Introductions - Who are you?

I seem to know so much about a lot of you, but then again, so little... so, who are you?

I guess I'll start...

A little about my self... Well, im 23,single, living in Utah, currently working full time for Sears, saving money for cycling stuff, and school, I am tall (6'4") and skinny, (~165 lbs)... I was born in Hilo Hawaii, then moved to Montana when I was 7. We moved in Feb, the first night in montana it was -40 degrees, and we had over 5 feet of snow on the ground, I thought I was going to die! Luckily, I only lived there for a few months before making my way to Utah. I have been stuck in Utah for the last 16 years of my life, and I cant wait to move elsewhere and travel around the world. I have done some limited travel, and have visited all 48 lower states, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and Thailand. One of my future goals is to ride my bike across the states, I hope to do this within the next few years.

I have been riding bikes for almost 20 years now, I received my first bike, a little red tricycle for my 3rd birthday, I had my first case of serious roadrash within 15 minutes of receiving the bike, I have been addicted ever sense. My last big crash took out my 4 front teeth, and now have fake teeth, kinda odd for a 23yr old :)

As for my hobbies, other then cycling, are computers and the Internet, paragliding, I have always wanted to fly, and I plan on getting my p2 paraglidng licence this summer, I also love to sleep, eat, and love anything outdoors.

And lastly, my picture:
http://216.215.238.193/joe1.jpg

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Ok, now its your turn :) Tell us the basics, a bit about yourself and history, a bit about your bicycling life, and a few hobbies, if you have anything else to include, please do! If you have a pic of yourself, feel free to include it in your post, you can include it with the [ img] code, or as an attachment. If your nude, eh, don't post it.
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Geeez Joe,

It's good to put a name to a face...I was thinking yesterday, how great it would be, if all of us in these forums could meet up and go for a bike ride....wouldn't that be something!!!!

I'll put some info on this page as soon as I can get a decent photo...*hehe, it might take a while!!*

TTFN................................Rich

Ok. First the usual stats: age 33, 6'2", 195#, married w/children, Philly PA.

Rode every where and to deliver papers for years as a kid. I looked like a track cyclist. I wore slim pants but had to go up a size to fit over my thighs (in a good way). After HS I took about 10 years off from cycling between school, work, grad school the usual. I wanted to do a triathlon (hence my ID) so I got a new bike and have been getting more involved every year. Joined a club and now run the web site. (http://www.geocities.com/brandywinebikeclub )

So one of my other hobbies is triathlon;but, my knees have been bothering me so I have done less running and more cycling. My other interest is martial arts. I am a part time instructor two nights a week.

I am attaching a picture of my marathon in 99.

Great thread Joe! :D

I am 29, 5'3" short, 120 lbs., married 3 years, no kids yet, and we live in New York. I work for an investment banking firm doing research for different domestic and international stocks. My cubicle is filled with biking pictures and all sorts of bike 'stuff', not work related articles. :)

I got into biking when I was a sophomore in college at Ohio State. I choose OSU with my best friend, since we both decided that we wanted to get as far away out of NY/NJ with the ability to fly home in just a few hours -and yes, we lived together and are still best friends! ;) Actually, biking started as a means of transportation for me, since I didn't have a car at school. I went everywhere on my bike (some type of Murray); grocery shopping, friend's apartments, classes, etc., since the campus was (and of course still is) so large - the largest in the country! As things turned out, I was not just using my bike to get from Point A to Point B. I was actually arranging bike rides and meeting friend's for long rides all through Ohio. Since I got so involved in biking, I decided I wanted to buy a better bike, which I spent more money than I should have at the time (GT Tequesta).

Two years after college, I bought a dual suspension mountain bike that I fell in love with (GT LTS-2). Since I was back in NY, it wasn't really practical since there are no trails in Manhattan, but at the time that is what I preferred. I didn't mind though, since jumping potholes became my sort of thing. I changed the wheels to slicks and I did many centuries, metric centuries, and too many rides to list. I started to realize that what I really needed/wanted was a road bike. Well, it took me another five years before I decided on one. I am in total love with my new bike (Cannondale R2000si) and I will try to attach a picture below.

Here is a picture of my bike (although it looks a bit funny with the mural painted in the background). I look like I have wings coming out of my head. Anyway, here it is:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1315948&a=9773776&p=32394113&pw=bikes

Keep spinning,

Marcy

OK gang, here it goes….

Name: Richard Matthews
Age: 26 * god am I really that old? *
Height: 6ft
Weight: Never mind that!!!
Eyes: Yes…and Blue
Hair: light to dark brown depending on season and temperament

Factfile:

I was born in the Seaside resort of Bournemouth on the South Coast of England, 24TH January 1975….came to London for University in 1993, and graduated in 1997…couldn’t get enough of the student lifestyle, so I decided to work as an administrator for the University of Greenwich. Currently work for City University in the same post.

Met the love of my life in 1999, and we’ll be getting married in 2002….ahhhhhhhhh! Mountain Biking came to me in 1989, after reading a magazine with a picture of Tim Davies (British National Champion 1989) on the front, and have been hooked ever since. Currently ride a 1991 issue Trek 8500 and recently bought a pair of suspension forks for it…

Here’s me after a bad case of beer drinking….. :beer:

Alright!! I get to talk about myself.

