December 31, 2006

Happy New Year! I can't believe it! Yesterday it snowed and so I went for a run instead of a ride, but rest assured...Mike was out there on his bike. While I was running the snow kept getting stuck on the sole of my shoes and I had to stomp it off. It was lovely and quiet. The snow fell down like it does in the movies. Last year I was amazed at how the snow fell sideways. So we have a light dusting everywhere---but today the sun is out and the snow will likely melt by tomorrow when the forecast predicts a BIG rainstorm and 40 degree temps.

This has been quite a week! My friend Mary Ann was hit on her bike by a drunk driver at 3:30 in the afternoon on a well traveled bicycle route in Palo Alto on December 23rd. She is in the good hands of Stanford's finest. It was horrendous and the guy who hit her tried to flee the scene, but there were too many people around and he was cornered. That said, after a night in the slammer he was let go. I won't go into the gory details, but she is lucky to be alive. And she is strong and out of ICU and heading home to her husband and three boys. Please include her healing in your prayers.

On a different note, I received a wonderful email from my dear friend Jamie. It said, "We're engaged! I am leaving for Baltimore tonight!" Jay and Jamie are getting married--I am so excited and happy for them! (Jay is from Baltimore and she was leaving to join him and his folks).

The noteworthy news of President Ford's passing, and Saddam Hussein's execution made it also a week for the Newscaster's. I enjoyed being reminded of Gerald Ford and can't really define how I feel about Saddam. In any case---it was a week of many thoughts and many "up and down" feelings. The high's with the low's.

My (California) folks are in Pismo Beach celebrating the New Year with the San Diego Mehler's. My (Minnesota) folks are off to celebrate the New Year with friends at a show at the Casino (not Las vegas---it's a Minnesotan casino). The Boston Taylor's (that would be us) will be eating a homemade Lasagna (made by yours truly) and enjoying an evening at home together. However you celebrate this last day of 2006, I wish you a safe, healthy and Happy New Year!

An Idea Party!

My Mom sent Mike and I this book, workbook and DVD by Barbara Sher, (Barbara Sher's Idea Party), and this morning, after the morning News, a weather check and a walk with the hound, we sat down and Mike plugged in the DVD and we sat around drinking smoothie's and watching Barbara talk about learning how to "live your dream". Anyway, we discussed the show at length afterwards and I unwrapped the workbook and now it's on our minds. I'll let you know how it goes. Right now it's full of powerful information---excitement and anxiety, all at the same time.

I think it is right around this time every year that Mike gets some idea in his head about change. I like to blame it on him, but I guess we both do it. Mike is less patient than I, and once he gets an idea going, there's no stopping him. It's like a race or something. We moved here with an ultimate plan to move out West...and now we are in the planning stages of that process. More excitement and anxiety. I keep thinking, "I'm too old for this...", but here we go again.

I've been running more than riding lately. Even though we've been lucky with a "mild" winter (no snow), it's still cold to me. In San Francisco when the weather is in the low 50's or 40's, the weather newscasters report how chilly it is. Here, they say how mild it is. Again I remember what my friend Bernie said to me when he told me, "A good day where you live now is like a crummy day in the Bay Area". He uses stronger language than I just did, but you get the gist. Ha!

Anyway---the holiday feeling hit home for me last Tuesday when our "Christmas box from Marshall" arrived. It changed my whole day. Every year, Mom (Taylor) bakes and ships us a little bit of Minnesota. And I am spoiled now and it doesn't feel like the holidays until it arrives. That next day, Mom (Mehler) went in for her biopsy, and the doctor's found "no tumor"! To top it off, her blood tests came back normal. So it is a season of miracles.

Whether it is the " Festival of Lights, the Holy Birth, or simply the love a beautiful day", may your Celebration of the Season be warm and Merry.
Love, Joni

2006 Cross National's - Providence, Rhode Island

Friday, December 15, 2006 - Cross National's, Providence, Rhode Island - Men 34-39

You could not have asked for better weather, this time of year in the North East. It was a little over-cast...but no snow, no rain and about 50 degrees! We arrived in Providence and made our way into the Roger Williams Zoo and park, the location of this year's extravaganza! As Mike went to register and get his number, I ran into Barry Wicks and Ryan Trebon and did something I haven't done in a long time (allright...not that long, I did get Jeremy Powers' signed race number a couple of weeks ago for my nephew)...I got them to sign my messenger bag---not behavior of a gal my age...but what the heck!

California Giant was sponsoring this year's event, and I ran into so many old friends---it felt like National's - Presidio style---as in San Francisco. As Mike went to warm up, the Scrapper and I wandered around and checked out the competition. All 177 of them! Sigh.

177---OUCH! Mike got another rotten start. He was in the 8th row---like 100 guys were in front of him. Matt Kraus, (Alan Factory- New Englander) took the "hole shot" and rode away from a chase group in the front row almost immediately! A chase group, which included Brent Prenzlow, Richard Feldman, Curt Davis and Shannon Skerritt got underway quickly. Amazingly, Mike had somehow managed to work his way into a top 20 position. Wow! How'd he pass all those guys?

Clearly Kraus was in fine form...unfortunately his bike wasn't doing as well and by the third time around his mechanical allowed Richard Feldman to take the lead, with about 15 seconds over the rest of the chasers. Kraus had to do a whole lap with a rear derailler that wasn't functioning and by the time he made it to the pitt...the front of the race was up the road!

Speaking of mechanicals...while Mike was warming up with Andy Jacques-Maynes and Justin Robinson, they said, "Dude...you're not riding clinchers, are you?" So Mike rode up to me to get his tubulars out of the car. The tubulars that he glued last year in Minnesota. And of course he rolled one---after he had worked his way into a top 10 position. RATS! He was able to work the tire back onto the wheel...but not soon enough. He lost his top 10 spot, and had to settle for 20th. But he rode really well.

We loaded up the car (we received a Rhode Island parking ticket!), and headed back to the Seven Cycles Factory for a Whole Foods Catered Holiday Feast & celebration...a nice end to a lovely day and end to the cross racing season!

Happy Holidays!

Patriot's ball game = light traffic on the roads!

Not only did the weather cooperate today, but with a state full of Patriot's fans, the traffic on the roads was lighter than it's been in eons! We had planned to go do a local Cross-race, but Mike was feeling that way he feels before he gets sick, so we decided to play it safe and not push things. I waited for it to warm up to 40 degrees, and then headed out for just under 50 miles of fairly congestion-free riding. Yesterday the wind was blowing harder than I've seen since I left Marshall, MN---In fact, I went out to the track for a run as opposed to tackling the blustery day on two wheels.

I've been slowly getting myself conditioned so that I can run more regularly without injuring myself. My calves keep cramping. Mike says he has the same problem and so it might be one of those "people-who-ride-their-bicycles-too-much" kind of injuries. Anyway, I was able to do over 4 miles twice last week with no pain which is nice. Maybe all the walking I've been doing has been good for something besides the environment!

It's Monday now---and it is snowing! Luckily I have a Minnesota winter jacket that Diane bought for me before we moved to Marshall! And I even have snow boots. So the Taylor's will all three walk to work this morning in the snow.

Have a wonderful week...and happy birthday Zachary Mehler!

December, 2006?

Can you believe it? Yikes! One of the nicest things about my life as a Taylor, and even before I officially became a Taylor, but certainly since I did, is I no longer ever suffer from the dreaded "holiday blues". Which leads me to the conclusion that who is in your life rates far higher than any of the things you may or may not have. At least for me this is true. A nice thing to know...

We have been experiencing the global warming big time over here in Boston. Yesterday and the day before it was nearly 70 degrees. Weird to think it is warmer here today than it is in Hot-lanta---at least this morning that is true. I know, I know, it isn't supposed to last. In fact tomorrow we are in store for a real change and already today it is cooler by almost 20 degrees...but still. I thought I was hanging up my two wheels last weekend...but it looks like I will get to ride both days this weekend.

And NEXT weekend I will be in San Diego! A nice thing to look forward to this time of year when you leave in New England. We had a little hiccup with Mom's chemo. She didn't have enough white blood cells last Wednesday and so she couldn't have her planned infusion. Now we "hope" (a few weeks ago we hoped she wouldn't have to have chemo this coming week) her blood count allows her to get back on the program. Sigh. My glowing Mom. Sigh again...

There is generally a whole lot of wishing and praying going on this month---even the little kids get involved, wish and praying for little shiny toys. We are lighting a candles and praying for white blood cells and no more cancer---and giving thanks for all of our many blessings.

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Verge Series Cyclocross - Sterling, Massachusetts

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - Verge Cyclocross Series - Sterling, Massachusetts

I've seen the Verge series cross races on DVD---but this was my first one live. True to form, many of the North Eastern big guns were out in force; Mark McCormick, Jeremy Powers and of course Tim Johnson, were amongst the competitors on this lovely New England Saturday-after-Thanksgiving. But even the not as well known but no less strong or crafty were Matt White, Jos Huseby, (and a large Fiordi Fruitti a.k.a. the "red men") contingent, and of course local boy Adam Hodges-Meyerson and Justin Spinelli to keep things interesting. There was also this guy who rides for "Stevens" who everyone kept talking about...like I ought to know who he is but I don't. Suffice it to say, The Men's Pro field was deep with talent.

Mike didn't pre-reg and so he got a horrendous start in the very back row in a field of 60 guys (give or take). As a spectator though, the Scrapper and I got first row seats! The start was not near the finish, but when he passed me near the finish area, I knew by his position that he had either a bad start or this was going to be a long hour of suffering. He was near the back. Sigh.

As the hammer went down at the front of the race, a decisive break got under way. McCormick, Powers and Johnson had escaped from the field at the first climb/run-up and were off and running (literally). Right behind them, about 30 seconds back was Matt White and the "Stevens" rider, and 30 seconds behind those two was the "red-men" train which included Jos Huseby and Hodges-Meyerson.

Around the 4th lap though, Mike had moved his way through the pack from 60th-ish to about 30th-ish. It was a notable change in his position...he'd ride with a group---then ride away from the group and join another group. He went from almost last place to inside the money of the race.

The above standings were pretty much how the race panned out for the top spots...Johnson attacked the threesome after the last barriers and won the race by 15 bike lengths. McCormick and Powers duked it out for second with McCormick taking the honors...and Matt White bunny-hopped his way to 4th and kept his leaders jersey. Mike finished just inside the money!

