Introducing the Women

[sally]

Location?
Adelaide

Road, Mountain, Track... what's your style?
Road as of this year - I've always been a mountain biker but received a second hand roadie for Christmas last year. I love it!

Current bike/s?
2006 Specialized Dolce
1980 Cycles Gitane Tandem - Currently in bits as I attempt by first restoration


Riding since?
I was a keen rider as a kid, but have only really become hooked again since the day I was given the Dolce.

Riding because?
I love being outdoors and being able to leave the car at home.

Favorite ride?
I dig the ride up Mount Lofty.

Occupation?
Sound Engineer

Goals?
100km ride!


Most embarrassing moment on the bike?
Would have to be clipstack whilst travelling at 0km.

Best moment on the bike?
Maiden voyage on the old Gitane with my partner when I first bought it, moments before pulling it apart. Hilarious.


Which section have you spent most of your time in on the forums? Or where do you suspect you'll spend most your time?
The Vintage Cycling section

[Apple]

HI Sally, nice to hear from you.

[hartleymartin]

It would be nice to see photos of people with their favourite bicycle (or bicycles) instead of just text descriptions all the time. I'd like to put a face to the names!

[Max]

It would be nice to see photos of people with their favourite bicycle (or bicycles) instead of just text descriptions all the time. I'd like to put a face to the names!

Be careful what you ask for!




Max

[mikesbytes]

Cool pic Max !!!!

[elizabethw]

Location?
Boonah Queensland

Road, Mountain, Track... what's your style?
Road on country roads

Current bike/s?
Giant Elswood Hybrid (first bike)
now
Specialized Dolce Road

Riding since?
I used to ride to school but that was 40 years ago... have taken it up again a couple of years ago now I am 55 years

Riding because?
Can't handle running, 3 years ago decided to lose weight and look after health have lost 30 kilos found riding the best exercise for fitness

Favourite ride?
Well I only do one.. still learning all about gears.. so I ride to work its 20k like to ride into town and back on the weekend its a 40k round trip

Occupation?
PA, mother, grandmother, wife and farmer

Goals?
To participate in a ride with other people finding it lonely to ride alone but would love to find someone to give me some tips and enjoy a coffee with.

Most embarrassing moment on the bike?
Forgetting about the cleats and falling over

Best moment on the bike?
All moments just love the freedom and the shear joy of being on the road and pushing myself

Which section have you spent most of your time in on the forums? Or where do you suspect you'll spend most your time?
I am new to the forums so I think it will be the womens section or any section that can give me some info on how to improve myself.

[Apple]

Hello Elizabeth,
Well don't you sound wonderful?
Never tell your age, the guys read this.
As for being a grandmother, just say you’re an Auntie.
Try and venture out of the women’s section, it can be boring, the guys love a bit of tongue and cheek

[elizabethw]

Hi Apple

Thanks for the welcome.... I am sure I will get around all the forums, just great that I found a site I can learn about cycling and hear about other peoples experiences and tips.

I am 55 years young and proud of it... but thanks for the tip.



Cheers
Elizabeth

[Apple]

I am sure you look 25.
If you where in Sydney I would love to take you on a ride here.. At present I have only Christine Tham to ride with. She doesnt count

[marinmomma]

Hi Elizabeth, welcome to the forums and congratulations on the weight loss!
I'm in Brisbane and would love to find a group of ladies to cycle with...I have a friend who cycles with me and we're working on finding some other friends to take up riding and join us
Lucky for me my husband is a patient man and is happy to go out riding with me...

[elizabethw]

Hi Lisa

Thanks for the welcome. You are lucky having someone to ride with.. but I will get there, there is a male group in town but they are pretty fast and fit.

I still love my riding and the roads around here are great.

Still would like to lose another 10 k and thats my new goal.

Happy cycling

Elizabeth

[CommuRider]

After a few days of lurking and reading all the fantastic advice, I think I should probably join in.

Location?
Sydney

Road, Mountain, Track... what's your style?
Commuter (hence the nick), flat bar road. The carbon fibre road bikes are like sirens calling me...

