10 days in Flanders

How the time flies! We've been home about week and I haven't written a thing! Mike and enjoyed 10 days in Belgium (with a side trip or two to the Netherlands!) for his birthday this year. After too many hours in a plane (or several planes), we landed in Brussels and were met by our old friend Mark at the airport there. We were beat, but it was only about 10 in the morning so we needed to stay awake as long as possible that day! Mark took us on a tour of the Vermarc (clothing) facilities before we headed over to the Ridley factory in Tessenderlo.

It was our first time visiting the Ridley Factory in person and so we enjoyed a tour and hung out with Jochim, Jo and the crew from Bicycling Magazine. On tap for the afternoon was getting our bikes sorted for the special ride of the Tour of Flanders, which takes place the day before the Pro's do it. (For fun, go to www.firstfotofactory.com and click on the English language and search for rider # 31482). After dinner with Jochim and the guys who are busy building the NEW Ridley factory (yes---more growing!), Jochim organized a vehicle for us to use before taking us to his Lake House in Mol. Wow---there are not many lakes in Belgium, and this one was about 6K around. But it was lovely! We had an early morning wake-up call to meet everyone to head over to Ninove (near Ghent) for the Ronde Ride.

Talk about crazy! 20,000 riders of all abilities riding roads where barely a single small car can drive through. I opted out (I was jet-lagged and I am not good in crowds of this size---though I will do it next year if I get the chance!) and Jo and I sat in a cafe and ate and drank the afternoon away. Afterwards it was off to Brugge (actually we stayed in nearby Oostende for the night) for (another) early morning start for the Ronde van Vlaandaren. It was a damp and (by my standards) freezing morning and the highlight of my day was getting up close and personal with Johan Musseeuw! (Oh the luxuries of a VIP/Press pass from my friend Mark Vandereyt!)

After the start, we had two choices: ride in the caravan and follow the race, OR ride to Mol, do our own ride and watch the 4 hours of commercial free live coverage on the TV. With the added bonus of a Tom Tom Navigator (also from Mark), we chose option 2. And we drove home and into warm sunshine (gotta love Limburg!). We had this exclusive lakehouse for our whole stay! Wow!

A week filled with Flemish riding, running and racing. The day of Ghent-Wevelgem was the rainiest day---but watching it snuggled up on a couch with Mike was fun for sure! On Mike's birthday (after our morning jaunts around the area), we were going to go to Zolder (but our plans changed) and so we headed to Maastricht, Nederland. A lovely mid-evil city (and the start for Amstel Gold). I was finally feeling relaxed and on vacation! Mike and I have celebrated his birthday over here several times and so there was something very familiar about being in Belgium/Nederland for his special day. Have I mentioned the beer? Mike was in beer heaven. I never saw him smile so much!

On Friday we went back to Tessenderlo to spend the afternoon with Jochim and Jo from Ridley! We had a long, long lunch on a local lovely golfcourse in the warm sunshine! Mark met us at Jochim's house on Saturday morning to take us back to Brussels for our LONG flight home. This was way too short a trip.

And as has been the case for the last year, I am back on the road this week. I am heading to Greenwich, CT on Thursday and then to Manhattan. This time next week I will be running in Central Park (Springtime in Manhattan!) But today I am off for a long ride in the High Sierra Mountains. Yes---80 degrees and no wind. Happy Sunday!

Palo Alto Bicycles

(Jamie Watson * Jon Mara - Palo Alto Bicycles Campagnolo Evening 2009---photo courtesy of Jay Watson)

Now this is an interesting title (a.k.a. A blast from my past!) for an email. This bike shop has such a profound meaning for me. Obviously, it's a very nice place to buy some very nice "bike-stuff". I loved being a customer there, then becoming part of the team/staff that works there and meeting some very special customers and friends. But it goes deeper than that. I fell in love there! So of course---Palo Alto Bicycles will always be "that" place for me. And it is always one of the top 10 "lists of important things" I have when I am working on the "other side of the industry"---I always hope to be able to work with this shop and the people that make this shop what it is.

Last Thursday night, Palo Alto Bicycles hosted a Campagnolo evening and so many people who are near and dear to my heart showed and made the evening so much fun you can hardly call it work! And to make things even better, the weather was as good as it gets.