I hope you had a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Squirrel Torment

Nothing gets the Scrapper's goat more than the squirrel! We were out minding our own business and trying to play ball, when this little guy scrambles right in front of the Scrapper, and she goes bananas. Sydney almost had the little rascal until it found safety high above ground in a tree. Sydney then barked for about 5 minutes before we were able to get back to the business of throwing a tennis ball.

Every few minutes or so, Syd would stop playing and listen in the the (very) light breeze for the squirrel talk....then she'd drop the ball and sure enough the squirrel would be half way down the tree trunk. Scrapper would sprint to the tree just before the squirrel got out of reach and they would stare at each other. I applaud Syd for her patience and tenacity and I feel for her inability to climb that tree and get the squirrel.

I think he torments her on purpose. If you could have seen them staring at each other you'd think the same thing. It was cute anyway.

I did a nice long ride today. It was cold but dry. Funny thing is, my friend Bernie once told me that a nice day in my current city of residence, is like a really crummy day in the Bay Area. He's also the one who said once to his then wife (when they were running a pig farm in Iowa), "I don't know about you...but I'm getting the hell out of here!" Guess I had to experience it for myself though....

Mike comes home in a couple of hours! Woo hoo!

68 degrees...and wet!

How about that? We got a "feels more like tropical summer...but it's November" drench! Whole week has been in the 60's. Weird weather. Pretty amazing. Could make it up into the 70's even today. This is the warmest spot in the country. And the rain is heading out of Boston now. The Scrapper and I enjoyed a game of ball in the drink and I am soaked through since it wasn't raining when we headed out, and I failed to wear my rain-gear. It was so warm and humid when I left.

Mike is coming home tomorrow night. At least the week ahead looks good, sunny and dry albeit cool and so we'll get to ride. It'll be good to see him. I am looking forward to next week since it is a short one. Thanksgiving already. Last year Mike and I spent Thanksgiving in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and experienced the first snow storm of the season and our first snowy cross race. We were at least in near proximity of family. This will be our first Thanksgiving a LONG way away from those we love.

No Turkey ride up King's Mountain, No Turkey dinner with the California Mehler's or the Minnesota Taylor's. Maybe there is a Turkey ride here in Massachusetts? You'd think with a Turkey being on the state's Welcome sign, along with all the history about Plymouth that T-day would be a big deal here. I'll have to investigate this further. A special cross race would be awesome. All I know is after a 50 hour work week, I am looking forward to a break.

I am also looking forward to the Cross National Championships in Rhode Island coming up soon. Our friends from Northfield, MN are flying out for the weekend. It'll be great to see Daniel (Casper) and Linda (Sone) again. Allright...I better get to work. Have a great Friday!

Home alone

I forgot what it was like to sleep in and have no pressing things to do! What a luxury! I spent one Saturday while I was in California in San Francisco where I didn't have anything to do until the evening. I rode Muni and walked (I didn't have my bike yet) all around the city---headed into the Castro and Noe Valley. But beyond that, I haven't had a "nothing to do" kind of day in far too long. What a treat.

Yesterday, after completing all my "home-jobs", I headed out for what I thought would be a short ride (I was tired before I started), but ended up to be almost 4 hours on the bike. Each time I planned to complete the loop and turn back, my bike headed in the other direction and I enjoyed a long ride instead. The traffic is awful here though. I almost got doored in Concord and this guy saw a parking space and decided to sprint to it right in front of me. I am sure it isn't meant to be rude, but this area has the rudest driver's of anywhere I've ever lived.

I arrived home a hungry girl, to a frisky Fat Hound. Very nice. I gobbled up some food and headed to the woods with the Scrapper---and then came home and ate some more and Sydney and I watched movies all night. Mike would not approve of my snacking habits---I like to snack and never eat meals---sigh.

I woke up to a foggy-like-wet-but-not-raining morning. The roads are damp and there is a mist but I am contemplating riding anyway since it isn't cold at all. In fact, the mosquito's are out in force and were biting me while Syd and I went out this morning. I guess we are 10 degrees above average. Rain is in the forecast for most of next week though so if I can get out and ride today, it might be a good thing.

Other than that, I have nothing to officially "get done" today and I am about as happy about that as I can be. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Naked Trees

Two glorious weeks in Northern California! That's what I had and that's where I have been. I was working, yeah, but it almost didn't feel that way. Especially since much of my work entailed visiting my old bicycle jaunts. I rode up Mount Hamilton, Kings Mountain, and of course Old La Honda. Heaven. I was worried I might have lost my climbing legs---but it must have been memory snap---or the fact that my bicycle just got a new makeover or something. Hamilton was awesome...20 miles uphill! I forgot how nice it was to just get in a slow rhythm and go up hill for hours. When I reached the infamous observatory I was able to look down across the valley---felt like I was on top of the world. I was at least on the top of my world.

Too hard to catch up in an email and not bore you to tears---suffice it to say---the Bay area is where my heart lives and thrives. Mom and I had one of the best times together I can remember. A rare Mom and Daughter trip down the coast of California. Time flew. We listened to "Spamalot"---but mostly we just "talked-alot" and enjoyed our alone time.

And I hope it was a successful trip. It seemed to have been...In any case, I just dropped Mike off at the airport. He's going home to Minnesota for a week of R&R. The Scrapper and I have some girl time together. Separate vacations this year. I am headed back to California in December for a little R&R myself---not work this time. And then we are on full speed ahead to get ourselves back for good.

So, what about the Naked Trees? When I left on October 25th, we were just passed "peak". As in "peak colors" and leaves everywhere. But yesterday, I went out for my morning ride and I was amazed at the change of scenery. Few trees had any leaves left. You could see through the forests. They (the trees) look like they have no clothes on. Funny to think that plants do just the opposite of humans. They take their clothes off when it gets cold. Today looks like the best day this week to ride and so after a bunch of housework, I will go for a long fall-almost-winter ride and then take Sydney out to the woods to run and romp in the crunchy leaves before it rains (tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day). Mike said I was lucky it was warm enough to not snow at least.

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Good friends...

...I'm sure you all have someone in your life that just changes your day whenever they appear. And regardless of whether it's been 10 minutes, 10 days or 10 years since you last spoke, the minute you see them, you're all caught up and can resume a conversation or an experience as if it just happened.

My friendship with Chris (Insinger) is that kind of friendship. I met him in Hawaii while we were working for SGI---at the "President's club"...a unique group of people amongst very unique people. I was a guest of another unique friend, Bent (Hagemark), also of SGI and also a special friend. I remember like it was yesterday---yet it was long ago, Chris and I were lying on the golden sands in Maui (Kapalua neer Kaanapali), reliving our SGI-Hawaiian experience (I had just ridden a rental bike up Mt Haleakala by myself amongst other things!), and began a conversation that has expanded and lasted over the years.

He's now in Singapore---and I am in Boston. Different lives---but the way that our friendship grows with our horizons is something I always read about in books. I miss him already.

So we had a wonderful time eating in a newly discovered diner, and getting lost in Cambridge and Boston amongst the gloriously fall foilage and the great "Head of the Charles" rowing race! Mike went to do a cross-race in Connecticut with a co-worker so it was a fun day all around for each of us!

Today is Mom's birthday and I can't believe that I will see her and my Dad in 3 days!

California---here I come! Happy Sunday!!

Coming home

Just writing these words is exciting. My Dad is picking me up at the airport. (grin) I haven't seen my folks since the wedding. My Mom's birthday is tomorrow and we'll have a be-lated birthday party...just the three of us (or four us if Layne can join in). There is so much on my plate while I am home and I think I mapped everything out and I will have ~1, 700 miles of driving to do (ugh)...but my bike shipped to Palo Alto Bicycles and Alan is going to give it some long over-due love and I am going to head out and get some California miles in these legs at last!

Sad news was that a dear person, friend died last week. Jay Shively, who is from Spingfield, Minnesota (yes Diane and Dave---the Springfield right near Marshall and his family is still there) died of a heart attack in his sleep. We know Jay from being a customer of Palo Alto Bicycles. He became Mike's friend ( and mine) and even sponsored Mike when we went to Europe (personal sponsor). He was beyond just a genuine, generous, Minnesota nice and wonderful person. He was young (50) and has (had) a wife and three small beautiful children. Adam called me at work yesterday to let me know. Sigh. Been thinking about it ever since and my heart goes out to Lisa (his wife) and the kids.

Today Mike is heading to Connecticut to do a cross race. I am staying home as I also have a visitor. Chris Insinger is in Boston (my friend from SGI who is from The Netherlands). He now lives in Singapore but the corporate offices of his company are in Boston and so he is here on business and we will visit. Lots going on...

The leaves are now spectacular. Never seen anything quite like it. The reds, bronze, oranges, yellows, and all the variations in between. Quite a sight to behold. It dumped rain yesterday---but today it is clear as a bell! I will try and get a ride in this afternoon. See you soon!

Happy Saturday!

It's been such a long time...

Did you miss me? Interbike, in Las Vegas was so much work that it took me over a week to decompress. It was a successful show, but the second hand smoke of the casino's (and the fact that you rarely get outside in the fresh air) is a buzz-kill. In any case, it was fun to see my California friends and be in the desert dry air for a change. And the mountains. Sigh. Those brown Sierra Madre's and Padre's are where my heart feels like home. Most of you see them everyday and take them for granted in their barren beauty. A part of who I am is in those mountains that I used to call hills though.

Back at work---the colors of Fall are appearing everywhere. We went to the race in Gloucester (Glahhhstah) and Mike got a crappy start so I didn't do a race report. He didn't suck...but when there are 110 guys and your starting position 60+ guys back, it is hard to move up in the mix. The race was on Cape Ann though and it was a beautiful location---and the closest I have been to the Atlantic ocean since we arrived. I need to get out more.

I will dig through my photo's and send some pictures. Now the colors are about at their peak in my daily morning ride and it is magnificent. And the humidity has dropped so it is more comfortable, albeit chilly.

Exciting news is I have booked flights to come home!!! I am doing a public talk on Seven to the Sacramento Wheelmen and the Davis Bike Club on October 26th (everyone can come and so if you want to join in let me know)....I also will be "representing" at a Mystery Tour/Poker ride/Demo Event in Tustin (Orange County) at one of the most amazing bike shops I've ever worked with, The Path Bikeshop. Everyone is invited!!! In between I will be working with several bikeshops in NorCal and riding up and down my favorite climbs in the world. Those Santa Cruz mountains are hard to beat and if it takes me longer than 20 minutes to get up Old Lahonda I'm not coming home to Boston. Ha! If I can do it in 25 minutes I would be happy actually...sigh. And of course Palo Alto Bicycles is where to find out where I am and when.

