On Wednesday when we were visiting our new "headquarters" for work, we found out that there was a local race happening this Saturday---less than 5 miles away from home! Sweet! We decided to make it a "work event" and get some Ridley publicity at the same time. Mike is overseeing the Team bike /custom program and a local (collegiate series with a USCF event included) race seemed an appropriate way to kick things off.
Mike's new ride is still not built, but luckily he can ride the same size as our new boss, Lance, and so he was good to go with a sweet Ridley bike to ride. Since the focus for this weekend event was the collegiate series, the Pro 1/2 race was the first race off---an 8am start. The field was mostly local Reno/Wheelman, but there was also a familiar looking Discovery Team rider, Mike's old team mate from his Webcor days, Jeff Angerman. Cool.
Rules read and they were off around a hilly 1.7 mile loop around the University of Nevada, Reno, campus. The start/finish was up at the top of a long, seemingly innocent, but in fact a leg-breaker (lung breaker to be more exact) climb. Mike and Jeff shared winning primes and Mike ended up winning a 5 gallon keg of locally brewed beer, amongst his other prizes...including a UNR Rugby shirt for me! He also rode in for a solo win---Taylor's still got it---even for an old guy!
Speaking of "old guys", Mike decided to par-take in the Pro 1/2 Masters race. Why not? This was a much bigger field, including Angerman and another Disco teammate---plus a plethora of Reno Wheelman riders. This local club (Reno Wheelman) has experienced a rejuvenation of the sport (I imagine Jeff Angerman who is a Sports Medical Doctor and key sponsor for the race team has something to do with this.) The club has approximately 130 members, and the race team has about 40 members.
The first few laps and the field was pretty much together---but a decisive break formed with some strong riders (including Taylor and Angerman and maybe 3 other guys) with a pretty strong chase. The last eight laps though were like a beautiful team time trial with Jeff and Mike taking turns on the front and smoking the field---and lapping the chase group. After such a team like effort, no one felt like outsprinting the other for the finish and they slowed down and rode across the finish line side by side together---complete with a sportsmanlike handshake! It was awesome.
And given the Belgian flavor of our bikes---Lance, our fearless leader, showed up with a few big bottles of Chimay---the recovery drink of choice for all Belgian bike racers and Belgian bike race lovers! And Mike really loved riding this new bike---can't believe how light a bike in his size is---
Afterwards, Mike and I came back to our new home and took the Scrapper for a walk along the hilly trails right in our backyard, marveling at our spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada's.
I think we might just might have found our niche!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
What's in this box?
Sigh. The question of the day. You have to remember we moved from a big huge house into a not so big flat. With stairs. And all of our belongings were either up a swirly staircase into the flat, or down an equally swirly staircase into the basement. Needless to say, we never unboxed some things we brought from Minnesota. Mike tried to pull the old, "well you haven't needed this in a year. let's toss it". But it didn't work. I am emotionally attached to pieces of paper that do indeed look like trash to everyone but me.
Like that postcard Grandma sent me from Monocco or Greece or somewhere else. And Minnesota Dad can attest to my book addiction. I'm keeping all the Dostevsky, Pynchon, Abbey, Rand, McPhee and a bunch of other ones. I don't know why but I am. This is the last time I haul them though. Each time he barked at me about my books I pointed to the 12 bike boxes and told him to "can it!" We have no real furniture...but we have bikes and books and cycling clothes. Sigh.
We bark at each other but we made "hey" today and actually got the truck all loaded and so I think we're heading out a day early. The guys who rented us a truck yesterday were the same two guys who were working the day we dropped off the truck a year ago. Only they were smaller. Much. One of the guys, Rob, said "aw you'll become a Patriot's fan before you leave!" He weighed about 300 lbs last year--maybe more. I asked him, "Hey---did you lose a ton of weight?" He grinned and said he lost a 100lbs! I told him he looked great and he gave us a 12% discount on the rental. Our truck going all the way to NV is now cheaper than the one we drove from CA to MN or MN to MA! Not only that, but we requested a GMC because the one we drove from MN to MA almost tipped over when Mike would go faster than the speed limit. We not only have a GMC---but it is brand spanking new!
Our backs and legs and arms ache---but the Taylor's are departing Massachusetts sometime this morning and heading to points West---back across this land we love. Back home. Or at least close!
This is Joni, reporting live from just outside of Boston---over and out!
