Swimming with Sydney!

Mike and I rode together this morning. It's nice when he asks me to go for a ride with him. We looped through Mogul, Verdi and Boomtown and enjoyed the calm morning before the wind and the heat picked up. While we were riding, we were chatting about our time in Innsbruck, Austria, and how that was the best riding vacation we ever took. Our heads are spinning now about possible ways to return there. What's interesting to me is that that trip was over 4 years ago. We have had such wonderful adventures together. Marriage is a good thing.

It's been pretty hot---I mean it's August. You can't even talk about the heat here since it is hot everywhere. Everywhere but the Bay Area---where it is warm-ish hot. So when you spent most of your life growing up in the "always good" climate, you have much to learn about the way the rest of the world lives. Actually, it is hot in the desert, but it is so dry that one can tolerate as much as 20 degrees hotter/colder than you are used to before it becomes uncomfortable.

The Scrapper gets so hot and dry on her walks that we decided to head to the Truckee River and take the fat hound swimming. She is an amazing Jack Russell Retriever and she swam and retrieved a sock-wrapped-tennis ball until she was beat. The water is still cold and refreshing. Mountain fed water usually is. Until the last three years, I always thought the water should be cold in the summer. (Ever surfed in the Pacific Ocean in the SF Bay---it is in the 50's in the summer and winter!) But in the East---the water is bath water---and so it was a nice reminder that I am on the West coast again.

When we got back home Sydney was a dirty wet and smelly hound. Mike managed to get her with the garden hose while performing bike maintenance on my bike (always a multi-tasker). Then it was time for beer and a pasta feast, especially prepared by the head chef in the Taylor abode. (hint: it is NOT me!)

I am off to Southern California next week. The best news is that I will stay at my brother's over the Labor day weekend and go and see my nephew Zachy play his first tackle football pre-season. Happy Sunday!

As good as it gets!

That is the way I would describe my weekend! Mike and I left work early on Friday and headed to the Bay Area. We stayed with some friends in Woodside and it felt like resort living at it's best. We had no idea. We dined on a feast of Salmon and Tuna and wined and dined with Jerrell and Alison. On Saturday we were up early and rode our own rides. Mike left with Alan and the "650" crew and I headed up Kings by myself. But I wasn't by myself for long!

"Hey Taylor, what are you doing here? No more Minnesota?" It was none other than Jim Ochowitz...who still always thinks I am living in Minnesota. How many places in the world can you go for a random bike ride and have "Och" himself come pedaling up beside you on a glorious climb on a Saturday morning?

After my ride I packed up the Scrapper and headed to my Mom's for a quick visit. When I got back to Jerrell's I relaxed by the pool with a book and Mike napped in the guest house and then we headed to Watson's (or rather The Watson's) for a wedding celebration! It was like an old Palo Alto Bicycles reunion! Jay and Jamie got married in Maui and had a celebration at their home. Lot's of "J's" in this story. Jay was introducing me to someone named John and it went something like this, "Hi John, this is Joni, Jen, Joe, Jon..." Kinda funny.

On Sunday, We rode up King's and then headed to Palo Alto Bikes...and even Jeff showed up on his day off. No place else is home. I'll never forget Amanda's words when she said, "You know, Joni, you wake up, do your day, go for a ride and watch the sun plop into the Bay, and even if you're living on Ramen noodles and living in a shack somewhere...it doesn't get much better than THAT!"

She was right...and last weekend was "as good as it gets!"

Happy Monday!

This is Chris Horner...

So, on Friday afternoon, we were a little short staffed and so our receptionist called me and asked if I could watch the phones for a couple of minutes. I still haven't figured out how to work our phone system, so I was hoping it wouldn't ring, but sure enough, the second she left, the phone rang.

"Sinclair Imports, this is Joni, how can I help you?"

"Hey Joni, this is Chris Horner, is Lance there?"

"This is NOT Chris Horner!"

"Yes, this is Chris---looking for Lance!"

"Yeah, right...erh, is this really you Chris?"

He laughed and said "yup!" Fortunately Horner has a good sense of humor and he thought it was pretty funny. I was just about to say, "Prion...it's enough already...you are not fooling me with this Horner-act!"

Sigh. You have to understand that there are a few practical jokers in bike shops I work with who always play tricks on me (Dave Prion, Hankster, etc.)...I still have the message from "Clive, the Sear's guy who is calling on my washing machine delivery...." I don't have a washing machine and I thought my landlord was buying one for us...heavier sigh...

Anyway---I thought it was funny that the first time I answered the phone, it was none other than "local boy gone Euro star" Chris Horner on the other end of the phone. It's that Vegas time of year when all the Pro's call Lance about the infamous Sinclair party.

Oh well, I am off for a ride around Caughlin Ranch and then packing for a week in Seattle and Portland. The weather there is about 20 degrees cooler which will be a nice respite from the desert. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Boca Reservoir

Nestled between Sierra & Nevada County, near Truckee, California lies the Boca & Stampeed reservoirs. There is a rolling road which meanders up and down and around the Alpine fed waterbeds and Mike discovered this place last April when he (of coursed) raced them one Thursday evening. So this morning, after viewing some smokey air headed our way from the Carson Valley, he said, "I finally feel like riding and there's smoke. How about we head over the pass and I'll show you a nice ride?"