So---she's back! I'll be staying with my folks for the most part! Miss you...see you soon. I'll be busy on the trip---but I am planning on several long coast rides. Join me? (And Jamie-girl...maybe we can go surfing? I might never make it back to Boston!)

Sucker Brook Cross - Auburn, New Hampshire

(Happy Birthday to Sydney!)

Sunday, September 17, 2006 - Auburn, New Hampshire

Is it really "Cross in New England"? It was 80 degrees for the official big opener, and a tune-up for next weekend's UCI race in Vermont. All the usual fun-seekers from Nerac, Fiordi Fruitti, Alan and more were there ready to suffer - and the field was noticably larger this week than it was last week. I was hoping for some New Hampshire colors of Fall, but it was mostly green. Fine with me---I'll take the warmth any day!

We arrived in time for Mike to do a couple of warm up laps on the course before the women's race. Located near a cemetery, the course was a bumpy, rocky rolling course with barrier's set up where there were a million mosquito's and so I didn't go there! The sand sections were pretty tough as there were barriers in the sand and then it went up hill. Lots of chicane's and twisty turns. A tight course.

On the ride there I asked Mike if he thought he'd need a feed. He said "No way! It's like a crutch anyway. I'll just suck it up. I won't need a feed---geeez, it's only an hour". After we got there, and he had warmed up, I asked again. "It's kinda warm. Are you sure you don't need a feed?" He said "Nope!"

The Scrapper and I (after greeting all the competition...the Scrapper likes everyone!) decided to watch the course from the start finish since there was some shade and no bugs. I grabbed a cold water bottle and dropped it in my bag.

Mike didn't get the greatest of starts, but he took the inside turn where the pavement met the gravel, sand, bumps and dirt. The first lap, Hodgeson-Meyers, and another Nerac rider, Matt White, a Joe's garage rider and two Alan rider's were off the front...and shortly thereafter Mike came through with two other riders---and a minute later the rest of the pack passed by.

Third time through and just for fun I waved a cold bottle at Taylor---and he gladly took a drink. So much for "not needing a feed"! (Smile) He moved his way up and while the front group maintained their pace, Taylor had passed all the other guys and maintained his position riding with one other guy. He'd pass riders on the course, ride with them for a while and then pass em'.

Soon it was just 4 riders off the front and Mike was riding with one other guy. After the bell lap we waited for the arrival of the leaders--Surely someone had broken away. Surely not! Hodges-Meyerson, White (Fiordi Fruitti), the Joe's Garage rider and one of the Alan rider's sprinted to the finish with Hodges-Meyerson taking the honors.

Suddenly I hear on the loud speaker something about Taylor and "elder-statesman"! Ha! He rolled in for 6th on the day! we celebrated with sushi and beer---toasting our sponsor Seven, cross-racing, bikes in general and Sydney's Birthday! Oh--And Happy Birthday Daniel Mehler too!

Cold showers...

...since we've moved into our place here in Watertown, we've been slow to figure out things like what's gas vs. what's electric vs. what do you have to buy special oil for to heat things up. We missed the winter here and so the really cold time wasn't very long and we've had a hot and humid summer. So hot water in the shower was not a problem. We didn't need it.

But with Fall approaching and the temps dropping into the 40's already in the evening, a "HOT" shower is more pressing. We've had 30-45 SECONDS of warm water in the evenings for our showers and then the water would get icy. Sigh. Mike hates dealing with these issues to the point that he will suffer and complain his way through it before he'll figure out what needs to be done and who needs to be called, etc.

I don't like it either [dealing with the details]---but I refuse to take a cold shower. Anyway--it was easy now that we have a landlord. I emailed him and asked if I needed to do something and he said "No---I need to do something! I'll be over tonight after work with a plummer friend and look into it! You'll have your hot water on tonight"

And true to form, he was there---apparently a special pilot light was out and like Magic the hot water worked.

So after we both got out of a steamy shower, I said, "So sweetie, aren't you glad I took care of this? What would you do without me?"

He smiled while brushing his blondish locks in the fogged up [from the steam] mirror and said, "Without you, I'd be taking alot of cold showers!"

Good answer Taylor!!

Northfield, Massachusetts

We woke up to a nice and chilly morning...sunny but chilly. Mike received a phone call from an old "racing" friend from Minnesota (he was driving to a Wisport race in Wisconsin), and it got Mike thinking. So he hopped online and walked out of our home office. "Hey---How far was it to Fitchburg?" I said, by car it was about an hour away. "Well, there is a season opener near Fitchburg at 2:30---wanna go?"

He should just say, "we're going!" --he's not really asking....but I did want to go. So in 15 minutes flat, we had sandwiches made, water bottles filled, the cross bike loaded onto the roof of the car, and the Scrapper's bags packed and we headed towards Fitchburg. The thing is, it was an hour West and North of Fitchburg (i.e 2 hours away...not 1). "Well it looked close on the map he said, when I asked". Yeah right.

Anyway--Northfield Cross season opener. The Men's Pro race had plenty of local talent, including Matt White and Jos (Fiordi Fruitti) and Adam Hodges-Meyerson (Nerac) plus a couple of Alan guys...as well as a larger than anticipated local field of guys. The course? A power rider's course---it was either up or down with a big steep run-up. The park was a ski park during the winter and registration was in the ski-lodge. NorEast racing is pretty well organized.

The Scrapper and I went exploring through the wildflowers and woods, while Mike warmed up. We situated ourselves near the pit and the run-up as there were several places to view the race from this vantage point. The first time through and my beloved was second to last coming up the run-up! And looked to be suffering. This could be a long day.

I can see all the faces of you all. Taylor? Second to last? I mean there were some good guys there...but really. No worries. By the third lap he had passed all the "yahoo's" who were in front of him and was top 10 for the next 45 minutes while Hodges-Meyerson, White, Jos and an Alan rider drilled it on the front. Jos then flatted and lost his position. And then Mike passed some more guys and had worked his way to 7th place.

Mike suffered up the run up for the last time and I counted only 5 guys in front of him! "T! You are 6th!" He said "What?" I said "you are 6th!!!" He smiled and hammered his way to the finish...

Now that's what I'm talking about!!

Ken & Amanda!

Mike and I both are pretty beat on Saturday's these days. You'd think sitting on your rear end all day wouldn't make you tired, but I am more tired from sitting down than I am when I am riding 50+ miles everyday. Weird. I am riding about 25-30 miles a day during the week...but I wake up at (literally now) "Oh-dark-thirty" to ride and then I sit down all day. Sigh.

I wasn't sure I even wanted to ride [Saturday] I was so tired---but I headed out anyway and did my 45 mile loop. In Concord, on Lowell Street, I pass over this pond and river and out in the middle of the road I see this black rock...a walking black rock. It was this cute little turtle. Uh Ho. She was meandering across the road and was about to be a flat rock, so I turned around and picked her up and she went inside her shell. Almost. Her mouth opened and it was so pink inside I was mesmerized. I walked her across the street to safety as she scurried towards the pond. She was a cutie!

It was a warm day and when I got home there was a phone message on the machine----from Ken & Amanda! Sweet! I was expecting a call earlier, but she had left our new number in California and had to wait for Palo Alto Bicycles and then the Bicycle Outfitter to open to get our Boston #. (Call a bike shop to find out where Joni & Mike are! Thanks Adam & Dave P. for getting her in touch with us!)

Mike and I rode the "T" into the city and met Ken & Amanda on State street near where the Declaration of Independence was signed (I think) and where 5 people were killed (Did I get that right Amanda?) Boston is so busy. I had no idea. Way more people than I ever remember seeing in San Francisco! While we were waiting for Amanda to walk and meet us, I was "people watching". There was this drunk guy near us with a bottle in a brown paper bag in his hands...he saw an empty bottle of Schnapp's sitting on top of a newspaper stand near the garbage can , but there must have been a drop left...I thought to myself, "Don't do it!". But he didn't hear my thoughts and sure enough he picked it up (out of basically the trash), opened it and put it to his mouth to get the last drop! Gross! Then he put it back near the trash and washed it down with whatever was in his own bottle!

We walked over to an Irish pub and ate and drank and talked the evening away! They were celebrating their 1st Wedding Anniversary---on their way to Maine. The last time we saw each other, neither of us were married. We decided we looked the same (although Amanda looks a little more like "Barbie", as in the blonde Barbie doll---her words, not mine) than I remember--(that's a compliment, AJE!). Mike and I got carded while trying to follow Amanda through the door---I love showing them a Minnesota driver's license. We are still acting like foreigners. California License plates and MN driver's licenses.

A little bit of Northern California in Boston was good for the soul. But now I am REALLY homesick. Especially since I got caught up on so much gossip about so many friends. Happy Sunday!

School back in; traffic out in full force!

My morning ride's have become inundated with cars and school buses! Kids don't walk to school anymore I guess. I leave 15 minutes earlier now to get a head start out of town. I leave 45 minutes earlier than Mike who is busy walking the Scrapper, but inevitably he catches me somewhere in Concord or Lexington. Last Thursday when he came pedaling past me he showed me a new secret route off the busy road.

"Follow me!" He said over the loud traffic. I was skeptical. Usually his routes are longer or harder or both. But this one was a winner and I was glad I followed him on the hilly quiet roads for a reprieve. We meandered through lovely neighborhoods---a little more climbing which is a good thing and by-passed the freeway on-ramps and crummy pavement of the busy road I usually ride.

It's cold in the mornings now. It is supposed to be warm in the 80's today---but the mornings are cool now and so Fall is in the air, along with a bunch of stuff that makes me sneeze. Some of the leaves are changing already. I'm waiting for the spectacular colors of the season. (Thanks Dave P. for telling me why the wet weather effects the changing of the colors).

Anyway---I am off for a ride...just wanted to wish you a happy Saturday---

Rain and it's effect on the Fall colors?

I was watching the news this morning "from New Hampshire", and one of the verbal headlines was that all this rain [we've had] may effect the changing of the colors this Autumn. I meant to stay tuned to the channel, but I got distracted waiting for the story and then Mike and I headed out to Lexington to stock up on some Peet's. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing [as rain effecting leaves changing]? They repeat the news all morning here about things I really am uninterested in but I haven't seen the repeat of this story that actually interests me.

