Getting to Know You!

[BikeMomma]

i feel i need to be honest
Real Name : Andy (and thats a man's name)

Like SK said. But I speak for myself in saying I think we had you figured out. Welcome to the board, Velo Andy! We could always use a guy's input.
-BikeMomma

[Nanci]

Hey, we should meet and go ride the Green Swamp Trail, sometime! Train for the Horrible Hundred in Clermont! That's what got me started on the Highway to Hell, I mean long distance cycling. Or isn't there something called the Orange Blossom Trail, or something? I'd like to see that one sometime.

Nanci In Alachua (Gainesville)

PS, I'm in x-ray, too.

[Hell-uv-a-job]

Thanks for the invitation! I have to say i still have a long way before I can ride a century but I'll get there.

I ride the West Orange Trail http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide...est_orange.htm on the weekend, normally on Saturday. I think it is a great place but of course that is the only trail I know. I only go there once a week since is a bit far from my house but my husband and I finally decided to do the trail Sat and Sun since i am really getting used to the bike. Hope to see you there sometime. I need to find out where that Green Swamp Trail is. Any Gators in that trail?

[Nanci]

I heard about the Green Swamp Trail, but couldn't find it, but then finally did. It's official name is the James Van Fleet Trail. 29.2 miles, from Mabel to Polk City. Think slightly west of Clermont. I rode it last summer for the first time, the last week of August. It was an amazing ride- totally isolated, only four, I think, road crossings in 30 miles, the first after 10 miles. I saw _river otters_ playing on the trail. Pretty swamp later gave way to cow pastures, but it stayed wild and unpopulated. No houses, no convenience stores. A couple trailheads. Beautiful, wild.

I rode it again a few weeks ago, and it seemed kind of desolate. Maybe because it was winter, maybe because it was a holiday and I was in a sort of time constraint, but it wasn' quite the religious experience of my first ride. I want to try it again when it is spring and green.

Don't worry about being able to ride 100 miles. I started road riding a year ago October, on a borrowed MTB with road tires. My first event was 37 miles of the Horrible Hundred, a year ago November. I just went because BF was doing the Century, and I didn't want to stay home. (Many, if not all, Centuries have a few shorter options.) I had to walk the hills. I had the time of my life! BF was riding the full Century, so I had time for a nice nap before he returned. I set my goal for 2005 as a full Century. Seemed unthinkable at the time. I didn't ride, really, until July, when I began riding in earnest. I bought my road bike the last week in August, on eBay. I had the week off, and took her all over Florida, on all the trails. I did a sprint tri on Labor Day. I did half of Six Gap in September, the Three Gap 50, in Dahlonega, GA. It was the best ride of my life. Then my first Century in October, Santa Fe Century in Gainesville. Think nice and flat. Then the Horrible Hundred in November, and I _didn't have to walk the hills!_ Then on to brevets, this winter. So from more or less nothing, in July, to 190 miles now. It's easy! Just go a little further each weekend, throw in a few weeknight rides, and before you know it, anything is possible.

Nanci

[Lise]

i feel i need to be honest

Real Name : Andy (and thats a man's name)

Hi, Andy, I'm with BikeMomma, you never seemed like a girl to me! Isn't it funny how we can "hear" that in print?

Nanci and Hell-uv: Wow. I envy you the wild, natural beauty down there. Up here in Illinois, we ride old railroad track converted to bike paths. They're nice--better than city streets, but no river otters or pretty swamps. Enjoy!

Lise

[nancielle]

Real name: Nanciellen, most people just call me Nanci (but I see there's already one here )

Where do you live? Western Mass

Explanation of your handle: It's the total number of characters my e-mail program would accept at the time. Yeah, creative, I know.

Explanation of your avatar: I'm not sure if I uploaded it correctly. If I did, then it's just something I found on the web that I liked.

Age (general or specific) 4? (July)

Occupation: Therapist

Favorite bike: Too new to know

What's in your stable? Mongoose Sycamore MB & a Giant something or other I bought after having knee surgery last year.

