Who We Are... July, 2009

Currently live in Minnesota, soon moving to Nova Scotia, work at a university, plan on getting back into racing after an almost 20-yr hiatus. Still resting on laurels of winning cat 5 Belgian Club crit in 1989 ;)

I’m a 17 year old Aussie girl who lives in Victoria. I got into cycling in 2004 (though I don’t ride), because Lance was on Oprah (no I am not joking…. sadly.) Now I lurk here on a daily basis and occaisionally chuck in my two cents worth. My favourite race is Paris-Roubaix and my favourite discipline is TTT. I’m a now STALINist and happen to be cheering for Bert to blow the TdF apart.

born and raised in El Paso, Texas. Later spent many years living in Austin. Job i had there led to an opportunity to take a job near Nice, France, where i’ve lived for the last 5 years or so.
A frustrating back injury that didn’t allow much in the way of other sports, plus being confined to the couch during a tdf one year (and just as an example of the mysterious workings of the universe, during the same couch-confinement i also watched the big lebowski numerous times – wtf?), plus living in a fantastic area for cycling, led to my taking up cycling as a means to get healthy again. It worked. At the same time i went nuts for cycling and like drnurse and bradb, i love to climb – not that there is really any choice around here. I’ve never raced and probably never will (48 yrs old) but am trying to improve my speed and endurance. Been cycling 3 years and so far, so good, still improving each year.
Used to look on the internet to learn about cycling and equipment and that led to stumbling onto pro racing discussions which eventually led to stumblng onto the podium cafe. Thanks to the podium cafe i’ve now become a fan and follower of pro racing – used to only follow the tour, but have since discovered the beauty of the classics and the giro and the fashion, and all the rest. An amazing sport really and i can almost say i’m thankful now for my bad back.
And oh yeah, i’m enjoying the tour this year, crap parcours or not.
Haven’t been following long enough to really have many favorites, but so far i’m a fan of contador, flecha, and sastre – lot of respect for boonen.

My name’s Jim, from Georgia but currently living in the Rhineland Pfalz region of Germany, close to the Mosel and France. Wine here is great and so is the riding. Got into cycling during the Tour about 5 years ago and quit smoking/started riding about 4 years ago. If only I had started when I was young. Anyways, welcome to the PdC. I’ve been here for just over a year myself, best place in the world.

My actual name is Helen, but Helsy is a nickname. I’m 19 and hail from a small, horrible, North East Coast town- Grimsby and live in the neighbouring area, Cleethorpes, one road seperates the two places so they’re virtually one. Thankfully I only live there when not at university which is June to the end of September. I’m at Leicester De Montfort university, about to go into my second year of a Photography and Video degree. My dream job would be what Timm Kolln, Tim de Waele etc get to do, but we’ll see. I have a gorgeous Trek I ride for my own pleasure and fitness, no racing here.

I got into the sport from a young age because my Dad always watched as much Pro racing as he could find on our fairly limited TV. But I really bit in 2005, the year I watched Lance get beaten by Valverde in the Tour and Tom Boonen win the World Champs in Madrid. It’s fairly obvious that my favourite riders are mostly Spanish- Valverde, Contador, LL Sanchez, Pereiro, you name them I like them. But Boonen is high on my list, as are Geslin, the Schlecks, Capecchi and many more. I write a blog that reveals all of my biased for riders.

 When you did the last introducing topic, I was still a lurker. I joined during the Giro on the persuasion of Gavia and Albertina from twitter, i’ve never looked back and enjoy the banter and the intellect we all share…well, most of us (those crazy new people in the post-stage topic the other day were scary). Away from cycling, it’s reading, writing, music, films, shopping and friends that keep me happy and I’m also partial to football, Leicester City the team of choice.