I was feeling somewhat tired, but if Mike felt like riding with me, how could I say "no"? So we loaded up the bikes and headed over the pass. There are so many "off the beaten paths" here in the Sierra's. The exit for Boca is just East of Northstar and Truckee (the town). After you cross the railroad tracks, you come upon pristine Alpine roads and and a big (albeit low--drought low) reservoir.

There is something about the green alpine smell that I love. It always reminds me of "home". It's a California good smell that I can't define. But it smells like I am supposed to be there amongst the big redwood and green evergreen/alpine trees along roads littered with pine cones of various shapes and sizes. We rolled away up the road and enjoyed the scenery. There was a small climb and Mike said, "This is the only climb...it's short ---maybe a half a mile". We descended and came upon another climb. "Hmm. Actually, this is the climb---it's maybe a half a mile". I smiled. Even though he's been off the bike for a while, Mike is strong. You think he's sand-bagging, but he really just enjoys challenges---and it takes alot for something to be "hard" for him.

After the second descent we talked and rode. Soon an even bigger climb came. "Oh...actually this is the climb!" I laughed and said, "I bet it's about a half a mile or so!" We rode until the pavement became dirt. Henness Pass (from near Sinclair in Verdi) goes over the mountain but it's dirt. So we turned around and he took a detour over near the Stampeed Reservoir while I headed back to Boca.

I saw him riding on the other side of the reservoir and watched him go. We came home and cleaned house while listening to REM and The Cowboy Junkies. I may not have alot of money, but I feel like a very rich woman today.

Happy Saturday!

Off my Soapbox!

You know how "reformed" anythings are the worse. (But if I confused anyone...I have not taken up smoking. I was trying to find secret places for my colleague to smoke.) Sigh...

On July 25th, some very dear friends tied-the-knot in Maui. Another "Palo Alto Bicycles" linked relationship. Hopefully made in heaven, like mine. Congrats to Jay & Jamie. I hope to make it to the big party (I will be in Seattle/Portland that week..sigh).

Mike has been in this crazy "funk" with his health---for quite a while. He's been riding the last few days---but it still isn't right. He went to see Jeff Angerman's wife and they are doing tests. She said that Mike had a big heart (I already knew this!), but that this was normal for athlete's at his level. So now they are doing blood work. The lab lost his first sample and so he needs to go and get it done again...

We have finally cooled down to 90 degrees here. I think the thought of summer, forever reverts one back to their childhood...and even more than the warmth, it was the vacation from school part that brings back the fond memories. Hot summer (when you are NOT on vacation) is, well, HOT. In the high desert, it is dry-hot, but HOT all the same. And no, I am not going to rant about the heat.

I am off to the Pacific Northwest in 7 days and then to So Cal at the end of the month. I will be spending Labor Day with my nephews in Carlsbad....in between working in LA & San Diego. I'll tell ya man...working really digs into my riding time. But I LOVE this part of my job. And end of September is Las Vegas. THEN I am going to Minnesota for some R&R. Not many people might pick Marshall Minnesota for a vacation spot---but I can't wait to walk the cornfields with Minnesota Dad, and go to "coffee" with Minnesota Mom and get pampered "Taylor" style. Now I have my own friends there to visit with as well.

My Mom is still on her chemo program. Thank you to everyone for asking! She is strong and inspired and amazing---a real blessing!

I am off for a ride in the dry-heat! Happy Sunday!

Walk the talk

My carbon footprint over the last few weeks is not something I am very happy about. Such is the nature of the beast. In order to get ready for 2008, I am spending the summer of 2007 getting folks excited about "new stuff". For a girl who never plans what she is doing in the next hour, this is quite a concept. And blending the "culture of the bike biz" from Europe to the USA has been enlightening, to say the least.

If I spoke to you about the "passion for cycling", and told you the reasons my product was so great, and I had a cigarette hanging out of my mouth---would you buy? Perhaps? Perhaps not. In Europe, the cycling business is a "business". They could be selling packs of gum. If somebody wants to smoke---this is their own business. Heck, I smoked once upon a time---I am sorry to report. That was over 20 years ago...when I was a know-it-all "adult". But the cycling community, so saturated with marketing ploys, is a little more skeptical. The proof is in the pudding.

For example, one of my favorite"chief's" at Palo Alto Bicycles that got me started in the biz, understood that I knew nothing about selling bikes, but I had a passion for the sport, I rode hundreds of miles a week, thus I could sell bike stuff. He could teach me the technical details. He couldn't teach me the passion part. That I had and so I was successful and believable. Another example is a shop in Boston, that literally goes for a ride with everyone they do business with. If you want to sell this shop something, you better be ready to ride with them.

Last week while traveling with my Italian counter-part, I had to keep my wits about me, finding "safe places" to smoke in between shop visits. I kept my cool when I was showing the collection to a particular shop where I love the folks in charge, and their lovely daughter (who's a baby---like barely walking) accidently tipped over a purse, and out fell the pack of cigarettes.

I don't mean to be rough on smokers. Having been there, I know the challenges of quitting---and really, it is none of my business. If you are selling me athletic apparel/gear/bikes/running shoes though---you are going to have a tough time being believable to me.

Not a single employee at Sinclair Imports smokes. How nice! We all ride, race, and live our work. I know I promised Gephardt a good story ---but I am mostly enjoying the first whole day off I have had in two weeks---

My Minnesota Mom & Dad are in Alaska! Happy birthday little sista! Happy Saturday!