It started raining last night sometime and has been light but steady ever since. They keep talking about "Indian Summer"---so I don't think the warm weather is done---but what do I know about any weather ---let alone New England weather? In any case, it doesn't look like I will get a ride in today even if it does stop because the roads are so wet and unlikely to dry.

I've been reading the personal memoirs of Katharine Graham---leading woman/owner of the Washington Post [& Company]---the paper who championed the coverage of The Pentagon Papers and Watergate. My Mom sent me the book last year and I struggled through the first 300 pages...but then it got significantly better and now it's good. I will probably finish it today since the weather is so dismal.

Well---I'm not one to complain about another lazy day just yet! Happy Sunday!

A little bit o' Ernesto!

Just a little and just enough. We're not expecting much of a storm, but it will be in the 60's and windy and showery until Sunday night and Monday. Then the weather guy says it'll be near 80 and humid for the remainder of the week until the next weekend when it is "supposed" to rain again. It's cold enough in the mornings that when I head out on my morning ride I am in leg/arm warmers, vest and a long sleeved craft already (though that might change again next week). Mike says, "it's like San Francisco!", with a smile on his face. I don't even sweat through my craft base-layer. The difference between here and San Francisco though, is that in San Francisco this is as cold as it gets. I am not looking forward to winter.

Last week was the busiest week I've had at Seven. Pre-season week. But a successful week and so I hope this is a sign for a great year for 2007. I am BEAT though. Mike and I celebrated making it through the week with sushi and Belgian beer. We reserve those occasions for races usually, but after last week we really needed "something" and he knew just "WHAT!"

Speaking of "racing"...Cross season is just around the corner here in New England. In fact, September 10th is the kick-off race and Mike is already "practicing" his moves. The terrain and the competition is pretty fierce here. McCormick, Hodges-Meyerson, and Powers showing up at your local races will certainly keep things exciting.

And some folks from Marin will be gracing us in September as well---Amanda & Ken will be here for a visit. Sure will be nice to see some California friends. I think I'll just curl up with a book today. Have a lovely Saturday and a safe Labor Day weekend!

Concord cruise...

This is the sign I look for each time I ride...it's about 12 miles West of Watertown, and I know that the roads are less pot-holed, the traffic is much calmer, and my ride is enhanced with each turn of the pedal. Concord is a cycling haven for around here. The folks here even say things like "On the weekends there are more bikes than cars!" Sigh. Not quite. Canada Road/Woodside/West Alpine/Tunitas Creek---now we're talking more bikes than cars. But for around here there's just more bikes than normal so they feel that way.

I threw my camera into my jersey pocket to share my saturday cruise...unfortunately I got too into cruising and less into picture taking and so I didn't get as many shots as I'd hoped. I loved the "Faithful Unto Death" statue with a cyclist relaxing in the Fall-like sun in Concord Square (right near Liberty Monument and the Minutemen Lookout Point)

From here I headed into Carlisle where it is beautiful right now with wild flowers and ice-cream! There are these "ice-cream" signs all over Carlisle and into Chelmsford. A small size is almost the size of those Ben n Jerry's pints! My map even has little ice-cream cones designating the "creameries." Of course I don't use a map anymore. I know the way.

Then from Great Brook Farm I meander through the woods down roads like these and pass houses like these. Three stories of house. No two look the same. I think the high was 70 today and the wind was breezing from the East. I still to this day think that means it is going to be hot. But the East breeze *is* the Ocean breeze out here on the right coast.

Nothing like a super long work week (as in hours...it was still only five days) to make an already lovely and lazy Saturday spin even BETTER! Hope you had a lovely day!

Another Wednesday in August...

...August 2006! I can't believe it. This time last year I was living it up on my honeymoon in Grand Marais. Hanging out with the Bennett's on their sailboat in Duluth! Running into Minnesota Black bears on highway 61 way up north near the boundary waters and the Canadian border---and learning how to mountain bike on Pin Cushion Mountain. What a lifetime ago that was!

Now I am living and working bicycle manufacturing in New England. And getting ready to experience the colors of fall in the Northeast. But not quite yet. It's still summer, though it sure has turned nice and less humid. We have early morning meetings every Wednesday and usually I head out on a ride afterwards...but everyone else did today and the office was too lean and so I stayed late and I am home now with the small hound, watching TV and enjoying the dusk ---which arrives much earlier than it did a couple of weeks ago. I'll get up early and ride anyway. Too tired right now.

Mike is out on a group ride, trying to get some "speed" in his legs. The race in the Berkshires was cancelled next weekend and so he's kinda bummed about that. Next on our list is the Chris Thater Memorial in Binghampton, NY... 5 hours away! Sigh. Planning for Vegas is a pain, but will hopefully be successful and get us closer to home in the not so distant future.

Mom had a little hiccup when her PICC line caused a blood clot of sorts in her wrist. Some pain medication later and she is feeling better, but the planned medical procedure got post-poned and while it was a disappointment, her spirits are good. Actually, it's her humor that's good. Her spirits need a little nudge sometimes, but not too often.

That's about it from the Northeast. I hope you are enjoying your evening!

NY Capital Region Road Race

(What a cool bike you have Mr. T!)

Saturday, August 12, 2006 - NY Capital Region Road Race

72 miles; 3 laps around a 23 mile circuit with a 3.5 mile rolling neutral start, and 1400' of elevation gain per lap! Nice! The 10AM start was a buzz kill since it was a 3 hour drive to the start in absolutely lovely Ravena, NY (near Albany), but given our California "Oh-dark-thirty" wake-up calls of our past, it wasn't too bad. And the prize was Upstate NY. Even nicer than New Hampshire for road riding!

After dropping Mike off at the start, I headed to feedzone to find some shade to park in (for the Scrapper), and then suited up to ride the route and get back in time to hand Mike a bottle by his second lap. The Pro 1/2 field was stacked fairly well (they had more folks than planned at registration given the perfect weather), including Healthnet's Mike Jones and Jelly Belly's, Jeremy Powers, plus a full contingent of the local powerhouse "red" team, Fiordi Fruitti.

Heaven. Upstate NY is certainly on the God's Country list. I had no idea. Smooth pavement and climbing and colors and wild-flowers with solar powered homes and log cabins, with small little communities. Wow! Nothings plowed up but there were many small little organic farms. And little to no traffic.

It took an hour before the Pro 1/2 field caught and passed me. Probably due to the incredible 15% grade twisty (actual switchback) section, (complete with writing on the road "Go Healthnet!", " Venga Venga" and "Allez"!). I rode up to cheers of the local farmers who were not expecting a small little rider to be so far "off the front!" Ha! Let them wonder! The cool thing, is right when they passed me, was the exact time that the decisive move of the race took place.

I saw Jeremy Powers, Josh (from Fiordi Fruitti) and one other guy hammer off the front and were never to be seen again by the chasing pack. Team Tactics would have played a big part if the field wanted to catch the break and the biggest team there was Fiordi Fruitti...with a guy in the break, they were off the hook. Sigh.

This is the first time I didn't get passed by all the fields before I finished the course...I rode in with the Masters and was already changed by the time the girl's Pro field came through. (I had a head start though---but usually they pass me anyway!) It was a hard race...complete with some awful crashes. There was a pretty technical section where you had high speed downhill followed by a 120 degree right hander that immediately turned toward the sky with the 15% grade section. An Anthem rider ended up doing a face slide for about 100 meters...and left in the ambulance pretty badly hurt. Sigh.

Mike did better this week---and finished with the rest of the field in the uphill finish. But Josh (Fiordi Fruitti) took the honors today with Jeremy Powers about 9 seconds behind him. Next week we're heading somewhere in the Berkshires for another sufferfest on our bikes.

Morning commute...

...actually, my official morning commute is a tad over a mile, I usually add a 30+ miles just to make it interesting... Nice! Mike and I have been getting into a morning groove though, in preparation for the sunrise/sunset of living this far North and East, and waking up early and riding before work. I only know about these things (sunrise/sunset) , because Mike reports the statistics on a weekly basis. "Hey, did you see that the sun will be setting at 7:20pm by the end of this month? Soon it's going to set at 4:15pm"

"Really...4:15PM? (maybe it was even 4:10PM, I don't remember) How soon?", I asked. "Oh, December". I suppose December is soon, given how the time has been flying away. But December isn't August, and we still have Fall to enjoy. Plus, I have been inundated with planning for Las Vegas in September. Whew! Interbike already. Now for years, either in retail or as a Queen comsumer in the bicycle industry, Interbike was just this fun little show where you got to check out all the latest and greatest whizz-bang inventions for Interbike.

This year? I am now working for a vendor that will be showing all the cool new products and so Interbike equals WORK! Lots of it! I feel like I get to "The Factory" , and then it's time to leave. sigh...

But the "getting to work" part of my day is still the best time of my day. From the days of commuting by bicycle from SF to Mountain View (@SGI) and then to Palo Alto (@ Palo Alto Bicycles), that rolling along with a breeze in my pony-tail and the sun in my eyes is the thing that gets me up in the morning. Well, that, and my dog licking my nose. Sydney is still the best alarm clock ever, though she doesn't get up until the sun comes up and right now, I get up before the sun.

And you're probably wondering about that "race report". Bow, New Hampshire (and just about every place we've seen in New Hampshire) is absolutely lovely. Sometimes I wish Seven was in New Hampshire as the riding is so much more to my liking (lots of rolling terrain...nothing is flat). Anyway, the gist is that Mike took 4 weeks off the bike, and another 4 weeks getting back into the groove, after his bout with whatever he had...and it was the first time ever that I can remember when he just didn't have it on race day. It didn't help that this race course was similar to Pescadero...for the first race after two months off. Also have Kevin Bouchard-Hall and a bunch of other guys who've been racing all season and are in form keeping the pace high.

But far be it for me to make excuses for my beloved. He doesn't need me to anyway. He's my star, and we are rolling along with the season's. Mom is rolling with her chemo seasons and I think after today, they are giving her a break. She's glowing from within and without and I love how many people called when I took a break from the keyboard.

Nothing about the weather today---I'm giving it (the weather)a break. I miss you all more than you could possibly miss me! Gotta go to sleep so I can ride tomorrow. (Good Morning Dave Prion --- thanks for the motivational calls---and Colin and Heather...Gosh I wish we could make it to your wedding! I hope you guys are as happy as we are!)

