Strangeness

It is a very weird experience to check up on your old employer. I haven't done so directly, but rather just by getting bits and pieces of information from former co-workers and also checking out the old sites we used to sponsor and inhabit (or inhibit as one case might be).

It is also strange to see things finally coming to fruition which were discussed to the point of boredom during a two-year span. Seeing new products come to light that you helped inspire (or flat out created on a sketch pad) is weird in its own right as well. The place that no longer wanted to keep you is profiting from your ideas. Granted, there can't be much profit in this climate, but still.

There is some satisfaction in seeing what you believed would be a good idea simply existing. Yet, there is pain in knowing you will probably never receive any mention for the genesis or development of the idea. I guess this shouldn't matter. But it also makes one wonder why some things can take so long to transpire where others are enacted in almost a blink.

Oh well...onward and most definitely upward. I do know that if I were still where I was at this time last year, I'd have been hospitalized for massive and repetitive concussions.

And Here We Are

Seven months and three days ago I lost my job. Honestly, I figured I would find a new gig by August at the latest. Clearly I was wrong.

In that vein, I hope to prove myself wrong once again. For months I have considered and avoided launching my own business. I have a background in advertising and marketing and keep on discovering more and more marketing agencies already out in the market. I have used that as an excuse not to pursue my own company and put my skills and experience to use.

That all changes in just over two weeks time.

An Opportunity

Oh my. So apparently making money out the wazoo, dominating your supposed life's passion and pursuit for as long as people can remember, and having absolutely everything could possibly want at your beckon call/disposal/in your garage just doesn't keep you entertained. The pristine brand that was Tiger Woods is no more.

Methinks the folks in Austin, TX are probably about to drown in their own drool.

Could it be that Nike's premier spokesperson will soon be Lance Armstrong? Provided he can avoid any similar gaffes that everyone and their mother thought Mr. Woods was above, I bet he's right up there. Between Livestrong, the now third attempt at professional cycling, and his singular name status...I bet it's more likely than not.

Nike will want a feel good story. It won't matter how many times you've heard it before. That only strengthens the argument in Armstrong's favor. He can fill the gap between Tiger's PR downfall and his future resumption of his throne.

It will happen. The public forgets this stuff - just ask Kobe Bryant. Will it take as long for Tiger as it has for Kobe? Only time will tell. But I would guarantee that thanks to our culture's 20-second attention span and adoration of all things sports, he will be back. He may make only $50 million a year in endorsements, but he will be back.

Aside from Lance though, I bet the Mickelson camp can't believe their luck right now either. Go Phil!!!!

It's a Harsh World Out Here

I generally try to avoid making negative statements about the world or my current lack of employment a central focus of the blog. At times I fail, but generally, I believe I succeed in keeping a positive if not humorous tone about it all. Today is a different matter. Today I learned a lesson in how not to do your job.

Today (yes, today is Saturday) at 3:00 p.m., I received a call from somebody named Justin (whose last name I can't recall but for some reason I think he said Combs). He made no mention of his company but was specifically calling to see if I was interested in a sales and marketing position with his company (or whichever one he was representing). When I asked if there was a title for the position Justin replied, "There is pretty much whatever you may want to do."

When I asked if there was a job description, Justin curtly informed me the company provides mortgage protection services. "What are mortgage protection services?" you might ask. I'm glad you ask because I didn't know either.

Apparently if you subscribe to or buy these services, when you die, your mortgage is paid for according to Justin. There are a few other services along these lines which apparently the company offers, but I really can't remember what they are. After abruptly describing these offerings, he told me that the company receives letters from individuals which require somebody from the company to call (I guess to confirm the consumer really wants to buy the service).

"Are you capable of calling people?" Justin asked. "Well, yes," I reasoned.

But that's all beside the point. What Justin really wanted to know was if I was available to meet someone on Monday to discuss the matter further. When I didn't respond directly to this question, he shuffled it back into the conversation a few moments later by asking, "So are you able to meet in the afternoon?"

To which I responded, "You know, I appreciate the call but I think I'm going to pass."

