Getting to Know You!

[jeannierides]

Most memorable moment on the bike: My first ride when I realized the freeing sense of "self". On the bike I'm none of those things I mentioned in the occupation section of this thread. My lungs are working, my legs are pumping, the sweat is dripping...all for me and because of me. It's that portion of the day when I can be selfish. My family would tell you that we are all the better because of it.
Most fun ever had on the bike: It's all good.

My feeling exactly!!

Welcome everybody!

[doctorfrau]

Hi all -
Been a long hiatus for me, thus this is a RE-introduction

Real name: Kathy

Where do you live? West Virginia

Explanation of your handle: It's the title of one of my favorite books - a memoir by a woman doc who was a GP for the Amish and Mennonites of Lancaster Co PA back in the 60's and 70's

Explanation of your avatar: I just liked it - might change it

Age (general or specific) 42

Occupation:M.D. (Pediatric resident)

Favorite bike: The two I own

What's in your stable? A Schwinn MTB I bought used as the first bike I've owned since I was a teenager, A Specialized Sequoia roadbike

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? Who the heck knows? I don't have an on boarrd computer. Maybe I'd rather NOT know!

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I usually ride alone - no one to take the pix - and my attempts at self-portrait have been disappointing.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: "Of COURSE it was good for me, honey."

Most memorable moment on my bike: Whatever my most recent ride was - yesterday was 34 miles on the Yough River Trail -- Beautiful tree-shaded ride - quiet except for the whoops and hollers of the folks white-water rafting the river that the trail parallels.

Most embarrassing moment on my bike: Falling off into a briar patch on day 2 of owning the bike.

Most fun ever had on a bike? What ever my most recent ride was

[doctorfrau]

Forgot to continue the update for those of you who knew me as a semi-regular last year.

I dropped off here pretty much after meeting a new man (bad idea - never drop off the things you love doing for a mere male). I had some serious self-esteem issues going, as he wanted me to be a cool chick and learn to surf and do all the stuff he did. Tried surfing, but I am not a strong swimmer, and so didn't enjoy it. He is a former ski instructor so I learned to do that too. Even so, I was not at his level and therefore always felt inferior. I tried to get him to do some stuff on MY turf - like cycling - but he would not. Probably because he knew that though he might be able to beat me in a sprint, that I would smoke him over the long haul of 30-40 miles.

Anyway, the upside is that I took up skiing, which is another sport I now love and it keeps me occupied in the winter when I can't bike - and it adds another forum to hang around.

I also remembered something that someone here said about relationships - and it was an impetus to end the thing after about 6 months. Forgive me - I don't know who you are, but you said... "I can grow to love almost anyone - the TRICK is in finding someone WORTHY of that love." Truer words were never spoken - thank you whoever you are!

So I graduated Med School in May, and am now in residency in Pediatrics.

Still have the goal of riding a century within the next couple years.

I just ordered clipless pedals and shoes today - pix of gnarly unclipping wounds to follow

[apple]

hi, i'm new!

Real name: courtney

Where do you live? alexandria, va.

Explanation of your handle: my dj name

Explanation of your avatar: n/a at this point

Age (general or specific) 30

Occupation: Editor/designer

Favorite bike: undecided

What's in your stable? motobecane supermirage

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? not sure, i'd say 25ish? definitely going downhill...

Another picture of yourself or your ride? lotsa pix, but none on a bike yet

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: "oh i average 16 mph"

Most memorable moment on my bike: good: riding all day with someone i once loved, it started to sprinkle toward the end (yes, you can gag now)
worst: my first bonk!

Most embarrassing moment on my bike: falling standing still the first day i got my clips

Most fun ever had on a bike? road riding in rehobeth

[Allie1DukeFn]

Real name: Allison
Where do you live? Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

Explanation of your handle: I am a RABID Duke Men's Basketball fan!

Explanation of your avatar: I have 4 dogs and none of their pictures were small enough to use so I found this online! My oldest is going on 11 - Frankie - he is a golden/yellow lab mix. Next is Maggie, my only girl - she is our honeymoon baby - got her the day we got back from our honeymoon! She is a black lab mix and going on 8. Then there is Quinn - a golden retriever. He just turned 3 and is a handful. Finally there is Norm - sweetest dog ever, but DUMBEST dog ever! We say his brains were in his front leg (it had to be amputated right before we adopted him) - he is also going on 3. All 4 are rescue dogs.

Age (general or specific) 33 on Dec 5th!

Occupation: Information Systems Manager

Favorite bike: I guess the one I just got! I don't know enough to like any others!

What's in your stable? Trek 4300

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 24 going down hill, but I'm a chicken - I ride the breaks the whole time!

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I hate having my picture taken! And have tried to avoid it all together until I managed to lose my extra weight!


What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I told my parents that our honeymoon baby Maggie just appeared on our back porch during a snow storm and the SPCA was full so we just kept her. When we actually got her at the SPCA. Didn't want to listen to them lecture me about having 3 dogs! We're still carrying that one on - trip over it all the time!

Most memorable moment on my bike: Haven't been riding long enough lately to have a good one! Have to go back to childhood! One would be I did a bike-a-thon for our local church. I was riding my mom's bike from when she was a girl - you can imagine how heavy that was! Don't even remember how long or how far I made it. I was the only one left and still chugging along the best I could. They made me stop because it was getting dark! I got horribly sunburned too!

The other one would be raising a friend back to my house - taking the corner too wide and smashing into a corvette that was parked at the curb!

Most fun ever had on a bike? So far every day I've been doing it! I just love seeing all the wild life and houses and just stuff!

