BikeSaginaw

My name is Wade. I'm a new member of bike forums, having found it the other week while doing some research and grown addicted. I am a Lutheran pastor in Saginaw, Michigan (not a bad place to ride, considering the Michigan car culture). I've been commuting regularly for about two years now, and started doing so off and on about a year earlier. I used to commute regularly in high school and college, but unfortunately grew fat and lazy in between. My commute is usually 20-30 miles per day. I live in a parsonage (church-owned house) next to our parish, so the commute to my office is about 500 feet. Most of my riding is to the hospitals (stop at the Y, lift, and shower), nursing homes, members homes, other churches, stores for church supplies, and other things of that nature. My members have been pretty entertained by my commuting, but supportive as well. So far, at least two have almost run me over, and we had a good laugh about it later.

I was riding a Trek Navigator ('99, I think), but just bought a new Allant that I've been commuting on for the past few weeks. Shopping around for it, I really grew in my appreciation for my LBS. They were the best price, and also the most informed about the new models. Just bought a little Trek for my six year-old daughter there the other day as well. I'd used them for repairs in the past, but not a lot more. That will be changing.

My wife is starting to get into riding as well, so I'm excited about that. She rides the Navigator we bought her at the same time we bought my old one (planned to cycle Germany--we've been there many times since, but haven't done it by bike; hopefully that will change too). Lately, we've been doing our grocery shopping by bike, pulling the little ones in our carriages (four kids, age 0-6--two boys, two girls). We've been making more frequent trips, but the kids love it.

Well, I don't think I'm supposed to write a sermon's worth, so I'd better cut it short. Thanks for the great forum and discussions, and I look forward to getting to know fellow bikers.

Jim from Boston

Hi Wade,

My name is Jim and I'm a cyclist ("Hi. Jim" ). I'm a Michigan native from the East Side of Detroit and I like to say Hi to Michigan subscribers on the Forums. My wife and I once did a trip from Detroit to Midland and then to Saginaw and up the Thumb to as far as Port Austin as I recall, and then down through Bad Axe, Cass City, etc back to Detroit. Currently I'm a year round commter and occasional centurian in Boston.

I know of one other pastor on the Forums, but I haven't seen posts by her in a few months, ever since she got into a tiff with a Texas hombre (who didn't know who she was). Looking forward to further posts by you too.

FlatTop

Well, there's always PastorBob, whose posts enrich the Classic and Vintage forum. Couldn't forget him!

East Hill

A splendid fellow, and a great fan of Schwinns, too!

BikeSaginaw, there are actually quite a few pastors here, although I can't name any offhand except for PastorBob. Oh, there's Padre.

Anyway, welcome to BikeForums!

East Hill