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I was minding my own business reading Tim's blog when I checked to see who Julie was (besides being the person who "tagged" Tim). I've read some things on her site before. Maybe I should ask her about getting a counter because I have no idea how many people are stopping by for a visit. While on Julie's site, I learned that I was also tagged. Being tagged is kind of validating, like being picked not last for the kickball team. Late bloomers everywhere will know what I'm saying...

On the other hand, now I feel a duty to answer the questions that I had only lightly pondered as I read other people's responses. So, as honestly as possible, here goes.

If you could have any one — and only one — bike in the world, what would it be? At a time? This is very tough. On the one hand, I love mountain biking on my full-suspension bike, but I would want it to also be winter-worthy and a good bike to take on a long tour. Could I give up any of these, or could I be a serial bike owner? I guess I'll vote for full-susp.

If you had to choose one — and only one — bike route to do every day for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why? Some places come to mind. I love the part of my commute that goes through the woods in Bicentennial Park - winter, summer, fall, it's great. Then there are trails I've biked that have their own beauty; in the desert or pine needle-covered forest. The JEM Trail & Gould's Rim in S. Utah stand out.

But, if I'm going to do this route for the rest of my life, it better be easy. It'll be a loop that will take me from my house to the coffee shop to meet friends, then to a book store and maybe a produce market. I'll be in my 80s, so I'll be riding a classic mixtie with baskets and maybe there'll be room to carry an easel because I'd have taken up painting. Part of the route will be dirt and go through a park with a stream. (Let me know if you find this place.)

What kind of sick person would force another person to ride one and only one bike ride to to do for the rest of her / his life? Maybe some kind of control freak who won't let that person travel... ever. (I'm not talking about my husband; we do travel w/our bikes, just not enough.)

Do you ride both road and mountain bikes? If both, which do you prefer and why? If only one or the other, why are you so narrowminded? I do ride both, but I prefer riding my mountain bikes. I love riding through the woods on the trails, getting away from the noise and the traffic and seeing a little nature.

Have you ever ridden a recumbent? If so, why? If not, describe the circumstances under which you would ride a recumbent. Ok, I can't deny it. Around the turn of the millennium, our shop carried BikeE recumbents. We had a demo model and I'd hurt my back so decided to give it a try by riding it home from work then back in the next day - about 7 miles or so each way. It had rear suspension so I took it on the singletracks along the Chester Creek Trail. Pedaling up the hills was kind of tough, but I didn't want the shame of walking, so I toughed it out.

Have you ever raced a triathlon? If so, have you also ever tried strangling yourself with dental floss? Again, guilty. Here in Anchorage, there are four women's racing events that qualify athletes to earn a Triple-finisher patch. Do three and you get the patch. Do all four and get the patch & a gold start. In 2005, I did three events: Ski for Women, Bike for Women and Run for Women. When I received my patch in the mail along with a letter that said only about a dozen earned the gold star I set my sites on doing all the events the next year...my friends also strongly encouraged me to do it because it would be "fun."

The fourth event? The Gold Nugget Triathlon. I signed up for training, set my goals, took swimming lessons and rode my trainer in the garage and ran through the neighborhood. It really cut into my spring commuting, I'll admit that. The day of the event was hard. I could barely get out of the pool, was not as fast as I wanted on the bike but managed to run fast enough that I met my goal of under 1-1/2 hours (by about 30 seconds), thereby permitting me to say I'd met my goal and don't have to do it again.

I floss every day and have never tried to strangle myself with floss... it's my friend.

Suppose you were forced to either give up ice cream or bicycles for the rest of your life. Which would you give up, and why? Ice cream wouldn't be that tough to give up. After all, there's yogurt, custard, gelato, sherbet, creme brule. Now tell me what can substitute for a bicycle?

What is a question you think this questionnaire should have asked, but has not? Also, answer it. What is the next great bike technology? It will be think-shifting. Your bike will read your thoughts via a chip in your brain and shift when you want. It will have a bypass if you're not smart enough to know you want to shift. It will also understand and use the trim feature on a road bike and cause a slight headache if you try to tell it to crosschain. It will be made by Shimano and build off their Coasting technology, but lighter.

You’re riding your bike in the wilderness (if you’re a roadie, you’re on a road, but otherwise the surroundings are quite wilderness-like) and you see a bear. The bear sees you. What do you do? Do you mean what have I done? Skidded to a stop, elevated my heart rate, climbed off the bike, backed away a few steps, started talking loudly, maybe reached for my camera (I know that's nuts & I only did it once), watched as the bear walked away. Started shaking head to toe. All, not necessarily in that order.

Now, tag three biking bloggers. List them below.

Corinne
Katherine
Diana