[CorsairMac]

WElcome to the board Allie! I had the same issue with my dogs/cats, the Humane Society had a 10 yr old cat that no one would take and I told then I couldn't coz I was already maxed out: they begged me to take her and told me to just "hedge" the # of animals I had so they could let her go home with me! There sure do seem to be quite a few of us here with copious amounts of bikes, dogs, cats, and horses!

[riverroad]

Real name: Ann

Where do you live? the part of New Jersey with farms and rolling hills and a beautiful river (really)

Explanation of your handle: the road i live on

Explanation of your avatar: not yet ready to commit to an avatar!

Age (general or specific) 46

Occupation: copyright/corporate lawyer

Favorite bike: recently got my first road bike - a Giant OCR2 - and am madly in love with it.

What's in your stable? In our garage: 2 road bikes, 4 older hybrid/mountain bikes for riding on dirt roads, one toddler bike w trainign wheels, 2 trikes, and a joggeroo!


Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? I am just getting started on the road, so (i) i'm not sure, and (ii) i suspect, not all that fast.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? not yet

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: about biking? none so far!

Most memorable moment on my bike: having lost 55-60 pounds over the last 2 years, i decided to push my weekend biking a bit last month - - i set off on a short (maybe 18 miles) but very hilly ride to a friend's house on a mountain bike in the HEAT. Altho i had to walk a small portion of the big hill, I made it, and felt like superman. I want MORE of what that felt like. So I got a road bike, have been riding it ever since, and am thrilled to have found this spot.

Most fun ever had on a bike? someone wrote about finding stunning houses on a bike ride; i am guilty of that pleasure too. Mostly, though, the fun part is the freedom and the adventure and the power....
__________________

[teofelo]

Hi Kathie,

How do people like to be addressed in this format? (username or first name basis) I am new to cycling and any type of chat room - any and all pointers will be appreciated. How do I post my profile information/introduce myself for starters?

I read your profile today and found your answers interesting. How thrilling it must be to live in Albuqerque in such beautiful surroundings! I live in Richmond, Virginia, probably a much different setting from what you are used to experiencing everyday. Can you direct me as to where this type of information should go, as I am probably posting this where the thread of thought should ba a specific topic or response to someone.

Thanks!
Paula

[Trek420]

hi teofelo,

"How do people like to be addressed in this format? (username or first name basis) I am new to cycling and any type of chat room - any and all pointers will be appreciated."

ah, bulletin board culture. Around here we tend to address by user name. But you'll find less stress and worry here about giving out our real names. I think a lot of that is because more so than any board I've been on we meet up IRL. And it gets so complicated sitting down for the recovery drink...uhm, er meal and saying "Trek uh, um Dita, pass the salt"

[Pax]

... I think a lot of that is because more so than any board I've been on we meet up IRL...

Hey Dita have you heard IRL referred to as "meatspace"? You know, online is cyberspace and real life is meatspace. That always cracks me up!!

[Trek420]

I had not heard o' that.

[CorsairMac]

Hi Kathie,

How do people like to be addressed in this format? (username or first name basis) I am new to cycling and any type of chat room - any and all pointers will be appreciated. How do I post my profile information/introduce myself for starters?

I read your profile today and found your answers interesting. How thrilling it must be to live in Albuqerque in such beautiful surroundings! I live in Richmond, Virginia, probably a much different setting from what you are used to experiencing everyday. Can you direct me as to where this type of information should go, as I am probably posting this where the thread of thought should ba a specific topic or response to someone.

Thanks!
Paula

Howdy Teofelo and welcome to the board! You can pretty much call me whatever stikes your fancy as long as ya don't call me late for food!
You'll see quite a few of us using both real names and user names and even moving back and forth between both in the same thread!
As for answering this thread: just copy and paste the opening post and then delete out my answers and fill in your own. I remember the first time I posted a question here - took me Forever as I was so afraid I'd say something wrong or it wouldn't make sense - so many things. But this is the most supportive, awesome board I've ever had the pleasure of posting too - there is no such thing as a stupid question and we respect and help each other no matter what the subject matter!
Have fun and hope to see more of ya!!

oh: and it seems Cmac is the most common name for me but Kathie works just fine too! (I just gotta remember you're talking to This Kathie! LOL)

[patty2]

Real name: Patty

Where do you live? Lovely Louisville, Kentucky

Explanation of your handle: Uhm. I think that is pretty obvious.

Explanation of your avatar: The pic itself is actually part of a picture of a fountain at Ernest Hemingway's house in Key West. Then I changed it some using photoshop- to make it kind of a Pisces sign, since I am a Pisces.

Age (general or specific) 38

Occupation: Network Technician

Favorite bike: My old Mongoose, and my new Cannondale. Just call me indecisive.

What's in your stable? See above.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? I haven't ridden a road bike in so long ...

Another picture of yourself or your ride? This reminds me I need to upload new pics...

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Me? Lie? Never.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Stopping at a water fountain to refill my water bottle when I notice a large dog standing in front of me. Figuring the dog to be as thirsty as I was, I went to pour some water from the bottle (I had the top off) into my hand so the dog could have a drink. Only to have the dog drink directly from my water bottle. Think big dog tongue in the water bottle. After the dog had drank the entire bottle, I filled it up again and then the dog drank half of that too. I however did not drink any from the bottle.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Anytime I get out to ride is fun for me. Well... except for those numerous times when I end up somehow under the bike or off the trail or spitting out leaves after taking an unexpected dismount. No... wait, those are fun too!

[VenusdeVelo]

Patty,
You get the prize for the funniest "most memorable moment" I think!!!

[CorsairMac]

ROFL Patty!! Welcome to that board - and I loved your memorable! too funny!


also: welcome to the board Zub-Zub! I Love that user name, makes me giggle every time I see it!