This weekend I stumbled across a wonderful site cataloging derailleurs over the years. Supposedly only half done it showcases some amazing exotics alongside some that are a bit more common, and all photographed and presented very nicely. The creator has this to say:

“I have tried to include the good and the bad, the worn and the new, the exotic and the commonplace. Most of all I have tried to use a dry collection to tell some stories. People, both consumers and producers, are often passionate about bicycles, and the story of the derailleur has its share of drama and tragedy.”

Certainly the derailleur is one of the most abused parts on a bike and unwillingly has to become a workhorse like no other. I am pretty excited to see the collection finished in all its glory, determination and a little extra time can be a beautiful thing. Plus who can’t dig on a site named after the great album from Mr. Bruce, Baker and Clapton, which was named after an inside joke between Clapton and Baker when their roadie Mick Turner commented on a conversation they had about Clapton getting a race bike. Turner had said “it’s got them Disraeli Gears”, meaning to say “derailleur gears,” but instead referring to 19th Century British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli; weird connections, but what a great album.

Have a peek around Disraeli Gears.

The long romance with spring and summer is gone, but somehow it has managed to be overly sunny and warm this fall. It’s not yet that time to start thinking about white blankets covering every inch of the road, but soon it will come, along with that nasty thick, salty sand. Doesn’t it make your ears sing at the thought of all that grinding in your drivetrain? It almost makes me want to sit inside and watch Home Alone back-to-back instead.

I think I would fall off my bike if this happened to me during a ride. The “spectators” do a great job, complete with a streaker and all!

Maine Part 3.

Same trip this past August, just some more pictures I found while rummaging.

Cervélo Test Team – Beyond the Peloton

When I first saw these I was quite happy; a kid in a candy store with glowing eyes fixed on that wonderous Wonka bar. In actuality I was just glad someone had documented the beginnings of a small team struggling through rough waters. Hearing that the Cervélo Test Team was the only team in a very long time to be fully sponsored and closely knit with an actual bicycle manufacturer (and not a bank) only got me that much more excited. This is the team I had been waiting to follow, especially when Sastre announced he would be part of it and with a string of amazing riders it seems like what first was a story of underdogs, became something great.

Check out every episode of Beyond the Peloton, all of them are good.

Specialized Tarmac SL3

Great review of the new SL3 over at Velodramatic.

Why can’t Santa Clause actually be real?

Sargent & Co.

St. Stephen, New Brunswick, CA

The second and last ride I ended up doing up north, a quick out and back. It covered 70 miles, and a mellow 1500 vertical ft. of rolling hills through New Brunswick countryside, scattered with farms, churches, cows and the occasional automobile. 755 was the best part of the route; not one car passed me in either direction. All and all not the most epic rides ever, but certainly enjoyable.

Calais, ME

The first ride I did, a short and fun loop. Only 50 miles and about 1,000 vertical ft, great views near the coast all along Route 1 and beautifully smooth, car-less roads all through Moosehead Wildlife Reserve.

Maine.

For the next 5 days I will be riding in Maine, just across from New Brunswick, and just maybe a nice little photo journal will follow.

We were both yearning for a different route. My routes went stale about a year ago and I haven’t had much opportunity to travel with the road bike. Gail (pictured) was in the same spot–and she suggested we meet in a neutral location and go from there.

We met in the Bertucci’s parking lot in downtown Amherst. I was in charge of the route and I scrolled back the memory files to my college days when I started riding while attending UMASS. We pedaled past my old dormitory (Van Meter), past Puffer’s Pond, and out to Leverett. It was a quick out & back but we managed a small loop down Juggler’s Meadow Road, which was perhaps the most delightful portion of the ride. No cars, woods, country homes, meadows, freshly paved roads–perfect.

And I was done by 11:00AM!

–Karen

Originally uploaded by sipclip&go

Rope Swing @ camp

Originally uploaded by sipclip&go

I’m a couple hours from heading east, then north to New Hampshire for a short week in the Lakes/ White Mountains Region. On tap for the week: fishing, canoeing, swimming. A day at Storyland is planned (that’s for my son, who considers it an annual religious pilgrimage at this point in his young life). And of course, there will be cycling. Although not as much as you’d think. I’m hoping for at least two good rides.  Three would be a bonus.  I’ll take what I can get.

