How many of you have met/ridden with other forum members you didn't already know?

[Crankin]

Yea, I figured if someone was really creepy, I would just have to ride fast, away from them.
But, some TEers have been to my house, actually this house and my old house, and so far, no robberies .

[Amira]

Some of my friends from the real world always question that I am meeting people that I know "from the Internet." I always tell them that so far, I haven't met any deranged cyclists.

Ah, mine ask that too! I actively participate on another fitness/food forum and I've really gotten to know a group of women really well from it. We always refer to ourselves as 'friends who live in our computers.' Even though we are scattered all over the place (most in US, but from Cali to New England, one is @ The Hague). Several of them have met (a few from NE went to Boston to watch one do the Boston Marathon this year). The cyclists are talking about meeting at some ride next year. I think it's really cool that people can form real friendships with people they would have otherwise never ever met.

And, my college roommate met her hubbie on the 'internets' - way back in the early days of online dating.

[jessmarimba]

I have! I was even invited to Christmas by one very awesome TE member I've tried to get a bigger group of the Denver-area folks together but I don't have a road bike and I guess not too many of us mountain bike. Then again, I haven't done that much riding this summer, since I vowed to stay out of the hospital until after my marathon

[Amira]

I have! I was even invited to Christmas by one very awesome TE member I've tried to get a bigger group of the Denver-area folks together but I don't have a road bike and I guess not too many of us mountain bike. Then again, I haven't done that much riding this summer, since I vowed to stay out of the hospital until after my marathon

Oh, my sister used to live in the Denver area and would have loved that. She's not there any more, but they do spend a good part of the summer in Vail, so maybe next summer.......

[GLC1968]

I've met and ridden with quite a few TE'rs. First when I lived in NC and even more now that I'm in the PNW. I've even met other TE people when I've traveled (like to MA) even though there was not opportunity to bike with those lovely ladies. Honestly, a large % of the people I'm friends with locally I met through Susan, so had it not been for TE, I'd have a much smaller circle of friends even in real life.

I also have friends all over the country that I know in real life from other internet boards as well. And in some cases, the people from those boards have crossed over with people I knew/met in real life avenues (like when I ran into a board friend at my company or when a previous employee of mine identified herself to me on the board when she recognized a story I shared!). The internet has quite literally 'shrunk' an already small world!

[zoom-zoom]

I also have friends all over the country that I know in real life from other internet boards as well. And in some cases, the people from those boards have crossed over with people I knew/met in real life avenues (like when I ran into a board friend at my company or when a previous employee of mine identified herself to me on the board when she recognized a story I shared!). The internet has quite literally 'shrunk' an already small world!

We were just talking about all the weird "how the heck do YOU know THEM?!" things we've run into by virtue of FB. 6 degrees is a joke!

[GLC1968]

We were just talking about all the weird "how the heck do YOU know THEM?!" things we've run into by virtue of FB. 6 degrees is a joke!

No kidding!

I actually found out that my best friend from 2nd grade (whom I got back in contact with through a guy I work with), is friends with my college boyfriend. They work at the same school and I found that out because of FB. I don't think we ever would have realized that connection in any other way!

[Crankin]

Yes, I have seen some weird possible connections on FB. All from my older son's 1st grade class in AZ, because I am friends with the kids of my friend there. Those kids went to a different elementary school than my son, but they all became (real) friends in middle school and high school. It's weird that the same group of kids he was friends with at age 7 became very close friends of my close friend's kids when they were teens. I also have seen some names I haven't thought of in years, as I am friends with a few people from the high school I went to here in MA, before I moved. I didn't graduate from this school, and some of those connections go back to my own preschool days. I haven't connected with any of them, though.

[azfiddle]

I have met 5 (Dogmama, BadgerCat, Desert Tortoise, Owlie & 1 other), ridden with the first 3, and waved at one more riding in El Tour de Tucson....(itself).

Plus Madei

[Red Rock]

I rode with Alex and caught up with Kacie and her hubby both when Kacie and Alex's husband were doing the St. George Ironman. Now that it is 70.3, it makes me even more happy for them that they made it through the course as a full IM. I would love to meet more TE people. Probably more have driven through town on the way to Vegas or over to Moab unless you came from the Colorado side.

[bikerchic]

I have met 5 (Dogmama, BadgerCat, Desert Tortoise, Owlie & 1 other), ridden with the first 3, and waved at one more riding in El Tour de Tucson....(itself).

Plus Madei

LOL azfiddle....maybe I was the 1 other? We met once and rode together.

I've gone to gatherings from another bike site back in the late 90's, mountain biking. It was fun and no there was not an ax murder among us. From that website one of the ladies I camped with came out from the East coast and stayed here in Tucson with me at my son's and another cyclist friend who came from CA with me to do El Tour. I think that was '01. It's all fun!

~Kate

[FlyingScot]

I think it would be cool to have a TE members only jersey that you could only buy if you actually signed up for an account. Maybe set a limit that you have to have posted 20 times (random number) prior to purchasing or be approved by the administrators to keep it legit. Then when you are riding you might see someone else with the same jersey and make a new friend. I have no idea how many, if any, members I have ridden by (or most likely behind) We could have a design contest and vote on the one we like the best which would be kinda fun. I've seen some hysterical slogans posted here of late.

[Irulan]

I haven't ridden with any te gals, but I've run into Bikerhen on the Centennial Trail here. I have met and done activities with folks from some of the other boards I hang out on (mtbr/skidiva). Anyone remember usenet? One of my very best friends I met on alt.sewing; and we used to have an annual Idaho bike gathering off of alt.mountainbike.