Getting to Know You!

[zia]

Real name: Kara

Where do you live? a few miles outside of Boston, MA

Explanation of your handle: because I've lived and loved in New Mexico! (A Zia is the symbol on the NM state flag, and the Native American symbol for "sun.")

Explanation of your avatar: me, on my mountain bike, doing my first triathlon and realizing -- for the first time -- that I loved road biking!

Age (general or specific): very, very slowly approaching 40...

Occupation: Information Architect

Favorite bike: a Terry Symmetry, which is in the sick bay, awaiting a new frame (at which point it will become an Isis with Symmetry components)

What's in your stable? Gary Fisher Marlin and the sick Terry

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 33 mph, my last triathlon, going down a big hill in Hopkinton. Every time I look at my cyclometer going down hill, I think of what a teammate said she thought right before her big downhill crash: "I've never gone this fast before!"

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Not right now!

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: not really a good liar... no good ones, alas

Most memorable moment on my bike: biking through a crazy monsoon thunderstorm on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. I saw a commercial plane get struck by lightening less than a mile away. Terrified! I have never peddled so fast in my life.

Most fun ever had on a bike? My first triathlon, a women's only event. I never considered myself much of a biker, but during that race, I felt pure joy and power while I was biking. That's when I realized it was time to shed the inaccurate, negative image of myself as a biker (and as an athlete) that I'd been clinging too. It was a transformative moment!

[RoadTrekkie]

Real name: Jennifer
Where do you live? Sacramento CA

Explanation of your handle: My first (and current) road bike is a Trek

Explanation of your avatar: Couldn't get the photo sized small enough!

Age (general or specific) 36

Occupation: Government

Favorite bike: starting to like the Orbeas...classic Bianchis, Steve Rex

What's in your stable? 2007 Trek Pilot 1.2 WSD, Collegiate UCD Aggies cruiser, 2007 Electra Townie 7D, 2009 Performance hybrid on loan to friend and probably never coming back

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 35+ going downhill on Folsom-Auburn Rd some time last month

Another picture of yourself or your ride? Real name: Kathie
Where do you live? Albuquerque, New Mexico

Explanation of your handle: I think the F4U-Corsair is one of the most awesome planes ever built and my father was flight engineer for the last Corsair outfit to fly in the Navy. The Mac is part of my last name.

Explanation of your avatar: avatar??....you mean I could have an avatar??

Age (general or specific) 46 on Dec 15th!

Occupation: Administrative Assistant

Favorite bike: would Love either a Rivendell or a Luna.

What's in your stable? Trek Navigator 200 2004

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 28.5, riding on one of the many bike trails here in Abq, 2004.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I'll work on it...

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I'm sure it was to my mother when I was a kid.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Getting hit by a car this afternoon (but that's the whole reason I registered!)

Most fun ever had on a bike? Riding the Avenue of the Giants a few weeks ago.

[jarider]

Real name: Jerry
Where do you live? Kingston, Jamaica

Explanation of your handle: Ja short for Jamaica, Jamaican rider
Explanation of your avatar:Havent done one yet

Age (general or specific) almost 52

Occupation: Operations Director

Favorite bike: I guess its the one I just bought lol, my first love, Cannondale F7 I think

What's in your stable? see above

Fastest speed on a road bike? fastest speed on my mountain bike 32mph coming down off the mountain, first and last time i have gone that fast. Too old for a wipeout

Another picture of yourself or your ride? working on it

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: thats top secret

Most memorable moment on my bike: Riding up into the mountains, seeing the sun coming up over the tops of them on a cool, misty morning.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Stopping for breakfast after a two hour uphill ride lol i love to eat

[musicalwolf4]

Real name: Rachel
Where do you live? Near Disney World, FL

Explanation of your handle: I have a wolf dog and I am a musician
Explanation of your avatar:Havent done one yet

Age (general or specific) I'm a college student...

Occupation: student/graphic design intern

Favorite bike:I have a trek that I really like. My bike before this one...lets just say..I biked to the local mall and on my way home the tires BOTH died(and my travel pump couldn't help because the innertube was punctured) AND my handlebars started falling off because the screws had been stripped.

