Sherri

I'm getting some popcorn. Showtime!

I see some potential for route development there...

I'm taking my homemade 3-alarm blackbean chili w/veggie sausage and steamed broccoli with me on my climbing trip this weekend. I predict turbulence.... ...TR to follow....

I'll count for you if you do 'em.

If they rely strictly on the "crotch test"--how much clearance you have between your crotch and the top tube when you stand over it--I'd be leary of buying from them. There's a lot more that needs to be taken into account, like the reach to the handlebars and to the pedals and what angles these positions force your body into on that frame. If you feel scrunched or overextended, your either going to be uncomfortable or unable to really put power into your stroke, or worse, end up with an injured back or knees, etc. There is some room for flexibility if they work with you to try adjustments to the stem, seat, etc. But that should all still happen before you put down any money for it so that you know it's going to work for you. If the bike doesn't feel exactly right for you, don't settle for it. When you are fit for a bike, it should be a thorough process, not a quickie "standover" fit. A good bike shop will provide a higher standard of service and is worth seeking out. Good luck, Muffy! Can't wait for the TR photos (spandex!)!

And it's something you can usually do even when you can't run because of injuries, etc. Good back-up plan. Edited to add: this particular bike offers WSD models(Women Specific Design), which is a nice option if your build doesn't suit the geometry of the regular frames.

Chopsticks, too.

I want one of those *nods* i have been wanting a road bike! *nods* It was a good move for me, and it's a bike I'd recommend without hesitation because of it's versatility and comfort. Only thing I'd give a to was the stock Bontrager tires. The chipseal chewed them up in a few short months. Once I switched to Continental 4000 tires the weekly flats were thing of the past(they're made of kevlar or something impervious to most road hazards). I'll let you take it out for a spin if you're ever in the neighborhood, Muffy!

trek pilot 5.0 It's a roadie with a relaxed, luxurious ride. It's equipped with tires are that are little beefier than most racers(25c), with wide enough forks to up them another size if you want even more cush and to accommodate fenders(best investment I ever made in it). Between that and the carbon fiber frame, the chipseal vibrations get soaked right up and it rides like a dream. I use it on pavement, gravel, and packed dirt. It's also set up to be fitted with racks for saddlebags. Making it equally ideal as either a commuter bike or a road warrior for burning up some fast miles. Two years ago, I went from clunker garage sale bikes to this baby, and after putting over 8000 miles on it, I am just as happy now with its performance I was then.

I can't wait! Happy B'day!

I wish the ice cream engineers would figure out that peanut butter and vanilla is a perfectly valid combination on its own, one that does not need some kind of plastic chocolate nastiness added to it to make it a legitimate flavor. (those fake Reese's cups in the store brands are ) The chocolate throws off my palate. In Pennsyvlania, they sell a flavor called "Peanut Butter Bender." It is like a solid block of frozen, sweet-salty peanut butter ribboned with old-fashioned vanilla ice cream. It's a good thing I can't get it out here. My mom stocks it in the freezer for me when I visit, though.

what's the lyric? "she don't eat meat but she sure likes the bone"

A project that requires ice cream research?! Whatever job you have, I WANT IT! Reading Ben and Jerry's flavor descriptions is definitely not for the weak. (if there's such a thing as food porn, that's IT). I don't even walk past that section of the freezer section of the store, because it's too easy to let my curiousity get the better of me and stop to see what those crazy ice cream dudes have thought up next. (I'm partial to Chubby Hubby...) The only saving grace about those frozen dessert bombs is that they freeze so solidly that you have to work really hard to eat the whole pint in one sitting, unless you have a LOT of patience or a chisel to dig out those deadly chunks. Putting a computer screen between you and it was an excellent strategy. When they come up with "Deep-fried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream" I'm going to be a goner. But I want you to write about my downfall.

I can't. I'm confused.

Thanks Sherri. I'll stick to the superfoods for now. Super!

So THAT's your secret!

But I'm a vegetarian.

**hugs**

I average about 100 miles/week. I work at home, so it's not like I'm saving any commuting mileage, but I do most of my errands by bike and then some extra just for exercise. I love my bike.

I'll have to remember this! What about pine nuts? I love them, but instead bought some bulk walnuts the other day to add to my salads. i dont know about pine nuts. maybe shrri does??? i just know my trainer always says almonds are walnuts... when i try to sneak cashews in she scowls at me i am at 1610 calories for the day. i walked a mile, did 5 minutes as fast as i could on the rowiing machine and 5 minutes as fast as i could on the eliptical all on my lunch hour. after work i walked with my 11 year old. more of a stroll than anything, but at least it was something. i am not sure how far we went. but it was fun I don't know anything specific about pine nuts off the top of my head. I'm sure they have their pros and cons, like anything. Maybe a good way to make the most of your choices is to stick to things considered "superfoods." That way you get more bang for your calorie buck(in terms of nutrients and health benefits). Almonds, avocados, macadamia nuts, blueberries, pumpkin seeds, black beans, and walnuts are examples.

We weren't lost, dear. At least not after we stole the map from those nice people. Sucka's!

I got my butt kicked on those Elwha routes. (Especially the Trench, but the Breeze and Slappin' Skeeters were fun.) The climbs are pumpy, but the moves are enjoyable and the rock is suprisingly nice quality. Not sure if I'd take a beginner there, though; it could be intimidating if it's your first climbing experience, because the overhanging angle of the wall makes you feel like you're being pulled off the whole time. Grab a copy of "Olympic Mountains: A Climbing Guide" from Port Book and News in Port Angles for the beta. And be careful. Big stuff can get pulled off unexpectedly.

We have similar scars. One of those sonic-boomers snuck up on me in junior high, too. Being caught off guard, I was too embarrassed to be proud of it, and the whole class laughed at me for like 10 minutes. The teacher laughed, too. That's the part that really hurt. An ironic twist--the class was Music Theory.

...the suspense is building....