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!

On Fire!

Ha! You probably thought I was referring to the Tour de France. Different kind of fire, and certainly worthy of the "on fire" headline, but the fire I am referring to is the hot, flaming, burning kind. The first photo is from this morning. Looked like the 900 burning acres were fairly in control after they ignited sometime on Monday afternoon; it seemed like the firefighters had gotten things together (after a hard's night work I am sure.)

The rest of the photo's are from when we got home this evening. Not in control. The charred mountains are my, sniff, morning ride. Caughlin Ranch. I will have to ride my Verdi route for a few days---as not only is it not healthy riding around in the smoke, but they probably wouldn't let me through the barricades. 3-4 million dollar homes surround the neighborhoods. The firefighters saved them all! But seemed to sacrifice the surrounding hills as a result and the fire went "the other way!" Up, Up Up...and now too steep to spray with the water hose. It looks like a volcano erupting!

It's more fun to write about my bike rides. That is for sure!

TdF Commericals

...and now a word from our sponsor's! The Tour de France could take some hints from the Tour of California with respect to commercial choices. I loved the "if you were snow, where would you want to fall" commercials from the race in the golden state. Let's break it down:

Enzyte - Male enhancement---"ask Bob why he is smiling?" He loves the big lift he gets from Enzyte--Plus the topical rush special.
Cialus - or "See Alice". ED issues. Enough said.
Honda - Get off the couch and go drive a motorcycle (Sit on another seat and pollute the air for fun)
Petra Cornicova's Hp computer that she carries around all her magazine cover girl photo's on, and sends photo's underwater to all her friends.

If I had kids and they were watching the tour with me (which they would be), how does one explain these products? The only one's that are OK are the Specialized and Cervelo commercials. The Michelob Ultra's/Miller High Life aren't bad----and the Saab ones "Fly to the Finish" are all right too. Even the local commercials, which you probably aren't subject too, since they are fairly local specific are really bad.

One might say, "Joni, why are you watching the TdF all day long? (Get out and ride your own bike!) Well of course I am [out there riding my own bike], in between the Tour (and the various repeats of the Tour). I guess I am not the "intended audience" for the commercials. I would have thought that perhaps more focus would have been made for the carbon foot-print, international travel, adventure-seeking type audience would have been impressed upon. That, and of course the "weather".

Speaking of weather---I got a good 8 hours in the saddle this weekend. It was hot and dry. Happy Monday! Happy Birthday Tom!

Ode de Fume!

As in it's smokey out there! With the temps reaching or nearing the century mark for over a week, it's hot (dry hot---but hot!) out there. And the dry part is what's stirring up trouble. Lightening strikes have caused some fires to the South, North (Northwest) and East of Reno. No wind has meant that the fire-fighting efforts are helped...but the air quality is awful! Feels and looks like the smoggy LA basin---think Redlands! Smells like an ash-tray. So I have something new to complain about (thank goodness for that!)

Yesterday things were looking up and so I went for a morning ride before work. But then, yesterday---with the lightening storms, some new fires must have picked up as we woke up to the worst smelling day thus far. Sigh. Summers everywhere but San Francisco are becoming my least favorite season. I don't mind the heat --- but the fires make it so unhealthy to exercise outside, that it might as well be winter. I'll quit whining, because I still like it better than the humidity we had to live with last year. It is far from "oppressive heat"---and that is what we had in Boston. (100 degrees; feels like 90 as opposed to 89 degrees; feels like 100!)

The Tour has at least taken the bite off the fires. Some pretty amazing racing already---and there is nothing like waking up early and flipping on the TV for some live coverage of bike racing. And true to form, the Tour doesn't disappoint---and again I am in awe of what these skinny guys can do on a bicycle.

I hope you are enjoying your summer---I may not love the fires---but I do love being out West this year! One of the best things (about being home again) is being near friends---like the Prion's who stopped by the Sinclair Factory on their way to Crested Butte on Friday and who will stop by our house on their way back home this weekend. Lilly is already walking. You miss this stuff when you are far far away! Happy Wednesday!

Happy July 4th!