I’m 26 and British. I grew up in West Sussex, on the south coast before going off to study History at Cambridge (worked hard, played harder) followed by a Masters in Information Studies at University College London. I now work in a medical library, where I am supposed to be an expert on databases and all things literature searching. I’m also a semi professional singer and a flute player, which takes up the majority of my ‘spare’ time. Rehearsals have a habit of falling in the middle of mountain stages. I live on the end of the District Line, which is still in London!

I’ve always been into sport (obsessions have involved anything to do with horses, cricket and rugby) but came to cycling relatively late, two years ago, when I became totally hooked on the Tour. I’m now hooked on everything, even third rate Belgian warm-up races. I like Italian sprinters, Italian hair gel, Basque climbers and Belgian classics specialists, and I cheer for the Rapha Condor boys in Britain. I’m not a very good cyclist myself, especially when going uphill (although I‘m improving!), but ride for fun and fitness on my beloved white Bianchi. If you’re ever in south Essex, smile and wave…I’m the girl with the curly dark hair in the Liquigas ciclamino jersey :-) I was induced to come out of lurkerdom during the 2008 Giro when I happened across a barrage of Benna love…I just HAD to join in!

My other interests are Russian novels (though I STILL haven’t read Karamazov), ballet (used to dance but have lost the ability to bend far enough), white chocolate, obscure Renaissance vocal music, Wagner, Bach and scenic mountains. I write English language articles on Basque pelota too…not sure anyone reads them but I enjoy being a pioneer!

Name is Chris…19 from Ohio in the wonderful, yet mountain free, midwest. I started cycling around 15 and have been addicted to anything bikes since then…I race road primarily but also mtb, cyclo-cross, and track on occasion. I enjoy going on long, winding rides where the destination is not exactly known. Currently I am starting school this fall to become a pastry chef which will help me when I open a bakery/bikeshop (a dream of mine)
I’d have to say that overall my favorites are Tom Boonen (no matter how many times he does coke), Zabriskie, anybody of Cervelo Test Team, hardcore classics racers, and most aspiring American cyclists trying to make it big. I will never pass up a chance to have a go at Columbia because they are like the Yankees ( or Man U) of cycling.
I finally came out of lurkerdom the last time this thing came around and it has been a trip. Away from cycling it is reading, journalism (the mostly cycling), politics, mostly anything. Also am a huge fan of Tottenham Hotspur.

I live in Queensland, Australia, and I work for Aust Army. Looking at changing this job in the next few years. Hoping to get into the cycling industry, and next year my first chance may be coming true (more to follow when i get confirmation)

I fell in love with cycling when my friend won a trip to the TdF in 2007, I was lucky to be asked to go with her. She hated it, but I feel in love with cycling the first time i saw the peleton go by.. From then i was hooked. I’m now constantly planning my next trips Overseas to see the races.. At the moment, i’m planning TDU and World Championships here in Aust in 2010, no trip to europe planned. (YET). My holidays are always planned around attending a cycling event.

I finally got on a beautiful Orbea in November last year, and looking forward to my first charity ride in October. Had a few mishaps whilst riding in Belgium, but all is ok now..I joined the Vanderkitten cycling club with a friend here in Australia, and love wearing their gear and supporting womens cycling.

Have many favourite riders, but to shorten the list i’ll say any SexyBank rider, Philippe Gilbert, Heinrich Haussler, and love cheering for for all the other aussie riders.

I joined PdC last year and haven’t looked back, had many a fun night chatting on the threads on PdC

Mark, 28, London. I work in IT for a fairly anonymous department in the UK government. Got into cycling watching the Tour on Channel 4 as child in the late 80s/early 90s – the Indurain years. My dad used to watch because he liked the French scenery and chateaux; I got more interested in the racing. And I liked the theme tune. I followed only the Tour until a few years ago when I started to take an interest in some of those other races that Phil & Paul occassionally mentioned in their commentary. This led me eventually to this place sometime around 2006 – where I still mostly lurk, taking far more than I could possibly contribute. My job is dull but easy, meaning I can spend more time than I really should following live threads.