The picture I’ve included is something that only represents fun and leisure to me, personally. This is the rope swing at camp. My mood immediately changes when I see this photo. As a teen, I sketched this tree hundreds of times. That’s the Ossipee River slowly moving behind it, and if you look closely, a raft out there in one of the few deep spots of the river.

I grew up here, summers only, and I want my son to associate summers, fun, leisure, and friends with our camp as well. When he’s old enough he’ll climb to the top of that tree and cannonball in to the mere 4 1/2 feet of water below. He’ll get a good rope burn from holding the rope the wrong way and jumping off. He’ll forget to let go and hit the tree. He’ll tear his foot against a rusty nail in the trunk of the tree. He’ll encounter a water snake 4 feet long that lives under the logs in the swimming holes. He’ll pull leeches from his legs. Yes, all the cherished memories of my past, I want him to have too. That’s just the kind of parent I am

–Karen

* note–one of the coolest bike stunts I’ve ever seen was of this older boy who propped up a dock that was not in the water as a ramp at the river’s edge, right next to this tree. He’d climb the hill to the road, get on his BMX bike and rocket his way to that ramp. He launched so high over the water and then landed in the river still on the pedals of his bike. He’d wear cut off jeans, sneakers with no socks, and nothing else. It was AWESOME.

View of Quabbin, Windsor Dam

Originally uploaded by sipclip&go

Oh June was a long, hard month. I think I had an easier time in February than I did in June. I definitely exercised more in February. But now we’re into July and getting a little more sun than rain (thank God!). And at last, my class is done, summer is here, and I’m back on the bike.

Sort of.

My other roadblock to cycling more than once a week is the glaring lack of a babysitter. I *love* my sitter, a studious young woman on full scholarship to Mount Holyoke College down the street from where I live. Alas, she’s home for the summer, and I’m sitterless.

Nonetheless, I got out and did 35 miles last Wednesday. The weather has been changeable–check out those clouds over the Quabbin. Beautiful, but I didn’t want to get caught so far from home in another thunderstorm.

I have another ride planned this Wednesday, Mt biking Friday night, road riding Saturday and Sunday morning, in between packing for a vacation to NH.

The thing that frustrates me right now with my cycling is the lack of a goal. I still want to do a century, but since deciding NOT to do another LIVESTRONG ride this year, I feel directionless. I need to find a suitable century or another event (a team version of a triathlon this fall is being discussed with my SCAG group of mountain bikers). Not having a goal with meaning is starting to bother me. Dare I say, it feels almost selfish not to be involved with a charity event this year (maybe I should change that). I still derive a lot of pleasure from cycling, but it’s changing for me. I used to work out a lot of personal problems on the bike. It was a place for me to think things out. My personal life is pretty great right now, so that’s not necessary (what am I complaining about again?). Also, Heather and I are not in heated competition this year to rack up the most miles (Heather, I still owe you that twenty five bucks). It’s not that I’ve lost my mojo, it’s just that it’s misplaced, I think. If anyone knows where I can find it, let me know. I’m gonna keep looking in the meantime.

–Karen

Why does it take most people so long to get out of their comfort zones? I came down to Tucson on Tue to see my friend’s daughter for her last track meet of the season…they had been asking me to come down for months & she is 5.  I made excuses of why I couldn’t come down to Tucson for about a year and finally decided to trek down there. Yes, I own my own business, yes I have a gazillion things to do on a daily basis to get this going in a global recession, but the decision to get out of my comfort zone and head down was good for me, my business and most importantly my state of mind.

First of all, watching a bunch of little kids run around a track, do the long jump and do the softball throw was good for the soul. They were adorable and having a good time as they start of learn about competition but without the pre-race jitters and expectations you experience as an adult. They were just out there because it was fun. We can all learn a lesson from seeing kids who are enjoying doing what their doing for the simple reason that it makes them smile.