That I started my day with a bike ride will not surprise anyone. Even though it's supposed to be 103 degrees---the Taylor's ride anyway. Thought I'd take you along for a spin by bringing my camera. The road to the State line was dotted with cyclists today. I was spinning (easy day) and so I get out of the way and all the fast guys pass me. Then a chubby older woman on a hybrid wearing running shorts and tennis shoes passed me. Hmmmm?! I caught up to her on one of the little climbs. She was riding on an older mixte type hybrid with some kind of aero-bar contraption set-up. She can only hold one water-bottle and so she had to re-fill on water at the middle school. Nothing about her looked fit or strong---but "looks" on a bicycle are deceptive. I used her as my inspiration. We parted at the Dog Valley climb to Henness Pass Road.

Anytime I think I need a little bit of California, I ride this route and cross the California State line. I tried to ride the unpaved gravel part---but it is not very suited to a road bike. Mostly for the descent. As I looped over the railroad tracks and over the Truckee River, I headed towards Boomtown. The housing development is interesting; 500K+ housing developments on one side and mobile homes on the other. There is a small abandoned community church in the middle of nowhere. A few houses away is a very interesting house with a bear carved out of wood. And in the middle of Verdi, NV there is an "Italian Car Only" parking space.

Just up the road in Mogul, there is a completely different stone church with nothing but a sign which says "The River" on it.

The 4th of July---a time to reflect on everything that America is, and to celebrate all she has to offer! We are such fortunate people to live here. Mike took me out for "All you can eat Sushi" and we officially celebrated our Anniversary, the 4th of July, and Nevada. It is hotter than you know what today---Happy Independence Day! Be safe!

One day I will upgrade my laptop and be able to download the photo's I took. Sigh!

Oost, West, thuis best!

So even though I was in Italy, Mijn Nederlands es beter dan mijn Italiano. My European travels have always been focused in the Belgian or The Netherlands regions and even though Italian sounds so beautiful, my linguistics skills seem to be more comfortable with Dutch of all things. May not be music to the ears---but that's how it is. I was chatting with a very old friend from The Netherlands online the other day, and we were talking about "old times". He and I and another guy took a road trip through Eastern Europe in the early 90's together on my sabbatical from SGI. Being Dutch, his language skills were top notch and traveling through Eastern Europe at that time, meant if anyone had a second language in Eastern Europe, which in itself was very rare, it was German---not English. He made the traveling and sight seeing (and finding the bathrooms, lodging, food and good places to see) a real pleasure!

He is also the person who gave me my first "adult" bicycle. And obviously that gift absolutely changed my life in very profound ways. He is married now and has a lovely little daughter...and we talked about how us knowing each other was in many ways a turning point in our lives. It's funny. We both toyed at the time with becoming expatriates; would he come live in America or would I go and live in The Netherlands? For many reasons, notwithstanding a bit of immaturity, nothing ever came of it.

When I told him about my recent trip to Italy, I said that I never fly over the pond without thinking of my Dutch friends (I spent alot of time there back in the day!) We both love Italy (what is not to love?), but "Home is where the heart is", I wrote to him. My home is really wherever Mike is. I do love it here in Nevada, and I love being closer to my family, but if Mike said to me tomorrow, "We are moving back to Marshall", than that would be where my home was. I asked Martijn what the saying would be in Dutch and he said, "Oost, west, thuis best". (East, West - Home is the best). So there you go!

Now that I might be mature enough (and that might be questionable!), I have found my home in a person, not a place. Perhaps, I have found my home within myself. I don't know. I have the travel bug again---a little bit of Europe goes a long way. Next year we are celebrating DEAR friend's 50th birthday riding our bikes in Italy/Switzerland and wherever else he decides we will go. Time to learn Italian.

Right now, I am off to ride my bike in Reno---It's nice to be home! Happy July 1st!