Real Name: Carlos
Home: Foster City, Ca (about 30 minutes south of San Francisco.)
Home town: Orlando, Fl
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: Well it depends on the time of the year. Varies from 155 to 175.
Age: 32
Bikes: Cannondale Raven and a Gary Fisher Hookoo E koo. Hope to be owning a Road bike in a couple of months (I'll be asking for advice on purchasing a road bike soon).
Favorite Trails: The one I'm riding at the time.
Other Hobbies: Snowboarding, hiking, camping, rafting. If it's an outdoor activity, I enjoy doing it. Oh, how could I forget...Lurking in BikeForums.com

I've been mountain biking for the past 5 years and I'm completely addicted. It started when my friends persuaded me to ride with them on a 40 pound, non-suspension bike. After snapping my chain twice and falling 10 feet down an embankment I was completely hooked on the sport.

Pozer

Oscar is the name but "Racso" at this forum
Presently located in Toronto, Canada
53 years young
5 feet 9 3/4; 150 lbs depending on the season...
Married for the last 25 years, with 4 kids, two boys and 2 girls;
Presently working in the restaurant Industry, as a souz chef, and partime brain surgeon (for Mike)
I ride a Pinarello Paris, my son also ride a Pinarello
I have been riding a bike for 40 -45 years or maybe more;
Has a natural Tan line on the Bicep and another one on the Thighs and also on the forehead, due to the helmet .
Keeps my wife away from my bike stuff, coz' she might find out that I Have several Things she think its old, but its not

Hunter my first name is Mark.
I am 34.
I am 6' 2" and 200 lbs.
I have blonde hair that except for a trim here and there has not been cut in 7 years and blue eyes.
I am retired.
I worked in the building trades for 13 years in which I ran my own buisness.
I ride MTB and have ridden off road for 20+ years.
I started on BMX then raced them, I also was a practitioner in the martial arts for 7 years then because of competing injuries gave it up. Still work out and practice I just don't compete.
Me and my wife of 2+ years have a 143 acre ranch that we live on and maintain. I have about 3 miles worth of trail cut on the "back 40."
I am originally from Va. transplanted here to Tx.
Outside of bikes my hobbies are firearms, and my animals.
Oh yeah and I work hard at exposing the "green agenda."
Anything else and I would have to kill you.

Name is Damon
Age is 24
6'2" 220lbs
Sell auto parts and save most of my money for drag cars. Ive ridden MTB on and off for 10 years and am back on with a passion (I want to compete!!). Working on cutting out some weight, while having fun in the dirt.
Live in sunny california where beautiful women grow on trees.

Originally posted by Marcy S
Here is a picture of my bike (although it looks a bit funny with the mural painted in the background). I look like I have wings coming out of my head.

Keep spinning,

Marcy

I didn't notice any "wings..."

(I was lookin' at the BIKE, O.K.? :mad: )

Now I know Marcy's secret for speed. It's all about the wings.
Can I get a pair at my Local bike shop or where they specially ordered?

Poz

Name: Andrew Baker
Age:28
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: More than Joe Gardner

I am a father of one, and I have been married for 7 years. I have been cycling since I was very young. I had a bike when I was in high school and early college that I rode everywhere. Before the odometer died, I had logged 2000+ miles, and at the time I thought that was a lot of miles. I've almost ridden half that amount since January.

I live in Central Kentucky, and I work as a Data Base Administrator at a telecommunication design company that is owned by my father-in-law. We design cable systems all around the country. I taught adult education (GED, ESL, adult reading) before I stated at my present job. Although the past job was very rewarding, I now make enough money to be able to support my addiction to cycling AND pay the bills.

Besides cycling everyday, I also play softball (my team isn't very good, but we're improving), I write music and play guitar, and I am an avid reader of mostly literature and history.

Saturday morning at the Baker house: My stupid cat woke me up at 5. My son was roused out of bed at 6 by, you bet, the cat!, and now my wife is up also. We have nothing to do for most of the morning except watch Sesame Street and Blue's Clues (my son is almost 2). It is right now 6:48, and at 7:30 I'll be meeting a guy from Brazil (who will be starting to work at my company next week) to take an early Saturday morning ride (it was my idea). I should get away from this computer and get fuled up for the ride. adios.

My name is Oscar, and I would like to thank Racso for changing his name.

I am not an interesting person. I am of average height and weight and wear drab colors. I am married and have two children. I have no musical or artistic talent.

Luckly, I have a garage full of bikes, so when I'm riding I become quite dashing and debonnair.

Here's a recent picture.

Born 1940 in Oklahoma, raised in Missouri and Kansas, graduated with B. A. in French from University of Kansas in 1962, taught French there for two years. Moved to Kansas City. Clerk at a truck line till I up and moved to St. Benedict's Monastery, Atchison, Kansas where I wrestled with becoming a lay brother for a few months; decided I couldn't reconcile being gay with Catholicism as I understood it, and returned to Kansas City. (In 1975 I shifted from Catholicism to Buddhism.)

Worked as a social worker for six months in 1966. Then for the police department, as a civilian employee, for seven years. Great co-workers; some tough jobs and much stress. Went to work for a grain inspection agency in 1973, where I stayed till I retired in December 1999. Major emergency stomach surgery in August '99 helped prompt that decision.

