Getting to Know You!

[hirakukibou]

Real name: Pata
Where do you live? Boston (actually Somerville) MA

Explanation of your handle: hiraku means open in Japanese and Kibou means hope. I am mixed heritage Japanese American.

Explanation of your avatar: hmm. Haven't figured this one out yet.

Age (general or specific) 44 will be 45 this year in September

Occupation: Former Professor of Education, currently artist and Reiki master

Favorite bike: I am getting a Luna prebuilt and can't wait. Would love to have a custom built Luna with Campy stuff on it. Yum.

What's in your stable? Fuji Provence, and a Fuji Sagres

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 30.1 down a hill in Bedford MA, woo hoo!

Another picture of yourself or your ride? No pics yet.


What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Hmmm. Don't lie much which is the truth. I've called in sick before when it was really a mental health day. I guess that counts.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Well, I was just getting to know my sweetie and he took me for a bike ride. We rode about 25 miles which was the longest I had ever gone. At one point, when my energy was flagging, he put his hand on the small of my back and gave me a much needed push. Not only was it helpful, but a surge of electricity went through me. I guess I fell in love on a bicycle, at least in part.


Most fun ever had on a bike? I have fun all the time for different reasons. Sometimes it's fun to ride with my eleven year old daughter. She'll pass me and say catch me. When I do and then pass her she says, "Mommy, I am tired, slow down!" So, I do. She'll change gears for the fun of it petalling 90 mph and then put it in the big ring just to see what happens. All in the life of an eleven year old!

[colby]

Real name: Nicole

Where do you live? Liberty Lake, WA (just east of Spokane, WA, near the WA/ID border)

Explanation of your handle: Colby has been my nickname since my brother (now 13, half my age) was young and couldn't pronounce the "Ni-" syllable in Nicole. Colby is much easier to say in a really whiny voice than Nicole

Explanation of your avatar: It's the Dolby Digital symbol except the first D is reversed to be a C -- Colby Digital.

Age (general or specific): 26

Occupation: Technically, my title is Director, Product Management, but I am really just an engineer-type person at a network security software company with lots of extra responsibility. I do love my job, but it keeps me busy.

Favorite bike: I'm a little new to the whole "actually interested in bikes" scene, so I don't have any favorites.

What's in your stable? I just bought a Novara Carema Pro (2006) from REI (of course) a couple of months ago (see her here). I also have a cheapie MTB we bought at Costco for $200 just to have something to ride trails and dirt with.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? I don't have a magic computer just yet, so I don't really know. When I biked with a friend last, we averaged 12 and ended up going around 25 down a hill, but it is a paved trail so we tried not to go too crazy down hills

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Hmm, I don't have any pictures up anywhere.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: "It doesn't hurt, really"

Most memorable moment on my bike: I haven't had my new bike very long, but I really enjoy it. Just recently, we were biking a local trail system, and a pair of bikers were right behind myself and a friend. We came up to a hill, one of the guys passed us with a friendly "hello" (so we knew the second would be not far behind). As we separated and went up the hill (she tells me I speed up on hills ), I could hear the second guy RIGHT behind me, but the further we went the more ground he lost... so I slowed down to let him pass near the top, and his friendly greeting was more like a pant that resembled "hello" -- his ego might have been bruised, but it was definitely memorable!

Most fun ever had on a bike? The most fun moments are those ones where everything is in synch. You can feel your legs moving in a perfect rhythm, your body moving just right, and your mind clears... everything kind of disappears.

I really enjoyed reading everyone else's introductions, so I didn't think it was fair to not post my own

[Starfish]

Real name: Liz

Where do you live? Olympic Peninsula, WA State

Explanation of your handle: That old parable about the starfish on the beach is meaningful for me, and helps me remember a lot of the way I want to be in the world.

One day on the beach at low tide after a storm, stretching into the distance, countless starfish were stranded above the water line. A woman slowly walked the beach, tossing each starfish back into the water as she came to it. An observer asked her how she could think it could matter, or make any difference, when she could never reach them all. Her response: "It matters to this one."

Explanation of your avatar: Coming soon!

Age (general or specific): Newly 40!

Occupation: In transition. Soon to be Certified Life Coach.

Favorite bike: The one in my head at any given moment! Current dreams include a custom Seven Axiom, Jett saddle, Salsa bar, in Electric Blueberry and Amber Ale.

What's in your stable? The one bike in my "stable" ;-) is a Specialized Sequoia Elite, which is starting to look pretty weird with recently added aero bars and soon to be added mountain bike cassette and derailleur on the back! Some would say a strange combo.

Fastest speed on a road bike? 42mph... where? Down the Hurricane Ridge Road in Port Angeles... when? Almost every time! I dream of someday having the bike and handling skills to go faster.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I need to get on this.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Any of the ones I told myself while ever dating a man I knew deep down wasn't right for me.

Most memorable moment on my bike: I don't think I could choose, but finishing my first century alone has to be up there.

Most fun ever had on a bike? It would be pretty hard to choose from all the great memories, but strangely enough, what comes to mind is my last ride, a couple days ago. Nothing too special, but I treated myself to a completely flat ride just for fun (flat rides are limited around here), to work on my spin and position on the aero bars, and it was just a blast. Rare warm sunny day without wind. Beautiful view. I felt strong. I live for those days.

I'm new to this forum, but have been lurking & reading for a few days. You seem like a good group!