Second, it was good for my business for me to get out of my daily routine and focus on only the projects I brought with me. Without all the reminders of the multitude of things that I have to get done this week I was much more focused on the project at hand.  I got the blog up and formatted all the photos of the new product that will be loaded up on the Angry Onë site.  I also ran into a friend at the track meet that I hadn’t seen since my undergrad days at U of A plus some other people at one of my favorite coffee houses, Raging Sage, that noticed my shirt from the new ‘Kick cancer’s ass‘ line. Now I’ve got some leads on a stores that might carry my line just from going to see a 5 yrs kick arse in the long jump.

long jump air

At for my last point, I got a chance to go ride road bikes this morning with a good friend while taking in the fresh air, there was a big storm last night & there’s nothing like the desert when it rains.  There’s something special about riding first thing in the morning before the hustle & bustle of the city starts up, next to mountains that have been there before we got here and will be here after we go & being able to connect with people that share your love of the exercise & the outdoors.

The brutal heat of Phoenix will be a little easier to take today when I head up there and think about the smile on my little long jumper’s face when she saw me drive up to the track.  The smallest effort can make a huge difference in someone’s life…even if they are only 5.

June was a bad month for me.  Everything else in life was great–but as far as getting a workout in?  Forget it.  Sure, I went mountain biking a couple times in Colorado, and once with my SCAG Ladies group, but I only got on the road bike once.  Once!  The rain is partly to blame, my crazy busy schedule, and my Internet Marketing class I’m taking at UMASS/Amherst (done officially July 9th….in the home stretch!)  Last week I even went running instead of riding, because of the thunderstorms that have plagued the northeast for the last 2 months. 

As a result, I’ve felt awful.  I’ve put three pounds on.  I’m cagey.  I miss my bike, I miss the road.  I want to hurt for three days after a workout I miss it so bad.  And today, my day off the forecast calls for…..

You guessed it!  Thunderstorms!

Screw this, I thought.  I have had it.  I filled the water bottle, pumped the tires and headed out under threatening skies.  I rode a short & sweet 19 miles, with just a few sprinkles.  My speed was fast (for me) considering I have barely been riding.  On the flats I maintained 20mph easily.  My average for the ride was 15 (I have a hilly route).  An idea crept into my brain somewhere on the road. 

What if I went running today too?

I ran last with consistency when I was 30 years old.  I trained for, and ran, a 5 mile road race.  It was my way of thumbing my nose at turning 30–a little birthday present for my self-esteem. I don’t even enjoy running.  I find it an arduous chore.  Pointless.  Dull.  Boring.  Running should be done only if you are running after something, or running from something.  Otherwise, why do it? (other than to spite your age)

I returned home from my ride.  I logged my miles on bike journal.  I checked my email.  I checked my snail mail.  I changed my shirt, strapped on my running shoes and headed out the door.  I wasn’t really tired from 19 miles of riding, this should be no big deal.

The first 200 yards sucked.  I mean I was like “wtf am I doing this for?”  That was that little hill right near my house.  After that, I settled down.  I didn’t run long, about a mile and 1/2, but when I got home I was psyched.  Happy.  I’d never done a “brick.”  And it wasn’t exactly easy.  But I’m thinking this might be the little ass-kicking I need to push myself athletically.  I’m not training for a triathlon.  I just want my waistline back.  So maybe a brick a week?  With longer distances for both the riding and the running and no email checks in between.  

Sounds good to me.

–Karen

That’s been my life lately – a little sweet but a lot of bitter.

The haps of my life, lately: I got a car. CRAZY! First one of my own in 6 years and I gotta say it feels real weird but maybe not as much as the location where I park it: mom’s house. That’s where I’m living as of two weeks ago when Clare and I officially checked out of 1111 Maxwell Ave, Boulder, CO. Hello to not-quite-Bermuda, Remuda Lane, Lafayette, CO! I actually like being at my mom’s far more now that I’ve spent some time there.