"Welcome to Reno"

I know, I know. We've been here for a few months already. But I have a nice story to tell--that's a bit circular in how everything is really connected in our world. Last year, while we were still at Seven, my accounts were Western US accounts, which included Nevada---Reno specifically. And last Fall, we received an order in from Mother Lode cycles, right here in Sparks for a gal who was buying a new Seven bicycle. I took the order and worked with the shop and customer before passing it onto Mike to design the bike. We had made a great connection with the customer and her boyfriend, John.

The gal's boyfriend, also a Seven owner was planning to surprise her with an additional paint job on her bike. So we worked with him as well. Time passed and Mike and I made our decision to leave Seven (you've heard this story before), but since we were moving to Reno and had made a friendly connection with John, the Seven owner, we let him know we were going to be local and he gave us his contact info.

Fast forward to our arrival to Reno. Eric, from Mother Lode, dropped into Sinclair to meet us and in our conversations he mentioned that John was also one of the best veterinarians in town. It was time for Sydney to get her shots so Mike made an appointment with John. He (John) was so excited that we were here and he offered us a 10% discount on Sydney's check-up.

For the last 5 years, Sydney has also needed her teeth cleaned. They were awful and her breath was bad. (No more tennis ball with the Scrapper---it ground down her teeth to nubs!). The problem is that the costs we've been quoted were $400-700 dollars! Ouch! John said it would be a good idea though, and we decided we needed to do it. His quote was $300+/-. They need to use anesthesia which is why it costs so much.

So, last Thursday, Mike dropped the Scrapper off to clean her schmeever's. When he went to go and get her, Mike was hoping for the 10% discount, but we were fine paying whatever it was (he won $300 bones in a race the weekend prior!). John greeted him with a smile and when he handed Mike the paperwork, he said, "Now I can't do this every time". Mike didn't understand. John saw his confusion. He shook his hand, and said "Welcome to Reno!" He completely comp'd the whole bill. No charge for the Scrapper's new pearly whites! We still can't believe it. This really has the small town feel.

Happy Birthday Steve and Uncle Ron!

A day at the Campagnolo Factory!

In my wildest dreams I never imagined I would find myself in Italy to spend a day working with Campagnolo inside the factory. I keep pinching myself. They had me booked in Vergilius Hotel and Spa resort for the collections presentation, and my room overlooked the swimming pool and part of the golf course. There are also mountains close by---I thought this part of Italy would be flatter...but it is rolling like the Santa Cruz Mountains. Venezia is a very wealthy province in Italy and Vicenza, where Campagnolo is, is the wealthiest city in the Venezia province. I imagined it would be more industrial (when I think of factory, I think Industrial---Pittsburgh, but this is not so).

Campagnolo Sportswear is completely separate from the components division. They are right near each other, but the clothing designers come from the fashion industry. Their specialty is clothing. Fashion degrees and expertise in high tech materials/fabrics and there are no component aspects. I never knew this. I got a private presentation of the entire collection and was amazed that only 8 people run this part of the division. It was like being at Chanel, Yves St. Laurent in France. Only this was Italia.

The food in Italy is beyond belief. Everything tastes better here and I do not know why. The attention to detail and the proper oils and fresh basil. Yum.

After we worked, Paola took me to my hotel in the center of Treviso. It is a bed and breakfast right in the center of the town and Treviso is surrounded by three rivers. Right outside my room there is a canal passing, and I am on the top floor---last room. It is old and charming and it is not touristy where I am. True Italian culture. Tonight Paola is taking me to dinner at a place close by.

I am getting a real inside view of Italian culture---complete with an English interpreter! How did this happen?

Ciao di Italia!

If I went over the crazy departure I had, it would make you tired---it certainly made me tired! Everything started out fine and Mike dropped me off early at the Reno airport (which is quite nice--easy, simple, not crowded and clean). Unfortunately my plane was not as prompt (there was really no reason that I ever found out, they said it was weather---but it was clear as a bell in Reno and SF)---perhaps my (United) airlines flight was victim of the computer glitch I've been hearing about on CNN. In any case---even though my connecting flight in SF was on the ground for the whole 45 minutes that I was in line since they said I was too late to make it since my plane was late, they refused to let me board. I couldn't book my flight through from Reno because they were different airlines.

