to celebrate my 40th (I mean 35th) birthday. It was an important trip for me. I'd been off the bike for a good part of the year due to two surgeries, so I had six weeks to regain the fitness to do this trip. There's nothing as empowering as travelling by bike (a bike I built up all by myself), carrying all your gear, visiting places I'd lived, friends, my parents' graves. I met the most incredible people, had some wild adventures, and was able to relive (and relieve) some of my past. I plan to ride cross-country to celebrate my 45th (I mean 40th) in 2010.
Most fun ever had on a bike? That's another tough one. I think it would be the day I discovered The Shells -- a really cool dirt park (jumps) hidden right on the bay in Foster City. I rode around like a little kid, jumping, getting air, and being generally foolish.
Worst time ever on a bike Kinda sad, but this one's an easier answer. Getting hit by a car ranks high on this list. So does crashing at Nationals. But I think my all-time worst day was a date. It was a second date with this guy I didn't really like. I had the crazy idea that we should go on a tandem ride (he had a tandem and I'd never ridden one and was curious). I know some folks love to tandem, but it sure wasn't fun for me -- sitting on the back of a bike, feeling completely out of control, needing to trust someone I barely knew, and staring at his butt for hours. Sheesh! I'm sure that statement right there will tell you all more about me than anything else I've written.



Reply With Quote