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I have several bikes. One is a fixie. One is a European, carbon racing bike. I can fix a flat and do most other work on any of my bikes. I do a lot of commuting/errands during the week on my fixie. In addition to morning rides whenever possible, I ride anywhere from 80-150 miles on the weekend on the road bike. I ride up and down the coast. I climb canyons. I'm not the fastest climber, but I'm stubborn, have a double, and have never had to walk it. Given my size, I hold my own on the climbs pretty damn well. I filter lanes in mad L.A. traffic. I attack the rolling hills on the fixie. I ride 60+ miles on a stupid hybrid when necessary. I rode 7000+ miles in the last 1.5 years. Not as much as a lot of people on these boards, but I'm pretty proud. I can get about 10 feet on my unicycle.

I've been hit by a car. Threatened and heckled by drivers. I had a speed-wobble at 53 mph descending from Palos Verdes. I was in the left lane passing a truck at the time. I thought I was going to die. And I've crashed. Hard.

And the only thing that slows me down is work.

I carry bags and boxes when necessary, just so I don't have to drive. I ride to clients throughout the week, sometimes changing clothes 3 or 4 times a day, just so I don't have to drive.

I ride in sick rainstorms. In mad L.A. traffic. People think I'm nuts. I ride when I'm sick, and people think I'm nuts. But I'm not. I just love cycling. I try to put my arse on the saddle every single day. I proselytize about cycling to everyone I know, and have gotten many to start riding.

I wear lycra when I'm riding the roadie. My fly Adidas road shoes numb my toes, but I don't care because they look good.

I'm rarely caught on the flats. And I'm never caught stranded with a flat.

Do I somehow have less "cred" than you do?

End.