"You're passing?" Justin retorted. "You make business decisions based on a 10-second conversation!" he stymied.

"I do this time," I replied and hung up the phone. Did I mention I was in the process of toweling off when Justin called? You know you're dealing with class when the interested party (I can't bring myself to call Mr. Justin a recruiter):

1. Can't tell you the name of the company he works for or represents when he calls you
2. Is trolling resumes on Monster.com on a Saturday afternoon
3. Calls you to schedule a Monday "business" meeting/interview on a Saturday afternoon
4. Refers to "business decisions" as if they are more important than breathing on a Saturday afternoon

Hey Justin, you are a complete ass. It may just be the company you work for, but deep inside, we ALL know it's just you shining through.

Nice Uptick

Hopefully it results in something positive (and a paycheck), but this week has provided some very nice mojo for both the job search and life in general. And none of it has anything to do with a bike.

I got to meet some really nice people at the Kentucky Poverty Law Center and will be helping both the Center and one of their programs (CKEEP) with some marketing efforts. Of course, this meant I finally had to bite the bullet and buy some pricey software for myself. But the deed is done and we're moving forward. :)

With that software also comes the potential for truly starting my own company. Though it wouldn't be filling a niche, it can provide some random income to help get us back to where we used to be financially.

Finally there is some unexpected progress in the job hunt. Nothing bike related (wake up please industry) but two positions that would keep us in Lexington both called to conduct or schedule phone screens. Hopefully I have spoken (or will speak) well enough to proceed. I'm even boning up before 6:00 am on a Saturday morning to try and finally get this monkey off our back. Hopefully he'll find some bananas soon because my credit card is starting to wear out.

Get out and do something fun!

Who Am I Kidding?

No matter where I wind up or what I might be doing for a living, I'll always be trying to work my way back.

Just sucks it had to come to an end (however brief it may be).

Ride on, boys and girls!

Is this what a reckoning feels like?

So as has been at least thinly veiled on this spot of cyberspace before, I have been unemployed since mid-May of this year. During that time, I've gotten in lots of cycling, quite a few moments with our kids, grocery shopping, and lots of time to think.

Like many of us in similar circumstances, I've been trying figure out what to do with myself. So far, I've come up with a few ideas and one or two offers but nothing that I've convinced the household either we can pull off or that I truly want to do it.

But that brings me to the point of this post. I believe I'm at a crossroads of trying to continue making my living in the bicycle industry. There have been a few openings this year which I've sent my resume in for review. To date, I've officially gotten one call back and two phone screens. That's in the course of five months of trying. Sadly, this is on par with the results I've gotten outside of the industry as well. Two call backs, one actual interview.

I spend a great deal of time and energy "keeping up" with what's going on in the business and not really learning anything new. Or at least finding anything new that strikes me as a holy cow moment or idea. The industry is very insular. There are tremendous people inside, but the companies as a whole seem to approach their existence in a rather cannibalistic way.

Currently, my inclination to give up on the bike business hinges on two outstanding applications. One job requires a move to southern California, the other to Minneapolis. Should both of those follow the same dire path as my previous marks...I think it's time to find a new shooting range. It took me seven years to land the gig I did and it lasted two years. That won't hack it.

One of my favorite places in the world

Trouble

This is going to cause all kinds of trouble.

Mainly because I still don't have a job. There are two hopeful possibilities out there, but we haven't even started holding hands yet. Thus the trouble from the (grand)parents in our world. They were all for repairing the old one (which we already bought the parts for too) and continuing along. Ann, however, wasn't. She said replace the whole thing, so replace we did.

I'm not saying this is the best bike out there. It definitely is the best bike for me right now. Price-wise, product-wise, sanity-wise. She's a mighty fine ride so far...one that I hope will only improve once I get the fit dialed in juuuuuuust right.

But this bike will also cause trouble on the roads of Central Kentucky. I'll do my best to document our progress (especially as we start knocking off members of the Specialized mafia in this town). You know who you are. ;)

And so it went

I survived not attending my first Interbike after going to the last two events.