Thursday morning, Mike and I woke up to one of the "perfect" days in San Francisco. You could see Mt. Diablo clear as a bell to the East, Mt. Tamapais beyond Alcatraz and Angel Island to the North, and the Farallones out in the Pacific to the West. We went out for a dozen fresh baked bagels and fruit and yogurt and headed to the top of Twin peaks to enjoy the magnificent morning sun in my favorite city. What a place. There wasn't even a breathe of wind, and the infamous fog was nowhere to be found! Splendid! The Golden Gate Bridge was so clear it looked like a postcard!

So--now we are getting ready to head to Belgium early Thursday morning for 11 days of Belgian Bike racing classics, and some vacation! Lots to get done before we go, but I am really getting excited to actually be traveling somewhere for fun for a change!

Here's a photo of my friend (and model) Jamie from the event at Palo Alto. She used to work upstairs from the shop---My lovely surfer girl! Happy Sunday!

Running in the wind!

Mike and I have been enjoying a lovely early spring in Reno. In a world of "worrisome news", it's amazing to have such glorious days. We've had some beyond belief, absolutely fabulous ones weather-wise. And anyone who has been reading me for any amount of time, knows that I talk about the weather more than I should. So really beautiful days, day after day after day, have given me a lot less to write about in the complaint department!

And after a week of staying put at home, catching up on bills and sleep, and getting back in my groove, I am refreshed enough to hit the road and the friendly skies again tomorrow. I leave for a week in Seattle and Portland. Ah, the glorious Pacific Northwest! And true to form, rain and cloudy weather prevail. It looks like a storm is brewing in the Pacific just in time for my trip! It'll give me something to complain about. The fact is, both of the cities are beautiful ones. And if you time it right, and you get to glimpse Mt. Ranier, Mt. St. Helen's, Hood and Baker, they will for sure take your breath away. Now that I live in the high desert, a little bit of rain on the random road trip hardly bothers me anymore.

And the reason? Running. I can run in the snow, the rain, the cold and the desert wind. I can run on business trips and I only have to bring my Newton running shoes!!! This may sound like a dumb thing to use exclamation points with, but I have to say that my rekindled running-love has changed my life. Business trips would really stress me out when I would miss so many days off the bike. But now, I find myself opting out of bike rides to go for a long run. I still love the bike. It doesn't beat me up so much. But when you can't sneak out for 2+ hours, gearing up in all the cold weather gear, versus throwing on some sweats and a hoodie and some running shoes sure is a nice option!

So---I may not run like the wind (it's blowing at about 25mph right now---that Pacific NW storm thing), but I am running in the wind and it doesn't matter if it's a head wind or at my back for a change! How about that?

Happy Saturday!

A whole weekend at home!

What a treat it is to not have anywhere to be, or have to load up, pack up and drive somewhere for two whole days. Oddly, I found myself putting in about 8 hours of "homework", but the beauty of it, if you can call it that is that it was home--home sweet home, work! I really love being home! Mike and I spent the last 2 weeks driving, riding, and talking bikes and fancy Italian bicycle clothing all up and down the California borders. We experienced rain, snow, record heat (as in 90 degrees in San Diego)and unexplored, unfamilar roads to ride---along with the familiar ones. I have written and erased about 4 sentences as each time I write about the trip, it sounds too fun. And it was work.

As much as I LOVE having Mike along for the trips, it is always a bit stressful trying to figure out when and where MT is going to get a few hours off to go for a ride. Heaven's knows, he deserves it. So do I. And we always ride every day at home. So why not on these trips? But I have learned that if I can see a few more shops and forego a ride, I will appreciate the effort later. So a few times, he gets to ride from one location or another---or he will go and ride 100 miles while I slave away at the Campagnolo booth at the Gran Fondo in San Diego. The gist, is that while these trips sound like all fun and no work---they really are work. And the beauty is that I still love my work. But it's work. (did you get that? in my wordy sentences?) And Mike has decided that he likes staying home when I leave on the trips for the most part.

The Scrapper of course, enjoyed some R&R with her Grandparents in California. She had such a good time, that after one day, she decided she would rather stay home and be spoiled with Gramma & Papa then join her crazy parents traveling to bike shops.

