Getting to Know You!

[CorsairMac]

Or find a Kiwi on holiday and snag him. Then you can spend your cycling year split between summers in each hemisphere.
(NZ men yummy).

I LIKE the way you think ma'am!!

[kiwi girl]

Oh cool another Kiwi. I did round taupo last year. I had a time of around 7.48 What time did you get?

You know I can't remember - (it was 1999). I think I still have the results book at home - I'll have to check

[DirtDiva]

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 45km going down to Sumner

Most fun ever had on a bike? riding thorugh the forest bits of my local mountain bike trail (Bottle Lake) on an early morning ride when there was nobody else there

It's quite novel reading this stuff and actually knowing what/where someone's talking about. I love that first view of the sea you get when you go clockwise around the short loop at Bottle Lake. Sheesh, I'm gonna make myself homesick if I'm not careful...

[margo49]

Real name: Margaret

Where I live: Israel (the original one in the mideast)

Explanation of name: A boss used to call me Margo and I liked it and him so I sometimes use it on-line. It was/is taken so I added the 49 because I am

Age: see above

Occupation: kibbutz-nik. Cheesemaker till near death by squashing [warning to women: men are capable of unintentionally putting a tractor into reverse at any given moment even if someone is standing there and with a wall at her back and no possible escape] But you can't keep *this kiwi* down 4 long and now
I have a great job in the Test Kitchen/lab of our dates products factory

Bike: Trek 820

Memorable Moment: London-to-Brighton ride 1982

[margo49]

Biggest of all: "It doesn't hurt"

2nd biggest: "It doesn't hurt much"
3rd biggest: "It hardly hurts at all now"

You see a pattern here???

[CorsairMac]

ROFL Margo! Welcome to the board. I'm sorry to hear about your accident but your sense of humour did make me smile!

Nice to meet ya and hope to see more of ya!

[wavedancer]

Real name: Linda
Where do you live? Sandwich, Massachusetts
Explanation of your handle: My other passion is seakayaking. I love dancing on the water...and on the bike.
Explanation of your avatar: Me at the start of my first charity ride.
Age 56

Occupation: Nurse Practitioner

Favorite bike: My purple fade Cannondale

What's in your stable? Cannondale R800 WSD, Fisher Big Sur GS
Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 34mph down a short steep hill on Cape Cod (yes, we have hills!)

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Have to get the BF to take one some day.


What is the biggest lie you've ever told:That question reminds me of the game "truth or dare" that we used to play at slumber parties (now called sleep-overs)

Most memorable moment on my bike: Heading out on the start of The Last Gasp ride this past weekend with the soulful sound of a bagpiper on the edge of the canal.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Flying down the canal with a 30-knot wind at my back. Wheeee
__________________

[Shaula]

Real name: Shaula

Where do you live? Folkston, Georgia

Explanation of your handle: Not too original, I'm afraid

Explanation of your avatar: This cat looks just like a cat I raised from birth - Phoebe

Age (general or specific) 44

Occupation: Media Center Parapro at an Elementary School

Favorite bike: would LOVE a Trek Pilot!!!

What's in your stable? Giant OCR 3

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 30 mph

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I don't have very many pixs of myself - I hate having my pix taken


What is the biggest lie you've ever told: That I wasn't pregnant (when I really was - don't ask!)

Most memorable moment on my bike: Well, it's not the kind of memory you want to remember! I was riding a loop around the Okefenokee Swamp. It started to rain - if anyone lives in the southeast, you know how we get torrential downpours. I could barely see a foot ahead of me. Saw what I thought was a black stick in the middle of the road. Swerved to avoid it and looked to my right to see a cottonmouth snake with it's mouth wide opened, showing me why they call them cottonmouths! It was inches from my ankle. I think that's when I went my top speed of 30mph!!! :

Most fun ever had on a bike? The best time is when it's cool, no wind, no traffic! Early morning rides are awesome!

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board Shaula. What I wouldn't give for a Trek Pilot, or Madone, or..........

Holy Smokes on the cottonmouth story - that Would be a memorable ride! Hope to keep seeing ya around!

[fretwes]

Ok here goes:



Real name: Sheila
Where do you live? Pittsburgh, PA

Explanation of your handle: That's a secret.

Explanation of your avatar: Still trying to GET one of those.

Age (general or specific) 40

Occupation: Telecom Analyst

Favorite bike: Mmmm... I like the Trek5200 WSD

What's in your stable? Trek 2000

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when?

