Hi, everyone. I'm Ron, and I'm a father of two grown daughters, and a grandfather of five. I live with my wife of over 30 years in North Fort Worth, West of Keller.
Professionally, I'm a Unix/Linux system administrator. I currently (and hopefully for the foreseeable future) work for Southwest Airlines. This is the first time in my professional career I've worked outside Tarrant County.
I loved to ride bikes as a child, and in College (Commerce, TX) I rode my bike everywhere. After moving to the Metroplex, I didn't feel there was any safe place to ride, so I stopped. <time passes> I hurt my back, three herniated disks. I spent two months in bed while they worked on it. After many steroids, and three steroid injections to the lower back, I could walk again without pain. My doctor told me not to jog, run, jump rope, play basketball or racquetball, ride a bike, or anything the puts pressure or stress on the lower back.
Two years ago, my brother-in-law showed me his new ride, a 2009 ICE Sprint with full suspension. He let me ride it, and I was hooked. I couldn't stop grinning for hours after my first ride.
It took a year, hours of research on UtahTrikes.com, and BentRiderOnline.com, then last June I bought myself an HP Velotechnik Scorpion fs (tadpole trike). I still grin every time I go out for a ride.
Last summer I rode with my brother-in-law, we started on Bear Creek Trail, worked up to River Legacy, and finally graduated to Trinity Trails, and finished the season on the Cowtown Classic. This summer, I've been riding mainly the Trinity Trails, and peaked about the end of July with 105 miles. Saturday before last I did 85 miles. Last Saturday I only did 30 miles. I gave up and went home early because I had an unpatchable slow leak around the valve stem of my rear wheel. I had to stop about every 5 miles and pump up the tire. On one of the stops, I met a nice couple, also on tadpoles, who invited me to join this forum, and I'm glad I'm here.
Last fall my wife (who was jealous of all the fun I was having) bought an ICE Adventure. So far she only rides the trails around the neighborhood. I hope to get her out on longer trails soon.