Fastest speed on a road bike? Really don't know.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I don't have very many pixs of myself - I hate having my pix taken (cheerfully swiped from Corsair)


What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I plead the 5th.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Riding the canal trail in Montreal. Just a really cool ride. Also riding the trails on Cape Cod, how can one not have a good time riding near the ocean?

Most fun ever had on a bike? See above

[Melody]

Real name: Nanciellen, most people just call me Nanci (but I see there's already one here )

Hi Nanci! Welcome to the forums. Don't worry about someone else named Nanci. It's not too uncommon of a name. Now if there was another Melody on the boards -that- would have been weird When I worked at SGI I was the only one... in a company of 15 thousand people. :P When I later worked at Microsoft, I was one of 2 out of 20 thousand people... the same with Apple. So it's always an odd feeling meeting up with someone who has the same name as me

Again, welcome!

Mel

[Melody]

i feel i need to be honest

Real Name : Andy (and thats a man's name)

That's all right. Welcome welcome!

Mel

[Nanci]

That's my middle name, too...

And my last name starts with an "L", so that's like Nanci L! My initials are NEL.

BF calls me Nan, he's the first person ever to do so, so all his friends know me as Nan. It's kind of weird.

I used to work at a place where there were two of us, but she spelled her name differently, so they called us "With an I" and "With a Y." That won't work for us! :-)

Lise, that's what the trails are down here, too, old RR beds- they just go through prettier places! For all you hear about Florida being over-populated, I guess that must be out by the coasts, because in the central parts, there is a _lot_ of wild country. My sister was down here for some conference with some colleagues from around the country. They were surprised to see a Bald Eagle sitting along the side of the road. They do that all the time here. Often enough that it's not shocking to see one there. Like right on the outskirts of town, still in a populated area. One of the things I like most is the flocks of cranes- love seeing them out grazing in fields, or flying overhead so high you can't see them, but you can clearly hear them. My bird, Dill, can see them, though. Pigeons have much keener eyesight.

Nan

[nancielle]

Hi Nanci! Welcome to the forums.

Again, welcome!

Mel

Hi Mel,

Thanks for the welcome! My best friend in college was a "Mel" but she was
MaryEllen, not Melody.

[nancielle]

That's my middle name, too...

And my last name starts with an "L", so that's like Nanci L! My initials are NEL.

BF calls me Nan, he's the first person ever to do so, so all his friends know me as Nan. It's kind of weird.

I used to work at a place where there were two of us, but she spelled her name differently, so they called us "With an I" and "With a Y." That won't work for us! :-)

Nan

Hmmm, more coincidences...until just recently there was another Nancy in my office (spelled with a 'y') and our receptionists would have to ask if they wanted the 'i' or 'y'. Nanciellen is actually all one first name. My middle name starts with an "L" though.

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board Nancielle! I love your avatar - it would fit in my house on the wall right next to the "Cats & Dogs & Angels Singing" painting! So you said you're 4?......I'm just curious what size frame you have?

ok - couldn't resist that one either! Again welcome and hope to hear more from you!

[AuntieK]

Real name: Krishelle, but you can call me Kris.

Where do you live? Utah

Explanation of your handle: It's what my neices call me (they think it's funny to pronounce it "antique"...but I don't think I'm THAT old!)

Explanation of your avatar: Don't even know about that!

Age (general or specific): 34

Occupation: Playing on the internet...really!

Favorite bike: My only bike...see below...

What's in your stable? Giant OCR1 Road Bike

Fastest speed on a road bike? Probably no more than 30 mph

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Haven't had one yet.

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

Most memorable moment on my bike: The first time I rode my bike further than around the block. I went with a great cyclist, and felt like such a newbie. I didn't yet have my own cycling clothes yet, so I wore my DH's shorts and they kept getting caught on the nose of my saddle and trying to come down. But, it was a great ride and I was on a high for days after.

Most fun ever had on a bike? When I finally learned to descend without braking...what a thrill!

[SadieKate]

Welcome. Finally getting more Utah girls. Just where abouts are you?

[CorsairMac]

welcome to the board AK - oh wait...that sounds worse that antique! I'm with SK, what part of Utah? how's the weather?? and if 34 is old, then I guess I'm aged!! darn - does that mean I have to act that way too!?! LOL

anyway, hope to hear more from you and again - welcome!