I am home for a whole week! (Next week is the Pacific Northwest) And it is beautiful here in the mountains. One of the best things of not being home and not being able to ride everyday, was that my leg has finally healed enough to RUN! Forced downtown is not always a bad thing! I ran outside in the hills all weekend. The mountains are all dusted in snow (they were brown when we left), and the thinner mountain air is so clean and crisp. I love where I live.

So, finally rested, I can prepare for the next trip to Seattle and Portland, before the big events in Oakland and Palo Alto at the end of March. And you want to hear some amazing news---it is almost 5 years ago that my Mom had her surgery. She will have to go back on chemo in May---but her spirits are up, her energy is strong, and she has enough courage to face whatever they've thrown her way thus far. Thanks for asking how she is. And for all the extra prayers.

Happy Sunday!

USA Custom's - We are Safe from Italian Cycling Clothing

I could try and play catch up---lots of travel and my birthday and day to day lovely stuff. But this message would be long and not so fun to read perhaps. Now that this event has passed and I can have a sense of humor about it though, I thought I might share it with you.

My Italian colleague, Paola and I were planning our launch of the Fall/Winter Campagnolo Sportswear and we always meet somewhere in the USA to begin our visits. This year, we were meeting in Denver, Colorado. We had a fun and interesting trip---mostly out East, with fashion Shows and Trunk shows. A different way of presenting the collection to not only the retailers, but also the consumers. We were excited.

I landed in Denver about 40 minutes before Paola and so I went to get the rental car and then headed back to the airport to meet her at the International customs meeting place. I saw her plane had landed (at least I thought it was her plane) and so I expected her in about 30 minutes. After an hour, I was a little worried. "Where R U?" I texted to her phone. Nothing. Europeans are as good at texting as my nephews and so when I got no reply, I was surprised.

Was I at the right airport? Did I have the right time? I had no idea. 2 hours later and nothing. I don't have a fancy cell phone that has email, weather reports and does the housecleaning and so I was just left waiting. Her plane wasn't even on the arrival screen anymore. Finally my phone rings.

"Ciao Joni, I am cutting the collection and should be out in 30 minutes". I thought perhaps there might be an Italian word "cutting" that I didn't understand and was just happy to know she was fine. When she finally arrived at the greeting place, She told me the story.

She had checked the customs form that she was bringing in samples. Honest. We've done this many times before. She had her proforma invoice and all the back-up paperwork. But the TSA rep stopped her on her way out the exit, searched her bags and told her she had 2 choices: She could leave the collection there or she could cut it. Each piece. Probably $30K retail's worth of high-end clothing. We needed the collection or it would have been a pointless trip. So now we were stuck with a ruined clothing. Long sleeves, were now 1 long/1 half sleeve. Tights were now knickers, gloves had a pinkie missing, jerseys were cut up the back. Ruined.

When she asked the TSA agent if she could call me to let me know that she was here and OK, he told her that "in this situation, only I am asking questions. You are answering them. I am checking your bags for fruit. If you have an apple in your bag it will be a $100 fine..."

Luckily we both have a sense of humor and we introduced the collection as a new Italian trend of missing pinkie's on the gloves and half knicker/half tights and half longsleeve/half 3/4 length jerseys. For the fashion shows I had pre-shipped the new spring/summer and so we were safe there. We are laughing about it now...but it was a nightmare at the time. But I wanted ya'll to know that we are safe from any high-end Italian bike wear. Rest assured!

Off to California for the next couple a weeks with Mike. I have an "un-cut" collection with me. Hope they don't stop me at the Truckee entrance into California!

January Jammin'

Every year, time goes by faster and faster. Rather than trying to figure out why that is, I am trying to cram 30 hours worth of living in every 24 hours I get. This week I need to finish up planning for the East coast launch of the Fall Winter clothing. Stressful, but fun. It's especially fun to visit places I haven't been before in Tennessee, Ohio and Connecticut. Been to those states, but not to the cities I will be in this trip. And New York, while intimidating, expensive and on a different realm of my comfort zone, much of the time, is also one of my favorite cities to be in. It's exciting, overwhelming, metro-everything, and feels so American in a high-energy kind of way.