Riding since?
Have just started commuting: bike/ferry to work. Alternative is driving in.

Riding because?
My workplace just installed a proper cycling facility: showers, cage, lockers. Also the fact that I'm exercising but it doesn't feel like it.

Favourite ride?
Strictly bike paths for me. Waiting at the King St. lights - hahaha

Goals?
To continue commuting in this manner. I don't know when I'll stop it - either the weather or Sydney ferry service cancellation. Though I wish Sydney ferries would add more services!

Which section have you spent most of your time in on the forums? Or where do you suspect you'll spend most your time?
Advice on accessories - lights, pannnier bags, locks, etc.

Additional comments
I hope there will be more of us out there doing the commute - encourage Sydney workplaces to add more cycling facilities! It's great and healthy etc. I am currently on an accessories binge. Have gone through Clarence St. Cyclery 3 times this week because of their sale, my local family-owned business bike store and probably more to come. So I'll probably spending lots of time reading how to improve the bike. Well if I'm going to cycle and forego the car this spring, then I might as well do it in style

[marieparr]

Location?
Melbourne

Road, Mountain, Track... what's your style?
Flat Bar Road Bike

Current bike/s?
Esperia KCS Arwin

Riding since?
July 2010

Riding because?
Commuting to and from work mainly. Saving money by not driving & parking in Melbourne CBD and keeping healthy & fit.

Occupation?
IT Support Analyst

Goals?
To run a marathon before I turn 50 (that gives me 5 years to train!)

Most embarrassing moment on the bike?
I have fallen over several times due to the cleats and a couple of times at the lights standing still!

Best moment on the bike?
In the mornings around 5.45 am when not many souls are out on the streets yet

Which section have you spent most of your time in on the forums? Or where do you suspect you'll spend most your time?
I'm all over the shop!

[CommuRider]

Welcome Marie Good luck with the marathon goal!

[Chance]

Location?
Sydney

Road, Mountain, Track... what's your style?
Road....Thinking of attempting to commute now it's warmer.

Current bike/s?
Vivente Road

Riding since?
2009

Riding because?
It keeps me sane and it's fun

Favorite ride?
To be updated - but used to be out through Camden and over Razorback...

Occupation?
IT Chick

Goals?
Cut commuting costs, get fit again,try not to die on the Syd to Gong ride

Most embarrassing moment on the bike?
Stacking it at a snails pace while riding with a group of guys because of clips

Best moment on the bike?
Going for a ride around country Vietnam - absolutely beautiful.......

Which section have you spent most of your time in on the forums? Or where do you suspect you'll spend most your time?
Womens.....and many others I haven't looked at yet

[CommuRider]

Welcome Chance - and a fellow Sydneysider at that! Enjoy your time here - though as others have found, saving on commuting costs is offset by expenditure on accessories.

[Chance]

Thanks CommuRider - more money to spend on bike stuff - how could one go wrong

[geekgirl]

Hi

Location?
Melbourne

Road, Mountain, Track... what's your style?
I'm getting back into commuting, but I've done touring, some mtb and a few Audaxs in days gone by.

Current bike/s?
Trek MTB/commuter bought a few years ago and just dusted down from where it's been living in the garage. It's my fourth since I began all those years ago.

Riding since?
1980s when I could FINALLY persuade the parents to let me ride. Been in 'retirement' for the last 3-5 years, but I'm back...well as soon as I can find all the bits in the garage.

Riding because?
It was something I could do by myself and with others. Fell in love with the idea of the Great Victorians so I moved to Melb! Then I discovered how fabulous it is to be able to relax while riding through nature whether it's the bush, down country roads or the urban commute.

Favorite ride?
Commuting along Melbourne bikepaths especially parts of the Yarra first thing in the morning when it is quiet. I used to love Beach Road on Sundays in winter, but that was the 1990s, and I can't begin to fathom how many people are cycling along there now.