I haven’t ridden in years but having just moved to within a few miles of my workplace I’m considering buying a bike for the commute. Until my inherent laziness gets the better of me…

Other sports: football (Leeds United, for my sins), tennis, cricket, rugby, American football, golf, F1, snooker, darts… Always an armchair fan. In fact there very few sports I can’t happily spend a few hours slumped in front of a tv watching. Other than that I occupy my time with books, music (especially live), films (especially foreign) and pubs (especially ones with quizzes and/or Belgian beer).

I’m 36, and I live in Connecticut, USA, and work in Manhattan, NYC. We have two kids, Hannah, 5, and Emma, 4.

My wife was big into recreational riding before we met, so for her birthday two years ago, I got us a pair of trail bikes. One thing led to another, and I started doing triathlons last season. These days I’m more of a roadie than an off-roadie, but my best discipline is still swimming since that’s what I did in college. But I like to ride more than I like to swim… eh, it’s working out fine.

Anyway, this is my first season of cycling fandom. I lurk a lot and am slowly learning who all the riders are. I’ve been enjoying the Tour immensely, not least because I can come here and find out what smarter fans than me think about what’s happening.

Thanks! Carry on…

This is my first season at Podium Cafe. I’m from Bolingbrook, IL and I run a small blog aimed mainly at helping newer cyclists.

You guys have been my first source for info on races this year. You’re knowledge of races, riders and the history of cycling is simply amazing and the preview articles have been helpful beyond anything you can imagine.

So, thank you. I’ve loved being here.

I’m 46 and live in Germanton, North Carolina. My wife Sydney and I have 1 son, Cedar. We live on my family’s farm. I direct a grassroots non-profit rural economic development organization focused on Stokes County.

If you like to bike you will love this place. Miles and miles of old farm to market roads with little traffic and spectacular views of the Sauratown Mountains. We have some of the best road riding in the country here and are in the process of building a large Mtb trail network as well. Let me know if you are ever in our area and I will show you around. We’re just north of Winston-Salem, NC.

I’ve raced Mtb’s on and off since the mid ’80’s and have done a fair number of road centuries too.

I became hooked on road racing, initially in the 80’s watching The Badger whup up on people and became a diehard fan of the Tour with Lemond’s win in ’89.

I heard about this place while listening to CTv., shortly after Chris put it up. I headed over here right away and they haven’t pulled my account yet. I had been looking around the intertubes for a place to discuss racing and fell in love right away. Great people and great discussion are what make this place so great. Thanks to you all.

This is my third time doing this, so I’ll try to add something new. Live in Chicago, work at home and for myself, so that means I spend many hours every year scouring the internet for live feeds and following along on PdC. Got into cycling through Lance and fell in love with the sport after my first season of watching the Spring Classics.

Went to Belgium this year to watch the classics and it was even better then advertised (still working on the race report). I plan on attending the Tour de Suisse in 2011 and the 100th edition of the Tour de France.

I love riding my bike, and just started racing this year. After about eight races, I have come to the realization that I’m fast enough to stay with the lead group, but not fast enough to sprint for the win. And I’m 100% ok with that. Not a big fan of the argy bargy at the tail end of a criterium, and I am content to come in at the middle of the front group. As long as the race kicks my a** and I feel severe pain, I consider it a success.

Me and the wifey have the first new addition to the family coming in November, and I am convinced that nothing will change and I’ll be able to ride my bike just as much as I always have. Right?

My name’s Brian. I’m a 20-year-old from Reston, VA and a student at Duke University (BD = BlueDevil for the day SB nation adds a Duke blog). I’m not much of a cyclist myself, but I got into cycling during the Lance days, around 2001 or 2002, and around 2006 started watching the classics after finding the Podium Cafe. These days, I enjoy watching the classics a lot more (Flanders and Roubaix are just beautiful races, while the Tour is so boring most of the days until the end)

Not where we live but where we are starting out tour through to Besancon. here with fellow cafe members GBT and harveryjay. we have looked round the time and now trying to find hotels with cyclists in. Have found Caisse and Saxo so far – and after this pitstop off to find more!