When we’d go to visit before it felt like a cross country trudge to the middle of nowhere. With lots of open space and farms and cattle and foxes…and cottontail bunnies EVERYWHERE…East Lafayette is a really neat, pretty place. And quieter than Maxwell as you can imagine. But back to the car – it’s a 1974 BMW “2002″, the same ilk of which I test drove numerous times back in my high school days. This one is by far the nicest I’d ever driven (that’s not saying much but still…), the body and interior is in pretty great shape and it runs, like kinda good, enough so to be a full fledged “daily driver,” according to the mechanic from whom I bought it. I refer the car as “her” and “she” like any good old-car owner. For example, “she needs a few minutes to warm up before you take off in the morning” and “don’t slam her trunk too hard, she’s a little ‘long in the tooth’!” I’ve literally said these things in the past couple days to my family’s amusement.

I went to Rocky Mounts the other day and had the new Pitchfork trays installed – awesome deal thanks to Bobby and our team discount. It’s amazing writing about all of this – cars, bike racks, the idea of me owning a car…for the last 6 years I’ve been car less but it’s amazing how quickly you get right back into the habit. I’m not making any declaration that I’ll keep commuting by bike a certain amount/week but I know that my general lifestyle has been affected by those 6 years and of course you can’t easily erase it.

What else…I’m going to San Luis Obispo, CA this Thursday for a couple of races and to check out the town. I’ve been intrigued by this place for a while and will definitely be scrutinizing it as a potential place to relocate. I’ve pretty much had it with winter – I don’t really ski or snowboard anymore, I didn’t have a car (and my new one is OLD and not going to be very fun on slick roads and with a weak heater), my hands numb with even the slightest exposure to chill (my ciruclation suuuucks), I love to train on my bike which is far less fun in cold weather, and finally, I’m just straight up sick of it. All of this leads to thoughts of year long temperate weather where I can ride and maybe resurect my old dreams of being a surfer. We’ll see, I’ll take tons of photos in any case, and post to this blog. I’m really excited about this trip, I plan on watching fireworks from the beach on the quatro de Julio, or whatever.

I’ve been doing long rides every weekend since the first of June (the 80 mile Hugo road race). 3.5 hrs, 4 hrs, 3 hrs is how it’s gone since. Very enjoyable and learning how to better fuel myself on rides that long. Usually leave with two bottle of water on the bike and one bottle of Gatorade in the pocket, a couple gels or a bar, and then a stop for some gnarly junk food to make it back home (last week it was a smores flavored Pop Tart ).

We’ve had some good rides with the Flatiron Flyers lately at our Monday practices, love the kids like crazy and people are getting nicknamed (Jacque is now known as “Chuck,” pretty funny to transform a proper French name into something clearly less French and more southern, haha).

I’ve been pretty entertained with these two ladies’ blogs: YessPlease and Elbee by Burton and their “30 Days of Awesome” quest. I don’t know either of them but somehow I’m friends with one of them on FB so like any good interent vampire I clicked through and began to read her blog, then finding her friend’s. Obviously I don’t want to bite their concept completely but I am looking to challenge myself to experience some more consistently awesome days in this life. There is just so much more shit out there than work + bike ride + Facebook + internet-in-general + John Coltrane on my iPod + whatever other routines I maintain on the constant. I’m thinking July 1, 2009 will be the beginning of what I’m coining the first “man up & get right” month of my life. It’ll be hard, I’m sure.

This will hopefully entail my bucking the safety in routine habits I’ve developed, my balking at what scares me, my refraining from doing interesting things b/c I want to go on yet another, bike ride. It’ll involve sticking my thumb out and seeing what sticks, being more social, being a bit more like my brother and sister (without the homelessness and jam bands…ok, maybe the jam bands). My having the most “get right” summer month of my life. Amen.

After the lunch ride.

Yesterday I got out on my road bike for a lunch time ride in a neighborhood near Dave’s office. Things started off a little rough, but it ended up being a good ride. First thing, Dave had a bunch of stuff in the back of his car, so I had to bring my bike in the Subaru. I tried to take the wheel off but something is definitely not right – even after loosening the wheel and pulling the lever near the front brake, the tire could not fit through the front two brake pads. I don’t know what’s going on but I forced the whole bike with wheels on into the back. Phew! Next, I get in my car and the digital temperature display says 97 degrees. OMG, I almost ran back into the air conditioning right then. I thought better and started driving.

