(a) Merchant (in) of Venice

Not Shylock or Portia or any other Shakespearean character. Just seemed like a "catching" title for my upcoming trip to Venice in June. Campagnolo is launching their new Spring/Summer clothing collection on June 20, and I am off to view (and prepare for the USA selections) and, this time, ride with my legendary Italian suppliers. I will only be flying into Venice though, as Campagnolo is in Vicenza, a little over an hour South and West of the Marco Polo Airport. Another LONG flight and another not so LONG trip---though a little longer than last time.

This year the presentation is on a Friday, so I will need to stay the weekend and then spend a day at the factory on Monday, so another weekend in Treviso (quick train ride to Venice), and my hotel claims to have bikes for their guests. And this year I am flying over a few days early so that I can take part in the bike ride in the hills around Vicenza as well, as long as my flight is not a mess like it was a year ago. Whatever it is (mess or no), I am a little better prepared than I was last year.

In a few weeks my life will become air-travel, and land travel across the USA as well. My carbon foot-print will take on a different light. And all the good I do all year in conservation, and green-living will get eaten up in retailer visits. It's a pity that I can't figure out a different way of doing this. Perhaps my BGI friend Wayne has some ideas? In any case, it sounds far more glamorous on paper than it will be in real life. We will begin our launch in Manhattan...NYC! Then Boston, Chicago and Denver. From there I will be on my own for the Pacific Northwest, Southern California and Northern California---but my summer is pretty much shot. If I can squeeze it into my budget, I hope to be in the Southeast as well (So all my HOT-lanta family---stay tuned!)

It has been downright cold this Memorial Day weekend---I don't know why upper 50's feels so cold to me. I was reminded by a lovely Minnesotan yesterday that I was out riding my bike in Marshall in those temps thinking it was balmy in Fall/Spring. I think it is the mountains which make it colder. Going down hill on a bike after you've worked up a sweat going uphill just leads to being cold. Doesn't seem to have the same effect on Mike though. He likes it cold. Still I managed a few hours outside and it really was fabulous, albeit a little chilly. We both arrived home just before the wind picked up.

Happy Memorial Day!

Weather rollercoaster

I bet I write more about the weather than anything else. As an outdoor enthusiast, I suppose the weather always figures into my day---and as a cyclist---not only the temperature, but also the wind and precipitation also factor in. Last weekend it was so hot that I was riding my bike in a sleeveless jersey and shorts. I can count on my hands the times I wore this get-up in all my cycling years in the paradise of the Bay Area---so it really was amazing. By Wednesday morning I was already riding in Ski-gloves and 4 layers and by Thursday I left in my coldest weather Lobster gloves, full on winter riding wear and hit snow-flurries once I ventured into California and up the Dog Valley road climb. It is the lunatic-fringe of Spring.

Friday was the first day since we moved here that it actually rained most of the day. My first day off the bike in 14 days---so I just enjoyed the day off as a rest-day. Still, although my Minnesota-husband ventured outside today on his cross-bike, I opted for an inside ride on the trainer. Since these days are rare---I even enjoyed it (though not as much as pedaling outside). Just didn't want to muck-up my new drive-train.

We are having a houseful of guests this coming week. My Mom and Dad will be here on Monday for my Dad's annual "Reno Soft-ball" tournament. I love it when they describe the guys playing. My Dad will say "You know the guy", while talking about some amazing play by one of his teammate's, "he's the old fat guy who's kinda of bald!" My Mom will say, "that describes everyone out there Bobby! Can you be more specific". Then they chuckle together.

They will move from our place into the hotel of the "team's" and then we are having my friend's from my old SGI days, Bill & Gaby Hillinger who are visiting from Austria. Mike and I stayed with them at their house in Muenchendorf on one of our European biking excursions, before we left for Innsbruck (and the heavenly riding in the Austrian Alps!) and they are now visiting the USA and will stay with us briefly before heading back home. Bill's kids were 3 & 5 years old when I first visited them in Austria. Now they are all grown up and in University. My folks will perhaps stay with us again on Thursday night after the tournament and then head home. Mom will hopefully have her blood count high enough for a round of chemo on Saturday. She's doing well and is amazing really. (Thanks to everyone who asks...it does my heart good!)

And so--even though it is cold (high 50's) and there is snow dusting the mountains around me, I am surely enjoying the long Memorial Day weekend. I am reading a book called Mary (it is the story of Abe Lincoln's wife) and there is nothing like a cold day, a cup of tea and good book to read.

Happy Saturday!

Sunday Inspirations!

Today, despite the extreme heat (which really isn't that bad with the humidity at 9%), I left for ride in the arid desert sunshine---with a smile on my face. I NEVER mind the heat on a bike! After yesterday's longer ride, I just planned on a short loop around Caughlin Ranch. That said---it was so quiet and I felt good---I stayed gone for about three hours, looping around and up and down the local jaunts. I don't know where everyone is, but they're not here!

35/40+ miles with about LOTS of climbing per lap and I could count the cars I saw. It was wonderful. Even more wonderful is that each lap I did included an inspiring rider on the climb. The first time around, I rode up with this guy named Doug and his blind daughter Abby who was riding on the back of his tandem. They were training for some special ride and she loved going up hill. I think she was 14 years old. On the first descent to the bottom, I saw the guy I see riding year around---even in winter, who only has one arm, and who grinds it up McCarran Blvd. I saw him again as I was going up and he was going down. He's sinewy and lean and strong. I guess we do our laps in reverse.

