Getting to Know You!

[chelle]

New Mexcio??....Where/when in my home state??...gosh - we NEVER do anything exciting here! LOL and yuppers, if it's close and I can work it in, I'd be there in a heartbeat!

Corsair "off to check the NMCycling.org website to see if I can find it" Mac

CM - The world cup mtb. race is in Angel Fire on July 10. It's always fun to watch the downhill, mt. x, and dual slalom. Not sure if all those events are going to be at Angel Fire.

If you can make it to the World cup, go. It's an awesome event and Angel Fire is a great mountain to host an event like this. I'll be there. Come say hi.

Michelle

[spazzdog]

What are you ranked these days?

And can you let us know your race schedule around the country/world so we can come cheer you on if we're in the area.

A perk of the forum membership... you get an automatic TE cheering section.

spazz

[sisu_concepts]

Thank you all for taking the time to answer all our questions. The advice, insight and support is inspirational!

Real name
Jamille

Where do you live?
Fort Leavenworth, KS...moving to Fort Bragg, NC in July 2005

Explanation of your handle:
Saw the defintion of the Finnish word "Sisu" and thought....how can one little word mean so many things!

Explanation of your avatar:
at the finish line of my first triathalon in my scary tights

Age (general or specific)
34

Occupation:
Editor

Favorite bike:
Not sure...I am still pretty new and don't know that much about different bikes....I bought the bike the bike store owner recommended...probably not the smartest move I ever made.

What's in your stable?
Trek 7200, 16 inch, 2005

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when?
35.2 mph on the 20 mile Fort Leavenworth beginner route on Monday (May 16, 2005)

Another picture of yourself or your ride?
oh no....no more pictures

What is the biggest lie you've ever told:
Finally something I am really good at and you want me to reveal my biggest one?

Most memorable moment on my bike:
when I made it up all three hills of the Fort Leavenworth Garden Hill. I was so angry that night and I kept thinking I am not getting off this bike till the top...I am not getting off this bike till the top

Most fun ever had on a bike
Well, wasn't actually on the bike...before my first triathalon (2 weeks ago) I was nervous and feeling edgy standing around with all the fit bodies and then while I was waiting for my swim heat to start I started talking to bunch of women I never met and who had never met each other. It felt like we were a family, old and young, fat and thin...it was unlike anything I have ever experienced outside the bonding that happens in military training. It has been a decade since I left the Army and I never thought I would feel that bond again. Thank you too all those strangers who taught me to say my "ABCs" as I raced up the hill.

[CorsairMac]

welcome to the board Sisu! Congrats on your first Tri! and I loved your story about the start and the fun friends you made!! Hope to hear more from ya!!

[Lynne]

Real name: Lynne (yeah, I'm real creative w/my handle...)

Where do you live? Portland, Oregon

Explanation of your handle: Uh, I have no imagination??

Explanation of your avatar: I need one!

Age (general or specific): 39 (today :-()

Occupation: Commercial Claim Adjuster

Favorite bike: I'm a newbie, so I have just the one: Redline Conquest cross (and might I say, I'm loving it??)

What's in your stable? The Redline and my city bike, an old Peugot (gift from my boyfriend...awwww)

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 41.7mph on Thompson Rd in the west hills in Portland....as much as I'd love to say it was on a flat-out, it was downhill as you've all guessed...

Another picture of yourself or your ride? how do I hook a photo?

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Mmmm...I really have an issue w/lying, so I mostly do white lies

Most memorable moment on my bike:
When I first got the big chainring and could actually pedal on the downhill...whoo hoo! So, basically any downhill. Ok, that and the first time I got on the bike and fell over in my clips, bike landing on right knee, spraining it, not knowing it and doing a 22 mile trail ride. BAD memory, that one!

Most fun ever had on a bike?
I'm so new, but downhill again...and I love the country rides on the flats where I can really pedal hard and get lots of fresh air. __________________

[CorsairMac]

welcome again Lynne - and congrats on your first group ride!

[DeniseGoldberg]

Real name: Lynne
Age (general or specific): 39 (today :-()

Hi Lynne -
Happy birthday, and welcome to the forum! I hope that you were able to take a celebratory ride today!
--- Denise

[bluezfire]

I registered a while back and then continued to lurk instead of participate. But the more I lurk, the more I want to participate. So I am coming out of the woodwork and introducing myself.

Real name
Lee

Where do you live?
a very small city in southeastern TN centrally located between Nashville, Chattanooga, and Huntsville, AL

Explanation of your handle
My handle actually is pretty sentimental, I suppose. I'll try to make the story short and sweet.

I met my husband online almost 10 years ago. At the time, I was using "Lela" as a screenname and his was "d_bluez". We eventually met in person, became friends (and friends only), stayed in touch via phone for over a year while he worked in Lubbock, TX, got together when he came back to work in Nashville, and have been together ever since. (This June 14 we will celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary.)

Once we were married, I wanted a new handle that represented me as the new woman that I was. I thought about it for a while and decided on Bluezfire. "Bluez" was taken from his handle, of course, and "fire" was added to represent the way we feel about each other. I am his fire and he is mine.

That is how Bluezfire came to be. And I will forever remain Bluezfire.

Yeah, I know. Corny, huh?

Explanation of your avatar
My husband took this photo of me on our very first Metric Century ride of the year. Well, our first Metric Century EVER! You can read my account of the ride here and see all of the pictures here. The explanation of "Fitness Goober" can be found here.

Age (general or specific)
I'll be specific ... 33, turning 34 in October.

Occupation
I wear many faces at my full time job at my gym/fitness center. My official title is General Manager. I am also an indoor cycling instructor.