Finally a nice weather day!

She's back! (-: The last couple of weeks have been quite the whirlwind! Right before I left for LA, we had a torrential rain storm (with high humidity.) Mike and I failed to close the windows to the room where our "internet box" resides and when we came home, amongst other furniture and "next to the windows" things, our "little box to the WWW" was soaked and out of commission. I didn't have time to deal with it until I returned from LA and so have been off-line so to speak from you all.

Did you miss me? Ha! I may not love southern California, but I have to admit it felt good to be on the Left Coast. even during the heat-wave there, it was nice. After leaving the high-humidity of the North East, I didn't even think it was all that bad in LA. I zipped up my sweatshirt when I arrived at LAX even. So there you go.

I came home to record heat and humid weather here. It's like being in a constant sauna. My co-worker says she likes it humid because it is so good for her skin. Ugh! That said, I don't mind riding my bike in the heat. Just everything else is hard. We only have air-conditioning in our bedroom and so typing on the computer and watching TV and anything else is horrible.

The good news, is we are racing tomorrow. After a long hiatus, mostly due to Mike being sick, we are headed to Bow, New Hampshire tomorrow to mix it up in a road race--woo hoo. Today I did my little 50 mile loop through Carlisle and Concord, Bedford and Lexington. The humidity was finally down and simple things like breathing were easy.

Just wanted to say Hi! Happy Saturday!

Climb to the Clouds

No, I didn't do it. But I followed the route towards Wachussetts (if I did the climb it would be about 120 miles or so round trip). I didn't know about the planned formal ride, or I might have joined the 1000+ strong peloton from Concord over to the climb. Mike ended up running into the "packs" of riders along the way---I did too, only I didn't know they were an organized ride and they were obviously so far off the back that they were not going to get to the clouds. I left later than Mike, as I couldn't peel away from the TV and the days' Tour stage...

There was another ride going on called the "Memory Ride". Not sure what they were remembering, but I'm sure the woman who got side swiped by a car (who "hit and ran") will have something new to add to her memory ride. She was OK, but it was a chaotic jaunt out of town on the bike today, that's for sure.

My road took me out towards Bolton---through Maynard, Stowe (home of Bose) and I rode until my "map ran out". I never looked at my map, but I didn't want to need to. Luckily, Mike called me and left me turn by turn directions on the phone "just in case". It was hot and humid, but it is really fine weather for riding. It just bites for anything else.

And I had nicely paved roads for a change (yes, no pot-holes) and it makes such a difference. I've never seen such beat up roads as those from Boston to about 15-20 miles in all directions out of the city. Apparently, instead of spending tax dollars on quality roads, these very wealthy communities spend their money on education and the "Big Dig". Now everyone is mad because it looks like they were cutting corners with those dollars and one of the tunnels broke apart and killed a gal last week [The Big Dig is network of roads that go underground and stay off the local streets---a nice idea but 15 years and lots of dollars and politics in the making!] . Now the traffic is horrendous and there's only one way in and out of the airport. Sigh.

We just were outside; I was playing soccer with the Scrapper and Mike was doing the weekly cleaning and maintenance on our bikes (I am very fortunate to have him take such good care of my ride!), and I looked at the thermometer---almost 100 degrees! And as much as I'd like to, I refuse to complain about the heat. In the heat---I can still ride...in the cold, I am hosed. I doubt we'll be cooking tonight though. Guess pizza and beer is on the menu!

Have a wonderful Sunday evening! Happy Birthday ( a day late) to Tom!!

I "heart" LA

Somehow, when I talk about California, folks just lump it all together. Hey, I'm the "NorCal" girl. But this "NorCal" gal is heading to "SoCal" at the end of the month. Right state---just about 500 miles too far South for this Seven Cyclist---bike pedaler and peddler! I haven't been to my "home" state in going on two years---so it'll be nice to see the Pacific Ocean again. Everyone [here] is probably worried about sending me to NorCal---afraid I might not come back to New England. Perhaps they're on to something?

Last night I rode after work in the sultry evening air. This is easily as humid as the Southeast. The weather channel keeps using words like "heat-wave" and "oppressive". The most comfortable time is the time on the bike. Too bad I just can't ride all day. I'm sweating right now as I type. I sweat when I get out of a cool shower. Oddly, I don't seem to sweat on the bike. Perhaps I am riding too slowly?

Today I rode through Great Brook Farm again. It was quiet and no one was there. I came upon these police barricades...and rode right past them. Hmmm? A little further into the forested roadway, I saw the policemen. Apparently a stack of trees had tumbled onto a "live" wire and the road was blocked. I was hoping I wasn't going to have to back track, and a policeman told me I could hike up over the stone wall and around, but I couldn't go over the road---I might get electrocuted. I know they assumed I would probably just turn around, but I shouldered my bike and climbed over the stones and hopped out on the other side.

I only rode 45 or 50 miles, but it felt longer. It feels like riding in a wet sauna. I kinda like it until I stop pedaling...then, I just feel sticky. Mike was able to ride about 90 miles today so he is feeling better. We BBQ'd some dinner and sat outside playing soccer with the small hound---a nice Saturday.

I'll be heading down the Santa Monica freeway at the end of July---I hope to get some surfing in "between working" Oh yeah---I "heart" LA!
(as she rolls her eyes sarcastically)

East of the Mississippi

Mike and I have many discussions lately about this infamous River that divides our great land. While I've lived East of it before...South East in fact, it's been so long ago that all I can remember is that it was lovely when I was there. When you're a kid, and have not much to think about except food and play, and have parents catering to make sure both are plentiful, things like dismal weather and bills to pay are secondary concerns if you're concerned at all.

But much of my life (most of my life) has been spent about as far West of the Mississippi as you can get. Indeed my water of play was an expanse of Ocean that congers up thoughts of adventure, intrigue and rugged explorations---the Pacific Ocean. And Mike has never lived East of the River, in fact he grew up just West of it's shores.

Now we're about as far East of the Mississippi as one can get...along the shores of the "other" ocean. The Atlantic. It's like being in a foreign country where everyone still speaks English...albeit English without R's where there are R's, and where there are A's at the end of a word, they become R's. Like I work with a gal who's name is Jenna. But the local's call her Jenner. And if you want to staRt your caR in Boston, you say, "staht ya cahhhh".

New England. It's a lovely place---with rotten weather. My standards are pretty high. There's a reason why folks live in and pay the price for living in the San Francisco Bay Area. My friend Amanda said it best when she was telling me about her "living somewhere besides the Bay Area". She said, "You know Joni, when you settle in after a long bike ride, and stare out into the Pacific Ocean while watching the sun plop into the water, even if you're subsiding on ramen noodles---it just doesn't get much better than that!" She was right!

I even know transplants who live there [in the Bay Area] and complain about the cost of living, how much they miss the seasons, the traffic, etc. And I know exactly what they're talking about. But they know, it's pretty easy to visit seasons and then come home to "perfect" weather. It's a pretty diverse and amazing country we live in. And I guess I will be the envy of all come Fall! Of course, we'll be slaving away getting ready for Las Vegas and Interbike. I better at least get a day or two to ride my bike in the colors of a New England Fall.

Have a wonderful Friday!

My night to cook....

Last night Mike and I left work together on our bikes, with the Scrapper. The Scrap has slowed down a bit (she's almost 8 after all) and so I rode ahead..."I'll see ya at home...I'm not going to ride tonight---I'l cook dinner". It was a nice evening with no wind and it was kinda warm. When I got home, I thought...well, maybe I'll just go for a short ride. By the time Mike and Syd arrived back at the house, I was suited up in my riding clothes.

"I'm just going to go for a short spin..." Mike wasn't riding and he was going to manage dinner. I really was only planning on a short 18 mile loop since I just spent 4 days of good riding and I was kinda tired after a long day at "The Factory". Next thing I knew I was in Concord, and my one hour spin turned into a two-plus hours spin. It was one of those still and calm evenings. There is a section where you cross over the Lexington River and it's all surrounded with fabulous trees and the road climbs and descends over the river. You could see the Sky reflected in the water such that you couldn't tell the Sky from the water.

I got lulled into the terrain and forgot the time. Mike does this to me all the time and so it wasn't that I felt guilty---but it felt very indulgent. Especially when I arrived home to a Whole wheat pasta feed, complete with steamed broccoli and a spinach salad just as the sun was about to set. After a shower I settled into my feast while watching the end of the Tour stage---with a smiling husband.

I was going to wake up early and ride this morning, but believe or not, we woke up to RAIN. Not sprinkles either. RAIN. Even so, I stayed at work late and when Mike left early to go for a long over-due ride, I knew it was "my turn" to return the good deed. So I made a special Chinese dinner feast of Steamed rice, baked tofu and spicy garlic broccoli so that he can come home tonight and enjoy the Tour.

I'm off to go and play with Sydney in the New England dusk---and Mike and I will watch the Tour and feast. Boring? Probably sounds that way. Lovely? You bet it is! The best news? Tomorrow is already Friday!!! Happy Thursday!

Happy July 4th - With Love from Beantown

The last few weeks, Mike has been sick with whatever he gets every year. He finally went to the doctor last Friday, and she said, in no uncertain terms, "Stay off the bike for a week!" And for the first time in a long time, he took these precautions to heart and heeded her words. Let's just say that the fact that we were finally heading into a sunny and fairly rain free weekend, Mike's "willpower" was put to the test---especially since his wife, who had no "orders" from the doc, was free to ride in what felt like summer weather.

I rode almost 180 miles these last few days---long over due indeed. It doesn't sound like very much maybe, but it sure felt like alot of time in the saddle. Most folks around here leave for the coast or other spots and so I had the roads to myself. All the local attraction spots were packed (Walden Pond, Concord Center, Lexington Center, Minutemen National Forest, Great Brook Farm and all the ice creameries around Carlisle and Chelmsford) and I would have hated being stuck in a car looking for a parking spot, but on a bike---well it was nice indeed.

Here's a fun fact---did you know that Walden Pond is spring fed from underground? It's filtered through all the sand in it's bottom and it's like being in freshly filtered, pure water. Pretty cool huh?

On Sunday I saw the most cyclists ever. Everyone was riding to Fitchburg I think and it looked like several "Spectrum" Saturday rides---Of course I got dumped on by a rain shower---but it didn't rain in Watertown and so Mike never saw it.