What's in your stable? huh?

Fastest speed on a road bike? never timed myself

Another picture of yourself or your ride? I have a picture somewhere of myself carrying my bike through the woods?

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I don't tell lies.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Making it all the way to the mall and back for the first time without feeling like I'd pass out.

Most fun ever had on a bike? biking in the rain to 7-11 for slurpies and candy

[IFjane]

I can't remember when I last said this, but WELCOME EVERYONE!

[moderncyclista]

This is a photo of one of my rides - "Buckley" my Trek 520.

[Faster Pussycat]

just noticed this thread and thought I should introduce myself...


Real name: Tegan
Where do you live? Sydney, Australia

Explanation of your handle: Faster Pussycat are a band... named after a movie. It isn't a coinkydink that this pussycat would like to be faster!

Explanation of your avatar: I can explain the absence of an avatar in that I have not found a photo flatering enough for the interweb.

Age (general or specific) 30

Occupation: Research Manager

Favorite bike: The one and only that I own, a 2009 Specialized Ruby

What's in your stable? see above

Fastest speed on a road bike? 55km/hr down "blood hill"

Another picture of yourself or your ride? will see what I can dig up

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I am sure it was to my mother and that it involved my whereabouts on new years eve aged sixteen.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Decending through Sydney's northern national parks. You can smell the eucalyptus as you enter the gates and its as though you are a world away from the city.In winter it can easily drop ten degrees between the top and the bottom. You need to watch for wallabies though, they tend to be unpredictable.

Most fun ever had on a bike? Gossiping with mah girls. Always makes up the up hill grind fly by and the menfolk are amazed that we NEVER run out of things to talk about.

[MaineCycleChick]

Hi ladies! I am so psyched to be here with you all. I have lost 100 pounds since this past January, and am ready to be competitive in centuries, marathons, tri's...you name it! My husband works in a bike shop, and has set me up with a sweet Cannondale Synapse. I have been working out 4 days a week at the gym, working upper and lower body, building my core strength, and doing lots of cardio and fat-burning on elliptical trainers, recumbent bikes and running on the treadmill. My big goal for this year is the Trek Across Maine, but I want to get involved in other events too.

Great to be here!

[slowandsurly]

I just wanted to say hi. I have been lurking on this forum for about two years. I took a 15 year hiatus from biking, although I really was never that serious about it. But I have recently decided to start riding again. I've completed 3 centuries... HHH about 15 years ago on a mtn bike, and Seagull Century the last two years on my LHT.
I've learned so much from this forum, including how to make the most yummy bread So thank you!
I'm hoping to do a cycle tour this summer and have some questions I will post in the tour forum.

Carol

[Hunter]

Real name: Hunter
Where do you live? Southern shore of Maui

Explanation of your handle: Just my name
Explanation of your avatar: My bike

Age (general or specific) Aged to perfection

Occupation: Writer

Favorite bike: My 2005 Specialized Sirrus WSD.
What's in your stable? see above

Fastest speed on a road bike? Not fast, just persistent.

Another picture of yourself or your ride? My ride is my avatar.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I don't lie. My memory isn't good enough.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Hasn't happened yet.

Most fun ever had on a bike? So far, watching the sun come up over Haleakala.

[hammertime]

Hi... I'm on here somewhere as Kat. I changed my username. Not too many people know me anyway, so I don't think changing my username will cause any confusion, LOL!!

but for those "few" who may have known me as "Kat", I'm now "Hammertime"

Just thought I'd put it out there.

Plan on being more active on this site this year... and I'm getting a new "sweet" bike and plan on riding LOTS more and racing!!!!

[XMcShiftersonX]

I just found this post, so I thought I'd give it a try!

Real name: Jessica

Where do you live? Renton, Washington

Explanation of your handle: On one of my first rides with my husband he nicknamed me Shifty McShifterson because I was constantly shifting up and down gears trying to find the right level of resistance. The whole name didn't fit here so I cut it down and added X's because I'm Straight Edge.

Explanation of your avatar: Just got one, it's my bike!