Sigh--then, Delta tried to tell me that it was United's fault and so I had to go wait in line at United and I said that United told me I had to re-book with Delta since they were the issuing agent. Delta said that United would have to pay---and I said I really didn't know who had to pay---but it wasn't me. They then proceeded to book me on a flight that would have made me miss the meeting I was flying here for. Unacceptable. With a little creative booking...and alot of patience, they found me a flight on Air France. But I had to wait for four hours, fly to LA...wait another 3 hours and then fly to Paris. From Paris, I had to then take a bus to a different terminal and board for a flight to Venice.

As I write about it, I realize that it sounds alot worse than it was. It was certainly not fun waiting around in airports, and going through security 4 times. The mental stress is the worse. I also was being met in Venice by a driver from Campagnolo and I had no cell phone. I called my dad and Mike and they were chartered with tending to those arrangements ( and my Papa's message was very well received by the Italians and they were touched by his message about making sure somebody came to get me.)

But all went well and in retrospect, Air France is one of the nicest airlines I have been in. The coach seats have as much room as business class---you get a private TV with 8 movies to choose from and the meals were great. Even on the commuter flight between Paris and Venice (a little over an hour flight), they served a meal with a fresh baguette and french cheeses.

So I am now at Vergilius Hotel Spa---a resort in Vicenza. I met Mr. V. Campagnolo today in the presentation. Tomorrow I go to work with Paola at the Campagnolo Factory to spend the day learning more about the clothing.

Estate. Fa molto caldo. Non piovere. Molto bene!! (Summer. It's very hot. No rain. Very good!)

Ciao di Italia!

The Tour de Nez

The Tour de Nez, in it's compact version included two stages this year (down from the 3 day/4 race venues of year's past). Friday night after work, Mike and I headed to Truckee, CA for the first stage---The field was huge with big hitters from BMC, Rock, Jelly Belly, Discovery Channel, Healthnet, Columbia National---you know the drill. After the call ups, the race was off to a quick start. Tony Cruz, Scott Moninger, Mike Sayers, Alex Candelario, & Mike Taylor (!) all took turns coming through the Start/Finish leading the charge at the front of the storming peloton.

Yes, I know...all of the other names are familiar to most races fans. The announcers were well versed in the first four names. But Mike Taylor stumped them. So they announced as follows, "And here's one of the younger rider's from the Cal Giant Strawberry Team taking charge of the race...". Ha! Mike's director and I laughed. Mike is older and has been racing longer than most of the folks in the race.

Briggs and Dunaway (the two "Pat's") made the move with a decisive break-away and hung on for a good part of the race. But the schmack went down and 6 guys rode away---and Alex Candelario took the win in the high-altitude race!

The next stage was another criterium in downtown Reno. Mike and I rode to the race and met up with the guys. Because this is an omni-event (not a stage race), there were even more racers today---110 guys lined up at the start. The big complaint of the day was the wind and the altitude. That combined with a 90 minutes of racing hot day, meant this was going to be a true suffer-fest. Fans lined the streets and downtown Reno was one big party!

A Columbian National rider made the first move and rode off the front for the early part of the race, almiost single-handedly lapping the field. But Sayers, Kyle (Rock), Mike Jones, Tony Cruz and few others worked at the front a reeled him back. Once they rang the bell for a prime though, and a group of 6 guys drilled it at the front and soon guys were falling off the bunch like leaves in Fall. The 110 man field was soon reduced to 50 riders--our team had Devon, Pat and Mike left racing.

Taylor was following McCook's wheel and suddenly on the slight uphill, McCook sat up and a gap opened up---never to be closed. Mike kicked himself afterwards; he was thinking he should have let some air out of his tires and faked a flat like a few other un-named riders and taken a free lap. He felt good--but he's a bad cheater which is why I like him so much! Still, Devon held on strong.

The Columbian rider and Sayers rode off the front of the break though after the bell lap and on the slight downhill, Sayers "pinched" the Columbian on the last corner and rode to victory. Devon finished 7th! Nice job worm. Mike and I then rode back home together. He's my star no matter where he finishes!