Like that postcard Grandma sent me from Monocco or Greece or somewhere else. And Minnesota Dad can attest to my book addiction. I'm keeping all the Dostevsky, Pynchon, Abbey, Rand, McPhee and a bunch of other ones. I don't know why but I am. This is the last time I haul them though. Each time he barked at me about my books I pointed to the 12 bike boxes and told him to "can it!" We have no real furniture...but we have bikes and books and cycling clothes. Sigh.
We bark at each other but we made "hey" today and actually got the truck all loaded and so I think we're heading out a day early. The guys who rented us a truck yesterday were the same two guys who were working the day we dropped off the truck a year ago. Only they were smaller. Much. One of the guys, Rob, said "aw you'll become a Patriot's fan before you leave!" He weighed about 300 lbs last year--maybe more. I asked him, "Hey---did you lose a ton of weight?" He grinned and said he lost a 100lbs! I told him he looked great and he gave us a 12% discount on the rental. Our truck going all the way to NV is now cheaper than the one we drove from CA to MN or MN to MA! Not only that, but we requested a GMC because the one we drove from MN to MA almost tipped over when Mike would go faster than the speed limit. We not only have a GMC---but it is brand spanking new!
Our backs and legs and arms ache---but the Taylor's are departing Massachusetts sometime this morning and heading to points West---back across this land we love. Back home. Or at least close!
This is Joni, reporting live from just outside of Boston---over and out!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Last day of winter
And the second to last day here in Boston. We're hoping to hammer through the East at a pretty good clip. Mike wants to make it to the other side of Cleveland the first day. Cleveland is a lovely city. But 80 goes right through it and we don't want to encounter the rush hours when we can avoid them. From Cleveland we're going to attempt to make it to Des Moines. Over 1200 miles in two days. Sigh. From then on though, we're in the heartland. More familiar. Less people. Predictable traffic. Unpredictable weather. No toll roads after Illinois. America's "Freeways" are West of the Mississippi.
We'll see how it goes. Many of you have asked about why this "dream job" in Boston was so frustrating. Did we really dislike the East coast so much? It's a little complicated and a little touchy. But we never wanted to live on the right coast. It was always our plan to take our jobs West. That's what we were told when we signed on. Business is business though, and the guy who brought the idea to us, and pretty much got us here, left the company shortly after we arrived. No matter how hard we worked to make it happen, the idea was too challenging to the folks left in charge.
So rather than stay and be bitter, we decided to cut our losses (expenses) and head back to where we feel at home. Our time here has been like being in school. Expensive, yet invaluable training for our future. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." Mike never thought it sounded too good to be true, but I did. I really thought that I was going to be making a living in the Bay Area, peddling & pedaling a great product. Our own East coast education has been just that.
Our new opportunities are exciting, but we are a bit more level headed about things. We're more grounded about what to expect is all. So the gist is that our disappointment in what we were initially offered somewhat skewed our experiences here in the East. There are some lovely sights to see, and the culture has been quite an experience. Ivy league and blue blood. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, Tufts...Sigh.
Mike and I are looking forward to life in Nevada. Many unknowns. But unknowns that are a 3.5 hour drive from what I call home. back to my boxes. Happy Tuesday!
We'll see how it goes. Many of you have asked about why this "dream job" in Boston was so frustrating. Did we really dislike the East coast so much? It's a little complicated and a little touchy. But we never wanted to live on the right coast. It was always our plan to take our jobs West. That's what we were told when we signed on. Business is business though, and the guy who brought the idea to us, and pretty much got us here, left the company shortly after we arrived. No matter how hard we worked to make it happen, the idea was too challenging to the folks left in charge.
So rather than stay and be bitter, we decided to cut our losses (expenses) and head back to where we feel at home. Our time here has been like being in school. Expensive, yet invaluable training for our future. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." Mike never thought it sounded too good to be true, but I did. I really thought that I was going to be making a living in the Bay Area, peddling & pedaling a great product. Our own East coast education has been just that.
Our new opportunities are exciting, but we are a bit more level headed about things. We're more grounded about what to expect is all. So the gist is that our disappointment in what we were initially offered somewhat skewed our experiences here in the East. There are some lovely sights to see, and the culture has been quite an experience. Ivy league and blue blood. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, Tufts...Sigh.
