Introductions - new forum member from Austria...

I just signed up to become a member of the message forums and was instructed to come over here and introduce myself.

By way of introduction, I am a new owner of a 1999 used Cannondale MT800 because the LBS had it for sale and it happenened to be size XL in the captain's seat and size S in the stoker's seat. Just what I was looking for in a tandem. In addition to trail riding, it will be used to ride across Iowa this July in the 31st RAGBRAI with my 8 year old daughter. Are we crazy? We try to keep the entire family involved in cycling and so far - so good.

Other bikes in our household include: 2002 Trek 8000 mountain bike, 1989 Trek 820 steel frame mountain bike/commuter, 1989 Trek 820 mountain bike (wife's), 2002 Trek 4700 (son's) and a couple of little kids bikes.

We have lived in the Vienna Woods with off road access to miles and miles of trails for the past 5 years. Before that, we lived more towards the center of town and were primarily "ride along the Blue Danube or any of the bike paths" riders here in Vienna pulling the kids behind us. We moved here in 1995 from the San Francisco Bay Area and will be returning to the states this summer due to a job change.

That's it for now and I'll see you on the forums.

BB

Hello,
how is Wien treating you? I spent some time there 30 years ago; but I am told it has changed. Yu will miss it when you go. I had dreams about going back for years after I left.

Welcome Bruce. You're not crazy at all. I've been out cycling with my 11 yr old son for the past several weekends. We started out with a couple 10 milers, a couple 15 milers, and just finished two 25 mile rides. Now we're ready for a metric century. Wish my dad had started me biking at 11 instead of 40.

Pistachio wrote:

<i>Welcome Bruce. You're not crazy at all. I've been out cycling with my 11 yr old son for the past several weekends. We started out with a couple 10 milers, a couple 15 milers, and just finished two 25 mile rides. Now we're ready for a metric century. Wish my dad had started me biking at 11 instead of 40.</i>

The question is how do I prepare the two children for the endurance needed in the summer heat where we need to ride 45 - 73 miles per day across Iowa. It's not a race, so we will go at a leisurely pace and each day riding is allowed between 6AM - 6PM to cover the distance from overnight town to overnight town. We have squeezed in three 10 - 15 trips in the past week with no problem. I will just continue to slowly build the time on the bike to prepare them for many hours in the saddle.

Now that I have the tandem, we should be able to pick up the pace and cover more distance.

BB

My son wanted to keep going even after 25 miles. I'll try to remember to give a report on how a 50 mile or metric century ride with him goes. Remember the old axiom: drink before you're thirsty and eat before you're hungry, take breaks every 20 miles, and probably be prepared for her to coast from the back seat from time to time. How many miles total will you be covering?

I believe the total is around 450 - 475 miles.

BB

P.S. Hello to "late" who spent time in Vienna 30 years ago. Yes, we will miss Vienna once we leave here.