Occupation?
Technology

Goals?
At the moment getting around the block without turning beetroot! Like a few others here I've let some kilos pile on so it'll be a slow crawl back to bike fit but it's spring and perfect for easy cycling.

Most embarrassing moment on the bike?
Coming off during the daily commute in Gertrude St Fitzroy and having bruises on my face for days afterwards...kind of tough to explain!

Best moment on the bike?
Too many great experiences to count. I think getting to the top of Hast Pass in NZ and realising it didn't hurt!

Which section have you spent most of your time in on the forums? Or where do you suspect you'll spend most your time?
I'm a complete newbie and thrilled to find there are women here!!! I am guilty of checking out the bike bits review section but there was nothing of interest at the moment.

[CommuRider]

I'm a complete newbie and thrilled to find there are women here!!! I am guilty of checking out the bike bits review section but there was nothing of interest at the moment.

We definitely need more women here to counter the gender imbalance. Welcome.

[hannos]

Favorite ride?
To be updated - but used to be out through Camden and over Razorback...

Occupat

What is Razorback like to ride?
I spend a bit of time out Mt Annan way and was wondering about places to ride out there.

[Mikiv]

Location?
Northern NSW

Road, Mountain, Track... what's your style?
Country roads.

Current bike/s?
Schwinn Mesa D hybrid

Riding since?
Was always on either bikes or horses till about 17. Had a horse again last 7 years till he went to the stable in the sky christmas last year. Biking again since end of August.

Riding because?
miss riding horses/bikes. Will never be able to replace my horse, so I decided to get another bike. Also used to be 60kg of muscle and 15 years on I was 90kg of . . . not so much muscle Chromic asthma (always had it) + no wind to blow my tuba or trombone, turned 40 and decided it was time to turn my life around. Hate running and walking is soooo slowww!! Riding brings out the kid again.

Favorite ride?
All of them

Occupation?
Farmers wife now. Up to year ago was factory rotating shift worker (rotating at my factory meant anything from sunday arvo - saturday midday whatever we feel like giving you today - still havent got my sanity back)

Goals?
To get back to about 70kg and be fit like in my younger years. (currently 80kg and counting every one that goes )
To ride to town and back - used to ride 60 km round trip in my teens on a 5 speed, no water and there's a couple of good hills between here and there. Don't know how I ever did it but that's the goal (with LOTS of water tho this time )

Most embarrassing moment on the bike?
Don't think I have any - or maybe that's none I want to remember

Best moment on the bike?
Every ride has a best moment - the other day I had a black kockatoo fly along next to me for a while - it seemed huge just lazily flapping along. Bought a big smile to my face on a hot tough section of dirt.

Which section have you spent most of your time in on the forums? Or where do you suspect you'll spend most your time?
I lurk everywhere

[CommuRider]

Welcome Mikiv.

Question for you, know any good saddlers that does custom-made bags? Specifically, I'm looking for someone who could make a good leather double rear panniers perhaps out of roo leather (for lightness) for a bike?

[Mikiv]

Hiya there Commurider.
Have PM'd you so as not to tie up the forum

[CommuRider]

Thanks I knew you had some expertise in the area.

Hiya there Commurider.
Have PM'd you so as not to tie up the forum

[cyclechick]

Hi everyone

Location?
Brisbane

Road, Mountain, Track... what's your style?
Road - haven't tried mountain biking but all those hills scare me

Current bike/s?
EMC2


Riding since?
Early 2009

Riding because?
Started with my boyfriend who is a fanatical road cyclist but am enjoying the sport myself now Its a great way to keep fit and lose weight

Favorite ride?
Sandgate ride - nice coffee shop out there

Occupation?
HR Manager

Goals?
Not really any specific goals - just want to keep enjoying being on the bike

Most embarrassing moment on the bike?
Falling over with feet still in cleats

Best moment on the bike?
Finishing 80km ride last Saturday without collapsing

Which section have you spent most of your time in on the forums? Or where do you suspect you'll spend most your time?
Not sure yet - very new to the forum thing

Megan