In real life we all live in Cottages on a farm in Wiltshire England (the village Stonehenge is in). Recreational cyclists only – we live in the midst of a military training area, and when the army are not practising blowing things up you can cycle for miles on their support roads with no traffic (very rare in the UK). The rest of the countryside not too bad either.

Lastly – the forecast for tomorrow’s stage is currently poor – but then so was the forecast for today and the sun is beating down.

Kidding, but I just feel so OLD around this group. :) I’m Beth aka bethie, clever innit?

I got married for the first time at age 48, to a Brit no less and after we’d been married for a year he had a heart attack, then a few months later another heart attack. I came home one day after his second to find him on the couch watching bike racing, the 2002 Giro d’Italia to be exact. “What are you watching?” I asked. I sat down to watch with him and didn’t make it back to work on time that day. I was hooked, like a bad vaudeville comedian. Found Podium Cafe from during the Giro d’Italia of 2006? Anyhow it was the first year of the café and I’ve been hanging around since then. Sometimes I comment.

I’m 56 and I am the boss at a small custom manufacturing facility in the Utah desert. I don’t ride my bike other then for pleasure or when my 8YO grandson challenges me to a race.

I’m Scott, a 45-year-old non-practicing attorney working out of my home (for Lexis-Nexis, if you care), currently living in Portland, Oregon. Though born in NYC and raised on the New Jersey shore, I have a hard time telling people where I’m from in that I move so often (15 different states thus far, England, South Africa, and Venezuala). First took notice of cycling as a sport when Sports Illustrated did an article on Eric Heidan’s post 1980 Olympic heroics and his subsequent venture into cycling… and somewhere along the line I became a cycling addict (started out of necessity due to a broken down car and no money for repairs… so I went to Sears and put a 10 speed off the rack POS on my Sears card and commuted to work for over a year on that thing (50 miles/day)). While cycling to work (during my Navy days in Virginia) I befriended some fellow Navy cyclists who started preaching to me the gospel of the European pro peleton. I started following le Tour avidly during Lemond’s comeback, and have been an addict ever since.

 I too, like Elvisgoat, discovered the PC via Anthony McCrossan on CTV 3? 4? years ago (can’t recall, has it been that long already?… must be having fun, eh?). I’m the proud owner of a Podium Cafe jersey via one of the 2 VDS competitions I’ve won and, although my participation has been almost nil of late, the PC continues to be my first daily stop to keep up with all things cycling related. Love this place and all the virtual Tifosi I’ve met here. Quite the eclectic bunch.

Found out about PdC from a Cycling.tv shout out several years ago, I’ll admit that the first two times I thought there was actually a brick and mortar cafe somewhere—but they were also checking Davis Wheelworks, whatever.

Started riding in ‘84 because my college dorm-mates wanted to ride from College Station to Austin. Which we did, taking turns—3 guys one bike and a station wagon. The bike didn’t fit, but I was hooked. Discovered racing thanks to the 84 Olympics.

Raced to varying levels of mediocrity on road and dirt in the 80s, gave it up to be a dad in the mid-90s, started again in 99 because a colleague found out I had raced—and then a girl who’d had a crush on me—in part because I used to wheel my bike into classes as an undergrad—found me again.

Currently Professor of American lit, studying how the discovery of new sources of power changed the representation of social power formation in 19th century American lit.

I’m Aaron from Iowa City, Iowa. 45 years old and co-own a Florida-based marketing company. We have kids age 22, 21, 8, and 4, so that keeps me pretty busy!

I always loved cycling growing up and rode some amateur races what seems like 50 years ago. Now mainly a lover of loaded touring… and mountain biking when I want to torture my bad knees. 20 year rider of RAGBRAI, an annual 500 mile 10,000 person bar-to-bar week-long party fest across Iowa.