Today I was treated to quite a sight on my ride through Carlisle. What I had first thought were two recumbents turned out to be two guys on wheelchair bikes. No leg power---just arm power. One guys legs were dangling from beneath his seat---when he came storming passed me I though he didn't have any legs...but he did---they just were dangling, tucked beneath him somehow. I caught back up to them on a slight uphill section, but I could barely keep up. What hammers!

When we came to a stop, I told them both that the Tour de France riders had nothing on them. They smiled and I gave them my vote for the yellow jersey for the day. They were having fun---hammering each other, and their arms were stronger than my legs. Folks on upright bikes had a hard time keeping up with them. It made my day, and ego in tact, I rode on my merry way!

So now it's dumping rain. What a shock. It's actually been so hot and humid, and I rode for four hours, so I don't even mind. There's plenty of Tour de France action to watch---The Aerosmith guys are doing a free concert with the Boston Pop's on the esplanade on the Charles River tonight during the fireworks ---6 miles away from our place. I bet I'll be watching it on TV though.

Happy and Safe 4th of July to you! This is Joni, reporting LIVE from Beantown! I miss you!

Flood Watch?

First weekend of summer, and while most of you are sitting comfortably in that much needed air-conditioning after the hot bike ride in the wind in Minnesota, or riding in the "dry" heat in California, Mike and I are watching our streets flood and not even experiencing the relief of the cool air that the rain often brings because it's "tropical" like and muggy out. The air is thick like the deep South, but with more rain...steady rain...non-stop rain. And given the population and heavily traveled narrow roads, this means the pot-holes are sink holes when it's wet, making for horrible riding conditions while dodging pot-holes or cars or both. In addition, most of these homes don't have central air or heat (which would kill ya in the South), and so we are reaching to find a way to get comfortable. (break out the violins...sigh).

I don't mind the heat as much as I mind the heat with the rain with the potholes. Sigh. Combine all three and it is a little hard to take.
Just like last year when I was "shocked" by the different climate, folks around here keep telling me how unusual the weather is this year. Yeah right! My biggest problem is that I've lived most of my entire life in a place that doesn't have "weather". You may hear on the news about the "rains in California and how they were so much worse than last year...blah blah blah". While this is true, you have to consider what they're used to. Perfect weather. And so any deviation from the perfect mark is such a mental blow that it just seems so monumental.

I remember the storms and floods of El Nino and La Nina...and they were torrential and hard to take. Certainly in an area where it [bad weather] is unusual, it effects things much worse since there's no need to plan or have emergency services to accommodate the extreme conditions since it is such a rarity. So the drama plays out and everyone sighs and says "those poor Californians---look at how they suffer, look how unprepared they are!"

But the reality is that the bad moments are over quickly and the rest of the year gets back to perfect and you forget about that rainy 45 days. Not here. New England is beautiful in it's greenery and rolling hills and history. When you can get out and ride, and get out of the crowded areas, it's lovely. But the "when you can..." is the big challenge. Mike and I look at each other with sympathetic eyes and painful disbelief at how bad the weather can be here. Humid and rainy; wet and sticky.

On the brighter side, tomorrow is our first wedding anniversary, and I can think back to a year ago and remember the wonderful time in Marshall when I became a Taylor officially and my life took on new meaning. It's amazing to think of the incredible year we've had as an official Taylor Team, huh?

Oh well---guess I'll go do the laundry! Have a wonderful Saturday!

"Hot"-a-Ton-ik Hills Road Race

Sunday, June 18, 2006, Housatonic Hills Road Race - Southbury, Connecticut

Wasn't it just last week that I was making derogatory comments about the cold New England weather? We woke up early (though not early enough) and it was like 70 degrees before 6am. I leave Mike in charge about what time we're supposed to leave for a bike race---I'm just along for the ride and to cheer him on. Unfortunately, it was too hot for Sydney to come along---so we just loaded up both of our bikes and headed to the South western corner of Connecticut.

Once we crossed the Stateline, Mike looks at the time and says, "How many more miles do we have to go?" I replied, "according to the map, we've got about 80 miles ---give or take". Turns out we needed to leave 30-40 minutes before we did. Hope there are no police officer's on this list---Mike put the pedal to the medal and practiced a VW Golf Time Trial. We got to the race course 10 minutes before he was supposed to race, and he was pinning his number at the start-line just as the 100+ rider strong Pro 1/2 field was heading out of the gate!

81 miles, 3 laps around a 27 mile circuit with 1500' of climbing per lap---with 95 degree weather and no wind! I suited up and followed shortly thereafter with a bunch of bottles in a messenger bag on my back. What a beautiful and hilly course. as the other fields of riders begin to pass me, I ended up with company to ride to the feedzone with as so many folks were getting shelled off the back. Once I made it to the feedzone, I had about 20 minutes to kill before the Pro field arrived.

I unpacked a musette filled with water bottles and waited. A Garneau rider (his name is Joe and he lives around the block from us) lead the way with about 5 other guys in the break. 5 minutes later the rest of the bunch came through and I handed Mike his bag of drinks and headed back to the finish.

It's different when you're not racing---I thoroughly enjoyed the lovely hot day. Mike unfortunately needed more water and so, dehydrated as he was, didn't end up having the greatest of rides. The uphill finish was harder than anticipated...guys were coming through with minutes between them and there was no pack finish.

Oh well---you can't win em' all! We arrived home pretty flogged from the heat and the hard riding, and were reminded of the August Cal Cup races---Rule # 1, don't arrive to a long hard race with only seconds to spare before take off!

Peeling off the layers...

85 degrees. Mike's running around the house trying to install window air conditioners---a little annoyed with me for not being much help. How do these things work anyway? He says, "Oh, you just plug them in---and they fit in the window". Really? "Do you have to add water to it", I ask? He says confidently, "nope---you just plug it in. It will drip water...but it uses freeon or something. Let's put it on your side of the bed". (So it can drip on me, I wonder?)

Sigh. It's not even that hot? I refuse to complain when it's warm out. I like it anyway. Today I rode through Carlisle, Chemlsford, Great Brook Farm, Lexington, Arlington and all around my little neighborhood. Now I can ride a 50+ mile loop and not ride back on the same roads I left on.

And shorts and a sleeveless jersey weather sure feels good. Peeling off the layers. The layers that don't come off quite as easily out here in the North East though are the layers and layers of "attitude, properness, and busy-ness". The reserved ways of New Englanders can at first be a little startling for a Californian turned Minnesotan turned New Englander girl like me.

During the work week, I'm pretty oblivious to this since I am surrounded by bike people most of the time. Bike people are the same no matter where you are. It's a small micro community of people that isn't separated by place so much---West Coast, East Coast, Mid West, even Europe...it's all good. And even if it sounds like I am complaining and comparing again---we feel blessed with this very different lifestyle and opportunity...I'm just observing.

And, it isn't that folks aren't nice...they are nice. (A little uptight in my opinion---and conservative in a traditional but not stuffy kind of way). But it isn't like the prairie where if you run out of water and don't have money, someone will give you water --- or even a ride home. Out here---no dough---no service. I ran into Mike coming in the opposite direction out around Great Brook Farm---he was headed out on a short spin---I was heading home from a long ride trying not to bonk.

As he passed me again (he's always passing me!), he hands me a full water bottle. That's the Minnesotan in him. The "salt of the earth" characteristic that you have to experience to understand what I am talking about. The water was just what I needed to get me back home! In any case---my layers are peeled off and ready to enjoy the summer days. Tomorrow we're off to race in the 94 degree Housotonic Hills road race in Connecticut---Happy Saturday!

Lost in Lincoln & Lexington

Woke up to rain---but by the late afternoon the sun came out, the roads dried up, and I high-tailed it out of the Seven Factory an hour after my husband did. Initially I had planned to try out my new kickers (Mike bought me new running shoes with his prize money from his race last weekend!)---but it was such a nice evening, and I knew Mike would be gone until the sun went down---so instead I suited up and headed West on my bike to enjoy some hours in the saddle.

Usually I am a morning ride kind of gal---but Mike keeps telling me that the traffic dies down in the evenings and I should try it sometime. He was right---and after I was out of Belmont, the roads quieted down a bit and I enjoyed the warm evening. Once I got to Concord square, I felt a little adventurous and decided to try a new route looping back home. I keep thinking I know my way around. But I really don't.

In any case, I managed to pass Emily Dickenson's house, Hawthorne's house and Waldo Emerson's house---all preserved in fine New England fashion. What a find, huh? But then there were all these "forks in the road"---which way to go? You'd think that simply heading East would do the trick. Sigh.

Suddenly I was in the Minute Men National Park. Wow is it green and beautiful! But I was getting hungry and it was nearing sundown. Now what? These racer guys passed by and I asked them if I was going towards Lexington. "Yup" they said, as they raced by. But even if I was headed the right way, nothing was looking familiar. Hmmm. These old guys on bikes past me and I said, "Do I look like I'm heading to Belmont?" That got their attention at least, they knew I was lost. One of them asked where in Belmont I was headed. I told him I didn't really know where in Belmont...but Belmont is next to Watertown and that's "really" where I wanted to go. So he rode with me and got me close (within 8 miles from home) to where I needed to be.

At the bottom of a slight incline he said to just go to the top of the hill and make a left when I crossed over Route 2. I was hungry and so I hoped it wasn't a big hill..Turns out what I think of as a hill and what folks out here think is a hill is different. It was just a little bump in the road...no biggie and suddenly things looked familiar again. I arrived home just before sun faded into the West.

The beauty of it all is I now have this beautiful new loop to ride through poetry, history and historic places. Now Mike and I just need to hire someone to cook for us so that we can both ride until dark every night. Yeah right. Luckily there is a really good and cheap pizza place right around the corner---East coast pizza is about as good as it gets. And getting lost in Lincoln and Lexington Massachusetts is a pretty nice way to end a Thursday summer's eve!

HAPPY FRIDAY AND HAPPY FATHER'S DAY THIS SUNDAY!

Snoozin' "Deluge"ions

We had three days straight of sunshine. Then yesterday afternoon, the NorEast deluge returned and lasted straight on until the morning. Mike and I look at each other and say, "Remember that time in Belgium...14 consecutive days of rain and we were outa there!" But in Belgium we didn't have jobs or a lease. The good old days...not really, but you know what I am getting at.

There is a great lesson in here somewhere about sticking it out---after all we are in the industry we love...and that same year that we high-tailed it home from Europe because of the rain resulted in one of the hottest summers on record in that same area with folks dying from the heat all over France and the surrounding countries. Still, it is a bit discouraging to go to sleep to the rain and wake up to the rain in the middle of June. Sigh.