Age (general or specific): 25

Occupation: Intensive Care Nurse

Favorite bike: My 2010 Orbea Dama

What's in your stable? See above

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 37.6 MPH, on my favorite downhill in Renton coming down 180th St. Just a month ago or so.

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: I can't think of anything, I try not to lie, so it probably would have been as a kid.

Most memorable moment on my bike: Probably when my husband and I rented bikes while on our honeymoon in Portugal. Even though my bike was an ancient mountain bike - there's no place quite like Europe with the cobblestone roads. We have a beautiful picture of us with our bikes on top of a hill we rode up that overlooks the very blue ocean (It's the picture on my profile).

Most fun ever had on a bike? Recently my husband and I road from our house, up Tiger Mountain, and back. Any ride with my husband is a fun ride, but it was a new route, I love being able to just leave from my house, I did the most climbing and mileage I've ever done so far, I proved to myself I could handle my clipless pedals and my new bike, and I went almost 40MPH down a hill, what could be better?!

That was fun!

-Jessica

[HillSlugger]

I just wanted to say hi. I have been lurking on this forum for about two years. I took a 15 year hiatus from biking, although I really was never that serious about it. But I have recently decided to start riding again. I've completed 3 centuries... HHH about 15 years ago on a mtn bike, and Seagull Century the last two years on my LHT.
I've learned so much from this forum, including how to make the most yummy bread So thank you!
I'm hoping to do a cycle tour this summer and have some questions I will post in the tour forum.

Carol

Hi Carol,

Welcome to TE! Where in MD are you? Please stop by the Mid-Atlantic section of the Places to Ride forum to meet and meet up with others from the area.

Nicole

[tharley]

Hi ladies. My name is Tanis and I am pretty new to cycling. I got a Raleigh Comfort (Hybrid?) Venture 3.0 last summer, but have only been able to ride it a handful of times so far. I am pretty dang slow and really unsteady, so I am a little hesitant to go more than a mile or so on my own yet. However, I'm anxiously waiting for warm weather and less crazy schedules, so DH and I can go biking together. DH is no expert, but he seems like a pro to me and motivates me to work harder. We have signed up for a 35mi bike tour in a few mo, so hopefully I will be ready by then- fairly steep hills from what I've heard (yikes!). I try to go to spinning classes at the gym weekly, which kicks my butt but is extremely fun. After reading the multiple posts about peddle restraints and being reassured about clipless, I finally purchased some shoes & clips yesterday. Originally I was going to try the toe clips, but due to an awesome deal at my local bike store, I broke down and figured I'd try the clipless. I am excited to try them out at Tuesday's spinning class, and eventually on my little Raleigh (I will need to purchase new peddles first). I've been a member and lurking on this board for about a month now and live vicariously through you all ! Anyways, hello ladies, and thanks for the info, I sure do appreciate it!

[moonfroggy]

Real name: B
Where do you live? California, west marin

Explanation of your handle: it's my pet frogs name. she is a whites tree frog. i like the name.

Explanation of your avatar: i need to set one up still.

Age (general or specific) in march i will turn 31

Occupation: artist and full time mama to my amazing 2 year old son.

Favorite bike: i am getting a luna orbit soonish i thinkt hat will be my favorite

What's in your stable? marin bear valley wfg 2009

Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? i have never owned a road bike and i don't track how fast i go on my mountain bike. probably nothing very impressive though i am a wimp going downhill

Another picture of yourself or your ride? i tend to ride solo and at the moment am feeling to shy to post one of the few pics i have

What is the biggest lie you've ever told: i am a terrible liar so i generally do not lie. also lies are to stressful it is easier to omit truths

Most memorable moment on my bike: going off road after a huge storm on a solo mountain bike ride. i climbed over 7 trees and had to ride through some "puddles" the size of small lakes. it was a big adventure and sort of scary. i had planned to take the road home but a fallen tree made it so that going on the fire trails was the fastest way to get home.

Most fun ever had on a bike? every month when i ride with my local wombats group i have a blast. it is a pretty easy ride but it is so fun to go ona ride with other women.