So Hello again Wendy. How was Cali? Did you get some sun? Welcome back to wet, cold, windy, and rainy Waukegan. So how has life been treating you? I answered your questions that you asked me last time. I take it you have been busy with work and what not. I have been busy riding when it is not raining or snowing. Sat is looking like a good day for riding since it will be dry and in the 50's. You stuck working on Sat? I hope to be off but who knows. Hope to here from you Soon. Jim

Sorry to hear that you are are scared of the water Wendy. Did you have a near drowning when you were younger? I have have plenty of close calls out diving and have come close to dying a few times. I do not blame you if you do not want to go swimming. Lake Michigan is more like an ocean than a lake, and will not think twice about killing you. So much for surfing when you get to Cali. And yes Psycho is a name I have heard a few times when I do go out in the Lake in winter and spring, I will take that as a positive! Have you been getting bulky in the last couple of months? What is your max output in watts? Are you hitting the high score or does Francine get it? Most I have been able to bang out was around 950-1200 in the begining of the season. How's your VO2 MAX. You got lungs like a Hoover or lungs like a Dyson? Dysons will suck the carpet pad up they are so powerful. So what is your speciality in life? What do you do? Professional-nurse, doctor, lawyer, realtor, banker, sales, etc. My guess is a single professional, no kids yet. So if you live in Waukegan, I bet I go past your house on the way home. Small world, HAHAHA. Have a day!

Hello Wendy, Glad you are heading to Cali. Hopefully you will have a good time. Get lot's of sun, and hit those hills! As for my rides of choice, it will depend what I will be doing. If it is on the road I will take out the Bianchi road bike or my Trek cross bike. I weigh in at 240 lbs, so me on a road bike looks plenty funny to see. If I am riding off-road than I will be on my Santa Cruz Chamleon hardtail. If it is going to be all day riding than I will be riding on a dualie: Cannnondale Jekel 1000 or my Klein Mantra. If I will be free riding than I will ride my Trek Session. Urban and around town, my Sinister Ridge. 2.5 Hookworm tires, 40-48 lbs bike. It is posted on my photos, take a look. I have a new Townie that I won at Turin this year to add to the bikes. I also like to ride my BMX bikes around town. I have several of these I ride and a few frame sets that are waiting to be built. Mostly 24" wheeled stuff. No, I never got on Facebook. I am always going and am rarely home. When I do not ride, I weightlift, do kickboxing and swimming and diving. In winter, I go snow shoeing on the cross-country trails at Parkside and ride my rollers or my 'bent on a trainer and swim out in Lake Michigan.
As for commuting, I enjoy doing long distance rides so when the weather is nice I ride into Chicago for work from Kenosha 3-4 times a week. It is 60-65 miles one way. For me it is about a 3-4 1/2 hour comute unless I do not stop than it is 3 1/2 on a road bike. I work third shift building maintence/security near the South Loop. If I am too tired to ride home in the morning, I will take the late train to Waukegan and have to than ride only 18 miles home. I am lucky I think since my boss does not care if I ride in. I lock my ride up and go about my job. I log in between 400-600 miles a week riding. If I take the train in bound, than the ride is only 5-7 miles from Metra which is easy even on a 24" BMX bike! Trust me I get the stares on the train depending on what I have with me for rides. I am overly single since 3rd shift destroys anytime you have to be around 1st shifters and "normal" people . Most people are sleeping when I am working, when I am sleeping every one for the most part is working! On my days off I stay up to maintain my sanity. That is why I am the "niterider" sticks to me.

there'll never be another you

Hello again Wendy. You need to post some of your bike photo's of you in action. I would imagine Francine has been getting you ladies ready for racing by riding trainers and rollers. Do you swim also Wendy? The comon compliant that I always hear from gals is they get a big ass on them from biking. I try to tell them that is normal but they say I am full of crap. Swimming helps to even this out you ask me. I was out swimming in Lake Michigan on Moday and thought I saw you. I was in my dry suit looking tough! Water was only 35 F at surface. You should see the looks that I got from people on the beach. The gal that I thought that may have been you was riding in Alberto's gear on a Moots cross' bike. She was chearing for me and said that I looked like I was cold. I told her that I was like a baked potato on the inside. Only item that was cold was my face. I needed to get out since riding inside is getting to me. I have rode almost 3,000 miles over the last 3 1/2 months and am ready for some outside ass kickings to begin. What bikes do you currently own? I usually know the rider by bike before face. If that was you you looked buff and tuff! I do not know anyone around here that rides all year. You looked like 140-150 lbs. You had on lobbster claw mitts, a pair of Sidi winter boots, LG tights. Yellow/black Giyro road helmet. You impressed the hell out of me. And I will take you up on the shot bloks next time I am by. Nothing is ever open early in Highland Park. You gals have to try night riding; you do not know what you are missing. Neat being out on St. Mary's and seeing all of the cool animals. March is hear now and maybe I being seeing ya soon on the road. Jim