Here in Reno, where life is slower, people are fewer, life is simpler and the air is cleaner, we have been enjoying the mild winter to it's fullest. The last time I rode my bike outside in January so much I lived in California. And amazing as this sounds, that was 5 years ago. You can take the girl out of California, but you can't take California out of the girl. So I am pretty pleased about riding my bike outside this January. Not sure what that will mean for our water supply this summer---but the reality is that you can't do much about the weather. (I could get on my soap-box about global warming and all the things that we all should be doing about this, but I won't. I can only lead by example and know that I do my share, know that I can always do more, and hope that this is high on President Obama's "to-do" list. He's got a very long list.)

Mike and I are heading to the Bay Area the day after I get back from NYC---Tour of California, mixed with work. Then to LA at the end of month. Oregon and Washington shortly after (more soap-box carbon footprint mess...sigh...) But way more fun with Mike going too!

So---not much to report from the lovely mountains here in Northern Nevada. I hope your weekend was relaxing and fun! Here's a little flyer for the Nashville Fashion show!

Happy Sunday!

An exciting week ahead in the USA!

It's all over the news, all over the net and impossible to have a conversation with someone without being all excited and full of great hope for our country. Our first African American president! Wow! When I look and listen to Barack Obama speak, I feel tears well up in my eyes and feel so proud of everyone for voting for this eloquent extraordinary man. Like we are finally willing to say, it is time to do things differently, and be the amazing country full of different and amazing people that we are. Sigh...very proud to be an American.

I was going to write about my rides and my running adventures, but so many of you are plagued with really cold, snowy weather, that it just didn't seem right. That said, I rode my bike outside all week during the week in sunshine with zero wind and springtime temps. It is such a strange weather pattern. Mike and I wake up and look at each other in disbelief. It isn't the near 80 degree temps that my California friends are enjoying---it's more the high 50's! (but high 50's here is the same as high 60's in SF---as there is no moisture). Today, we decided that not watering our lawn (a.k.a. weeds) and taking 20 second showers this summer due to drought is kinda worth it.

On Saturday, I went for a long easy-paced 90 minute run. If running didn't beat me up so much, I would run all the time. I just got a new pair of Newton Running shoes for All-Weather, and I spent the first 45 minutes just looking at my feet because they are such cool looking shoes. Running down the hills around here really takes it's toll on my "hip-flexors". If I was a guy, I would say I pulled my groin muscle. (Do girl's have groin muscles?) In any case---I will practice running backwards to build up the right muscles (Thanks for tip, Mom!)

Today I set out for a long over-due 3 hour ride. Imagine 3 hours with only 1 stop-sign and maybe 10 cars and who knows how many feet in elevation gain (it felt like it was all uphill!). Really lovely.

I am heading East on February 2 (Colorado, Tennessee, Ohio, NYC, and Connecticut), and then will arrive home for a day before heading to Sacramento for the Tour of California Prologue and then to the Bay Area for a week. Mike will at least be joining me for the Bay Area trip (I hope), as I hate spending my birthday and heart day without my guy and my hound! I am hopefully going to be home for a week after that (but maybe not) before heading to LA/San Diego & then Seattle and Portland.

Mostly this week I am rejoicing in my newfound hope for the USA! I hope you are too. Happy Sunday!

Beautiful!

Oh my gosh it is so beautiful out today! We had a pretty incredible weather system come through yesterday. I think the wind blew at a steady 50 mph for 24 hours. Some of the gusts would literally "blow you away". Even Mike when he was walking the Scrapper out in the canyons he was almost "blown down". It's pretty incredible---this mountain weather. Mike actually went out riding in it---it was even spitting water and ice, but he left in the morning anyway, thinking the weather man was wrong. When I "got the call" a few hours later, I was hardly surprised. Not really a weather call---but a flat tire with a broken spare call.

The Scrapper and I left in the ice to the rescue and right as we climbed the hill back home the sky started spitting snow, ice and rain at the same time with a little bit of hail thrown in for good measure. We made homemade burritos and watched something silly on TV.