Black Panties and The Laundromat

...ah yes, the exciting life of luxury! When we first moved here, Mike kept at me about getting a washer and dryer. It is convenient, but we are renting and I know from experience that we are full to the rim on our moving truck---and I don't need another thing to move. Mike told my parents that "Joni won't let me buy one!" I thought that was funny---like I was in control for a change!

Anyway, the surprising part is that I really don't mind going to the laundromat once a week. Our electric/gas bill here is less than half of what it was in Boston. Seriously, I think that not having a washer/dryer helps with lowering that cost. And so I spend $20 bones a month and 4 hours (a month) washing clothes.

Many folks don't like going to the laundromat---but it's not so bad. I always meet interesting characters there. Lots of Mom's doing three times as much laundry as I. Some bring their children. Today there was a Mom and her son---maybe he was 10 years old. He was quietly drawing at one of the benches. I've never seen such a well behaved kid. He was gorgeous too. A real knock-out. And quite the artist. He was shy and quiet and beautiful.

There was also a lovely (hot!) coed. (I go the laundry mat that is just due west of the University of Nevada). Anyway---she was doing her laundry and her dryer was near the little boy's (Mom's) dryers and his Mom asked him if he would grab one of the loads so he did. I don't remember how old you are when you get interested in the opposite sex. Anyway---the gal had just finished with her last load in the dryer and was packing it up and leaving. He was right next to her and as she ran out a pair of black panties fell off her load. She didn't notice, but the little boy did. Just as he was about to grab what had fallen he realized what it was and he blushed, looked right at me and said, "What should I do?" I had a load of junk in my hands and couldn't help him, but I winked and said, "go for it!"

So he picked up her panties off the floor and ran out to hand them to her. His Mom and I laughed.

Mike raced last night in Truckee and now we are off to the final stage of the Tour de Nez right here in Reno. We'll ride to the race and then pedal home in the soft desert evening. Wish Mike luck!

Happy Saturday!

Sattley Time Trial - Photo's, no results!

Sattley California is a lovely little town near Sierraville (about 30 miles NW of Truckee). The course was 40K out and back and pretty flat. The morning was lovely, but Mike had an early start and we were up early and on the road by 6:40am.

"You're saddle looks too high", I said on deaf ears. He paid for that too high saddle when he finished. He could barely un-click from his pedals and I drove home. So no results. All I know for sure is that his teammate, James Mattis was flying! He passed everyone who started in front of him except one guy (7 riders were in front). By the time we got home his legs had un-seized enough to go for a spin on his Noah (with the proper saddle height).

For now---enjoy these lovely photo's....Hard to believe this hunky, skinny guy is 39 years old! (My computer is too old and is in need of a memory upgrade for me to run the programs to upload pictures...so the photo's are in email only...)

Reason to Ride #6252005

So I made up the number, as I have lost track of all the great things about riding my bicycle. And this number is my lucky Anniversary number. Anyway, have you ever looked up a big hill and said, "I can never ride a bike up THAT!" When I first started pedaling, I used to live on top of one of the biggest hills in San Francisco and I would ride everywhere and then push my bike up the last leg home. I "assumed" I wouldn't be able to make it so I didn't even try. One night on my way home from work, I was feeling good and put my heavy beloved mountain bike into it's smallest gear and rode it on the sidewalk all the way home. I never pushed my bike again.

Today as I was pedaling up the hills around Reno, I thought of how big these hills (and mountains) looked when I first arrived into town. I may have never pushed my bike---but I wanted to---especially since it was spring and we'd get have those windy desert days. Nothing like riding up a hill into a headwind that shifts to a crosswind with each corner. Only now, what was once a big hill, is now a "bump" in the road.

Everyday I challenge myself with each ride. Push bigger gears. Ride further. And each time I make it up a hill, I feel good. It's like a confidence booster. I don't have to ride up faster than anyone---I can be slower than everyone, and I still feel like I accomplished something. It's a daily dose of "I did something!" And I feel better for the rest of the day---which is why I like to start everyday with a couple of hours or more on my beloved two wheels!

