A year in one place!

This may not sound like much to most...but these two bike-riding Taylor's have not lived in one place for a year in over three years now. So it is a big milestone---even if we don't know how long it will last. We arrived here in town about a year ago. I think Mike even raced at the UNR race about a year ago today...or yesterday. In some ways that feels like a lifetime ago---and in other ways it feels like we are still newbies here in town.

And just like when we arrived, the wind has been blowing. And blowing. Marshall-style wind---but with mountains to give the gusts a bit of a boost. Last week, on one of the windy nights, we were watching some nonsense on TV after dinner and the house shook. At first I thought it was just the wind...but in fact it was an earthquake and we must be right near the epicenter. Because the floor & furniture really shook. Third one in the last couple of weeks---so probably more to come.

As a NorCal girl, earthquakes are in my blood. And what I remember most about them, is that the more it shakes, the more they come. Unlike a hurricane or a volcano (which erupts or blows through and then there is calm), earthquakes tend to be the more you feel them, the more often they shake. Hmmm...???

I spent last Thursday and Friday in the Bay Area working. One of my shops was hosting a "ladies night" and I was co-star with Shelia Moon. Fun. But always those miles over the pass set me back and I am exhausted. There was a time when I could do this late night/all-day stuff---no problem. Now I get tired with the 8 hours in the car (round trip). But it was fun staying at my folks for a night. Sometimes the Bay Area seems really crowded to me. When I am going and staying long enough to get some paradise riding in, it seems less crowded. But when all I am doing is working, I am reminded of just how crowded it is. And was happy to be back home in the less populated high desert town.

Happy Sunday!

Going up?

Why is one subset of cycling enamored with climbing, when most of the rest of the bike riding world avoids it? Some folks are granted with what is known as "climbers’ bodies", and that might explain it. Even though I am small, I don't know that I have a climbers body and yet I still love climbing. What explains that? I at least know where my climber’s body went. It’s directly south or, more precisely, beneath. Like a miner trapped underground with unlimited oxygen and food, it is safe and recoverable but not without some excavation---especially since I have begun to live in places which have seasons.

Some who weren’t born climbers are nevertheless drawn to ascending. They pretend by doing. If an imitator imitates long enough she stands a good chance of becoming what she pretends to be. Why do I love climbing? A flat and featureless road does not talk back to me. I have a conversation with a road that climbs and hairpins and pitches and switches back on itself. It talks with its hands, its knees and elbows. It shows me its ridged back, and its torso, with its depressions and arches. It pushes me to my limits more than anything else I have ever challenged myself with.

As it rises in elevation a road undergoes costume changes like an actor in a community playhouse. A typical climb I might ride is clothed in desert greasewood and creasote bush. After Act I it ducks behind a curtain to emerge with a cover of juniper and pinyon pine. The higher I ride up mountains like this the more likely I’ll see incense cedar, white fir and jeffrey pine, and perhaps western juniper jutting out of granite — if the latitude is sufficiently northern — the oldest of these craggy trees born before Christ.

If the road’s elevation is sufficient the mighty yellow pines become sparse, replaced by red fir and smaller treeline pines like the limber and the lodgepole. I might climb through quaking aspen stands, or groves of giant sequoia. As you see, these roads have a lot to say — in fact they’re downright chatty.

That’s why I find climbing interesting. But it’s also challenging. Facing that challenge is good, but facing it in style is better. So today I started the excavating process of digging in and looking for my form. Not to be a fast climber. Just to be a strong enough climber to get over all those passes so I can listen to the chatty roads I love to explore. When I am in form...I chat right back---even sing. Yes. 70 degrees and sunshine. Spring seems to have sprung in the high desert.

Happy Easter!

Snow Melt & Recovery Time

Mike and I have been "under the weather" for weeks. It's been pretty awful really. Mostly the fatigue part. In any case, we are finally back on the bike and riding outside and enjoying the lovely Spring-like weather in the High Sierra Nevadas. Snow is melting...pretty much is melted in Reno, though many feet of snow remain in the mountains. Tomorrow it is supposed to be near 70 degrees.

We're hoping to get back on the bike enough to race at the Sea Otter in April. The San Diego Mehler's were visiting Reno last week for their spring break. It looks like they may actually be leaving the Golden State for the Silver State as well. Reno is a nice place.

Last week the Euro to dollar hit like 1.58 to the US 1.00. As an importer of European products into the USA, this creates quite a challenge. I am always proud to be an American. Land of Opportunity. Land of the free. Land of hope. And yet, I struggle with the current crisis; wondering how to help; feeling helpless to do so. Do I continue importing products from other countries---or figure out a way to sell/support American? It's a personal struggle.

I was even thinking that if I end up receiving the government rebate check this year, how would I use the money and support the American economy? If I go to Walmart/Target/Other, my money will go to China. Gasoline? Money goes to Middle east. New car? Money goes to Japan/Germany? Cool cycling clothes? My money goes to Italy. I could buy beer. (Best beer outside of Belgium is USA). Mike says we can put it in the bank. He's pretty smart.

We were talking about things like where we live, where is home, etc. (we've been stuck together in the house for 3 weekends---). Mike said, "Home is wherever I am....wherever you are". That was comforting. Happy Saturday!

March - in like a lion?

I forget the saying--even though I never knew about it until I left California three years ago. In any case, we had "high-wind" warnings on the mountain tops which started at right about midnight last night. The Scrapper always reminds us of weather changes by poking her nose beside the bed to let her in. She either gets cold or scared, but usually ends up under the covers before dawn.

Given that we've been having warmer days (and we cover her up on the couch before we hit the hay at night), we haven't seen her until morning, which allows for a better nights sleep on our crowded bed. But as soon as the wind started hammering over the hills, the Scrapper was in our room and running for cover.

Yesterday was the first day that I can remember when I actually got "hot" on a lunch-ride. It was awesome...like 68 degrees or some such nonsense for February. And beautiful, with snow covered pastures and mountains. You can see all the local desert wildlife in the snow (desert birds, deer and such). It's pretty amazing to be riding and warm on clear roads surrounded by snow-pack. And it was nice to see the collegiate "Wolfpack" riders from UNR come rolling by as well. Our office is located on the training route for many of the local riders in town.

The nice thing about the seasons is that you are so ready for the next one by the end of the old one that what would normally feel like a cool day, (ie 68 degrees) seems hot. I am ready for Spring---which also marks a year in the High-Desert. This time last year we were still in New England...and this month last year we were packing and renting a moving truck and looking forward to being West of the Mississippi once again.

Soon the desert sage will be in bloom making allergy-prone folks uncomfortable. I hope that Mike's diligent allergist has done his job and put Mike on a program that keeps him comfortable this year. Lazy Saturday Hello's and Happy March 1st!