True to form, the small hound maintains her glorious attitude---never minding what the weather holds for her day. A little bit o' the drink doesn't do a thing to her spirits. She smells bad from having that "wet-dog" syndrome---but it really doesn't seem to warp her spirits any.

In any case---the weekend looks like it will be a scorcher here---near 100 degrees with all the humidity that goes along with it. We are heading back to Connecticut to do the Houstonic Hills Race. It looks like a hard one with 1500' of climbing per lap and over 80 miles. In the meantime we are doing our best to stay dry and paste smiles on our face.

At least it isn't snowing! Have a fabulous Thursday!

P.S. Mom is toughing through some really tough "chemo" days---her spirits are good but she had a rough couple of days. I love all of you for asking!

Nutmeg Classic Criterium

Saturday, June 10, 2006 - Walnut Hill Park, New Britian, Connecticut

Nutmeg Classic Criterium - Connecticut State Criterium Championships

Believe it or not, the weather was fine in Connecticut. When we left Watertown, it was under grey skies and steady rain. We weren't sure what the weather would be like in Connecticut, but according to the "weather doppler", it was cloudy but dry. So we loaded up Mike's race bike, grabbed the small hound, and headed West! As soon as we passed Worcester (pronounced "Wooster"), we spotted patches of blue sky on the horizon, the rain stopped, and we even spotted some dry roads. Immediately our spirits were lifted.

40 miles; 40 times around a one mile loop around Walnut Hill Park---no corners, just a curvy loop with a slightly rolling effect. From the Start/Finish, spectator's were able to see the racers not only as the crossed the line, but also as they wound their way around the course. Mike lined up with another 80 or so guys. The wind was the main factor today---yes, it was a blowing!

Very early in the race, two guys snuck off the front and worked together to hold off the field at about 20-30 seconds. But with 19 or 20 to go, the dynamics changed when the Anthem team headed to the front (they are a big local team and these were the championships after all) and reeled in the break. Once the two guys were swallowed by the pack, two other guys (one Anthem rider and one US Army rider) gave it a go off the front. They were working well together---4 other guys snuck off the front and were trying to bridge the gap.

Taylor, frustrated that every time he got out of the saddle to go, would get immediately chased down, used a different tactic as he came through the Start Finish with 7 to go. This time he shifted into a bigger gear, but stayed in the saddle and snuck away on the outside. No one could react and he was able to close the gap to the break solo style in half a lap.

By two to go, the two leaders, who at one point had 35 seconds were now hovering at 15 seconds. The Taylor lead break was reeling them in---200 meters from the line, the announcer, who was sure the two leaders would not get caught, was already calling them the winners. But when I saw the Scrapper wagging her tail (if you knew how much she adores Mike, you'd know that she only reacts that way when he's in close proximity) so excitedly, I looked up and sure enough, Taylor stood out of the saddle and was about to shut it down! The guy who was riding his wheel in hopes of taking him in the sprint tried to go around him but it was no use! Mike took third at the line and barley by a wheel length!

Mike rode a lap and met me at the finish line! Smiling he says, "How'd we do?" (I love how he says "we".) "We did great! You were 3rd and are on the podium!"

You know the drill by now---Belgian Beer, Sushi and Seven! It just doesn't get much better than that!

Soggy Saturday

Who'll stop the rain? June 3rd...and after a really warm Memorial Day weekend, here we are in the drink once again. Not a little rain...they're talking measurable rain and using inches to do the math. UGH! When "measuring tools" are used for the rain, our plans for a race in Maine sounded "not so good". Driving anywhere isn't fun---but driving for a couple of hours to race in rainy 50's/60's sounded like a bad idea for a plethora of reasons.

Our house gets real clean on days like these. Sunday is supposed to be better at least. Last week was a short week and so at least I rode everyday and got my miles in then. I only recently realized that my daily route takes me past the "Gropius House". I think he (Gropius) is (was) kind of to New England what Frank Lloyd Wright is to San Francisco. A famous architect. It's a very interesting looking building. He's of course no longer with us...I think he was famous in the 40's. But his daughter or grand-daughter is still around...in her 80's, but still around. One of these days I'll have to sign up for one of the tours of the place. The grounds are all over-grown (probably hard to keep it up with all the rain).

It looks like we're finally going to race Fitchburg-Longsjo. It's one NRC race that Mike has never done before (when you live in California, it's pretty expensive to get out to all the East Coast races), and it looks to be a real tough one at that---lots of climbing. It'll be tough to do without a team, but fun all the same. Seven will have an exhibit at the pre-race expo and I'll be working that on Wednesday and then supporting Mike in the race the rest of the week. We really wanted to do Minnesota this year, but it was just not in the cards.

Oh well---just another soggy Saturday in Watertown. You'd think the name of the town of my new abode would have been my first clue. Enjoy your Day! Go Jerrell in your Aid's ride down the coast of the sunshine State!

Hartford Downtown Criterium

Sunday, May 28, 2006 - Hartford Downtown Criterium

A very fast one! 50 laps, around a .7 mile loop, with no actual corners...a real "loop", around Bushnell Park in Hartford, Connecticut. The weather was about as perfect as it's been since we arrived out East. I woke up early and rode out to Concord before we left---and even early in the morning it was shorts/jersey weather with NO WIND! Also NO CARS! Perfect!

Mike and I got on the road and headed West and South on the Mass turnpike. Today's adventure would take us to a new State (to us, an "old State" in the union) in New England---LOVELY Connecticut, Surely the greenest State thus far in our NorEast exploration. Downtown's always look so nice when it's a holiday weekend, and this was no exception. A beautiful capitol building and the grounds were green and clean.

Mike suited up while the Scrapper and I did our normal routine...check out the competition. The Nerac Team was hosting the race, and so they were out in numbers...as was the Fiordi Fruitti Team. And Colavita's Italian Stallion---Davide Frattini (whom I did not recognize at first...the blonde bombshell is no longer blonde!) 110 guys lined the start of the Men's P1/2 race. Luckily the streets were wide and the pavement was smooth!

"Race rules read" and they're off! Taylor got a good start near the front of the massive peloton, while the Scrapper and I found a nice resting spot in the shade. (Syd forgot her sun-screen!) About 7 laps later, my "Seven" rider comes hammering off the front at turn one, leading the way. Suddenly a Colavita guy flies past! The Italian lead the way into turn two with Taylor on his wheel...but soon with 108 guys chasing, the field was quickly back together.

The field was very attentive and while many rider's attempted to escape---no one ever got more than 15 seconds off the front. Right around lap 48, the Fiordi Fruitti, 8+ man train took their turn at the front. Taylor quickly took his position behind the train with Frattini right on his wheel and some Target Training riders in close proximity. The storming peloton was strung out like a snake---and the only guys who weren't on the train were the ones who got crashed out by what was later known as the "Litespeed guy", who must have had a mix up when the schmack went down.

As they turned the last corner, I could see Taylor in the distance...too excited to see him in the front of the race, I closed my eyes. So I missed the "amateur moves" of one of the "Red men" zig-zagging his bike dangerously across the road in the sprint. Mike finished strong though---5th place and in the dough!

We celebrated a fine Sunday with a plethora of sushi and beer---and toasted our sponsor/employer (Seven Cycles) for the lovely day!

Saturday Spin

Working in the bike business AND having weekends and holidays off (and paid!)---is very cool. Another cool thing is that so many folks took off for "the Cape" or other places for the long weekend and so I had a nice reprieve on my ride today from all the traffic. A creature of habit, I always head West and today was no different. What was different is the warmth. Shorts and Jersey weather at last.

As I passed Walden Pond, I realized how quickly the thrill wears off. Only two months ago, I was "Wow! Walden Pond!" Not really "wears off"...but rather I expect to see it. Even as I head passed the historic sites in Concord and the Minutemen Trail, I am still impressed...but I don't always "look" like I did when I moved here.

Oh, don't get me wrong, there's always something new and interesting---and when there are less cars, it is so much easier to see the beauty of this area. The flora and fauna of New England still amazes me. There are these pale pink and bright yellow trees, amongst all the green, green pastures. And the organic farms are regal...just like the horses and their owner's I pass along my route.

And then there's Carlisle. I love it there, and it isn't just the ice cream. It's the way that every home (mansion) is different and unique---no two alike. There's standing water all over Great Brook Farm---no mosquitos yet, but I am sure they're on the way. It was humid today---I like it that way when I'm riding though.

Mike and I are headed to Hartford, Connecticut tomorrow for a race...I hope you enjoyed a lovely first day of the long weekend. Nothing like a Saturday Spin in the morning (followed by a downpour after I returned home)...but the sun's out now and no rain in the forecast for awhile!

Go Sunny!

(I have a really cute picture of the small hound in her purple Sunny's Team Tshirt and baseball cap...but I can't figure out how to get it up on this site...so you're stuck imaging a really cute Jack Russell all dressed up in her purple kit looking cuter than ought to be legal, wishing her Grandma a good day today!)

Go Grandma!

Mom called last night after her first chemo treatment. She sounded good. It's that chemo-wonder-woman feeling!

Ya'll are wonderful. Not sure what I'd do without your encouraging email. Here's the Scrapper in her purple Sunny's Team outfit. We should all look so good in this "get-up"!

Tuesday morning ride...

So, all those months of Mike complaining to me about the "working full time---no time to ride" syndrome are sinking in. If I even open my mouth to complain he quickly quashes any further words by saying, "See---now you understand!" Sigh. It's not really all that bad. I just like to have something unimportant to complain about sometimes.

Luckily I am a morning person. It happened late in life (I used to like to "party all the time" and sleep until 10am!) Now I am up around 5 or 5:30 and if I'm not in bed by 9:30pm it's what I consider a late night. Sigh.

This morning I was out of the house and on my bike before Mike even woke up. You have to get up early to avoid the chaotic morning rush. In any case---I was pedaling along, minding my own business and didn't even realize it was near the end of May---I'm still wearing my lobster claw gloves on my rides in the morning. Can you believe it? I can't.

Before the traffic kicks in, you have time to admire all the colors and greenery of Spring. New England is "seasons to the nth degree". Never have I seen anything quite like it. And the houses are cool---no two are quite the same. And they're old for the most part. So old that the horse/animal barns are connected to the home (so that you didn't have to wander out into the weather to tend to your livestock, no doubt).

