New Member Introduction for Bill McFadden, aka BikeRidinBill

[BikeRidinBill]

Hello Everyone... I'm a long-time friend of Gene Curtis, who many of you know as the "Father" of this site.  I've known Gene from the days before the Internet (that we know now) ever existed, and used to play "shooter games" with him when all we had was a couple of 14k baud modems & had to figure out the modem strings to make them work.  Much of what I learned about building computers, and building web sites, etc., came from watching, asking questions, and learning from building things like that with Gene.

A few months ago, he introduced me to his love of the air gun industry, and more recently to this site.  In the coming months, I will be digging deep in this forum and other sources on the internet, such as You Tube, etc., in an effort to absorb as much information as I can about this fascinating world of air guns.  Not only will I be talking to, and learning from, Gene, but I'm hoping I can learn from some of you too!

Take care, and best always!
Bill

[jonnnyboy]

Welcome to the GTA, Bill.  We're glad you're here.

joe

[Roadworthy]

Hi, Bill.  Welcome to the GTA!!  Proceed to ask your questions, but with a hand on your wallet!!  Playing with airguns can be inexpensive but it doesn't HAVE to be.

[dk1677]

Welcome to the GTA Bill!

[amb5500c]

Welcome to the GTA.
Richard

[OleTomCat]

Bill,

Welcome to our Addiction.........

[mobilemail]

Gotta ask...what kind of bike you ridin' ?

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Welcome to the GTA Bill and feel free to ask no such thing as to much knowledge

[Hanabata808]

Awesome intro! 
LOL modem connect strings... man you really dug up some memories!  My friend had his 9800 baud modem, and I broke the bank and got the super fast 14.4k modem. Hitting up various BBS sites (since there wasn't an Internet at the time).  Good times!

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Don't forget news groups

[gene_sc]

Hey ol buddy.. Glad you finally made it here on the GTA. Allot of info can be found in the GTA Library. Make sure you stop by there for some good hands on facts about airgunning and such.
Hope to see you asking lots of questions. That is how I started and no one made fun of me... Got my air gun education right here on the GTA, thanks to many of my friends that I met here over the years.
Gene

[Bicycleman]

Bill, welcome and Merry Christmas.  What, no air rifles listed below your post - will have to fix that problem soon.   

Mike - Louisiana

[BikeRidinBill]

Wow Guys... you sure know how to make a stranger feel welcome!  Thank you so much for all the great welcoming responses!  I sure appreciate that.

I got a kick out of hearing from all of you, including my old buddy Gene!  I had to grin when several of you responded to the 14k baud (and lower) modem string comment I made about playing games with Gene (the original DOOM was the first of many we played), and about using modems in general.  And yes, I remember the BB's and such too. Fortunately for us Allen, we lived close by each other and our modem hookups were on a local call basis, otherwise we might have ended up paying an arm and a leg too... speaking of which I had to grin at Roadworthy's comment in relation to $$$ & air guns too.  I think my first purchase will be a modest one, to get the feel of it, and learn more about air guns in general.  I look forward to it.

Let's see, Mobilemail asked, "what kind of bike you ridin'?"  The answer is, I have a 2000 Suzuki Intruder VL1500 LC, with a bunch of accessories, such as a set of Vance & Hines Longshots exhaust system & jetting, a full size windshield with lowers, crash bars, Kuryakyn cruise pegs & passenger pegs, Kuryakyn Scorpion Hand grips, custom seat, mid-size padded sissy bar, rear fender chrome rack, hard bags, and several strap on bags (T-bags and other such things).  It's big, and it's black, has a 160 front tire, and a 180 rear tire.  It's a cruiser, rides like a Caddy, and I hardly notice the big rigs going by!

Speaking of that modest initial investment (in response to Mike in Louisiana), Gene has suggested the Crosman Nitro Venom® .177 Caliber Air Rifle w/3-9 x 32 Scope, for a couple of reasons.  First, so I can learn about how they shoot, then how to take them apart and put them back together, and finally how to upgrade them, and, of course, shooting them with the modifications to see how they perform.  I think I may have shot someone else's pellet gun back in the 60's a time or two, and in the past have shot a 30-30, a shotgun, and a 22 single shot bolt action rifle, that all belonged to my Dad, back in the day.  I shot a polecat once, that was raiding my Dad's chicken house, between the eyes... at night... from about 35 feet away, while my friend held flashlight on him.  So, I realize that the bulk of my shooting experience doesn't amount to much, & that I may not know much about anything, but I'm more than willing & eager to learn!

Again, thank you for making me feel so welcome.  I look forward to getting to know you all better!

Bill