But this morning we woke up to a cold and beautiful day. Really beautiful. Like the sky is so blue you can't believe it isn't technicolor. And the air is so clean because anything that was in it was surely blown to the East. The streets were coated in ice this morning but the sun dried it up and out we both went. I ran out in the hills and canyons and as I would come up to any desert brush, a swarm of quail would fly up. My eyes were tearing from the cold, but the crispness of color was amazing. After 5 or so miles I picked up the Scrapper for the last mile or so to run with her. She really likes the cold weather (a lot more than her mom---though her Mom has a new appreciation for it now that she is running and not riding in it.)

In any case---I hope you are enjoying the first few days of the New Year! Happy Saturday!

Happy 2009!

I love January 1st. I always do. It's one day that I don't even care what the weather is like; it's the first day of a brand New Year---all full of hope and good intentions. Mike and I were asleep before the ball dropped in NYC. Pretty pathetic if you ask me---but we are hard pressed to stay awake much past night-fall! And the weather is fantastic here and so we were looking forward to nice New Year's Day out-of-doors festivities. When I asked Mike if he was making any resolutions he told me he absolutely wasn't and he never has and never will do anything so silly. I am not making any either---but I would like to run a marathon this year. Just need to figure out which one. Easy to say in January when the bike biz is less busy and I have time to train, but I will run the distance even if it isn't an event-style kind of marathon.

Speaking of which, I headed out into sunshine in my Newton kickers today and I ended up running with this gal who is almost 60. She was small and weathered and lean and mean. Been running in the high desert all her life. And she is fast, but steady. We ran a little over 5 miles together before we parted on our separate ways. Her name is Audra and she about killed me with the pace. But she gave me something to aspire to. I've seen her out there running almost everyday since we moved here. I know when the weather gets warmer I will be back on my bike---but I sure do like the simplicity of running. Just needing shoes and a road means this year while I am traveling, I can bring my shoes and run everywhere!

Speaking of which, I am heading out East in February---the circle of the year and visiting retailers will begin in a month. It will be interesting to see what the year holds for the bicycle business. This is a very different recession. But I am full of the New Year buzz (and a runner's buzz on top of that) and so I am looking forward to whatever the year has on offer.

I hope your New Year's celebrations were safe and happy! My folks are headed over the hill to visit in a couple of days. The snowy passes required a delay of the holidays for the Mehler gathering...

Happy New Year!

Snow hiking in the High Sierra

What do a couple of cyclists' do when it snows and snows and snows? Mike and I woke up December 25th to a very white Christmas that proceeded to get whiter as the morning progressed. We received about 6 inches, while the higher elevations received an upwards of 2 plus feet! Being the King of all shovelers, our driveway and sidewalk were clear before anyone else in the neighborhood---and Mike kept it pretty clear throughout the day.

Both of us are "trainer weary" after 3 years of living in a place with winter and so we've each found ways of getting our fix in the cold. Mike wears warmer (REALLY WARM) clothes and has a bike geared for messy roads, and I have rediscovered running and can run outside as long as I can find a stretch of ice free roads or fluffy crunchy snow. I started training for running in the late fall as I knew if I waited for it to get real cold, I wouldn't go out there once it got cold, and I can get 4 or 5 miles in everyday now. I bought a pair of Newton Running shoes in Hawaii (I know I've mentioned them before) and they have changed my running life and if anyone is interested in hearing about "fore-foot running" in the best shoes I have ever owned, give me a holler!

That said, there were no roads which were ridable or run-able on Christmas or the day after. SO---we went snow hiking with the Scrapper. She just loves the snow! And 2 hour hikes up and down the hills and golf courses and mountain peaks right next to our house give you a different kind of workout in the lovely mountain winter wonderland. We entertained ourselves and watched the 2003 complete Tour de France, and cooked a California-style Christmas dinner of tofu, pot-stickers, brown rice and LOTS of fresh vegies with some good wine, good beer and chocolate chip cookies! Just the two of us.

By yesterday, the roads were good enough to ride and run and so we enjoying the long holiday weekend in sunshine and milder temps with the snowy mountains everywhere we look. Last night we went and had dinner with some friends and celebrated their daughter's (and the Scrapper's new hound sitter) 10th birthday. All in all, one of the nicest holiday weekends I can remember.

My nephews are really enjoying Reno and the snow. All kids love snow. I like looking at it. And I know we need it. And I even love running in it. But I miss my bicycle. I may have to find my way over the hill and get to the Bay Area sometime in the next few weeks.