By the time I met Dave the thermometer said 92, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that while I was on the bike I was much cooler, the wind helps for sure.

Two things that got me through the ride:

• Aveeno Sunscreen- Love this stuff. Sweatproof, waterproof and doesn’t make your face breakout. 
• Leftover gouda mac n cheese- Gouda, milk, butter, pasta. I’ve been eating the leftovers for three days and had a small bowl half an hour before the ride. And a large bowl after. 

A short blog post for a short ride. It was just good to get out.

I finally rode my bike today.  I did a 35-minute ride at lunch (and forgot to reset my bike computer so not quite sure the distance… opps) and the cars still scared me and my heart was racing, but I had a huge smile on my face when I made it back to my car in one piece. Phew! The ride was mostly through a very large neighborhood with some small hills, just enough to challenge my out-of-shape lungs and legs. I only had to venture out in a heavy traffic for about half a mile, making it a very enjoyable experience. 

Over the weekend I braved another fear, being stuck underwater.  I headed over to the U.S. National Whitewater Center for Girls Day Out. I have to hand it to the Whitewater Center for an amazing event. It was very organized and I was thrilled at

Tia and me at the Whitewater Center after our kayak lesson.

what my $30 ticket price got me – a practically private 2-hour whitewater kayak lesson (plus some snacks, and wine and beer samples… yum). I was in a group with three other women as we learned the basics of whitewater kayaking. One of the first things our instructor taught us was how to “wet exit.” I tried to remain calm when it was my turn, carefully replaying the steps in my head of pulling the grab loop, pushing myself out of my kayak and swimming to the surface. In reality, as soon as I flipped over I had a mini freak out, water went up my nose and I frantically grabbed for the loop to free my skirt from the kayak. After “mastering” the wet exit we swam two small rapids and then paddled them in the boat… I made it through without flipping over, which again, left a huge smile on my face. 

Apparently not getting hit by cars and not being upside down underwater make me smile.

Are you as fit or conditioned mentally as you are physically for your next ride or race?  Whether you are going on a road ride or mountain bike ride your mental attitude plays a big, more like the majority, role in your success.  Notice I said success and not failure…..we might as well get on the “right” foot here.  There is no place for negative thoughts before a ride or obstacle and positive ones can always be found.

Just as the laws of motion define the way things move, the way we think defines how we move.  For every negative thought, there is an equal and opposite, positive thought.  Think of every obstacle you encounter on your mountain bike as a chance to excel; not a chance to put a scratch on your shiny bike.  Think of every piece of road as purposeful; the ones less traveled are builders of character and strength.  Think of the wind as always blowing in your direction; at your back,it’s helping you along; in your face, it’s giving you a taste of what’s ahead; to the side, it’s keeping you from traffic or from the shoulder. Your bike never breaks by itself and would last years if you didn’t touch it; never blame your bike.  Hills are great; if we didn’t have hills, Shimano wouldn’t be in business!

One of my favorite quotes and words I try to live by came from JFK, which I have written on my top tube by the way, “Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly”.  A bit more profound than “Yes we can” because let’s face it, at times there are things that happen beyond our control and we can’t.  If you have the chance to race against Lance, take it! Not because “you think you can” beat him, but because if you dare and he has a bad, albeit very bad, day you may succeed.  If you go to a race and don’t win it’s not because you lost, it’s because someone else rode better than you and you had no control over that person.  Likewise, pushing yourself to complete your first century or conquer an obstacle on your mountain bike takes a willingness to succeed.

I hope some of these thoughts help you get through your next ride; if they don’t, I’m positive you didn’t need them in the first place.

This week’s tip was inspired by a thorn in my tire which I was happy to remove from the street.  When patching your tube, stretch the tube around your pump or other cylindrical object when scuffing it up.  This allows the sandpaper to work better and provides a good base to support your tube.  Don’t forget to remove the thorn from your tire before replacing your tube!