Car-free since 1982, I racked up lots of public transport and, more interestingly, bike commuting miles while working. Two bikes: Giant Iguana mountain bike and an old Nishiki road bike I upgraded when I could still afford such projects. I used both for commuting.

Disgust with street conditions (Kansas Citians must consume half the world's beer, and then drive around smashing the bottles for fun; and local government can't be bothered to clean or repair streets, too busy pouring funds into professional sports), cleanup after muddy rides, and similar gripes, I abandoned my bikes late in 1997. Now, with ample time to clean up, and a renewed effort to forgive or at least accept the broken glass, I'm riding once more and benefitting greatly from it. Tried in spring 2000 (when I first visited these bike forums), and couldn't go more than a couple of miles. But that surgery was still healing; I just didn't have the physical resources. Now that's done, and I'm already almost back to where I was when I was doing my daily commute. I see friends younger than me crumbling before my eyes, and I would rather avoid that fate. That's probably my biggest incentive.

I'm no athlete; my goal is just to do maybe ten to twenty miles most days, to keep in shape and make life easier in the city, since I can do some shopping on the bikes as well. I still feel basically like a commuter. I hope to get into some group rides.

Non-cycling interests include classical music (I play piano and harpsichord, but have only a cheap Yamaha keyboard), jazz; Italian, Vietnamese, and Mexican-American cuisine; reading (especially classics); Internet of course; arts (especially photography and printmaking); journal writing; and trying to help people coping with loss or impending loss of loved ones (my best friend died at a hospice last September, and I attend support group meetings there now).

I live with my cat friend of fifteen years, Katie, a tortoiseshell-with-white beauty.

I'm Christopher J (my call display calls me christ)
I'm 25, 6,2" 145lbs
I learned to ride when I was 4 on my own. I didn't stop. I grew up in Vancouver which is a great place to grow up as a cyclist. My mom pushed me to ride.
I presently ride a Fisher Marlin that's on it's last legs. New bike comes next month. I just don't know what to get. If I could afford it, a Cannondale Badboy standard edition.
I have no kinds but a sweetheart of a girlfriend who I bought a bicycle for a couple days ago. We rode in her first critical mass yesterday. It was awesome til the cops started hassling us. A year of no trouble. Just smiles and waves from the cops and now three tickets. Ok I'm rambling. I haven't posted here in a while. Been too busy working on www.cmedmonton.org.
I also do my part to organize the North American Bicycle Courier Championchips here in Edmonton, and the bicycle festival that it expected to go along with it.
Ok I'll stop talking now.

Ok you guy's here goes :My real name is Ritchie Hayden but for the last 18 years I've been known as "Buddy".. not sure how it came about,but anyways..I'm 35 , not married,no kids but in a relationship with my girlfriend Lee. I work as a bike mechanic in a bicycle touring specialist store,been there close on 12 months now and I love the work and the people I'm around and it's very laid back and non -stressfull !.I worked in the music industry for 14 years as a guitar player in bands and as a guitar tech also, working for the likes of Leo Kottke,Richard Marks,Vinnie Moore(alice Cooper),Scatterbrain(NJ)Hothouse Flowers(ireland)and Colin Hay(men at work)amongst a lot of other guys. I have been situated in Melbourne (aust) all my life, I have been all over Australia many times with bands etc and it is a truly beautiful continent !Please feel free to pay me a visit if you're ever in the "hood"...e-mail me first though (lol). My bikes ,which can be viewed in the photo section of the mtn bikes forum are my baby's along with my guitars, which I bring them all to life and vice-versa they are more than mere "objects" or "possesions" they are an extension of my pure being,something my soul craves, metaphysical in the purest sense.I have found that biking and music go together hand in hand both of which allows me "escape" the confines of normality and truly be myself,at one with a higher force,for which I'll always be inspired by. I have included a photo of myself ,albeit not a bike pic,but me in the studio recording an album a couple of years ago ....ok I guess thats it for now. but please feel free to e-mail me if you have anything to ask or discuss with me...cheers your friend - Buddy.

Great thread Joe! Makes me realize I need A) digital camera. B) a scanner. Oh, by the way, I'm eagerly anticipating the first annual Joe Gardner day!!!
About me. Stan Kirkpatrick, 38, 6'0', 150# since high school, but my waist is 2" bigger. What's up with that, Huh?
Quit smoking, and started riding when I was 30. Just seemed the thing to do at the time. I'm a roadie if stratification is your thing, I prefer, just a person that likes to ride. I recently bought a mountain bike, also.
Hobbies include, anything outdoors, woodworking, building models, Star trek fan. Did I mention that I am single?
Grew up on a farm, moved to Kansas City in '88 and went back to school. Been kickin around moving south for about 5 years now. Riding a trainer just isn't like ridin. Don't know maybe where "beautiful women grow on trees" would be alright too!! ha hah ah ha!!!
Ride long, and prosper.