The 3rd time up, these two guys in their late 60's were racing each other up the second hill. They were obviously quite fit and have competed together since high-school at the various "sport de jour." Then to top it off, towards the end of the last climb, I passed this guy who was breathing hard. And smiling (or grimacing). So I slowed down and rode with him---silently til we reached the top. He was a big guy---and in my mind I was thinking he would have an easier time if he lost a few pounds (truth be known, I always think this about myself too!) Shame on me, right? Well you would really be wagging your fingers if you knew the story. His name is John and he recently lost 75 lbs and this was the first time he'd ever ridden all the way to the top without stopping. He said I passed him earlier. Nothing like a little perspective to remind you that things are not always as they seem. And kind thoughts are always a better option than critical ones.

All of these folks inspired me today---without even knowing it! I sure love the weekends!

We're headed for a cooling trend beginning on Tuesday I think. It's a little too early for 90's anyway!

Happy Sunday!

Spectacular!!!

Notice all the exclamation points! We spent a couple of weeks in Spring conditions here in NW Nevada but it feels like we went right from Winter to Summer. Can you say 90's? We've also been busy traveling to fun places to ride these last few weekends---and while this was no exception---we stayed close to home and headed to Markleeville to ride the passes.

Oh gosh was it fabulous. It was already warm when we left around 8am. I love it (for riding) though. Blue skies, warm weather and not really any wind. Not sure where everyone was--but they were not in here. I expected "Death Ride" training riders, fisherman/campers and motorcycles. The motorcycles were there---but not in droves. And there were a few other cyclists, but mostly local folks. It really was fabulous!

Mike headed out one way and I headed out another. Ebbetts is one of my all-time favorite passes to ride. I like Monitor too, but the first 3 miles are just grinder-steep. As I was pedaling I caught up to this gal and rode with her a ways---she was just enjoying the day and decided to ride up to the top of Ebbetts (8700+'). Did I mention she was in her 60's? Inspiring. I was feeling good (although a little tired from the week) so I wished her a safe ride and got out of the saddle and hammered on.

The Alpine Lake at the top is still frozen with snow on it. It was over 90-degrees just a few thousand feet below. I headed over the other side of Ebbetts (all down hill) and then headed back up and prepared for the glorious descent . Takes my breath away really. The decent even had a chill in the air until about 8000' feet or so---then the air was warm. I saw my "new" friend (Anne) pedaling uphill almost to the top! She was still smiling---even on the steep sections!

Passed the first gate I ran into these guys who were from Durango and rode with them a ways. It's this time of year when the folks you meet around here are locals---or used to altitude---so they don't have breathing problems even if they don't look like they're in the greatest shape. (i.e these guys from Durango)

I rode into town and picked up the car and then drove to meet Mike at the Monitor pass turn-off. I couldn't find the "stash of water and snacks he hid in the bushes and so I wanted to catch him before he rode into town. When he rolled in, we loaded up our bikes and as we were re-hydrating, Anne rode passed on her way back home. I hope I am still riding these passes as gracefully as she when I am in my 60's!



My Campagnolo Bike really rules. My Seven feels like a new animal on the road---making all my latest adventures seem easy!


Happy Saturday!

Tour of the Unknown Coast

Often referred to as "California's Toughest Century", the Tour of the Unknown Coast is officially a ride---not a race. But I suppose if you are a "racer" you race even the rides. 100 miles and 10,000' feet of climbing along the Northern Coast in Humbolt County---it is a beautiful and rough ride---all at the same time. From Ferndale---though the Avenue of the Giants---Over Panther Gap and onto Petrolia (an undeveloped stretch of California Coastline) and then it's onto "The wall", and onto the "Endless Hills before arriving back at Ferndale.

The folks at Adventure's Edge invited Mike to ride on their Team. There were about 10 guys from the shop also riding on the Adventure's Edge team---and Humberto (the Bike Manager at the shop) was hoping for a good result. No pressure really. Oh, did I mention that Tinker Juarez won the race last year?

It was an amazing, albeit a little coastal cool, morning. But hardly a breeze in the air. With all the different rides leaving at different hours, there were maybe 2000 people registered for one ride or another. After the big "fast" ride started, I put the Scrapper in the car, and started pedaling myself. The roads were rough, but the scenery is fabulous. Coastal farming pastures that roll along the coast. Soon we were rolling and climbing and descending our way into Rio del and then it was onto the Avenue of the Giants. These tall trees leave me speechless. I was doing a different route than Mike (I did the 100K and Mike did the 100m---I wanted to be there when he finished, and having done this ride before, I knew I would be about 2 hours slower than he).

I finally got some radio news from the racing bunch. Some guy was off the front ---rode away from the field on Panther Gap and was holding the chasers off by 5-8 minutes. The support vehicle had to stay behind the other leaders, but they let a motorcycle drive with the lead guy for any support needs. Was it Mike? No one knew. Finally, Jennifer (the owner of Adventure's Edge) called and said it was Mike and he was so far off the front that he was GONE!! Woo Hoo! I was already finished with my ride and happy to have made it back in plenty of time to relax before Mike finished.

Soon, someone called on race radio to say that the leader had finished Wildcat, so I went to the Finish to watch Mike come in. There were so many different rides finishing that it was hard to distinguish who was who. But I know my husband. And in between all the cruisers, and touring bikes and folks coming in still from my 100k ride, I see a familiar guy. "There's the lead guy!" I yelled. No one believed me. But it was Mike. He arrived about 8 minutes ahead of the next finisher---who just happened to be Henry Kramer (Cal Giant). So Mike gets his name on the plaque---right under Tinker Juarez.

If you haven't done this ride---I highly recommend it! We had the time of our lives! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!