Mike and I are looking forward to life in Nevada. Many unknowns. But unknowns that are a 3.5 hour drive from what I call home. back to my boxes. Happy Tuesday!
Monday, March 19, 2007
A "Happy" pill!
Luckily for us, cycling is a sport you can participate in for most of your life. I remember when I was spending so much time in The Netherlands, and for that matter most of Europe, and you'd see folks in their 80's and 90's out pedaling away. I knew yesterday that a ride was all my grumpy husband needed. That and a nap.
Anyway---the reason that this is lucky (this being cycling into old age) is because the after-effects of going for a ride is along the lines of taking a "Happy" pill. I always knew that it worked for me---but the difference it makes in MT is equally as strong. When we first started going out, some 7+ years ago, we were both riding so many miles---250-400 a week and more, that we were both so perpetually happy it wasn't funny. Since I first got into cycling, I've ridden less miles this year than I like to think about. In fact I barley did 10,000 miles.
We were smarter this time. Riding is in our job description. Or at least "time to ride" is. And the new mountainous terrain, and good weather in Central/Northern Nevada is conducive to some epic rides for sure.
Mike is much happier today. We got most of the heavy stuff downstairs. No more stairs for this girl. The only climbing and descending I plan on doing will be on my bicycle. We're picking up the truck tomorrow evening (they weren't open until 11am on Wednesday, so I need to try and get a free day since we are picking up at closing on Tuesday for their sake.)
I haven't felt like writing this much since we got here. I usually write when I'm happy. So this is a good sign.
Wild wild wild West. It's like having a happy pill!
Anyway---the reason that this is lucky (this being cycling into old age) is because the after-effects of going for a ride is along the lines of taking a "Happy" pill. I always knew that it worked for me---but the difference it makes in MT is equally as strong. When we first started going out, some 7+ years ago, we were both riding so many miles---250-400 a week and more, that we were both so perpetually happy it wasn't funny. Since I first got into cycling, I've ridden less miles this year than I like to think about. In fact I barley did 10,000 miles.
We were smarter this time. Riding is in our job description. Or at least "time to ride" is. And the new mountainous terrain, and good weather in Central/Northern Nevada is conducive to some epic rides for sure.
Mike is much happier today. We got most of the heavy stuff downstairs. No more stairs for this girl. The only climbing and descending I plan on doing will be on my bicycle. We're picking up the truck tomorrow evening (they weren't open until 11am on Wednesday, so I need to try and get a free day since we are picking up at closing on Tuesday for their sake.)
I haven't felt like writing this much since we got here. I usually write when I'm happy. So this is a good sign.
Wild wild wild West. It's like having a happy pill!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Packing with MT...
...is about as fun as getting your wisdom teeth pulled without the happy gas! Actually, my Marshall dentist, Dr. Paul Johnson, probably made getting your wisdom teeth pulled MORE fun than packing with my grumpy husband. For example, we had that big snow storm on Friday and I pulled the car in "WRONG!" and now there's a pile of snow where there shouldn't be. He was out there when I did it and could have said something then. But I think he thinks it's way more fun to berate me on a Sunday morning. He'll say he did tell me. But I didn't know what he wanted me to do. I am pretty naive about these things.
I also forgot the "trail mix" ingredients when I went to the grocery store (of course I should have read his mind beforehand). It doesn't help that he can't get outside and ride his bike allowing me two things; Time to pack in peace without him and he can get some exercise outside so he feels like he's not losing his fitness. I may try to persuade him to ride today. It isn't warm, but the sun is out. I also picked up the WRONG kind of newspaper to pack the kitchen with. He's beside himself. I keep reminding him that one day I might really give him something to be mad about. But I don't mean it and he knows it.
We sent in our deposit on our new place in Northwest Reno. About 12 miles from Incline Village in Lake Tahoe and up in the hills above Reno. Less of an unknown than Boston was for us. I'm much less organized, but much less stressed about this move out West.
We have so much to look forward to---but this packing with MT project isn't one of them. OOOps! The chief just started growling again. Even the Scrapper is steering clear of the big Chief Guard!
Back to my boxes. HAPPY SUNDAY!
I also forgot the "trail mix" ingredients when I went to the grocery store (of course I should have read his mind beforehand). It doesn't help that he can't get outside and ride his bike allowing me two things; Time to pack in peace without him and he can get some exercise outside so he feels like he's not losing his fitness. I may try to persuade him to ride today. It isn't warm, but the sun is out. I also picked up the WRONG kind of newspaper to pack the kitchen with. He's beside himself. I keep reminding him that one day I might really give him something to be mad about. But I don't mean it and he knows it.
