Hello there Band fans....I got banded March 28th-2007.

I told myself....Bycyling would be a very good choice. Fresh air, muscles working for the sake of "Cardio". After one week passed--in April. I purchased three new bikes for me and my two sons. I have defeated many things doing that. No more not riding with my children--we ride as a crew (family). We could not conquer the hill on my street. We used to stop 3 to 4 times before getting to the top ( I did). So now the wheels have turned. My kids ask me---"Daddy can we stop--our legs are burning". Thank God I am doing well now. Now with 21 pounds gone---but just riding bikes. I am ready for the next Journey...The 1st fill--I am looking forward to the next 4 to 6 weeks--maybe 12 or 20 pounds gone...who knows...:faint: this is how I feel on many days after my ride. Today--(8.5 miles) It was walking, riding around the fair in my town--but that is what my speedometer said when it was all over...

way o go Juli!!!!!!!!!!! Such an awesome ride for you..I am so proud...and love our bike...

Welcome from Orlando....I am coming there in October....can you give me some good rides to go on????

Awesome job JUli!!!!!!!

LS or Lou is great

J - Way to go chica!!! I'm so happy for, and proud of, you!! Great pics, too!! Get some rest, enjoy your evening out!

Lou - Welcome. 8.6 is great for your first ride - I think I made about 4.5 miles on my first ride out. I was banded a little over two weeks ago, so I'm riding the trainer for now. Will be back on the road at the end of September.

B

This is our new little girl. She is 7 weeks old, and weighs in at 1lb 3 oz's.

She's a cutie! Get her a pet for me.

B

What a cutie!!!!!

SHE'S ADORABLE!

Oh, Traci, what a cutie pie.

All,

I napped, I went and saw a band, I crawled out of there around midnight and I slept like a rock through the entire night.

I need to lift my seat a bit, or said some salty ol bike guy when we stopped for icecream yesterday. Yes, I ate icecream. He was eating icecream too...and I said to my firend, "ow my knee." and he said, "where exactly does it hurt?" so I pointed and he told me to raise my seat less than an inch. I thought it was that too high to do that but it can go up a hair more... Well, I didn't have tools with me so I'll do before my next ride, but I did scoot back on the seat a little and noticed some relief.

Also, my friend who I was riding with did a pace line to draft me and another woman who was having muscle spasms. THAT WAS COOL! I've tried drafting before but I'm too scared to get that close to someone else, but I was hurting so it was worth the help. So, I learned something new yesterday too.

Then, I shared with them at lunch time FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal for tracking food. In passing I said I'd been losing wieght and it's what I used. At the end of the ride as we were gathered to say goodbye one woman asked me just how much? I don't normally share those numbers but I told them 85 since January and that I had the band. It was cool, they were so congratulatory and all full of praise for my riding and stuff. Again, the support was so great.

Anyway, a few good days in a row even if my GF isn't with me. We had plans but her mom needed her. Don't resent the GF, just miss her.

So Woo Hoo.

WAY TO GO J!!!! Nice long ride. Awesome!!

BG, get back out on that bike!!! NOW!!

JC, we are so thinking about you!! Let us know as soon as possible what is going on. We need to know!!!

B, you are going to be out on that bike soon and kickin' all our asses!!

LS, WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! We love new people to join us. We can get a little nasty sometimes, but don't worry, we are all really harmless!! Except JC, he bites!!

HP, that is the cutest puppy I have ever seen!!!! I so want one now!!!

Hi people.

We are so quiet today....

Just a shout out to you all....XO

I definately Bite D! I will keep you guys posted.

J, you get the motivator of the week award. I headed out to the Withlacoochee trail today planning a moderate bike ride and I started thinking about the upcoming 40 miler, my surgery, and the long lapse since my last bike ride. I also had in the back of my evil little twisted mind that going to the end of this trail and back would be a cool thing as well.

As I was preparing to take off this guy comes up and starts asking questions about the trail and such, then asks if he could ride with me. I said sure he asked how far are you going to ride I thought about your long 50+ and said 50-60 miles. I don't think he believed me at first.