My name is John and I'm from KY. I have enjoyed reading a great deal of useful information on several topics here. Some time last October My wife asked what I would like for Christmas, feeling my paunch and glancing at the beer in my hand, I said a bicycle. I thought I would enjoy riding as a form of exercise and thought that it would be a lot less boring than the ol' Nordic Track. She seemed to take the hint. Visions of sleek road bikes danced in my head, I could see myself leaning over the bars and cranking for all I was worth. Well Christmas came and I unwrapped my spanking new Huffy! I nearly choked, but she reasoned that my interest in biking would not last as long as the bike. So in part determination to proove her wrong and in part because I really enjoy it, I'm propelling my 40 pound Huffy around some really nasty hills. I'm up to about 50 miles without passing out and would like to ride in a century sometime in Sept. In the mean time I am trying to wear this machine out so I can get a TREK 2200. Oh yeah, I am 5' 9" 205 LB, down from 226, and my favorite color is blue.

HuffyMan, welcome to the forums! Imagine how much faster and further you will beable to go on that 20 pound trek after pushing your 40 pound huffy around! I know i noticed a world of difference when i went from a 28 pound mountain bike to a sub-20 pound road bike.

What a great idea!

My name is Bill Whitlow, a 52 year old male living in the wilds of Nebraska. I am 5 ft 10 inches tall, and weigh 224 pounds, and falling! A little over 3 months ago, I wieghed in at 260 pounds. I finally got tired of looking like a bearded Buddah, so decided to do something about it. Besides dieting and working out, I was inspired to start riding by a local lady who is a magnificent rider! She also referred me to a great bike dealer in North Platte, who set me up with a really great cross trainer bike at a price I could afford. My first ride of 7 miles was quite an experience. Another local "super rider" happened to ride with me for the last couple of miles, and I was puffing so hard, I could hardly talk to him! Now, 3 weeks and 160 miles later, I still huff and puff, but I can sing along with some of the songs on my Eagles tape that I listen to while I ride. I am having so much fun, that I pout when I can't get in a little ride on the weekends, as this weekend we have had winds of 30 to 45 miles per hour, so I didn't ride. My goal is to ride to a town 35 miles away non stop by the end of the summer.....or sooner if I can manage it! My only regret is that I didn't start riding years ago! Best of luck to all who read this! And remember, it is better to put more life in your days, than days in your life!

Nebill.
welcome to Bikeforum, as you were saying its not to late to start a good hobby, If you have any question or concerns don't hesitate to ask us were just be to glad to answer you, happy riding:dance:

I began riding, in Red Bank, New Jersey, on a blue Ross single-speed at age 5. My older neighbor helped me learn the two-wheeler. After that, I rode like a maniac. That bike lasted me until age 10, in 1975, when I got a crappy, red, white, and blue, Sears "10 speed".

Now, 35, living in Kansas City, I have been married to my wife, Krista, 4 years. A couple road bikes later, I'm a new bike commuter. I am a musician and a sometimes internet applications consultant. I'm 5'9", 170 lb (12 stone 2).

My daughter, Marlee, 9 years old, enjoys riding her first bike as much as possible.

Jonathan

Hey,

This is great...really nice to get to know all about you guys and gals....makes me feel like part of a family unit...

Hoping your week ahead is a good'un!!

Rich :D

To all those whose goal it is to ride 30 miles nonstop: I've been riding hard miles for years, and I always find that it's good to have a 5 minute rest after 15 miles. You'll enjoy the next 15 better.

Raymond Perry, 6'0", 220 lbs and falling, New Orleans, LA. I will have been married to the lovely and vivacious Rainbabe for 28 years this June.
We have three daughters all of whom are in college or post graduate. Two will be moving home this summer. One because she is graduating and has a JOB, (Yesss!) She is a pragmatic (read cheap) young lady who figures she can mooch off the parental units for a year or so and sock away a ton of money. The other is transferring to a smaller school here in town that has its own nursing school.
I just started riding regularly, commuting 20 miles round trip, last October. It started off as just a fitness, weight loss, save the planet thing, but I have already fallen in love with riding and have started thinking about doing some racing next year, by which time I should have lost another 40 pounds or so.
If you find yourself headed this way, let me know.
Regards,
Raymond

Originally posted by RainmanP
Raymond Perry, 6'0", 220 lbs and falling, New Orleans, LA. I will have been married to the lovely and vivacious Rainbabe for 28 years this June...We have three daughters all of whom are in college or post graduate....If you find yourself headed this way, let me know.
Regards,
Raymond
Notice how Raymond describes himself in relation to his family?

Pete Clark, 41 years of age (not "old"), wife Toni and four children: Rob (22), Amanda (18), Jared (16) and Angela (5). We live in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia, USA. in a "satellite" city called Stone Mountain, where there exists the
largest piece of granite above ground in the world--a really neat place. We are also not far from the Appalachian Mountains to the north, but that's a bit of a drive.

I work in the computer industry and volunteer as a teacher. I am glad I've gotten to know so many of you on these forums, it's really been great! Thanks for putting up with my rants. :cry: I still am so amazed I've met so
many nice people from all over the place. Even this morning I got a personal message from Buddy Hayden, all the way from Melbourne, Australia. Joe, do realize how cool this thingy is? First, there was paper; then, the printing press; then came Bell Telephone and now, there's BikeForums! Blows me away, mate!