Below are my 3 bikes I ride the most, for anyone who gives a hoot:

1997 Cannondale T1000 Touring… Arkel Panniers, beer cooler, and a 12v Bose sound system for some party rides. ;-) Brooks saddle, of course.

2001 Santa Cruz Superlight… tricked out… way better mountain bike than I am a mountain bike rider… I should only deserve a hardtail.

1979 Raleigh Record converted to fixed gear. This is my daily ride, and a bike with lots of history, now complete with custom wood fenders (thanks to Cody in Bend, OR).

I’m Jon aka Spot of Bother. Born and raised in New York but moved to Denver, CO USA about ten years ago. I’m in my early 30’s and used to watch the Tour back in the LeMond days with my dad. Ever since then I’ve been fascinated by the sport. I’ve never raced and I’m only a casual rider but pro cycling is such a beautiful sport on many levels that I keep getting pulled in deeper. I lurked on several sites for over year before registering on a different board. I sought out a more balanced alternative and then found you fine people on this fine site.

I really appreciate international flavor here (PdC a more diverse following than most places I’ve come across), and the respectful yet entertaining banter during the races. My favorite events are the spring Classics and the GTs, with the Giro really finding a place in my heart recently. I’m a sentimental fan of Hincapie and Jens! as well as Contador, Spartacus, and DiLuca (in the centenary edition of the Giro). One of the cool aspects of cycling that I found is on any given day I can be rooting for multiple riders/teams to win. I tend to appreciate how a rider races/behaves as much if not more so than his/her palmares.

Thanks for allowing me to participate here. Your collective vernacular (PdC lexicon) is hilarious.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=114104455590963438128.0004678923fd94fc705e6

First of all +1 on this post. I found this site in the off season and between podiumcafe and cyclingfans I’ve been lurking here and enjoying the racing this season like never before – from the TTBWR’s to the big show in July (Österreich Rundfahrt!).

My real name is Tom and I’m an architect in Chicago. I grew up in Louisiana. When I graduated from college and got a job the first thing I bought was a road bike. I’ve had the oppurtunity to ride in Spain, Italy and across Colorado. I’ve raced on and off for the past five years and have actually been on three podiums and won once. But at 38 years old I may just be a career cat. 4. My favorite races to watch are the Classics and my favorite race to race is Rouge Roubaix. On the bike I like rolling hills and crosswinds off Lake Michigan.

I started following the tour back in the Lemond era but let’s face it that was when all you got was a highlights show at the end of each week. To follow day to day you to had hope your newspaper carried the stage results at the back of the sports page after the baseball standings and the fishing report. (Who is F. Andreu, USA, MRL I’d ask myself). Last weekend I watched the tour live at my sister’s in HD. What an age to be alive. Thanks to the internet and Podium cafe I’d say we have it pretty good now.

Tom

I’m from wayyy Upstate New York, currently live in the Midwest with my husband and kid, lived a bunch of other places in between. At PdC I’m mostly known as a numbers geek, but in real life I’m a novelist, which means I’m home on the computer most days and get to watch a lot of cycling online. I did several years in grad school for historical archaeology but never finished— writing fiction, I still get to do all the research I loved but never, ever have to deal with committee meetings.

I started watching the Tour with my husband sometime during the Lance years, and looked forward to it with a passion every year. Didn’t know I could watch races online until I joined Podium Cafe during last year’s Tour. So, this has been the first year I’ve followed the season from the start, and it’s been great. As a fan I love the combination of htfu physical and mental toughness and utterly metrosexual styling—take that, gender conventions!

Recreational cyclist only. I own 3 bikes, but none of them is a road bike. My husband is more serious about it, and has a sweet Specialized Roubaix. Haven’t got the kid into the sport yet, but we’re trying.

I’m Érico, from Brazil. This is my first seasson at podiumcafe and I’m loving this “site”! I’m a novice in the road cycling and road about 300 km per week. Most of my training is based in the friel theory!

