Ramblings...

I think it's safe to say that I go through suitcases like some people go through running shoes.

An interesting tale.

In the last two days I have seen my share of a different side of Vegas than most of us see during Interbike. I have seen plenty of hookers and thugs, thugs getting busted by cops, hookers looking for the trick, cops pulling over people with movie cameras to document the moment(!), lots and lots of cops and sirens in action actually, casinos, tourists, normal people, some not so normal people, Starbucks everywhere, Whole Foods to save my gluten free life (and to save my gut from any major drama like recently), running for shade by the middle of the day because it's so darn hot, but then freezing my arse off indoors because everyone keeps the A/C on so high indoors.....then add to that about ten very different, very unique visits with Las Vegas area bike shops and two visits to two "new to me" 24 hr fitness centers and there you have it. A work trip to Vegas. Big girl style....all by herself. I didn't even get lost that much!
Crossing my fingers I will actually get to ride my bike here before i leave tomorrow...so off to bed I go. it's an EARLY start....but something tells me there are some nice places to ride outside of town, and I need to learn about them because I will be back here in December (and then again about every 6-8 weeks), and it would be nice to be familiar with and enjoy the outdoors and not just do gym time!

It'll be a miracle if I make that early of a start considering how long my days have been, but it sure would be a great way to end the trip!

One thing I know for sure....I will be more than ready for the weekend come friday! And I couldn't be happier that the time change if finally coming!!!!!!!!!!!

First true love...

This little Ibis Mojo is not my first bike, nor will it be my last....but it is definitely the first racing bike I have ever fallen in love with. I finally found my way back on the little thing last weekend and hit up some "new to me" dirt trails in a "new to me park" (with new friends down here in SoCal). On this day, I was reminded just how special this bike is to me.

We rode some pretty tough trails (and I think I may have been the only hardtailer on most of the tough ones we rode) however, funny thing is... even with the fact that the travel on my old fork was basically non-existent, my tire tread was minimal, one of my wheels in my wheel set has a nice dent in it to the point where I had to place a tube in the tubeless wheel, yaddi yaddi ya, you get the point, right? ...honestly, even with all of that I have to say, once I got going on her ("White Lightning" is my bike's name) I was in total and complete trust that I could handle the trails, regardless of how tough they were, and regardless of all the "issues" with my bike. I felt like I was hopping on a horse that had been my friend for life!

It was such an amazing day....I love that bike.
In all reality....it was from riding this bike (in Annadel State Park) that I developed the skills, the confidence, and the fitness that enabled me to go on to become a fearless little criterium racer in the pro peloton.


There are only two other bikes that have a place in my heart like that one. The first one being my little pink Stingray, that I taught myself to ride when I was about six-years old (I can still remember the first moment I made it around the corner in front of my house without having to put my foot down!...little did I know what love I would have for corners later on as a professional rider!!). And the other bike being this little 24" wheel Schwinn road bike my dad got for me when I said I didn't want to race BMX anymore, but I still wanted my own bike. I remember loving being in the big ring and loving being on the road, and loving going really, really fast (a feeling that you just couldn't get on a bmx bike!). I was far too young, and out of the loop to know that the bike I was riding was a style of bike that was actually being raced (by women!) but had I known....who knows what could have or would have happened! I think I was about twelve when I got that bike and I remember thinking how cool it was when my dad put a MotoFox sticker on it (a bmx thing). So that was my bike's name "The Green Fox" ....it would be over twenty years before I got back onto a road bike, and even a couple more before I ever raced one....but that little road bike and some of the moments I had riding it are forever embedded into my brain --the feeling of high speed, and the wind in my face, and the urge to race cars (lol), and the pressure in my legs from using big gears, and most notably, the pure freedom that I felt when on two wheels.....those are the things that make me realize, (like so many people) I have loved bikes practically my whole life, to the point where I almost feel bad when someone tells me they don't ride bikes, because I know, as many others do, the pure joy that can from riding at any age and in any fashion. Okay...sappy bike love story over :)

word to the world on two wheels
RIDE ON RIDE ON

This is one of those days....