I think I re-entered cycling as an adult at about 37 years of age. I am so grateful I rediscovered cycling. It has become an important part of my life. I always rode as a kid and I guess that's what led me back to it. It is so much fun to get on my bike after work and start cruising home down tree-lined streets, with complete confidence that the 15 mile trip will be very do-able. Makes me feel a little independent, a little more powerful or something.
I like being different cycling instead of driving, it makes me think, "See, all you folks in your cars, there IS a better way!" I know the answer to this, but I almost wonder, "Why isn't everyone cycling instead of driving?" Driving is
so filthy (to our surroundings). I want to show as many people as possible (including myself) that cycling is a better alternative to driving, anywhere you want to go. The only prerequisite is to get oneself in shape enough to
be a really good engine. I find that idea exciting.

And again, I am amazed at how BikeForums has so quickly introduced me to so many friends, as far away as Canada, Europe or Australia. We should really think about what we have, here.

Pete

OK, I guess it's my turn.

Dave Stacey from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I'm 53 years, 5'7", 154 lbs.

I'm single but committed to my SO, and 20 month old grandaughter. We took her for her first two bike trailer rides this past weekend and she loved it! A budding BikeForum member!

I'm an Air Traffic Controller by profession, and work part time as a flying instructor and pilot flight tester.

I've been biking since I was a kid, and pretty well always had a bike, but have become more serious about it in the last 6 or 7 years. I ride a Giant Innova hybrid as my commuter, but have a Trek MTB for the trails, and this year started riding a Cannondale road bike for faster rides. I love them all, but the Giant is a really sweet bike.

I'm blessed with being able to work at something I really like doing, and with guys at work who are all for the most part interested in fitness and a few specifically cycling, so it's a great atmosphere.

Unfortunately, I don't have any bike shots.

Hi there,

I am Nate Steele, 28 yrs old and live in the great little college town of Iowa City, IA. I work as a computer operator for a standardized test scoring company. I have a live-in girlfriend, no kids, 2 dogs, 2 parakeets, 4 goldfish and large collection of house plants and bonsai's.

The first bike I owned was a Schwinn Stingray, red and yellow...I wish I still had that bike. I now ride a Mongoose NX7-1, that I have recently upgraded with a Rockshox SID XC. I also currently have 1.5" slicks on the bike. In the spirit of SUV's, I like to think of my bike as an "Urban Assault Cycle". I mainly ride for transportation, but love every minute of it. I more or less bike year around, even though I am amazed at the extensive list of excuses I seem to have. Fortunately (or maybe not) this town has a great bus system, and since I work at 7am it is awfully tempting to walk across the street to the bus stop instead of getting on the bike. It is only a 4 mile ride to work, but two miles of it are on a hill-ridden busy rural highway, so it always seems further than it is.

I also love going to the local mountain bike trail, which is 20 miles away. It always seems like a long ride on mountain bike, but it's said to be the best trails in Iowa, so I guess I can't complain.

OK, that's all.

Specs:
Doug Stuart
6'2" 190 lbs (likes beer too much to be a "weight weenie")
53 years

Story:
I live on the San Francisco Peninsula, which affords great cycling opportunities both for recreation and commuting. Recently I've been doing more of the recreational version than the commuting version, having been laid off back in November from my job as Director of Creative Development at a telecommunications software company. Bad timing as the dot-coms all started tanking six weeks later!

I am married to Samantha, a conflict resolution specialist and mediator, who, for four or five thousand miles a year is the stoker on our tandem. Except in those years like 1996 when she lived in Azerbaijan and Armenia for six months working with groups there on citizen diplomacy projects (thank goodness for email and chat!). We've been married coming up 15 years, and I am stepfather to her four grown children, and known as "Granpa Duck" to the three grandkids, with two more on the way in June and July.

My first full size bike was a black Raleigh three-speed in the late 50s, which my dad took into the paint shop at the car dealership where he worked and had it painted a nice Corvette burgundy (my older brother's bike got red-orange). But I really didn't get into serious riding until much, much later . . . like 35 years.

I started commuting eight years ago on a hybrid, and after upgrading to an inexpensive touring bike in 1997, decided to branch off into recreational road riding in the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west (the mountains refered to in my town's name of "Mountain View"). I joined a club in 1998, started adding centuries to the mix and have managed to do 27 to date (14 on the tandem), and will probabaly do three a month through September. Sam & I did the California AIDS Ride last year on the tandem, and are repeating this year. Even though I am out of work, I commute with her on the tandem to her office and then take the train home, returning in the evening to pedal back with her.

Our motto on the tandem (as I have mentioned in one post here) is "We may be slow, but we're . . . slow." We haven't done a double century yet (let alone PBP like some tandeming friends have!), but are thinking about it and the necessary saddle time. We have done the local "Mount Hamilton Challenge," which is 130 miles and 9000 feet. That took us almost 11 hours at 12.3 mph, so we're trying to extrapolate the butt pain equivalent for a 6000-foot double!

Two years ago I got an unexpected bonus at work, so part of that went to my "weekend sportster," a carbon-fiber Trek. As a result the entryway of our condo is rather cramped, with the Trek joining the tandem, the touring bike, and my wife's Terry.

Picture:
Here's two shots stuck together, the Trek with operator, and Sam and me on the tandem.

Or maybe here?