Let’s go AC!!

my name is Pedro and i’m 23 (almost), live in Lisbon, but i was born and spent my childwood in Portimão, Algarve (south of Portugal).

I did swim, thriatlon, but know i dedicate my time to finish my studies. My old memories is about TdF 1998, since then watching cycling, mainly the big Tours and the Volta with some gaps between…only about 2,3 years, I began to understand the mystique of the classics and watch almost every races that include road bycicles.

In PDC since April last year, and for me is the best cycling’s site, except the hottitude threads, boring…. :P

I lurk and occasionally pop up to deliver poorly-thought out sarcasm and hound crashdan about his recent climbing trip.

I’m in the DC area for all of three more days at which time I’m moving to the stately confines of Doha, Qatar. While living in DC I bike commuted religiously on my trusty Schwinn SuperSport, but it is unlikely I will have much opportunity to do so in Doha.

I have two small children and am passionate about a bunch of shit. I spent my twenties as a climbing/skiing bum and got into surfing when I lived on an island. Nowadays I get out when I can and dream about being on Tavarua with my family and some good friends with nothing to do but surf all day and barbeque all night. I found the cafe when I joined SBNation to talk (NFL) football at BattleRedBlog.

As far as cycling goes, I’m a big fan of the Garmen. I’m ok with Lance as well, but wish he didn’t dominate coverage the way he does. In general, I admire anyone who can climb like an angel in the high mountains.

In other sports, I follow all the Houston teams and Ajax Amsterdam, the greatest soccer club in the history of this small blue planet.

Greetings to all. I’m Brian from the deserts and canyons of southern Utah. I grew up in the midwest with an extremely disfunctional family and cycling became my salvation. Became a bike shop groupie as a little kid and raced from ages 8-25. Since then I’ve followed pro cycling for the last 25 years. I try to ride daily on the gorgeous roads here. I love to ride uphill! Got to follow the Tour of California the last 2 years. I missed the PdC get together in Solvang, but chalked PdC.com on the big climbs! I work for a couple of adventure travel companies leading hiking, biking, and llama pack trips in the southwestern USA. I like to root for Garmin, Columbia, and the American riders. I hope Contador gives Lance “the Look”, before he rips his legs off on Ventoux and seals the deal.

John here. Like Chris, I grew up in Massachusetts. A few years after college (Boston University) I was enticed to leave the lovely Massachusetts weather for the somewhat nicer San Diego weather.

I’ve been riding on and off since I was 16. I never got a race license until a few years ago. Now I can get my ass kicked in the 45+ masters races.

I spend a lot of my free time volunteering for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. I train novice riders for a 600 mile ride from San Francisco to San Diego.

When I’m not doing that I actually occasionally work as an IC designer.

I’ve been a member of the PdC since 2006, when I stumbled across the site in a Google search.

I’m Maddie, 17 years old and from somewhere vaguely in the North East of England, starting university in September. I got into cycling through my dad who has been a fan since the days of Merckx and Maertens – I was never interested at all interested in it for years, but in 2005 I went fairly reluctantly with my dad to see the Tour of Flanders, which totally changed my opinion.

I’ve been interested ever since, although I’ve only in the last two years begun following the whole cycling season, and since then I’ve also been to see Flanders a few more times and a few stages of the Tour in 2007 and 2008. I am an unashamed Cav fan, along with all the other British riders and have soft spots for Contador, the Schlecks, Jens Voigt etc. I have only recently found PdC and have been a lurker until about a week ago, but it’s nice to have somewhere so well-informed, international and friendly, so err, hello.

I am Judge, by name and not occupation. Avid cyclist and commuter here in the Crossroads of America (Indiana). New to bicycle racing fandom. Watched some of the TDF last year, and some of the Giro D’Italia this year. Hope to get inspired enough to do more than just club rides and commuting, and perhaps inspire my boys likewise. Stumbled upon this blog during the Giro because I am a regular contributor on Gaslamp Ball. As a novice, I may end up asking some stupid questions, so bear with me.