I was true to my obsessive compulsions and dutifully checked Twitter and Facebook for updates at times only separated by mere seconds. I wasn't really blown away by anything other than the idea that Castelli may have actually given away 100 pairs of their new body paint shorts (damnit), and, Shimano selling electronic and mech Dura Ace Groups for less than half their retail prices - as well as their PRO bars and stems (seriously, frickin' crap).

But aside from the freebies and pint glasses, I don't know that I missed much. Nothing that came over the interwires was exceedingly cool or unexpected. The best new bike I saw was Guru's new Photon frame. Cannondale/Dorel/GT/Schwinn pacific seemingly adopted an idea I thought would be great for a Wald booth although I've yet to see any good photos of it - much to a certain publication's lack of promise fulfillment.

But actually the media coverage is what I find most disappointing of all. Yes, I know firsthand it's hard as hell to get real work done in Vegas, but a site like Cyclingnews which I had come to count on for good photographic coverage has posted hardly a thing so far. The show ended an hour ago. Seriously, where are Huang's massive piles of photography??? Pez hasn't shown squat either.

Flickr doesn't have much...twitter was very hit and miss...it was just really surprising in that regard. I wanted to get the all the info I could, but kept getting more of the same from every other outlet. And hardly none of them had good pictures. Strange I say.

So I don't know what I am more depressed by now. The fact that I didn't get to go at all this year. Or, that my concern about the industry catering way too much to only itself may actually be legit to worry about AND that it might be worse than I feared. Shit.

This is going to be a hard week

I'll go ahead and admit it right now. This week, I am depressed.

Already gotten there leading up to now, but now it will really hurt.

For the past two years on this day, I was packing bags to spend a week in Vegas and attend the vomitous mass we love to call Interbike. Each of the last two years I would catch a plane at 5pm here in Lexington and drag my carcass into the Harrah's Casino around 11pm local time to wake up and go play in the desert.

Everyone I wish I was working with will be there. Everyone I wish I was working for will be there. Everyone whose job I wish I had will be there. And I will be here.

Not trapped in an office this time, but stuck at home. Waiting for James Huang to post his updates and see what the boys at Urban Velo and Pez can find that I didn't know was going to exist before this week. Waiting for the completed picture to emerge of what my friends Mr. Fornes and Mr. Jackson will unveil in their booths this week.

But, I really hope that by admitting this here and now, I can start getting over it. Something tells me I'm already out of luck. Oh well...hopefully things will change and I can count on being there again next year.

As I was telling my best friend yesterday...as much as I hate Vegas, "I've never walked into a room full of 20,000 people and felt like I belonged there like I do at Interbike." Damn this hurts...

Cravings

I am really looking forward to getting my new bike. This is both obvious and fairly surprising at the exact same time for me.

Admittedly, I have always been one to knock Giant bikes. While I always believed they made great entry level bikes for the price point, I have never given the generic sizing, sloping top tube, or the lame logo any respect or credit. So how on earth have I come to count myself among the owners?

Circumstances have a lot to do with it:

• I ride for a shop who is the local Giant dealer and we get a discount for doing so. (+1 point for Giant)
• Said shop also carries Cannondale as their other largely stocked brand; BB30 yuck!!!; bikes without complete groups double yuck!!! (+3 points for Giant)
• Said shop also is the only Serotta dealer in the state. (-12,000 points for Giant)
• I am currently unemployed and have been since May. (+12,004 points for Giant)
• Have $$$$ from sale of previous bike; 2010 carbon bike (in blue) with Ultegra '10 and Mavic wheels with money left over. (+47,000 points for Giant)

And then...once the order is finally placed (come on Alan!!!), I hope to throw a leg over the following by the end of the month. Come on slow boat from Taiwan!!!!!

A New Chapter

It's been a while since the last post. It's also been a while since I've put any photos up on Flickr.

A lot has happened.

Foremost, my Trek has given up the ghost. Actually it's just the rear shifter. But alas, 9-speeds are sooooo 2000 and we have the new 2010 goodies already swooping down upon us. I too will soon be astride a resplendent new vehicle of pedicular transportation. While most definitely not the bike of my dreams, it is a great looking steed with impeccable value and great components. It's light, I'll make it fast, and it will be fun to be on something mine and new.