I took my newest two wheel recumbent bike.The bike I bought from my old bike riding pal. There is something wrong with my favorite bike. With this bike I was able to cruise 14-16 mph! WTF! My bike I had to break my ass to get 12. We rode on and hit a thunderstorm about 17 miles in so we found shelter and waited for it to pass. "Should we turn around" I was asked I said that we should be ok.

By the time we reached 30 miles I had convinced my riding buddy that it would be very cool to make it to the end. Two miles later I ran off the trail busted my tail bone twisted one foot and got the other caught in the chain. It was great fun however the pain was,.... well, painful. What should I do now? Well the decision had been made to make it to the end so I had no doubt that I would keep going. One more mile and my riding buddy's rear wheel starts to wobble. I asked him if he wanted to turn around he said no we could take a look at it when we get to the end! How cool was that? Me finding a riding buddy that is insane ad all.

We finally made it to the end and I had to take my shoes and socks off to try and let them dry out a bit from the rain. Checkout the wheel and half the spokes are loose.

I did my best to tighten without warping the rim too bad and off we went into one of the worst thunderstorms I have encountered on a bike. There was even a touch of hail. I told my buddy I think we should seek shelter, amazingly he areed. The storm passed and off we went again.

about 50 miles into this thing his wheel started acting up again. The same pesky spokes were loose again. I tightened them up but the wheel was so warped it was rubbing on the brake pads. I fixed that by loosening the brake cable enough to do away with the rub and his rear brake. Aint I cool?

72 miles in and the tire was rubbing on the frame, my back was aching bad as well. Loose spokes again, what a mess. I told him look you only have to fight it for another 8 miles to get back to your vehicle however if you could punch out an extra 6 you will have ridden from end to end. He considered it until he saw his vehicle. So we only got in 80 Miles instead of 92!

J, I used your awesome numbers as inspiration the whole way! Thanks!

J Busted Tail Bone Ass C

Dude,

You just had to up one me didn't ya?

That's too cool! What a bad ass story! You rock!

I hope you got that dude's info so you can hook up for another ride. And I hope he gets his bike fixed..

You make me feel like a whiner baby for complaining about my achy knee...

Damn, you da man.

Thanks girl, it's just another example of how we all get strength from each other.

I am fighting the urge to go jogging right now. I think I lost my mind.

Got my new buddy's numbers, I need a victim..... friend that I can talk into doing stupid stuff. Must be something about the 15th. We share the same birthday.

JC

Will post pics of bike and chain leg when I get back from town. It didn't tear any skin just left black marks.

JC

Oh my god, I hope you are ok JC. Be freakin' careful.... Good god, you are going in for surgery here in a couple of days!!! 80 muthaeffin miles????????????????????? You are a freak!! I wish my boyfriend was like you!!!! I HAD to say that. Shit I got in a measly 32 miles this weekend. Better get up in the morning and go some more then. You guys really are inspiration!!!!

Got done with my second week on the couch to 5k program. I am loving, loving and loving the shit out of it. It is great!!! I thought my legs were getting shapely from biking but damn....this jogging really has an effect on your shape of your leg muscles. WAY FREAKIN COOL!!

So tomorrow we are off to in laws for BBQ......hmmm, I can't even think about this tonight. I am soooooo not thinking about everyone shoving food in their faces. I am thinking about just taking protein drinks and not eating so I don't get stuck in front of anyone. I am still in this new phase of my life....its called "Deanna can't seem to understand what slow the fuck down and eat SMALL SMALL bites and CHEW CHEW CHEW very well before swallowing or you will be stuck" means. SOOoooooo, I am still getting stuck, but NOT if I slow down and use my baby spoons I purchased right after surgery.

I hope you all have a great Labor Day and get some really good quality time on your bikes!! I know I plan on it in the morning before converging on the orgy of food that is planned at the bbq.

Biking is soooo Fetch!!!