By the way…..Did you happen to see Lance lose the Giro or Team Astana win the Giro?

Have a good ride!

Brain picture by dierk schaefer

Let me introduce you to two of my friends. They are lonely and dirty. They hang out all day with sawdust, tennis balls and plastic totes. 

Their names are Pink Bike and Road Bike. Get to know them.

Pink Bike and Road Bike

Pink Bike- Clearly my favorite bike. I’ve had her for three years now. Her official title is Trek 6700 WSD. She’s got an impressive resume and lots of great parts, most important to me is her paint job. My husband found this bike for me after scouring northeast bike shops for “a pink mountain bike.” I picked her up from a Bikeline in Allentown, Penn. after a short business trip down to Philadelphia. Pink Bike saw her fair share of miles the first two years I owned her, making her way through the mountains and bike trails of the Berkshire Mountains, where we used to live.  Since our relocation to Charlotte, N.C. about a year and a half ago she’s hit the dirt less than 10 times. She’s sad and dusty.

Road Bike- Obviously the step-child of the group, it shames to me admit paying a pretty penny for her and riding her less than five times since she took up residence with us. I want to like road riding, but I hate it. The roads are busy in our little suburb and the cars scare the crap out of me. She is also known as 1.2 WSD. (She gets the pink water bottle cage so she can be more like her sister.)

Hang out with me and my bikes as we make the summer of ‘09 the year we all get out on the trails and road a little more!

The climb peaked at about 8000′ and was roughly the half way point of the ride.  A quick hello to another rider, an added jacket, a couple energy bars and I was on my way.  After the top there is a quick, very quick, descent to the intersection of Rist Canyon and Stove Prairie Rd.  I chose to turn south on Stove Prairie Rd towards Masonville, but turning right and heading down to Poudre Canyon Highway is a great ride too.  From here the 3000 feet of elevation gained on the ascent quickly disappears and it was a good choice not to test my cut sidewall on the road bike.  After passing through Masonville heading towards Horsetooth lake, I must have been passed by every Harley rider in Northern Colorado.  There is a saying that “a loud motorcycle is a safe motorcycle”….and I believe it! They were plenty safe!  At least the first fifty or so, the rest I have no idea.  I’m glad to see boats back in the reservoir even if it means the return of afternoon showers.  Like a horse heading to the barn, I chose the most direct route home — Horsetooth Rd to Ziegler.  Total trip distance was 55 miles with all but the last five virtually non stop pedaling!

I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I did and I highly recommend it as a great ride for some sustained climbing and scenic views — just watch out for the turtle!

Finally, you can probably imagine that this week’s tip comes directly from my own experience -- that’s right, check your bike after each ride to ensure it’s road worthiness for the next ride.  I myself plead guilty to not following this rule all the time but if I hadn’t quickly checked my tires could have proved costly out on the road.

Before I let you get away there’s a couple more bits of information I’d like to share.  We’re looking for a blog from YOU.  Nothing big 300 – 400 words about ”summer is here”, or soon to be.  Oh yeah! it is a contest and to the winner goes a pair of sweet socks and the distinction of being posted on the site.  Visit Leescyclery.com for more details.  Also, there is a bike fest at Lory State Park this Saturday, May 30th you shouldn’t miss.  Plenty of bike demos and other gear on display from a host of different bike shops.  Guided group rides for all levels and abilities throughout the day are also on the agenda which I will be taking part in; first ride goes off at 10:30.  I hope to see you out there and get the chance to ride with you.

Thank you Eric James 26 for the Rist Canyon picture

Huh.  Am still kinda mixed up and kinda,sorta miserably tired.  

Ok, so there were mountains.  And it wasn’t really all that miserable, UNTIL THE END!  Who on earth thought of ending a 103 mile ride with 4 miles of brutal uphill climbing at  more than 12% and full of switchbacks just to take that last bit of fight out of you?? 

The MOM people and they are dang proud of it!  

