Welcome, Jim and Elizabeth, great to have you on the forum!

Hey Jim,
 
and all others putting their life on the line...we appreciate you and what you are doing! Thanks for keeping us safe!
 
RichardC

Hello All - this is Elizabeth - Tohopko (Jim's) other half.  I've decided to stop lurking for a bit and post <Grin>.  
 
As for my rides - I ride by myself during the week.  Short jaunts in the mornig -between 6-15 miles depending on the days schedule (and if I've been spinning or hiking the night before and how much my legs are up to).  I usually ride with Diamond frame friends on the weekend - they have a 4 year old that he pulls in a Burley chariot - so usually only up for 16 miles or so.  We rode today and did 25 miles together and since we were meeting additional friends for a picnic lunch - I went for an additional 6+ miles because I really really wanted to do over 30 for the day.  Got back just in time for the burgers to be done (awesome timing if I do say so myself <grin>.
 
Soooo - for now while Im a geographic widow (hubby is in Afghanistan for a year) I do most of my riding by myself and find myself riding shorter distances than when we rode together before he left - a lot more fun riding distances with another.  Im working on increasing my mileage and know I will ride longer trips because I enjoy riding soo much.
 
We've ben riding trikes and I just recently got my Burley Jett Creek LWB that I love riding.  We've recently purchased a Rans Stratus XP - suppose to be for Jim (Tohopko) but since he's not coming home for 8 more months - he may not have a Stratus when he gets home  .  
 
SOooo that's a bit about me and my riding.  Glad to find the group!
 
 

LOL - hmmmm I dont think La Vernia (southeast of San Antonio) can be considered part of the metroplex <Grin>  But thanks for the invite.  I really do not mind riding by myself - its nice to open the garage door head out and flip a coin if Im going to turn left or right out of the drive.  I have the luxury of living in the country - with paved roads and I can ride 25-40 mile loops for weeks without ever riding the same exact route twice.  The locals are courteous and when we are riding the trikes - curious too!! LOL
 
Thanks for the welcome!

oops - by bad - it is the Rans - he was also looking at the Giro for me - and I let my fingers type without brain assitance  
 
 
Here's a picture of me riding the Jett Creek yesterday (this was at 26 miles of a 31 mile ride):
 

 
 
Tink

FYI, Elizabeth -- Razor's Edge in Tennesee has taken over the Burley recumbent line....
 
http://www.edgebike.jdittrich.fastmail.fm/A%20Welcome%20Letter
 
 

Hello everyone,
 
My name is Lesley. I am 25 and will be graduating in the fall from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology.  
 
I am new to the recumbent community. What brought me here is my senior design project. For the project, my team is designing, testing, and constructing a human powered vehicle to enter the utility category of the 2010 American Society of Mechanical Engineers' Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (ASME HPVC).  
 
Before starting my senior design project, I had no clue that recumbent and prone bikes/trikes existed. Through over a semester of research on the market, the competition, and bike specifics, I have learned so much! In April, I even got to go to Philadelphia, PA to watch the East ASME HPVC. That was an extremely beneficial experience to see the competition first hand and speak with judges, committee members, and teams. Everyone was surprisingly really helpful and informative even though I introduced myself as a competitor for the next year.
 
As for cycling, until a year and a half ago I had not ridden anything further than the stationary bike at the rehab clinic after dislocating my knee in at least ten years. After a friend encouraged me and I purchased an Iron Horse mountain bike, I started riding regularly for about a year until my bike got stolen from campus while I was inside studying for a long time period. It was chained with a decent chain, but it was left unattended too long. That was back in February or so. Since then I have been bicycleless   I put another bike on layaway, so soon I will have one!
 
About two weeks ago, I got to ride my first recumbent at Planetary Cycles in Houston (basically our only recumbent store). I rode a TerraTrike Zoomer Elite and absolutely loved it. I also rode another one (a delta trike), but I cannot remember what brand it was. They were fantastically comfortable and handled so well (especially the Terra Trike). After this project ends, I want to obtain a recumbent. Also, I would like to build more from the knowledge gained during this project.  
 
I joined the RBENT forum to ask technical questions, get advice, find contacts, possibly find sponsors (we badly need help), and to find riding buddies for when I finally get a recumbent. So far I have met some very friendly and helpful people. Thank you Joe, Doug, and Andy for your help!
 
Lesley