I was rolling along, realizing that what I like the most about riding my bike---or at least one of the things, is that it is my time. I'm nobody's wife, friend, employee, sister, daughter, etc. I'm just me. It's my time. It's self-indulgent. And I don't know if it is the exercise or the "time" that I need, but whatever it is, it sure does make the rest of the day easier.

...so this morning, just as I was thinking about my Mom while rolling along in the "suddenly getting more populated with smelly old cars" roads, I suddenly found myself barely avoiding a pot-hole the size of a small state (let's say the size of Delaware). It reminded me that no matter what is going on around you or inside you---you've got to pay attention. And enjoy every minute and moment that you have. Otherwise, you might fall into a pot-hole or something. Silly thoughts for a Tuesday.

Happy Birthday Chris Insinger!

Lake Sunapee Bike Race- Newbury, New Hampshire

Saturday, May 20, 2006 - Newbury, New Hampshire

69 miles; 3 times around a 23 mile circuit over very rolling terrain with 1300 ft of climbing per lap. No feedzone. And while it was very chilly (Is it May---really?), Mike said it best when he said, "...at least it isn't raining!" The fields in the races [all over New England] are now full, so Mike headed to a near 100 guy start line in the Pro 1/2 race, while I headed off right behind them solo. The nice thing about "no feed zone" is that I get to head out and explore on roads that have the rolling closure, policeman marshaling at all the places where there is a turn, and even SAG/wheel vehicles that pass me when the different categories of races go by, should I need one!

A few Colavita guys, The NERAC team, a few Canadian Teams were there in force, along with some of the local hot-shot teams (CBC, Fiordi Fruitta, Garneau, Cyclemainia/VW and others). These teams have like 8-15 guys...(think Alto Velo!). I was so busy piling on the clothes that I missed the start. The weather, at this point, is making me weary. This is the second year where I really had to dig deep to deal with the external weather patterns. Sigh. (Quit complaining Joni!)

I have to say that despite the chill, this part of New England is absolutely magnificent! New Hampshire is spectacular...in the spring. I can only imagine what it must be like in the fall. In New Hampshire, the roads are pristine! Clean, smooth pavement---nary a pothole. Massachusetts, even when you get out of Boston proper has so many potholed roads!

I'd be reaching if I said that these were "climbs", still, it felt good to "climb" again (the whole circuit was like climbing Old La Honda, plus 100 feet---and you had 23 miles instead of 3.5 miles to do it), and yet...it felt more similar to my old jaunts than anything I've encountered in going on two years. When the pace cars would approach I would pull over and cheer the racers on! Two other Seven guys were there---Scott Rosenthal and Seth were both joining in the sufferfest in their respective fields.

Lake Sunapee is below Mount Sunapee---one of the ripples of the White Mountains (think Mount Washington), and the Appalachia Ranges. The air is clean, the roads are clean and the people are friendly. Me and my tangents. That's why Mike races and I explore. I'm supposed to be writing about the race and I can't shut up about the overwhelming "Loveliness" of this area. But after 5 years or so, you're used to it! (They didn't call me Joni "Mail-er" for nothing! Even if I am a Taylor now).

I finally got lapped by the Pro guys...and I spotted my favorite Seven guy (my favorite person for that matter) sitting comfortably in the pack, looking like he was on a club ride...when he can breathe, smile and say "hey" to me, I know he's feeling pretty good! I jumped on with some girls who were off the back on the steepest part of one of the climbs...hung with them going uphill, but I always get dropped on the descent.

Two guys had escaped off the front [of the P1/2 race], on the first lap. No one chased and there went the race. Without any team tactics to bring back the two leaders, it was a race for third. A single guy (unless you're Eric Wohlberg!) can't bring back a 3 minute lead solo-style. Frustrated, but willing to take over, Mike worked his way to the front of the peloton and lead them uphill to the finish. Two guys jumped on his wheel...one guy was barely able to go around him for the finish...but Mike finished strong! Second on the sprint and 4th overall!

We celebrated his prize with some sushi and Belgian Beer. The best news is that he said he felt better after the race than he feels on some of his weekend training rides. No aches. No pains. Not bad for a working stiff!

Foresee the Four Seas and 4 C's!

What in the world am I talking about now? I wish it was good stuff. Cancer, chemo, caring and courage...all in the foreseeable future, (and I'd like to run away from it all by sailing away on the four seas).

We've been dealing with the potential of my Mom's Cancer returning. And it appears to have come back. Not in the pancreas this time---but right behind the pancreas a tumor has been growing. Sigh. Sigh again. Ugh!! (If I were talking instead of writing I'd be making these noises as opposed to writing them---but you get the gist) It's been two and a half years.

So, now what? I'm still feeling sorry for myself---and am not sure what. I am trying to get a grip. But I know this much. With the same amount of care and courage, we're gonna take it on. Hearts full of love and hope and prayers. A part of me says, "Oh, not again!" (A big part of me).

The other part ( a small part) is saying, "all right...let's get to it...we can do this again!"

I feel more like wallowing away in my depression about this, but there's so much love and hope and answered prayers in my life. So many blessings. My Mom is the most courageous woman I know. Even when she didn't know what she was doing (like raising three kids when she was barely in her 20's!), she did it with so much love and strength. She always saw the bright side. A different perspective. The good and the beautiful parts of all people. Music and laughter, Joy and Humor. And chocolate! (The good C).

Anyway---I've been not wanting to mention it....but I write. It's what I do....ride and write. And with all the crummy rain...I've been writing more than writing.

The other good C in my future will be a trip to CALIFORNIA. Looking like June. I need a movie night (or three) with Mom.

Sigh....All the prayers and concerns and loving thoughts are welcome. You all made a very difficult time so rich. I will keep you posted.

So much love---Joni

May flowers...Mayflowers!

Now that I've lived in so many different parts of the country, some things that have been mentioned to me, off and on, throughout my life have begun to mean something. Like I used to remember how people used to wonder how come Californians are always walking around with a smile on their face. The small talk is happy talk---not in a proper or congenial sense---just "happy".

Somewhat similar to the Southern-hospitality type thing. It is that "being warm and lovely to strangers" (or in reference to California---to and by people who are down right strange). These two places formed my upbringing---and I went through life thinking folks were just that way everywhere. Now I understand a little better and I believe that the reason folks are so darn happy all the time is because the weather is so nice all the time---or at least most of the time.

I'm no scientist, but sunshine does make it easy to smile alot. What I learned in Minnesota, is that the weather is such an after thought and each and every glorious day is one to celebrate. But even when it was -10 degrees, most Minnesotans found a way to think that it was just a great day. And even I would find joy in the frozen walks through Camden, and the simple lifestyle. The fact that things were easy, there was no traffic, and people were "nice", made all the crummy weather (I know, I know...to every season turn turn turn...but you know what I mean) days (and there were alot of them!) a little easier to deal with.

In the Northeast---folks have a much more reserved way of being. (I am generalizing again...and I need to not do that.) Folks aren't just so happy to see you all the time...not me personally, but in general. Like when you're walking down the street---or running at the track---or riding your bike and they don't always participate in the "biker's wave". Much of this is likely do to the fact that there are SO many people here. Lots of people. Lots of cars. Lots of rain.

...and lots of US History, lots of beautiful places, and lots of things on your mind so you don't have time to take time to smile alot. I guess. Once it's summer time you have to cram in all the things you like to do when it's nice out into a few months I guess. Who knew there were so many different cultures living and thriving in the good old USA? It is kind of awe-inspiring, no?

And as my friend Ralph put it, "If April showers bring May flowers...what do Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims!" So there you have it!

The worms are drowning!

Getting out for a breath of air, I hit the track this weekend. No use trying to ride my bike unless my wheels could also be used as flotation devices---which they couldn't. On Sunday, Mike and I went to Lexington to visit Peet's. We bought enough [coffee] to qualify for two free cups of Java, and then some. And there is nothing like Peet's, from the source. Not sure what they do differently from me---but it is high-octane at it's finest!

Fully caffeinated, we proceeded to do a little cleaning up in the basement, and watch the rain. It didn't stop. I kept waiting for the customary break that in-evidently occurs but it wasn't happening. I called my Mom and chatted away for an hour or so. Another Mother's Day away from my Mom. The call made my day, and when I mentioned that I was sorry to have missed being with her for Mother's Day another year, she told me that I treat her like everyday is Mother's Day and not to worry!

Once I realized that there wasn't going to be a break in the rain, I suited up in my rain gear, and headed to the track. I love to run, I just can't seem to avoid injuring my hip flexor's or I cramp in my calf. But the last couple of days (and a switch of running shoes), had been pretty good, so I took my chances again.

I had the track all to myself. Not too many nuts in New England I guess. Lots of smart folks in this neck of the woods. Actually though, I wasn't alone. There were earthworms all over the place. They were trying to escape the deluge and head for higher and drier ground, of which there was none. At first it freaked me out. But after my runner's buzz kicked in, I just ran carefully around them. It reminded me of when I was a kid and all the worms would be on the sidewalk when I'd walk to school in the rain.

I hope you enjoyed a lovely Mom's day weekend---Happy Monday!

Rain, rain and more rain...

Can you believe it? It's May for crying out loud and we're getting dumped on out here in New England. Yeah yeah yeah----I've heard all about the showers and the flowers and all that stuff that's supposed to make you feel great about crummy weather. It isn't working though. The only person not having some serious issues about the weather these days, is "yours truly" pictured above in all her loveliness. She might smell bad (nothing like a wet dog smell), but her attitude about the dreary day(s) must be applauded. Sigh...

The plan was a race today----but who wants to get all wet, dirty and expose yourself to crashes. We're too old for that cr_p! A very nice surprise just the other day was a visit to the Seven Factory from a Minnesota friend, Jim Bell. He is on the team that Mike was planning to race with (until we moved), and he regularly visits Boston. I gave him a grand tour and sent him on his way with some Seven Schwag.

It's been non-stop raining for hours. No wind, or "drastic" weather patterns...just a constant rain. In Minnesota you get about 12 different kinds of weather a day because the wind blows it through. Here---no wind...just rain. It's green green green---If only it were dry dry dry.

I've got a plethora of things to do with unboxing/re-boxing (stuff I don't or won't need)...so it sounds like a day in the basement is what I'll be doing. Sounds like a good day to go running as well.

Don't forget to call your MOM tomorrow!