Favorite bike
This is a hard one. There are so many bikes out there that will make me stop and go, "Wow!" Plus, my answer here is solely based on what I have seen. Unfortunately, I haven't had the pleasure of actually riding too many of my "favorites". For the sake of this forum, though, I will come clean and admit that I drool like a mad dog every time I see a Softride.

What's in your stable?
A recently upgraded 1982 Schwinn Traveler. My husband purchased it last Spring at a yard sale for $10.00. I do believe it's been the best $10.00 we have spent. Well, that and the $5.00 he paid for his 1985 Cannondale at another yard sale.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when?
35mph going down a mountain road, riding my breaks almost the entire time, on our metric century ride last month

Another picture of yourself or your ride?
You can see both in this photo gallery from last weekend.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told?
Oh no. This is one secret that I will take to my grave with me. Nice try, though.

Most memorable moment on my bike
The first time I fell and hurt myself pretty badly, yet I still climbed back on the bike and rode it home. That's the moment that I knew that this is something that I really want to do for the rest of my life.

Most fun ever had on a bike
Anytime I look at an obstacle head on and then crush it. It could be mental or it could be physical. This ends up being almost every time I get in the saddle. How cool is that?

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board Lee. I loved the story of you handle, thanks for sharing!! and don't vintage bikes ROCK!!!!

<----vintage bike person too!

[RoadRaven]

Welcome to the board Quail... Allison, I'm studying too - though juggling study with family and FT work...

Welcome Bluezfire... Lee, glad you've stopped lurking, its a cool little place to hang out

Welcome to Lynne from Oregon... LOL... when I read your profile I thought your job was adjusting clams til I went back and reread... ROFL

Hi tatormac... Melissa, read your profile and thought of the song about the Wichita Lineman

and Jamille... hi to you too... one of my absolutely fave songs features "fort Leavenwirth"!

GooglieWooglie - what a mouthful!!! Hi Jen... read your post about the banana seat and your bike when you were a kid and I remembered something Lance Armstrong wrote in one of his books. It was about the first freedom we have as kids ... and it happens on a bike - totally in control of ourselves, no limits or boundaries or parents... our first real freedom!

Hope you all enjoy visiting TE as much as I am
Rock on

[effulgent]

Real name:
Cynthia

Where do you live?:
Downtown Dallas, TX, in an urban loft conversion from an office building/ department store. You can see pics of our place here. It's actually incredibly cool living smack dab in the middle of downtown on Main Street.

Explanation of your handle:

My heart expands
'Tis grown a bulge in it
Inspired by
Your Beauty Effulgent
-William the Bloody

It's kind of my general Internet handle for all of my boards that I frequent.

Explanation of your avatar:
Simple ... How do you know if someone's a Texan?

They'll tell you.

Age (general or specific):
34

Occupation:
Reporting Analyst

Favorite bike:
I only have one bike.

What's in your stable?:
This is a description written by my husband who basically assembled the bike-

1980s Centurion Ironman frame/fork w/ 105 RD & Front shifter Ultegra FD, Brake calipers, cranks, hubs Deore 7-speed rear shifter Mavic MA40 rims Tioga mtn stem and flat bar Campagnolo Nuovo Record seatpost Bell platform pedals Continental SuperSport Ultra 23 front tire Michelin Hi-Lite Road 23 rear tire

However, he changes something every single day on that thing, so it's entirely possible something's changed since he wrote this. My sweetie takes care of me and takes care of my bike very well.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when?:
20MPH, today on the Katy Trail, going downhill.

Another picture of yourself or your ride?:
Not yet, sorry.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told:
I told my mom I graduated in 1996 from college when I didn't finish until 1999.

Most memorable moment on my bike:
I haven't been riding long, so I guess it would be looking down and seeing I was going 20MPH. But I plan on changing that soon. I want to have good memories from every ride.

Most fun ever had on a bike?:
See above.

And, I would like to say, I really like this board, everyone is so nice and helpful! I look forward to learning and contributing for a long time!

[BikeMomma]

The lofts page was neat. What a gorgeous building! When was that built - do you know the original construction date? I took a special interest - in the city I work for (Merced, CA [USA]), our first lofts project is almost finished. Some of us city staff got a tour of the nearly-finished building, and I have to say, if I were single with no children, I'd think seriously about applying for tenancy in one. One of the City's redevelopment goals is to bring life back into our historic/modern mix of downtown buildings and businesses. I've spoken to many people who are excited about the lofts project, so if it's successful, we expect to see more such development in the future. Is the interior picture your actual space or just an example? It's decorated nicely!

Again, welcome to our humble board, and the same to everyone else, as well! Have fun riding....
BikeMomma

[sisu_concepts]

Cynthia,

Ohhhh...the speed just gets better and better. You are doing so well...the first time I went 20 mph I looked down to check my speed and lost my balance....yikes!

Many Welcomes,
Jam

[RoadRaven]

Hey there effulgent...
Welcome Cynthia

[effulgent]

The lofts page was neat. What a gorgeous building! When was that built - do you know the original construction date? I took a special interest - in the city I work for (Merced, CA [USA]), our first lofts project is almost finished. Some of us city staff got a tour of the nearly-finished building, and I have to say, if I were single with no children, I'd think seriously about applying for tenancy in one. One of the City's redevelopment goals is to bring life back into our historic/modern mix of downtown buildings and businesses. I've spoken to many people who are excited about the lofts project, so if it's successful, we expect to see more such development in the future. Is the interior picture your actual space or just an example? It's decorated nicely!

Again, welcome to our humble board, and the same to everyone else, as well! Have fun riding....
BikeMomma

My building was built in 1903. Here is a little blurb about the building from the Dallas Historical society. Now that you know where I live, please don't stalk me.

Loft living is pretty great in my opinion. Lots of things to do all the time and whatnot.

And thanks for all of your encouraging words!