I had the problem with uploading the picture, so I'll try it again. This is my favourite cross training activity, cross country skiing, the last time out this year.

I'm new here but I just love the place. I'm 43, 185lbs. married for about 10yrs. Two girls Lauren and Emily. Started mountain biking about two years ago to get in better shape and lost 35 lbs. What a great sport! I work for Bell & Howell (22yrs) as a technician. I wore my bike shorts under my pants to work last week so I could go straight to the trails. Am I hooked or what?
Sorry about the pic but it's the only one of me on the computer. It's after my first endo. (Notice the right shoulder) I did a better one last week. Much more colorful. You'd think I'd learn. Glad to meet everybody.
Dirtgrinder - aka Bob Hagan

Hi kids,

I'm Cheryl Conklin, 39, from beautiful New Jersey just north of Princeton.

I have been riding for 3 years, wrestled into it by my SO Howard. I love mtb, roading is taking some getting used to. I have a Cannondale M300 and a Lemond Tourmalet.

I am a Municipal Clerk for the town I live in as well as assistant to the Administrator and CFO of a nearby town. Both are very diverse and fun. I love dealing with the public because it makes me realize how sane I really am..

I have an 18 year old son who drives me bananas and the best guy a girl could have who lets me have whatever I want as long as I ride 50-75 miles a week with him. Fair trade??

I'm enjoying this site, great job, Joe!! :D

Howdy!

My name is Carl. I'm 46 yrs old and living in San Angelo, a oasis of about 90,000 in the vast desolation of west Texas. My wife and I both work for Angelo State University, where she teaches nursing and I'm a Technology Services Analyst in the IT department. As if I wasn't busy enough already, I started working on a graduate degree in Communication this semester.

At various times in the past I've been an avid cyclist, but had embraced the sins of gluttony and sloth for the last 10 years or so. About a month ago I failed my cholesterol test and after sitting through the standard heart disease lecture and humbly accepting the pamphlets and a prescription for expensive drugs that I might have to take for the rest of my life, we decided that we need to make some lifestyle changes (I use the term "we" loosely - I get only token input into family health issues. My wife's a nurse, after all).

So I stand before you a changed man. I got a Giant Cypress, she got a Specialized Crossroads, and we're riding all over town. I started commuting on the bike last week, and try to get 10+ miles a day, 20+ miles on weekends. I quit eating so much Mexican food (except on Tuesdays, which is fajita day at Chilango's).

My 6'3" frame is down to 240 lbs and still dropping (it would drop faster were it not for Chilango's). I remember now why I loved pedalling so much. I go back to the doctor this Thursday and I think I have a pretty good shot at talking her out of renewing the prescription.
Finals are Monday.

Any questions?

c~

Howdy Folks,

Been away for the last two weeks doing that "job" thing, so here goes...

Name: Jake
Age: 28 (in about 26 days from this posting)
Height: 5' 10.5"
Weight: 10W30

Originally born in Mt. Clemans MI, my folks moved to Sunny Arizona when I was three. As I grew, so did my love for bicycles. When i was 15, I received a Schwinn Traveler that i rode into oblivion in a matter of a year. Rode actively for two years until a bike-car incident nearly ended my life (wear your helmet, y'all!). I joined the U.S. Army and was made into a military policeman which I remained for five years. My last stop was Heidelberg Germany where I met my (unbeknownst to her) future wife. After the army was over, I worked for about a year back in AZ until I got married and moved to Karlsruhe Germany, where I currently reside.

Been riding ever since I left the military (although I did a rotation on the Ft. Campbell bicycle patrol) and recently ditched my ancient Trek 8000 for a shiny-new custom made from the local shop. Nothing makes life grand like riding a two-day old bike in the first real sunny weather in months on a 4 day weekend with my new-to-cycling bride. My wife just recently graduated from "grandma's old beast" to a real mountain bike with gears and everything, so despite complaints of sore "contact surfaces" she seems to be really stoked.

Sorry, no picture right now, but hopefully one of the new ride in the next few days.

Obviously a newbie to this forum as you can see by me label. Im 33 years old 6', 195lbs. getting engaged this summer and just bought a house so I guess that means that I am a grown up responsible adult.....well maybe only just. I grew up in the midwest but moved to Washington State after I graduated college and have been out here for about 10 years now. I quit working in the rat race a few months ago and decided to be self-employed as a mechanical engineer / AutoCAD specialist. I wish I could say that this manuever gives me more time to ride, hopefully it will in the future, but it doesnt right now since I am spending a lot of time trying to pick up new clients.

Ive been riding since I was 2. My first ride was this grand apple-red tricycle..did they have apple-red back then?...maybe it was just red barn paint, anyway it was great! My first and last accident, well a major one anyways, left me sliding from pavement to gravel and into a mailbox post....all on my face. So my good hearted, mother (did I mention that she is German) set me out in the sun while dousing my with isopropyl and scrubbing sand and rocks out of the right side of my face with some sort of scouring pad. Well apparently she knew what she was doing since I only have a 3 mm scar in one place. As far as the bike went, it was a mess. I went from road biking to mt biking....raced for a little while....then went back into road. I just seem to like it a whole lot more.

Howdy all,
Age 29, male, married, no kids, Chemical Engineer with a environmental consulting firm.