Happy Everything! Can't believe it is almost 2009! Hope you had a very nice holiday with family and friends.

Gorgeous Today!

Last week was the coldest week we've experienced since we moved to Nevada. Sure, Minnesota and Boston were both colder, but last year was so mild here that it kinda took us by surprise. We had snow and blowing snow and wind and days where we did not get above the freezing mark. (This didn't happen last year). Real mountain weather. Our water supplies need it---or so they keep telling us, but it was an "all-of-a-sudden" thing---as up until last Monday, we were riding outside. It was cold, but doable.

There was so much ice on the ground and it didn't melt, and so Mike and I were indoor trainer bound on Monday-Thursday. Thursday night the wind howled at about 60mph (sustained) until about 2:30pm on Friday. But it was warmer...about 40 degrees. And at 2:31pm, in glorious sunshine and 40 degrees, I strapped on my Newton running shoes and headed out for an hour and I felt human again. Why does outdoor exercise make you feel so good?

According to my esteemed weather reporter, we are "in between" storms. But you would never know it. The wind is non-existent, the sky is a deep blue with no clouds, the sun is brilliant, and the mountains may be snowy white, but the roads are dried up and perfect. It is still chilly in the high 30's though, so while my husband is out pedaling, I went for a longish run again. There were some icy parts where I needed to be careful not to slip, but all I can say is WOW!

One thing I will never get used to (because I never lived where there were real seasons until the last 4 years), is that when there is a break in the weather, you need to get things like holiday shopping, grocery shopping and getting to the post office, done while you have the window. It never occurs to me that you might be snowed/iced in for a while. We don't really have an "all-weather" car, and Mike thinks he is in Minnesota where it is flat. We have a half mile long steep hill to get up and down in the ice, and he gets annoyed with me when I tell him to slow down. Sigh.

I know we took our time in getting this done--but we applied for our Nevada Driver's Licenses at last. Our Minnesota ones were expiring on our birthdays and as much as I wanted to keep my Minnesota one, it was time to get a new one. So now my Minnesota DL has a hole punched in it, like my California one and I will be officially a Nevada citizen as soon as it arrives. Pretty exciting, huh?! Ha!

So I hope you are enjoying a lovely Saturday. This "in between the storm" thing is a good reminder to appreciate the beautiful days when you can go outside and play even more. Time to go take the small hound for a run in the snowy canyons! Enjoy the day!

16 random notes...

My friend Mary Ann started this thought with her random 16 notes. Here are mine!

1. I am blessed to feel so happily married to the right guy, even though I got a late start!
2. I love to ride my bike!
3. I have re-discovered the joy of running in the high desert.
4. I am my Mother's daughter, even though everyone says I look and act like my Daddy!
5. I love having my nephews living so close by now.
6. I want to learn to speak Italian.
7. I love to wake up right before the sun comes up and love the quiet of morning.
8. I am happy to have such a great friendship with my little brothers, who are both bigger than me now!
9. I am blessed not only with my Mom & Dad, but also my Mom & Dad-in laws.
10. I have met some amazing people in the cycling industry and am honored to get to work and play with my "collegues".
11. The best job I ever had was working at Silicon Graphics in the 80's & 90's.
12. ...And yet I am so happy to be out of high-tech-high dollars and into high tech bicycles and not so much money!
13. I love coffee and fresh baked bread.
14. I sometimes wish I had done things different in school (and finished what I started with as much energy as I had in the beginnning).
15. Running with my dog after work in the canyons behind my house is one of the best jobs I have.
16. I hope I always live in the mountains or by the Ocean or better yet, both! Cycling/Surfing keep me whole, but I haven't surfed regularly since I left San Francisco.

My Campagnolo Guy!

I love Mike's face in this photo. I know how silly this must sound for an email, but this is the face I fell for 9 years ago and I feel the same way about him now as I did then. How about that?!? He'll be embarrassed that I sent this message, but I snapped this photo of him this morning and just liked the way it looked in his Campagnolo Sportswear!.