I rode this as a training ride as a good workout kickoff to training hard again before Buffalo Springs/ Lubbock 70.3.  It was great fun and I chilled out, letting groups go after the first 30 miles and then I decided to move along a bit more, zone 3 of 5, aerobic threshold.  Then around mile 60 I passed an elite Cyclocross rider from Maryland, Elizabeth who said she was the lead female.  Oh crud!  Game time.  Guess we girls were going to podium.  Training day went from easy to not so easy with one simple sentence.   Ok, push a bit harder. 

I know mountain centuries aren’t races, but who doesn’t want to place near the top dogs?  I suppose you’d have to learn how to jump on the lead pack or second pack and hang on, letting others do the work and clawing your way to the finish on somebody else’s wheel.  The famous first-place finisher, Flavia … can do just that and  can HANG with the boys!   I admire her determination to ride an entire century without stopping for cookies or even one water break.  Wow.  You go, girl.   You deserve #1.  

Personally, I’ll take the handfuls of cookies, the nice rest-stops, and the descents on my cowardly own. 

Since I’m not a roadie at heart,  I can’t do that sit- in, group-ride thing a whole lot. I’ve got to do it myself, which costs me precious time but pays me back in a training load I control and can say that I do my own work.   So I did that, foolishly thinking I was indeed the #1 female.  The joke was on me but nobody told it to me until mile 99.   How funny is that!?

Note to self, check your ego at the door, sista!

So at the last rest stop and place to bail out completely, a volunteer said to me, breaking through the fog of my pain and suffering, climbing at  4.5 mph.  ”#2 female coming through!  Go, Stacey (reading my bib), get on and finish it!”  

#2????  Say Wa????  

And indeed, I am unofficially #2 until results go up.  Not #1 age-group triathlete silly girl, but rather #2, put in my place by better riders.  And you know what?  I like it here.  

Next up, Over the Mountain Triathlon.  I want more mountains.

Yea, that’s what some of my friends call me. No, it’s not because I’m dumpster diving looking for recycled treasures. It’s because I’m one of the few people in Santa Monica and the Venice, CA area who actually uses the alleys. Why? They are the safest way for me to bike around the city. Yes, I’m one of the very few who live in LA and don’t have a car. It’s not that I can’t afford one. I CHOOSE not to have one. It’s just one way I’ve dedicated myself to a kinder, gentler life. I’m worried about Mother Nature and want to do anything I can to help out with the environment…. so, I sold my car 6 months ago. I used to drive An FX35 Infiniti small SUV. It’s a fantastic car but every time I drove it I felt guilty.. super guilty. I bought it when I lived in CT and was doing a lot of road trips for bike and adventure races. Yes, I’ve slept in the back of that thing many, many times. So at the time I felt alright because I was a girl who actually USED her SUV for gear. That’s another nickname I have… waaaaay too much gear. The good news is my friends all know they can borrow it any time they want. Need 3 climbing harnesses? Got you covered.
Anyhow, back to my crusade for greener transportation. I’ve always been a cyclist. My biggest passion is road riding and mountain biking and I try to get out as much as I can. Santa Monica has the best weather so I can ride any damn day I please – I mean I LOVE biking. I also have two cruiser bikes –which used to be your standard beach bikes, until I gave up my car.. now they both have baskets, lights, locks and reflection tape on them. It’s not that I had some magical wake up call or anything. I just found that when I was at home, I was always choosing a bike over my vehicle. I work for the Travel Channel so I am on the road tons.. airplanes, trains and lots of driving. So when I would return home for a few days, I wanted to feel the wind threw my hair. Most think I’m absolutely crazy because I can rock it on the bike, even dressed up for the night, heels and all. And it’s a great way to keep the sexy legs in shape.
Back to the alleys. No one uses them in this town. No, I take that back, the garbage guys do but they love seeing me coming their way. I get a lot of smiles on the bike and it makes me feel good. I’m doing my part. What are you doing I ask? I know not everyone can bike to work.. but seriously you can walk or bike to a lot of different places in your schedule. Stop making excuses and hop on two wheels. There’s nothing sexier!!