Commuting again for the past two weeks straight. Last year, I got a Jeep Wrangler and spent my sunny days riding around with the top down. My bike feels even better. I forgot that.

I started riding as a kid like most and started commuting and road riding in 1992 with a new Trek 2000. Brutal. I bought it too large. I had no concept of adjustment other than the seat. I rode with my new cycling friends until my hands tingled and back burned. After about a year of that, I wised up and replaced components to make it fit better. Now I could do longer rides including centuries and started really enjoying it.

Now I've sold the Trek and have a Bridgestone MB-4 for trails and ride a Schwinn road bike that I found abandoned in the basement of the apartment where I lived. The Schwinn is a lugged steel, 27"wheeled, friction shiftn' comfort commuter. It had "World Class" badging but I don't know if that was the model or what.

Hi. My name is Mike Stone, known on BikeForums.com unimposingly as simply “Mike”. 6’1” 204 lbs. People often ask me, “Are you the REAL Mike Stone?!” The answer is always the same, “Yes, I am THE Mike Stone”.

My home is in the snowy mid-western part of the GREAT North American continent which, I have been told, is owned by the United States of America. An important section of our great continent was named Canada and has been given to King Racso for his enjoyment.

As Pete Clark would say, my tongue is 40 years old, but my teeth are even younger. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy jam packing each moment with wonderful adventures and have spent most of my life traveling the world and meeting fantastic friends that God himself must have chosen specifically for me. I know that a lot of guys on this forum have good spouses, but sorry cats, my wife is the best. She encourages my spirit and is the mother of our two wonderful boys.

As for my career, I am the Asia Sales Manager for a USA manufacturing company. This career provides me with a steady stream of opportunities to travel to all parts of the world; naturally bicycling or at least checking out the bike scene wherever I go.

The reason I bike is because I love it. Bikeforums.com is one of the few places where people understand the meaning of that sentence without needing any other explanation. My passion for ecological conservation compels me to rescue old bikes, get them back to good working order, and give them to people who will ride them for function. My garage now has 52 bicycles hanging like bats and lined up like stallions waiting to stir the wind. For this reason, the newest bike I ride is from 1976 (thanks Kevin), but I put on a lot more miles than most people with newer bikes. Even the tires are used/old because it is shameful waste of materials and land to send a useable tire to the landfill. As you can imagine, my passion is part curse; I keep up with other riders, but only with greater effort.

I bicycle commute every single day. It is not easy to bicycle here because in the winter the weather can dive to –20 F or lower for weeks at a time. Attached is a photo of me leaving for my bicycle commute on a –40 F (= -40 C) day.

My hobbies include the shared obsession with BikeForums.com as well as lifelong interests in martial arts, history, culture, travel, and the enjoyment of good people.

My name is Matt Brown, I was born in Baten Rouge Louisiana. My dad is a officer in the Air Force so we have to move every three years, sooo I have never live somewhere longer than three years:cry: I'm 5'10, I struggle to wiegh 140, have blue eyes, and brown hair. I got my first bike for my fifth birthday, it was a 16 in Huffy, red.I had my first accident the same year, I hit one of those parking stones and flew off my bike, the result was a broken jaw. I had to walk around for three days with my jaw hanging wide open before my mom took me to th Dr, she tells me now that I used to cry about everything so she didn't think I was that hurt.My second bike my dad got from a garage sale and we rebuilt it. I didn't have any crashes on that bike, and eventually my sister backed the car over it. My first MTB and ten speed came when I was nine. I had a paper route for a year or so and the money was burning a hole in my pocket, and when I saw the bike, I was in love.That bike lasted until I was 14, and then I started using my dads bike.
Now I am using my sisters Univega and saving up for one of two bikes, a Moab 3 or a Giant OCR 3.
I just got a job working as an assistant in a optometry clinic, and I plan on going to Clemson university and majoring in physics, minoring in music, and doing AFROTC. Thats me guys!!! Here's a picture of me standing in front of an F-16!

Darn , the image didn't work, let see if it works this time.

Now that's basic transportation!!!
:thumbup:

OK then, here goes:

Chris Lewthwaite. Height: almost 6ft (I think), Weight: 61kg Currently living on the Gold Coast in South Queensland, Australia. 24 years old, about to finish university (end of this year). Mr Spanky, hill climbing fanatic. Other interests are my coin collection, my fanantical devotion to Manchester United, and I don't have time for much else.

Chris

Hi all,

I'm Kevin from Calgary Canada. Just turned 37, married and started MTB in 1985. Before that, I rode everywhere since I was 8 years old. However, the last 8-9 years I haven't been riding that much due to a neck injury from a crash I had back in the late 80's. I just started to ride again last year regularly since my neck rarely gives me any problems now. I commute to work everyday and on weekends ride in the Rockies in and around the Banff area where it's always a grueling climb to the top of the Mountains, but the downhills are extremely worth it!

