Hi. I'm a lifelong rider with a mountain bike (mid 90's Gary Fisher) and a road bike (early 80's Raleigh Super Course). I ride 50-100 miles each week, mostly out of my garage or by hauling the bikes to the trail 4 miles away (Paul Bunyan trail in Nisswa). Lots of great rides around the lakes and through the woods here.

Gutmon: That's a lot of miles.

Have you mountain-biked the Pincushion trail? I did last summer, but didnt attempt the advanced loop.

I have not biked Pincushion. I have skied it though, and I bet it would be great on a bike! I have done some trail riding in CO which was a blast. I don't remember what the ski area was near Frisco, but you could ride the chair lifts (for free) with your bike to the top of the mountain and ride the service road down- what a blast!

I bike to work and for for fun. I have a Marin hybrid. I am looking for a road bike.

I have biked many miles of the years.

Last year I broke my collar bone in 5 spots biking. Have to have surgery and since then I have bike 300 miles.

What happened while biking that resulted in broken bones?

My front tire blew out when I was turning and I buried my shoulder into the concrete driveway I was biking across. I found out I am allergic to concrete. HAHA.

9 screws and a plate put it all back together. The broken ribs were difficult to run with. The collar bone was not bad once it was fixed.

I found out many riders have the same injury.

yikes! glad to hear you're coming back.

I did it!

Yesterday, too much graded work to portage on bike, so today was the maiden voyage. Only mishap (could have been ugly) was untied shoe tangling in spokes, but I stopped in time. Didnt leave early enough to miss rush hour and breathed in fumes. Awful.

At one point I teared up, realizing the biking is a metaphor for reclaiming my independence. My spouse and I agreed to separate in March, and this feels some how a step toward a new life.

Interview for full time teaching job tomorrow, so no biking. another step toward a new chapter. scary.

Another thing-- free wheel did a great job on my bike, but they put a presto valve on the front tire and a shroeder on the back tire. Go figure. That's just shoddy.

Didnt know where to post this commuting update, but thanks for all the encouragement. I wouldnt have had the guts to go into the bw with my daughter last year and I wouldnt have followed through on the biking if it werent for such support here.(with a few exceptions) I do have a lot of wonderful friends, but they dont always get my tomboy inclinations. they admire it, but they dont really get it. So thanks.

Karen

MOLO- this is the perfect place. Wish you the best on your bike and off.

MON-- Thanks for the support.

I guess they liked me at the interview cause they offered me the job-- 11th grade ap comp and am lit. Now, I need a bike route from mpls to Woodbury. About 10 miles each way as the crow flies. Hoping to bike commute at least during the non-snow season.

Good for you! Congratulations. A job is a very good thing to have. Bet you wish you could become a crow...

Hey all,
Glad to see this on the forums!! I too love to ride, just started last September on road bike, but definitely getting the miles in. My main goal was to get back into shape after having Prostate Cancer in 2008. I have lost 45 pounds and feel great!!

I rode my first century June 12th and my second June 19th with my wife who wanted to ride one since I had done it and had told her it would be hard on her! I learned my lesson!! Now we are getting ready to go to Wichita Falls Texas on August 28 and ride in the Hotter n Hell 100. Weather around here has been very hot for training, heat indexes in the 110-115 range!

My bike is a 2000 model Klein, (no longer in production) Full dura ace components with a Shimano R700 Compact Crank and SRAM 11-26 gear system on the back, 9 speed. Rolf Vector Pro Wheels also no longer produced! Right now I have put about 4500 miles on it since last Sept.

Bruce