I've always enjoyed riding, and as a kid used to take "epic" rides around a loop near my home out into the country that was about 10 miles on an old ten-speed. My main bike was a Schwinn BMX that I rode everwhere, but I never took cycling that seriousely.

A few years ago, I decided I wanted to avoid all of the traffic and just ride to work, saving gas money in the process. I had enjoyed watching the Tour de France before, and decided to buy a road bike. I fell in love with the beauty of road cycling, the challenge of struggling up hills and then speeding down them. In the last 3 years I've gone from a $53 Wal-Mart bike to a $700 entry level road bike, to my pride and joy $4000 Madone (earned after scrimping and saving every extra penny for a year, as I'm not a rich man).