Getting to Know You!

[crazycanuck]

YAAYYYY...hello from perth..!!!! *waves* Hello!

Welcome dear...!

c

[allabouteva]

Thanks for the welcome!

Thanks Lise, CorsairMac and crazycanuck, it's very nice and friendly here! It's summer here, but very wet!

Take care out there

[tulip]

Real name: Juliellen (like Maryellen, but with a Julie!)

Where do you live? Washington, DC

Explanation of your handle: favorite flower

Explanation of your avatar: haven't figured that one out yet

Age (general or specific) 38

Occupation: city planner and landscape architect

Favorite bike: my red Luna

What's in your stable? here goes...1986 Stumpjumper Sport, 1989 Bridgestone MB-2, 2003 Jamis Coda Comp, 2004 Dahon Matrix (folding bike), 2005 Luna Eclipse

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? I'm no speed demon, and I don't have a bike computer to tell me how slow I'm going.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I used to race, but I was never any good at it. I'm glad to enjoy going on bike rides and seeing the world from a bike-perspective.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I guess I've repressed it.

Most memorable moment on my bike: I biked through France for one month when I was 15. I remember going up and up a hill in Brittany and coming over the peak and laid out in front of me was the most beautiful, mysterious, misty landscape that I could have imagined.

Most fun ever had on a bike? I love discovering new parts of Washington on my bike (of course, if I lived in Paris, I would like that even more)

[Lise]

Welcome, Juliellen/tulip!

Last fall I visited my brother in DC, a town I love. I stayed at his place for a conference while he was travelling. He offered me his mtn bike to ride around when I was done learning every day. Let me tell you, the thought of having to ride back up the hill he lives on at the end of the ride kept me from ever taking the bike out at all! I'm a true flat-lander! That said, I'm envious of the beautiful trails you have right there in the city.

Ride on! Lise

[Zub_Zub]

[QUOTE=allabouteva] It's summer here, but very wet!
[QUOTE]
Its summer here as well. Thankfully its not wet

[margo49]

Most memorable moment on my bike: I biked through France for one month when I was 15. I remember going up and up a hill in Brittany and coming over the peak and laid out in front of me was the most beautiful, mysterious, misty landscape that I could have imagined.

Wow, Tulip.
I rode thru France when I was 25.
It was July and the sunflower fields were just amazing.I have never forgottten them (or the trip).
I rode the small D-roads and loved the patisseries. Which of course you can eat lots of when you are biking. None of those energy bars and isotonics in those days. Wasn't I lucky

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board tulip! you got a LUNA????!!!!! *wipes drool off keyboard* I just keep thinking one of these days I'm gonna make the drive up to Santa Fe and get me one too!

[liksani]

Real name: Belinda
Where do you live? San Jose, CA

Explanation of your handle: from one of my main characters on this MUD I used to play [basically an online text based role playing game]

Explanation of your avatar: no avatar

Age (general or specific) 22

Occupation: Test Engineer

Favorite bike: haven't biked long enough to know

What's in your stable? Specialized Sirrus 2005

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? don't have a road bike nor anything to gauge speed with

Another picture of yourself or your ride? don't own a camera anymore currently


What is the biggest lie you've ever told: no clue I'm forgetful

Most memorable moment on my bike: biking with a friend along a trail going at a pace so we could actually talk to each other; was fun being able to drag a friend along with me

Most fun ever had on a bike? biking from the piers to across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausilito with some people from work

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board Belinda! When we were kids my parents read us a poem titled "Belinda and the Dragon". Still one of my favorite poems of all times! and I have to ask: is Liksani elvish?

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

[Lise]

Welcome, Belinda! I'll bet that's really cool to ride over the Golden Gate Bridge. Looking forward to getting to know you--Lise

[liksani]

No Liksani isn't elvish tho that would have made much more sense. Artistic liberty?

Makes me sad I can't go to wushu or bike or run or anything. Stupid sick people at work who got me sick.

[luv'nAustin]

Real name: Karri Kurtzweil

Where do you live? Austin, Texas

Explanation of your handle: I have only lived in Austin for sixteen months and I really do love it here!

Explanation of your avatar: My son found it for me (hope he didn't steal it from anyone all ya'll know!) anyway, I love clouds and blue is my favorite color and perhaps one day I will look as good as the girl on the bike!

Age (general or specific) 43

Occupation: I have been a stay-at-home Mom for the past twenty years.

Favorite bike: The jury is still out, but wish I could say it was my camena!


What's in your stable? My newest bike is a Merlin Camena. She replaced my first road bike (a beautiful yellow Giant TCR) and was supposed to make me faster but she only slowed me down.... I also have a very old Diamond Back with mountain bike tires.

Fastest speed on a road bike? Not sure, but it was slightly over 50 mph. where? The big hill on the Dam Loop (somewhere on 2222) in Austin. when? Spring of 2005.


What is the biggest lie you've ever told: No, I really don't miss hiking Camelback Mountain in Phoenix with my husband and friends.


Most memorable moment on my bike: I think it was the first time I went flying down that Dam Loop hill! Thank goodness someone prepared me a block in advance that it was ahead and how to handle such a steep descent.


