Introductions - Hello from flat Florida

Guess what? I was asked to introduce myself. So here goes...

I'm from South Florida, and will be shortly returning to riding (and hopefully racing), after a wee-little 7 year hiatus.

I'm 28 years old, and previously raced CAT4, although infrequently. I quit the sport 7 years ago for a multitude of personal reasons, but now I'm back. I just couldn't bear to watch another TDF on TV without being able to get out on my bike and try to emulate my heroes.

Although I'm about the furthest thing from a 'Lance-a-holic' you can find, he's partly to blame for my burning desire to return to the sport. You see, I was diagnosed with stage IIB Hodgkins disease about 17 months ago. I underwent 9 months of chemotherapy and radiation to get rid of the cancer, and now, 8 months after treatment, I feel as strong as an ox.

To sum it all up, I'm itching to get back on a bike, and I'm going to find out if I can again become competitive in my ripe old age of 28.


Thanks for listening,
moo2

Welcome to the forums Moo.There is a decent sized contingent of members from SoFl ,I live in Coral Springs.Do you have any touring aspirations?A number of us are interested in organizing an informal ride to Key West early August and/or this fall.It would likely a 2-4 day type ride as some of us have exhausted a lot of vacation time lol.Regardless good luck on your return to racing.

Some of us will be watching for Florida - south or otherwise - tours and organized rides in what we call the 'dark times'. You know - winter.

Love to come to flat Florida to join some of you in Jan...Feb...Mar...April...for a break and on road conditioning in the middle of snow and ice here......bbrrrrr.

And....obviously....congratulations on your successful battle with Hodgkins. Takes a lot more courage than anything any of us have faced on a bike.

Peter

Stay in touch.I think this is when many of the Floridians actually prefer as well though January and Febuary seems cold to me even in Florida.I guess I have lived here to long LOL.

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

I wish I could do that tour to Key West. I had wanted to do that years ago, but never had the chance.

Unfortunately, I haven't even bought my bike yet, so I doubt I'll be in condition at the time you all are going. Thanks for the offer though!

Maybe next year!

Hey Moo2,

Another Floridian checking in to say hello!

I'm over in Sarasota and enjoying the heck out of our "feels like" temps up to 110 F, NOT!!!

Good luck on the comeback and let us help if we can with your bike purchase decisions.

L8R

This whole thread-evolving-into-a-winter-trip-to-Florida needs a good manager to pull the whole thing togeter. Wait....eeeck! That would be me.

Maybe I better go over the 'winter biking' area.

Peter

Hi and welcome to the forums.

Last time I was in FL was 1958. Lived in Daytona Beach. I imagine it's changed just a bit since then.

Carl

Hey Moo!! I noticed you live in Ft. Lauderdale. A great local website for biking is www.freeridesouth.com Check it out for all kinds of info on the local scene!! L8R

Hi Moo! Please forgive the late hello but HELLO from Boca. As you can see, there's a bunch of us from the sunshine or monsoon state. I'm the token female:eek: and it's my job to get together some women for these winter tours we're planning. Lucky me huh? So do you have your bike yet?

Unfortunately, no bike yet.

I'm actually waiting on a new Visa card in the mail :p so I can go and pay for the darn thing!

I've already got all of my other equipment, so all I need is a stinkin' bike to ride.

Anyway, when training, I plan to follow my old route up A1A through Broward and into Palm Beach county, so I wouldn't be surprised to bump into you or our other resident Floridians sometime.

On another note, I'm going to try to attend the local "Sunday Criteriums" at Piccollo Park (as a spectator), just to check out my future competition.

Picollo Park... isn't that in the Pembroke Pines area? I used to live out there around 10 years ago. When I first moved the kiddies out there, it was cow pasture. When I left, urban sprawl had invaded.

Undoubtedly we will meet up. My regular route is A1A through North Broward and South Palm Beach counties. I live on the county line so it's a toss up every day. I'll be the one with the only red ladies frame sports touring road bike in town. Let us know when you get your ride. We'll help you pick one out.