Thanks for the reply. Good luck with your training, and hey, don’t sweat the BMI too much!

I’m pretty sure the Steven Novaks we know are different. My friend is in his mid-twenties and is from the Dallas area.

Hopefully we’ll end up on the Katy at the same time! All the best on your skating and cycling.

My name is Gene Matocha, and I just found your blog and have to let you know about an odd series of coincidences.

First off, a little background. I live in Flower Mound; my wife and I moved here in 2000 from New York. I skated a lot in New York in the 1990’s, but got out of “hard core” skating after getting married. About two years ago I really got into biking (road), and decided to start skating again as a cross-train. The only place I’ve yet found that’s convenient (to my work, not home, so I skate at lunch) is…you guessed it…Katy Trail. I immediately remembered why I love skating…even more than biking.

Now to the “coincidences”…
I decided to replace my outdated zero-support Simmons boots and 5×80 mogema frames with something more modern. I was always a huge fan of big wheels, short(er) low profile frames back in the 90’s, and was happy to see the market moved in that direction. But I digress. The Bont Jets looked perfect for my not-so-in-shape feet, so I searched for reviews…and ran across your blog and your nice write-up on the Jets. And then a little further reading, and it turns out you’re not only local, but also spend a lot of time on Katy Trail! I’m thinking “Cool! Fellow skater!” But then the biggest coincidence of all…I’m reading your 8/9/09 post about White Rock Creek Trail, and I see you’re friends with Seven Novak. I knew Steve in the ’90s in NYC when he was prez of New York Road Skaters Association (NYRSA, now defunct)…and it looks like he lives here in the DFW area too!?!?! I almost fell out of my chair. I skated and helped out on a lot of NYRSA event s in the mid-90s…he knew a lot of people, so he might not remember me, but then again he might.

Anyway, needless to say, your blog is now book-marked. I’m primarily focused on biking at the moment, but am interested in doing a few skate events next year…the Road Rash marathon is a must I think. I’ll do HTH too, but on a bike. Kudos to you guys for skating it. I’d love to meet some more event-going local skaters. I found the Pegasus Flyers sites, and would like to do a Tuesday night skate some time…do you or other skaters do any of the regular skates, or train together regularly?

Oh, and thanks for the great blog!

Gene Matocha

I’m pretty sure I need to lose a few more pounds, but I’m not sure what my next target is. For the winter I’m only trying to maintain my current weight – I’ll attack it again in the spring.