Johnny Rebel

Hi, I've read many useful threads on BF and decided I might as well join.

I'm a commuter living in the frigid Northeast, so I don't commute year-round: 36 miles roundtrip when the winter finally thaws. It's hilly in my parts, and I am slow. 18 miles takes me 1 hour and 10 minutes, on average. I plan to ride the Kancamagus Highway and do some short tours this summer. I wish I lived someplace warmer.

I ride an orange Bianchi Castro Valley with 700 x 32 tires, Banjo Brothers panniers, fenders, and a dyno hub with LED light. Drop bars and bar-end shifters in friction mode are my only significant mods from stock. This bike was a gift (!) from a good and terribly generous old friend who had just got a terrific deal on a Surly Cross Check. I call my Bianchi my karma bike. I sold my old mountain bike and road bike and only ride the Castro Valley now.

I love to ride on trails, dirt roads, farm roads, rail trails. I don't enjoy urban riding too much. I try to challenge myself and am hoping to take a short tour this year. I've never raced. I might take up lowest category cyclocross when my form improves but I'm happy being a fan and spectator. I cheer on at local races when I can.

My favorite races to watch are the elite Belgian cyclocross races, Paris-Roubaix, and the Montepaschi Strade Bianchi. I also love the one-day classics... the worse the terrain, the more entertaining. Stage 7 of the Giro was my favorite stage of last year. My favorite riders are Felice Gimondi, Lucho Herrera and Sven Nys. I also enjoy Cancellara and Tom Boonen and like everybody, I love Jens Voigt.

I enjoy bike-specific attire, but do not look good in it. I usually wear some discreet shorts over padded shorts or tights. Wish I could afford wool everything.

I'm a 36 year-old Clyde-Lite at 6'1" and 215 lbs. When I was trimmer in my mid-twenties I was at 175. Getting to the 185 range is a goal of mine now.

I'm not a total newb when it comes to bike maintenance, but I've never put an entire bike together, either.

Nice to meet you guys.

10 Wheels

Nice to have you.
Have fun with Bike Forums.

If you want to move look at this.

https://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/...res_large.html

Johnny Rebel

Very tempting... do you ever get used to those 100+ days in the summer, though?

NCMTBIKER

Hello and welcome!!

rumrunn6

thanks for sharing and welcome! most everyone here is pretty nice even though there's an occasional insult from time to time. something about the anonymous aspect to web forums I think. you'll find the personality of members varies from forum to forum. clydes are the friendliest and kindest. commuters are the most ingenious. mechanics need the facts without the fluff. be cautious with the roadie forum they don't take kindly to strays wandering in their halls. the gadget guys are simply amazing. the hybrids are gonna surprise you, they really mix it up. I learned a lot from the training & nutrition and triathlon forums. the winter riders are a sturdy bunch and the average pedestrian has no idea how strong these people are. then there are the lonely trolls who need distraction from their empty lives like me

Johnny Rebel

Thanks for the welcomes, guys!
Rumrunn6, thanks for the breakdown. I feel like a kid on the first day of school being given the low-down on the different cliques!
Well, I love bikes and I love to ride. I've gleaned so much info from this site already. Glad to be a member!