Greetings from the Dallas, TX area!


I'm not totally new; I've done a little fitness riding over the past few years. The bike, Transit/Rock Creek hybrid from Performance Bike, sat idle for a year or so until I re-aired the tires last November. OK, actually I traded the 32s for 28s but that's a technicality. Thanks in part to motivation from our Vitality program at work, I was able to gamify my exercise and get rolling again (see what I did there?). We get a reduced health insurance rate for documenting our exercise, and points that can be used for gear or even Amazon gift cards. What's not to like about that?


I've been gradually ramping up the miles and now ride 5 days/week. All of my 2016/2017 rides have been on the great bike/walking trail (concrete) system in Plano, TX. My ex was hit by a car while riding on city streets and that made me a little skittish about it. 12-15 miles after work with a couple of longer rides on the weekend has become the pattern. Last week was my first week over 100 miles so I thought it might now be permissible/appropriate to proclaim myself a cyclist. It must be getting real, I'm getting up early on weekends and sometimes feel guilty on my "days off". I may eventually swap a day or two of riding for running again at some point, if my 54yr old knees can still take it.

I'm a tech guy so I have a few gadgets in my bag; Garmin 920XT with HRM, Wahoo speed and cadence sensors, and a PowerPod power meter. I'll ever be a race winner, maybe not even a race participant, but I do enjoy competing with myself and trying to improve the numbers. There are no specific goals at the moment other than progress. I might eventually try riding with one of the active cycling clubs in the area if I find something that fits; confidence in a group setting, especially athletically, is not my strong suit. For now I've been enjoying some solitude.

I am Cory, in Dallas (Plano). I sometimes ride a bike, and this is how my story begins.