Happy Saturday! Happy Birthday Hunter Taylor Rooney! We're off to a race in Sattley, California tomorrow!

Notes on altitude

In reading through my journal over the last couple of months, I found it interesting at my notes on adjusting to the thinner air here. At this time, I pretty much forget about the fact that I am living "a mile high" and that my starting point for my rides is 500 feet higher than the high points of any of the regular rides I did in the Bay Area. Mt. Hamilton is the highest point in the Bay Area and it is several hundred feet lower than where I live now.

I don't consider myself anything but a cycling enthusiast. I am not fast---and I don't ride "hard", but I ride daily. What happens at elevation is you don't get the normal amount of oxygen in your blood and so "pushing" yourself requires more than muscle---it requires AIR. It takes about 3-4 weeks of slow integration to be able to thin your blood enough to get a muscle workout. When we arrived, I pushed myself right away, and felt like I was having a heart attack. This was in part due to my out-of-shape condition of living in New England in the winter and in part to the thinner air.

The good news is that once you get passed this point and can push yourself in the thin air, you do get stronger. It's very subtle. I didn't notice it until I rode up Mt. Hamilton a few weeks ago. With the oxygen rich, sea level air, I could push bigger gears for extended periods of time and not suffer. It's pretty amazing. Maybe like a natural form of EPO.

I also noted that what helped me adjust here was Bayer aspirin. When we first moved here and I messed up by pushing too early, I started taking Bayer aspirin everyday, and I think it helped thin my blood. Also, eating was a challenge and so I took Alka Selzer for a few days. For just visiting here---these things are not necessary. But if you are on a training program---or exerting your body at all---these two simple, over-the-counter (and UCI legal) things really help speed up the adjustment time!

Even my athlete husband---who is NEVER out of shape since he braves all kinds of bad weather---needed time to adjust to the thin air. (So it was more than just me being out of shape).

It's also interesting that if you just spend a couple of days at altitude, and then go home to "sea-level" air, it's not as big a deal. The recovery time is what your body needs. And recovering in thin air is what gets lost. Human bodies are pretty amazing. I don't even notice the thin air anymore---

Our first "house-guests!" & Italy bound~

The last 10 days or so have been filled with riding, racing, friends and family. Mike and I headed to California last weekend and he raced and I rode Mt. Hamilton. The timing was perfect as it was Layne's birthday and so we enjoyed Thai food with family the evening before Mike's race. After a respectable top 10 finish (for Mike), we headed to Livermore and ate a feast with Dave Metzinger and his family before heading home to Reno.

The next day, Mom, Dad and Layne drove up to Reno for my Dad's softball tournament. Our first house-guests! The weather was perfect and we all had fun spending time together in the Taylor's new home in the foothills of the Sierra's.

The riding here is fabulous! Hilly and warm, but cool in the evenings. As I was headed down Lakeside towards Mt. Rose yesterday, a cute, fat groundhog poked his head out of his "den" on the side of the road. They are the cutest things----don't even look real, but rather like stuffed animals. Mike and I both arrived home from our rides about the same time---and after a little bit of housecleaning we headed to Verdi to take the Scrap for a walk along the Truckee River. As we walked, you could hear the thunder off in a distance---these storms blow in through the gap(s) in the mountains. It's fabulous to watch.

I am headed to Vicenza, Italy in a couple of weeks. It is a work trip to the Campagnolo Factory for the International Collections preview for 2008! For a cyclist, this is a real treat---as Campagnolo IS Italian cycling. And true to form, our first day is a bicycle tour around the Vicenza province.

I've also been working for the Minnesota Bike race. My job is recruiting the Professional Cycling Teams for the "Fan-Zone and Athlete Villages". It's a new concept---sort of like what NASCAR used to do---bringing the fans to the athlete's. I love it. I only wish I was going to be able to see how it turns out. Perhaps my Minnesota family can make a stage or two and tell me all about it?

Let's see---what else? Oh yes, welcome to the world, Madeline Elizabeth Baird (Yes---Colin and Heather had a baby girl)---and Happy Birthday to Luke Rooney!

Happy Sunday!