Cheers,

Mookie

Good Evening.
I'm newer to this computer stuff than I am to cycling.I'm 46 and have been cycling on and off like most of us since i was a young lad.My wife and I had Sears ten speed road bikes when the girls were young before bike helmets were the rage.We road with the little ones in those behind the seat mounts. Since no bike helmets were made for them we used hockey helmets. What else would you expect from a canadian.Then there was while where no serious riding took place time constraints and other excuses. I had a Norco MTB for a few years and then 3 yrs ago bought a KHS hybrid well that got the feeling back. Last spring I bought a Cannondale R1000 and really got out there and rode. A few years ago 5kms on the Norco would be tough.Now on days 50 kms feels short.
This all come about 12 years ago when I quit my high stress management job and started driving tour bus, hence the monicker tourman.In this job I get a lot of downtime when the group is at an attraction and I bring my bike and can knock of a few kms during work and get paid. What a deal! Last week I was able to ride in Virginia Beach the week before New York City.This July doing a 23 day Western Canada and USA tour. I really look forward to riding in different parts of North America.
The company I drive for is great with the best looking coaches on the contintent.See for yourself at www.BigBlueCoach.com
Life is good!!

Servus!

Sorry Badger, the pic didn't come out . :(

P.S. How is the weather in my old home State?

6' 0", 180 lbs hailing from Boise, Idaho a 35 year old married engineer, Ladies and Gentleman please welcome Dirtsqueezer.

Always been a semi-regular commuter. Got involved with organized rides (League of American Wheelman) while living in Corvallis, Oregon. Later jumped into club racing (mountain and road) in Fairbanks, Alaska. Nowadays, I spend my saddle time commuting about 3 days per week from March to December, catch some club rides, and ride MTB's with a loose group of friends. We are spending more time on the Tandem, getting ready for the Northwest Tandem Rally in Pendelton.

Fortunately, the spousal unit is a big riding fan, so we egg each other on with spending time and money on the bikes. When we are not on bikes, it is backpacking, skiing, and being the humble manservant to our 3 dogs.

Dirtsqueezer, sounds like the good life, and welcome to the forums.

Serge here. I'm a 47 year old french national, living and working in the US since 1995. I've been back home for as long as ten months, but I like it here, I have room to breathe. I've considered becoming an american, but my french citizenship is as much a part of me as are my heart and lungs. Cocorico.

I go to the gym for muscle tone, but I bike for more esoteric reasons... as biking is not exactly a cerebral activity, I have plenty of handlebar time to just think about things. Or to learn... I learned english mainly from listening to language cassettes while commuting... hours and hours of vocabulary and verb drills! (Funny thing, the mind - When I use or hear certain english verbs, I can picture where on my parisian commutes I was when I first learned them.)

I have since learned spanish in the same way, and I am presently working on italian. Why? Well, I certainly have the time to learn them. Plus, ANYTHING beats american commercial radio... no offense!

I'm quite fit for an old guy, 1.76m, 66kg, and I can still recall what it was like to be fast!

I was born and grew up in Paris, first in the IVeme, then we moved to the XVeme... Blvd. de Grenelle... Dupleix... when I was still quite young. I grew up on two wheels, all over town and in the surrounding countryside. "Critical Traffic" à la NYC or Boston is a concept with which I am familiar.

I worked for EDF for many years, as an electrical engineer involved in Telecommunications, when an opportunity to swap jobs with an american telecom engineer came up... and I took it. The position was supposed to be temporary, but neither of us... nor our respective employers... seems to be pushing for our returns.

My present office is 3.0 miles from my house, but I leave for work nearly two hours early, turn the WRONG way, and make a nice 20 mile "dawn patrol" out of it. Ditto for the evening ride home. Back in France, I was logging
1 100 and 1 200 km (700 - 725 miles) months, and I thought that was good. Well, here in the outskirts of Atlanta, GA, I've regularly posted 900+ mile months! I've seen no need to buy a car... If I can make it to work, I have access to a "pool" company car.

I'm single, with no children, but I do have an american girlfriend. She doesn't ride, but she does drive a Corvette... which has merits. My current écurie holds:

Trek 1220 road bike... lights, rack.
Trek 7900 hybrid... mudguards, lights, rack. (My "rainbike)

1996 Yamaha YZF600 motorbike... fills the need for speed.

Back home, I (hopefully still) have:

Campy equipped Peugeot road bike, early 1970s.
Specialized Crossroads Elite hybrid... mudguards, lights, rack, suspension fork.

1991 Honda Pan European 1100 motorbike.
1972 Lamborghini Miura SV... hasn't pumped a piston in anger since early 1980s, but I hold a 50% share.

My best english expressions so far:

"Thank you for NOT running me over and squashing me like a bug."

"Oppor-knockity tunes only once."

"I'm not rich, I'm just practising for when I will be."

Andrew here. I am a fed who bikes all 2. 5 miles to catch a commuter train into Washington DC. I live in Greenbelt, a government town that still has fond memories of Eleanor Roosevelt. The neatest part of living here in suburban DC is I'm right next to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). I can get on my bike, and in five minutes ride by a herd of cows grazing on a field, and feel like I'm back in the Dairy state. I'm single. 43, and got back into riding about 8 years ago. I try to do a number of metric centuries each year, and finish up with the Seagull Century in the Fall. Maybe next year I'll become a randonneur and do some brevets.

Originally posted by Nitter
..... Maybe next year I'll become a randonneur and do some brevets.

Hey fellah, what you do on your time is your own business ;)

Ooops, did a web search: http://www.bgcycling.org/BRM/English/
My mistake.