The weeks just fly by like nobody's business. It is almost Thanksgiving. Mike and I are headed over the mountains to spend the holiday with California Mom & Dad this year. To make it extra special, Mom gets to take a vacation from chemo until 2009! It will be nice to be "somewhere" on vacation---with all the traveling I've done this year---none of it has been holiday---all work. So we are looking forward to time with family and friends and riding our bikes in our favorite places before the year is out.

We've actually got lots cooking and along with the changes in our country with our new President elect Obama, the "marching to the beat of their own drum" Taylor's have something up our bike-jersey sleeves as well. That ought to get your interest, but that is all I have to say about it right now.

I just returned from my longest run yet since I bought these Newton running shoes. I am sure everyone is tired of me talking about them, but these shoes have made all the difference for me. They are light as a feather and I don't know what magic is in there--but I can run without feeling all beat up and I am now cool with winter as long as I can be
outside running.

Anyway---Have a lovely Saturday!

Perfect...

...that would be the weather. No wind. Not a cloud in the big blue sky. Just about 70 degrees---and that autumn pinkish tinge of coloring on all the oranges, yellows and golds. Wow. Mt. Rose (the ski resort) opened up last Wednesday or Thursday for the season. Yes there is snow on top of the mountains around here---but where we live it is dry and sunny and just enough chill in the air for long sleeve jerseys and arm/leg warmers---but it really is gorgeous here.

Last week I put some major miles running for the first time in a long time (if it is in the 50's out I run instead of ride because I am getting too old! Ha!). I am trying to get fit enough to not injure myself for outdoor running this winter and if I wait until the snow flies, I will talk myself out of it because it will hurt and be cold. But I have to say that these new Newton running shoes are the bomb! Running is really my first love, thanks to my Mom making me do it, but I kept injuring myself. So cycling took it's place. And I love the bike. But nothing gets me buzzed like running and so these shoes have been the answer for me and I am super happy to be able to have something to do besides ride the trainer this winter. I get hot when I run----even when it's cold outside.

But with this late Indian summer---I am happily pedaling outside. Today I thought I'd head towards Rose---even though I didn't think I could do big miles since I have been winding down---it was just so darn nice outside. Legs felt great---even on the climbs and next thing I knew, I was being passed by skiers in cars and there was snow on the sides of the road. There is something about riding in the sun with people skiing around you that just feels good.

Mike and I both did long rides and then had a date for some All-You-Can-Eat sushi at our favorite neighborhood sushi place. I think when we first started going there, they were pretty happy to see us---we don't really look like BIG eaters. But now that we are more like regulars, they know better---we sure get our money's worth. Especially after 4-5 hour bike rides! Watch out----we are the "smokin' chopsticks!" To make it really perfect, we watched the Gopher/Badger game while we ordered up the gourmet sushi feast. I love these "dates" with Mike.

Tomorrow is supposed to be fantastic again---another long day on the bike is planned. I hope they get those fires out in SoCal. Happy Saturday!

The photo above was just sent to me from Las Vegas. Lance, Me and Jochim from the Top of the Rio. Photo courtesy of Mark DeFabry.

Running...

I could try and play catch up and talk about so many meaningful things that have occurred over the last few weeks, but instead I just returned from a nice long run and I am "run-buzzed" and feel like talking about how incredibly beautiful, albeit cold, it is today! And most importantly, why cold is fine when you run, and did I mention my new swanky running shoes? Ha!

Last night Mike and I went to see my nephew Daniel's season final football game. Between all the travel, Daniel being sick, and then last minute travel again, this was the only football game I was able to make this year. His team went undefeated and Daniel played the whole time. He plays offensive Guard. He's suddenly tall and lanky and has size 15 shoes. And he's beautiful...but he's on this list and doesn't need to hear his old proud Aunt saying stuff like this....uh hmmm...

So aside from hanging out with the Mehler clan and Greg, Kristine's brother from San Diego, what caught my eye was the "Lancer Blue" rubber (all-weather) running track! It is pristine and looks brand new and overlooks the downtown area with a full view of big mountains everywhere you look. Running at a mile high is hard enough when you're running up and down hills in the neighborhood. Top that off with hard pavement and it's a bit discouraging.

Well, this morning, I put on my new Newton running shoes which are fabulous, by the way, and headed back to the high-school to try out that track! Wow! I don't know if it is the shoes, the track, the views or a combination, but I am especially buzzed right now. I had to stop at 4.5 miles because I want to do it again tomorrow and I am on a slow build up training plan with these new shoes and can't over-due it.