...where i have gained a little perspective.

it took having a heart to heart conversation with someone very special, and all i can say is that i am forever grateful that there are some pretty amazing and wonderful people in my life to help me by simply listening and then giving me such valuable feedback! the subject is not exactly important....it's more or less a reminder to believe in, support, and value the people in our lives that sometimes we take for granted!

making that comment is probably a little more personal than a typical brenda blog post...but hey, i don't have any concerns about sharing my feelings when compelled to do so. there you have it.

and....in other news, last night i had a tough evening of major tummy cramps (miss super sensitive ate something that didn't go over so well!). essentially i didn't sleep a wink and ended up missing an event that i had planned on attending with one of my bike shop dealers. i feel horrible about missing something i committed to, but at some point...i had to choose between a little rest for the wicked, or run out on another terror mission and risk crashing and burning in the very near future, especially considering that my life has been rolling along at the speed of light lately!

so as i lay there at 5am this morning, the smart side of me said....it's time to rest and heal, and hope that the bike shop dealer will understand. something tells me this was all meant to be, but trust me....i did not like to fail on a commitment, nor did i like to be buckled over with stomach cramps for half the night....just to learn a lesson! it's been a way more than busy time for me with work and travel....to the point where i work very hard to add in all the other normal elements of life, like spending time at "home", getting to exercise, see and talk with friends and loved ones etc etc etc...

fortunately, i am pretty in tune with myself, and can usually see that brick wall from a distance away...thus thankfully, i have usually been able make sure i don't go slamming into it!!

so...i'm going to sit back...take in a little sunshine, spend some time on two wheels, spend some time with special peeps and then get back on a roll come Monday.

the word of the weekend: Rejuvenation.

ciao

Along the way....I met Maya

So it was a normal day for me. I was parking my car to head in to see one of my dealers, Ira's Bike shop in Arroyo Grande.

Suddenly, just a few feet away from me, I saw this young gal have a pretty bad crash on her bike. It was a nasty crash, actually, and I immediately went to her aid. I basically had to run after her and tell her to stop (the adrenaline and embarrassment of the crash made her just get up and attempt to take off on her bike!)I convinced her to get off her bike, have a seat on the curb, and then I worked on calming her down by asking her to take a few deep breaths, and telling her she could trust me, because I too, was a bike rider and I knew what it was like to crash (little did she know how many times!!). We made our way over to the nearby public restroom to clean her up and we called her Mom. I stayed with her til her Mom could get out of work and come take her to the Emergency Room. In the meantime, I congratulated her for her bravery, and for wearing a helmet, and of course I showed her all my scars from the bunches of crashes I have had over the years.....but told her I still love to ride bike, even after all my crashes.

So...her Mom came, they hugged, they packed up the bike and off they went to see the doctor. That was that. Or so I thought.

This week Maya's mother called me and our conversation nearly brought me to tears. She told me about Maya and how shy she is, and how this was a big step in life that they were taking to have her start riding her bike to and from school (I think Maya must be about twelve or thirteen years old...and just learned to pedal on two wheels a year ago or so). Sandy, Maya's mom, told me that the day after the accident she told Maya that she didn't have to ride her bike to school anymore if she didn't want to and Maya looked at her and said...."Mom, that is the best part of my day."

.....that's the part that almost brought me to tears. How cool is that. What a trooper. Below is an email I received from Maya just recently. It made my day.

I think I have made a new friend :)






Hi It's Maya. Thank you soooo much for helping me on last Tuesday. I went to the urgent care and they gave me stitches. The wound under my nose is healing, but the one on my knee hurts the most. I'm feeling better, and Ira fixed my bike.
If you hadn't been there, a lot of bad things could have happened.


Maya

okay...maybe I am bragging a little....but c'mon we are talking about a teenager here!

I just can't help it, my son continues to blow my mind.

Our most recent conversation consisted of him telling me how excited he was to go on a field trip to The main PG&E Facility in San Francisco, where he and his classmates were going to learn about the PG&E plant, and what they are doing to become more environmentally active. Myles, went on to tell me (once again) that he wants to make a life and a career in the realm of environmental sustainable living....wow is this really my baby saying all of this unprompted to his mama?!(maybe we will build a straw bale house together someday!)

...and in nearly the same five minutes, he starts to ask me serious nutrition questions, and actually asked my advice in the area of how to best replenish his body after hard workouts because he wants to do it right, and be as fit as he can possibly be. And get this....he called me an expert in the area, and someone he really trusts that can help him become the best athlete he can be.

awwwww... super big sigh and pitter patter goes the heart.

We won't talk about how "he forgot" to call me, and how I waited til I was practically sound asleep to hear from him!!....because at this point, none of that matters. I'm just thrilled with the topics of conversation we are having lately.

Thank you to the universe.

Weddings, bike rides, and new special people.