We sent in our deposit on our new place in Northwest Reno. About 12 miles from Incline Village in Lake Tahoe and up in the hills above Reno. Less of an unknown than Boston was for us. I'm much less organized, but much less stressed about this move out West.
We have so much to look forward to---but this packing with MT project isn't one of them. OOOps! The chief just started growling again. Even the Scrapper is steering clear of the big Chief Guard!
Back to my boxes. HAPPY SUNDAY!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Last day at Seven Cycles
There is always a bit of nostalgia when you leave something. Even when you know it is the right time to move on---and everything is right. Growing pains. Remember how when you were a kid and you'd get those actual, physical pains? Yeah, those. Amazing to be *my* age and still dealing with them. There is certainly more excitement than pain though. "Way" more.
Something about this time of year---right after my birthday and right before Mike's. We are packing and boxing and hauling and loading. Again. But this time we are heading West. Homeward bound. We found a place in Northwest Reno---an arms throw from the California border. Elevation (5,500') and mountains and high desert.
To further motivate us, a Nor Easter just dumped about a foot of snow and ice and now rain. Boston, up to now, was on pace to have a record low snowfall this year...by several inches. But the last 24 hour totals have eliminated that notion and now we're not even in the top three.
In any case, Mike and I have accepted exciting new opportunities to work for Sinclair Imports in Verdi, NV. We're very excited. We should be packing up a moving truck and heading West sometime next week (Thursday?). In the meantime we are boxing up stuff and trying to get organized. With both of us working over full time, we've left it all until now. The last few times we've done this, one of us had a little more time on their hands to get the house in order to move. Not this time. So we've allowed ourselves a little time to get it done.
The Taylor's are moving West! The first to be packed and ready is Sydney. She wishes everyone was as quick to get it together since now she just remains a little nervous while she sits on the couch and watches.
Happy Saturday!
Something about this time of year---right after my birthday and right before Mike's. We are packing and boxing and hauling and loading. Again. But this time we are heading West. Homeward bound. We found a place in Northwest Reno---an arms throw from the California border. Elevation (5,500') and mountains and high desert.
To further motivate us, a Nor Easter just dumped about a foot of snow and ice and now rain. Boston, up to now, was on pace to have a record low snowfall this year...by several inches. But the last 24 hour totals have eliminated that notion and now we're not even in the top three.
In any case, Mike and I have accepted exciting new opportunities to work for Sinclair Imports in Verdi, NV. We're very excited. We should be packing up a moving truck and heading West sometime next week (Thursday?). In the meantime we are boxing up stuff and trying to get organized. With both of us working over full time, we've left it all until now. The last few times we've done this, one of us had a little more time on their hands to get the house in order to move. Not this time. So we've allowed ourselves a little time to get it done.
The Taylor's are moving West! The first to be packed and ready is Sydney. She wishes everyone was as quick to get it together since now she just remains a little nervous while she sits on the couch and watches.
Happy Saturday!
Sierra Nevada
Not the Pale Ale. The real thing. The mountains. Who'd a thunk it? The Taylor's are heading West at the end of the month. That we are moving West is perhaps not the story here. Moving to the "wild wild West"---well there's the news! How about that? Verdi, NV...a small community nestled right next to one of the big mountain ranges that separates the golden state from the silver state. High Desert! High elevation. And still in the bike biz. How about that?
And, of course, true to Taylor fashion, once we make up our minds, things happen quickly. In fact, in the next 18 days, we will be packing up and driving West, to those big mountain ranges. 30 minutes from Lake Tahoe. 10 minutes from Reno. 3.5 hour drive to the Bay Area. We're excited, a little nervous, a little overwhelmed, but mostly thrilled!
More news will be forthcoming. Happy Tuesday!!
And, of course, true to Taylor fashion, once we make up our minds, things happen quickly. In fact, in the next 18 days, we will be packing up and driving West, to those big mountain ranges. 30 minutes from Lake Tahoe. 10 minutes from Reno. 3.5 hour drive to the Bay Area. We're excited, a little nervous, a little overwhelmed, but mostly thrilled!
More news will be forthcoming. Happy Tuesday!!
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