In any case, this seems a bit mundane compared to the historical election and newfound hope and such renewed pride in my country, but I just had to write about it anyway.

Have a wonderful Saturday!

The Big Island!

Photo's all courtesy of my Belgian-American Colleague, David Alvarez!

Voting early - firsts & lasts

What a great idea! And for the first time in the last 9 years together, Mike and I went to the early voting polls centers to cast our vote together! I don't know which I find most amazing; that this is the first election that Mike and I have BOTH voted in together, or that we are coming up to our 9th Thanksgiving together (our first official date). In any case, it was easy fast and no BIG voting day lines to wait in. I highly recommend it!

Today is also the first day I feel grounded and home. I arrived back from The Big Island last Monday---flying out of Kailua-Kona on a red eye to San Francisco and it took me a week to feel human again. Ironman-Hawaii was an amazing thing to witness. I was more impressed not with the winning guys/gals, but the 75+ year olds and the guys on the hand-cycles, and the woman running for Pancreatic-Cancer. These folks won in different ways which were far more meaningful to me at least.

Even though it was a work-trip, we managed a few tourist and not-so-tourist sight seeing adventures in between sweating it out in the 100 degree, 100% humidity afternoons. We went to the Volcano national Park and hiked on the lava rocks out to watch the smoking hot lava fall into the ocean. We drove the saddle road between Mauna Kea & Mauna Loa and watched the sunset into the Pacific Ocean, visited a local Kona coffee farm and watch the whole process of picking, drying and roasting coffee beans, visited the reserves where Islanders would go for safety from each other and Caption Cooks burial (only accessible via a sea-kayak or extreme mountain biking trails) and watched spinner dolphins and sea turtles swimming along with everyone else.

It took me a week to adjust to the very dry climate again in the high-desert and then we headed to Markleeville yesterday and rode the passes in the cool fall weather. My internal climate control system is back to normal now. And Fall is just what this little Taylor needed! It is perfect now. My ride today was the first time I have been alone by myself to reflect on things.

My Great Uncle died yesterday. He was over 90 years old and he lived a long and nice life. He just set off to take an afternoon nap, feeling a little tired and went to sleep and never woke up. Today on my ride I climbed extra hard and laughed about things he would say. When he laughed, you couldn't hear him, but you could see him laughing. It was very special. My Papa (his dad) laughed the same way. It's what I will always remember about him.

So firsts & lasts are in my heart forever. I loved voting with Mike today. It sounds silly, but it felt very grown up.

I am happy to be home for awhile! My colleague has all the photo's from Hawaii. I will try and get some and send them on.

Scrap-mo!

4 legged e-Richie fanmo!

Aloha!

A very proper salutation since it is Hawaiian for both Hello and Goodbye. Last planned work trip and I am off to the Big Island...Kona, for the infamous Ironman Triathalon for a week. It has really been a tough last two months travel-wise. So after next week I can relax and enjoy the Fall in the High Sierra desert for a spell.

Mike and I were both really tired this week after a week-long stint in Las Vegas. What a crazy town. Still, it was a pretty successful week, despite the economy, Bicycle Retailers are still confident that, like in past financial turmoil, the cycling business is somewhat resilient to what is happening everywhere else. There's a difference in what they are looking at and luckily both of our brands have compelling enough characteristics this year to be attractive to retailers who are bringing in the bling.

California Mom & Dad and my "local" Mehler's all took care of the Scrapper while we were gone. It's very nice having family close by and I am looking forward to some fall Football games once this week is through.

BUT...it ain't all bad! I am going to Hawaii in October and I get to watch one of the most exciting Tri-Races in the world. And it was amazing how quickly I was able to find a local who has a "longboard" for me to borrow while I am there. Surfing in Hawaii sounds pretty good right now! Especially with the first storm of the season blowing in as we speak. The wind is howling right now! Mike left to go for a ride---he's nuts. I am thinking I might head out to buy some tropical clothing! (smile)

In any case---I will get back to writing soon. I miss everyone! Mahalo & Aloha! Happy Saturday!

On top of the Rio!