52 km/hour (my bike computer and I are both Canadian). This summer, going down a steep hill, trying to get up as much speed as possible to get UP the next hill.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? No pictures handy.


What is the biggest lie you've ever told:

"We're just friends"

Most memorable moment on my bike:

I PASSED my husband going up a hill. He is a very strong cyclist and an especially strong climber who inevitably has to wait for me in hilly territory. One day this summer I was feeling espeically energetic and found myself on his back tire. I mustered all my energy and blew by him, then pulled ahead. Surprised the @#$# out of him.

Most fun ever had on a bike?

Riding in the hills around Sewickly - beautiful winding, rolling, smoothly paved roads with very little traffic.

[kmoty]

Real name: Karen

Where do you live? Jessup, MD

Explanation of your handle: Unimaginative: first initial, first part of last name. Easy to remember.

Explanation of your avatar: I think cats are the nicest of animals—this one, like me, is looking at a bike with equal parts anxiety and hope.

Age (general or specific): 57. Hadn’t been on a bike in 25 years, completely non-athletic, and feeling like a VERY late bloomer.

Occupation: Evaluation officer, federal agency that works with museums and libraries.

Favorite bike: The Schwinn 10-speed I used for commuting from Boston to Cambridge 25 years ago!

What's in your stable? Trek WSD 1000 and Sedona hybrid (mistake). But the road bike has Campy hoods and gears. I know, kind of like rigging a jet engine on a go cart, but the Shimano hoods were just too big for my little hands—and I’ve always liked contraditions.

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? Too slow to hurt myself much. I’m a klutz.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I hate having my picture taken.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: My besetting sin is too much honest information.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Too new to have one. For me, staying upright is still a triumph! Just went to clipless, so that’s no small achievement.

Most fun ever had on a bike? See above. It’s not really fun yet. I KNOW it can be.

[anne_77]

Real name: ?

Where do you live: Central Pennsylvania

Explanation of your handle: Needed a fake name for internet

Age: 29

Occupation: Grad school

Favorite bike: I don't know anything about bikes but I love what I'm riding now - why change?

What's in your stable: Trek 1000 SL

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 24 mph according to my little computer - I don't remember that though

Another picture of yourself or your ride? No pics on bike - I can't photograph myself while riding!

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: huh?

Most memorable moment on my bike: Slow-mode falling while avoiding a petrified pedestrian - I had just gotten my clipless pedals and I couldn't unclip in time! All he had to do was keep moving! Oh - and there were numerous other witnesses who asked if I was OK.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Driving by a pasture of baby cows - how cute! Don't worry - it's a diary farm. I'm pretty sure they're not for eating

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board BT. Med School?? Good luck and nice to meet ya!!

Welcome to the board Kmoty! So I gotta ask - you still Got that Schwinn? I lost my first real road bike in the course of too many moves but man I still miss that thing! but "not really fun yet?" is that coz you just went clipless??

Welcome to the board Anne! Yup I think we've all done that "falling over in slo-mo while still clipped in" thing!! Welcome to the club!

[kmoty]

This is/you are an amazing group of women. Perhaps not really amazing, since I think women are smart, caring, thoughtful, and willing to share themselves, but it's a privilege to see all of those things play out in the postings on TE.

Nope, I gave the Schwinn to my partner's daughter 10 years ago, and it was lost in one of several moves. Yep, I still miss it.

The "not fun yet" bit is because I'm still a little scared of the bike. Like one or two others who have spoken in various threads, I learn physical stuff slowly (I'm much quicker at the analytical/empathetic stuff), and I hate the process of learning anything. It may take me a while, but I'll keep plugging away.

Just hearing about others' experience is a great support.

Thanks, all, for just sharing who you are.

Karen

[CorsairMac]

This is/you are an amazing group of women. Perhaps not really amazing, since I think women are smart, caring, thoughtful, and willing to share themselves, but it's a privilege to see all of those things play out in the postings on TE.
The "not fun yet" bit is because I'm still a little scared of the bike. Like one or two others who have spoken in various threads, I learn physical stuff slowly (I'm much quicker at the analytical/empathetic stuff), and I hate the process of learning anything. It may take me a while, but I'll keep plugging away.

Just hearing about others' experience is a great support.

Thanks, all, for just sharing who you are.

Karen

Well if there is anything we can do to pass the fun on - we're here for ya! and I'll be keeping you in my thoughts as you go through the learning phase!