Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Hillgrinder
02-21-09, 06:55 PM
Hi there, it was suggested that I tell a bit about myself since I am a new member of this site.
Soooo....here goes...
I was born and raised in the Northwest, I love traveling and I work in the field of environmental conservation.
I used to be justa get-around simple commuting biker (usually fair weather at that!). I had a clunky, cheap Giant mountain bike that I used for everything (I won't even mention how many pounds that behemoth was/is - I still have it!)...
In 2006 I was given the opportunity to bike the North Island of New Zealand....so I started training in earnest about 1.5 months before departure....on a clunky stationary recumbant bike that had come with the house I bought earlier that year (god it was boring!).... my goal was to pedal at least 100 miles a week (don't laugh - I think the longest I'd ridden was about 15 miles at a wack...ever).... never mind that the itinerary noted some 80 to 100 mile days(!!!)...ignorance can be bliss (in moderation).
Long story short - ebay produced a classic steel Bianchi (circa 1980's) and, with the help of friends I tracked down all the necessary accessories...did I mention I'd never ridden with clipless pedals until then? (there were some "Benny Hill" moments as the Large-ish paniers toppled me at the most embarrassing times).
I arrived and met the rest of the group - seasoned long distance riders every one...that's when the group leader had the audacity to ask me if I'd ridden much..."because I didn't look like a cyclist" (so I didn't have the stereotypical lean physique - athletically curvy can be just as good...jeez, give a girl a break!) To which I responded the next day by kicking his ass up every bleep'n hill! (small victory for the "non-cyclist"). For those of you who haven't experienced the hills of N.Z. yet, let me tell you it is a life altering experience. We rode 1000 miles in 2 weeks - it was an incredible trip!!!
In a nut shell - I became completely hooked on long distance riding - taking particular enjoyment in climbing hills - steeper the better!
Now I have a Canondale CAAD-9 which I love although I believe a full carbon frame of some kind is in my future... I try to bag 5 to 10 organized rides a season (with 1/2 or more century rides).
...so that's my story ............ I LOVE ROAD BIKING!!!
Cheers!
Soooo....here goes...
I was born and raised in the Northwest, I love traveling and I work in the field of environmental conservation.
I used to be justa get-around simple commuting biker (usually fair weather at that!). I had a clunky, cheap Giant mountain bike that I used for everything (I won't even mention how many pounds that behemoth was/is - I still have it!)...
In 2006 I was given the opportunity to bike the North Island of New Zealand....so I started training in earnest about 1.5 months before departure....on a clunky stationary recumbant bike that had come with the house I bought earlier that year (god it was boring!).... my goal was to pedal at least 100 miles a week (don't laugh - I think the longest I'd ridden was about 15 miles at a wack...ever).... never mind that the itinerary noted some 80 to 100 mile days(!!!)...ignorance can be bliss (in moderation).
Long story short - ebay produced a classic steel Bianchi (circa 1980's) and, with the help of friends I tracked down all the necessary accessories...did I mention I'd never ridden with clipless pedals until then? (there were some "Benny Hill" moments as the Large-ish paniers toppled me at the most embarrassing times).
I arrived and met the rest of the group - seasoned long distance riders every one...that's when the group leader had the audacity to ask me if I'd ridden much..."because I didn't look like a cyclist" (so I didn't have the stereotypical lean physique - athletically curvy can be just as good...jeez, give a girl a break!) To which I responded the next day by kicking his ass up every bleep'n hill! (small victory for the "non-cyclist"). For those of you who haven't experienced the hills of N.Z. yet, let me tell you it is a life altering experience. We rode 1000 miles in 2 weeks - it was an incredible trip!!!
In a nut shell - I became completely hooked on long distance riding - taking particular enjoyment in climbing hills - steeper the better!
Now I have a Canondale CAAD-9 which I love although I believe a full carbon frame of some kind is in my future... I try to bag 5 to 10 organized rides a season (with 1/2 or more century rides).
...so that's my story ............ I LOVE ROAD BIKING!!!
Cheers!