The funny thing about the cycling community is that most bike racer weddings typically take place in the fall, when we get to actually have the "off-season"! It's pretty funny how many road cyclists will go down in history as being married in the month of October!! Recently, I have had the pleasure of attending two special bike racer weddings...two weekends in a row. It was a lot of effort on my part to make both events work into my life, considering the logistics of work and travel and this being the big "pre-season" sales time for the cycling industry etc etc....but I couldn't be more happy about making the effort to be present and part of both of these lovely celebrations. Both wedding locations were beautiful, both couples were amazing, and the folks who attended the two events were some of the coolest people I know.....hands down. Naturally, I also met a bunch of wonderful people as well. Of course both wedding weekends also included a road ride ---I mean naturally, you bring your bike to a wedding, right!? LOL

So this last wedding, which was Saturday, took place in Escondido, it was a great time indeed. Early in the day I went on one of the most beautiful Southern California road rides I have been on since moving here a year ago. And thank goodness, all I had to do was arrive in Carlsbad....suit up and follow his wheel, and his plan. Life made easy :) Along the route, I rode something called Harmony Grade and it reminded me a bit of the beautiful (almost unknown roads) outside of the Fresno area where we once had a pro-women's stage race. Anyway, we pretty much went up and down and up again (and up again and again and again!) for the whole entire ride....which was actually a welcome change from the area I typically ride out of here in central Orange County. I will definitely plan to take advantage of the Carlsbad area for winter riding now that I know a little more about those roads!
Again...I can't say enough that it is worth the extra effort to squeeze good times into life, even when work is all consuming!! Both weekends were just incredible and have left me completely satisfied and rejuvenated! (By the way...I did get to spend time with my main man Myles during my first wedding weekend trip...that was the greatest gift any mom can ask for...time with her teenage son!)

So one interesting note about the weddings: considering most of us see and spend so much time together on bikes, and rarely do we call for occasions to dress up, it practically goes without saying that it was fun to see (at both weddings) everyone all decked out in cool threads. Cyclists sure do "clean up" nicely!

Weddings are so cool.

Anyway, onto a little pictorial:...

Kat and Janelle all smiles...
go to http://www.meredithmiller.missingsaddle.com/2008/10/13/good-times-ca-style/ for more great pics from this day! (Meredith has an amazing camera!)

Thea and Dirk Copeland....pure joy

A typical site during a ride....climb climb climb and by the way...PROOF(!) that Bluv does do hills ;-)

my greatest blessing.......Myles

WELL SAID.

"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well."
– Diane Ackerman

I'm tired of reading about DOPERS.

It's getting old.

I feel a little bit like that girl in the picture.....

Been sleeping like a rock lately. The days are long, the brain is full and there is no end in sight. Interbike was a whirlwind (always is) and contrary to popular believe I only went out one evening and it was for the Sinclair Imports Party....really a great time with lots of new and old friends and I think we danced enough to officially call it a workout!! I did get in a nice long run one day at the show (which was a miracle), but the rest of my time was spent working the floor like the superstar sales chick I am (juuust kidding)...but really it was non-stop. Came home from Interbike with the chore of moving all of my home office stuff from one room to another in the house, not the greatest timing considering all the post Interbike follow-ups I need to be organized with, plus getting strategy down with existing dealers.....ahhh did i really say i was a girl who loves challenge?! lol Meanwhile, car registration is due, gotta keep my daily work outs to stay fit and feeling good, gotta do all the usual stuff like eat shower and laundry...and have I mentioned I am coming down to the wire with my 2007 taxes at the same time I need to send in a few months worth of expense reports to my company.....last minute brenda does it once again. But here's the deal... I have finally hired an assistant to help me with my books each month for expense and gas and mileage reports. You have no idea what a great investment this will be.......yippeeee...

Ps) cool things are coming down the pipeline for our 2009 women's team so please stay tuned. cheers.

Praise to my main man Myles....

My baby is in "The Green Academy" (a pilot program being run at his high school and the only one of it's kind in the U.S.). He is absolutely loving it and is already planning his career in the world of "green living" ...... I'm so thankful he gets it at such a young age and I'm also very thankful for the teachers he has, they must be exceptional! Can you imagine having conversations with your teenage son about solar panels, and bio-fuels etc etc...?!

Meanwhile...he is on the football team, is holding a 3.0, and is part of kickin' little rap band that actually has some pretty cool beats and lyrics!

Go Myles go! :)