Most fun ever had on a bike? Gosh, this is a hard one! I think I would have to say that it would be the time my husband I rented a tandem bike in Monterey, California and rode to Carmel. We weren't regular bikers and had never ridden tandem, but it was sooooooo much fun and we felt very proud to have ridden that route!

A little more about myself.....I have been married for 21 years and have lived in North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Singapore, Colorado (again), California, Arizona, and finally Texas! I spend way too much time exercising, but it keeps me sane. I also enjoy Kundalini yoga, swimming, running (oops, that was the new latest lie....I hate running and swimming but am working on loving it) and hiking. Hiking in Arizona...especially Camelback, Squaw Peak, and the Grand Canyon! Oh, and I also hang at the gym doing weights, the eliptical machine and the stairmaster.

[thinpaperwings]

Real name: Sara Saperstein

Where do you live? Portland, OR

Explanation of your handle: It's part of a lyric to one of the songs from one of my favorite bands, Underworld.

Age (general or specific) 23

Occupation: Biology Research Technician

Favorite bike: My very old (probably 10 or 15 ys) Univega Rover T2.7

What's in your stable? Unfortunately, the above bike is it right now. Maybe this spring I'll buy a proper road bike for my commute. I just love the way my bike fits me, and I have such great memories with it, that I can't see enjoying another bike as much. What if my Univega got jealous?

Fastest speed on a road bike? Never rode a road bike.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Actually, I'm too honest for my own good.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Last year I went on what was supposed to be a 15 or 20 mile ride with my boyfriend, around the Columbia River from I-5 to I-205 and back. We got lost, got caught in headwinds so strong that we had to pedal hard in order to barely move, and it was hailing for much of the trip. Because we missed a turn, the trip ended up being 30 miles instead of 20. My hands got so cold that when we finally got to the car, I couldn't feel them, and I had to stick my hands, one at a time, fully into my mouth to warm them up enough. I was so freezing.


Most fun ever had on a bike? When I was in High School, before I could drive, I would ride my bike up The Strand, which is a long paved trail along the beach in southern California. By the end of that summer I was doing 50 mile rides, which for me at the time, and in conjunction with my long-distance running, was a lot. I even remember waking up and taking off at 3am because I was so excited about the ride. The freedom of being able to go such distances without a car was fantastic.

More about me: I'm still pretty new to biking. Last winter I took some classes on care and maintenance, fixing flats, truing spokes, that sort of thing. I still don't have a lot of practice with it, though.

I started commuting by bike when I got my job a little over a month ago. I was biking twice a week, 7 miles each direction. Portland is such a great city to cycle-commute in. Before the bike commuting, I just rode weekend rides here and there, usually between 10 and 20 miles, depending on my fitness level. I mostly would bike on paved trails, but this past summer we went on a few mountain rides. I also enjoy running and weightlifting and playing with my Australian Shepherd.

Cheers!

[CorsairMac]

WElcome Luv'n! Sorry to hear your new bike isn't your fav - is there a reason?? And what happened to your beautiful yellow giant? Never been to Austin but I used to live in Chandler and I would hike Squaw Peak every Sun after church. I miss the warmth of Phx and I miss that hike. Never did the Camelback - it was on my list of "things to do". I'm still hanging on to that list!!

Welcome Wings! I saw your ID yesterday and fell in love with it.......I had this vision of you on a bike with thin paper wings to help you along! I also answered your post yesterday about commuting in the cold and was wondering if you decided to give it another try?

Hope to hear more from both of you and nice to have ya'll on board!

[luv'nAustin]

Thanks for the welcome!

My beautiful giant was my first road bike and I purchased her the week before I moved to Texas. Biking was/and is replacing the daily hikes. Except that I only ride once or twice a week and not daily as planned. Gotta learn to change that tire so that I can venture out solo.

Beauty, is in my garage hanging on a bike rack, I am afraid that I stripped her of her pedals and electronic gadgets to save a little money. Perhaps I will ask Santa for a new set of pedals this Christmas and then I will take her back out to see if we still can fly.

My camena has smaller tires and is lighter in weight. She is easier to climb hills with, but is seriously disadvantaged when it comes to speeding back down them. My typical route in Austin is very hilly and it is easy for others to fly by me down a hill and then that momentum carries them a good quarter of the way (or more) up the next hill. I know, this used to be me! And now, I am stuck pedaling like a mad woman to catch back up with them and often before I reach the top they are speeding away again down the next hill.

I also worry that I am getting weaker because it is easier to pedal up the hills. On the plus side, the ti frame is kinder to my joints and I have no more elbow or wrist pain! Speed isn't everything, is it?????

Glad to hear that you still have Camelback on that list. It is a great workout and so rewarding. I think the echo side is beautiful and I love climbing up the rocks, but I usually did the other side with my friends. I was just there over Thanksgiving and hiked as often as I could. I was really worried that I would be terribly slow, but managed to get up Squaw Peak in less than thirty minutes, only one minute off of my best time.

You and the other gals are so inspiring, I look forward to being a part of the group!

karri