She should arrive just in time for the Red River Rally and until

then, we'll be cruising along in single-speed mode.

The job hunt is on-going and the hope is that his new bike's manufacturer will come calling after everyone has their fun in Las Vegas-land without me. But that's

ok, instead of drooling, dodging cigarette smoke, and wishing I with others than whom I would be accompanying from Kentucky, I will be riding. Riding here, riding there, riding everywhere.

I'm definitely going to get my money's worth out of these new wheels.

Well OK Then

Another July comes to a close. Another Le Tour is in the books, or will be in the next 18 hours. And here I am.

It will be August soon and the prospects for employment are still relatively slim. However there are at least two legitimate prospects. One is fairly certain and by far the least desirable. The other holds some measure of hope, a very respectable paycheck, and by chance the opportunity for the kids to stay at home with their mother every day. It will also require a move.

I am grateful to my friends and family for their support and willingness to listen if nothing else. And I am grateful for the moments of whimsical opportunity which never seem to materialize fully. They offer inspiration and hope when many days those treasures are elusive.

I hope to soon be focusing on happier topics in the near future, but for the moment find myself stuck in perpetual neutral. Yet the important things are doing well and the minor priorities are feeling refreshingly fit. Hopefully, I can find the proper gears again so I can buy some new speeds.

Hello Again

So I deleted the previous post just as an exercise to move on. Clearly that's a road I've been down before and the most recent conversation pretty much solidified I don't have much interest repeating that portion of my history.

So ANYWAY...I have another phone screen today which hopefully will go well and then I get to pay my first scheduled visit to the unemployment office so they can apparently check my resume and progress. No idea if that's the case, but they want me to bring a resume and apparently 6 company contacts. I'm really beginning to wonder how insulated this department is. So we'll see what qualifies as a contact on Wednesday. :) Should be fun!

In other news, the Tour is making some good progress on being interesting this year. Fingers crossed that will continue. I also had a great ride today with a new riding buddy and found my way up a rather hard hill 30 seconds faster than I did a month ago. Pretty sweet progress I must say...but dang did that make the next 40 miles or so hard! Loving the legs tho!

I REALLY Hope This Will Get Good

I love this photograph (nice job CorVos @ Pez Cycling).  Why?  Look at the shifters.  

If you've been around cycling long enough, you learn that one of the perks of being the absolute top of the sport means you get stuff nobody else has.  You get to test it out, give the manufacturer your opinions, and let the rest of the pros and eventually the consuming public sample what you thought was the better option.

Now admittedly, I was as big of a Lance-fanatic as anyone.  Over time, that admiration dulled.  To the point that I was pretty critical of this year's comeback and what it would do to the sport.  But this photo brings back a part of the sport that has been sorely missing for the last three years.  And that is the mind game.

During King Lance's reign, he constantly touted Mr. Ullrich as the favorite and strongest and most talented rider in the race.  He beat the man before they even took the preliminary race drug screens.  Now this isn't a new theory or unique opinion.  Many professional journalists have written much better articles describing this aspect of the TdF than this one. But again I say, look at the shifters.

SRAM is an American company just like Trek.  Both Lance and Alberto have custom paint jobs on their brand new Treks.  But only one set of shifters is different than what everybody else is riding this year.  It may purely be marketing on SRAM's part.  It may be that the rift in Astana is more press over-speculation than actual fact.  It may also be nothing at all. 

But knowing how this race was raced and won for the past decade, I'm one to think this photo says it all.  "There are no gifts."

Well Okay Then

As I previously mentioned, I've started talking again with my old company.  After operating under a belief that I could overlook many of that group's shortcomings and idiosyncrasies, I've have almost immediately reminded myself why I left.  That's not a good sign.  

But we'll see what the written document(s) holds and see what can be worked out (if anything).

There is an interesting reposting on BRAIN's job board, so it looks like I might be making another phone call to AZ to see if I can successfully reposition my application.  Wish me luck!

UNCLE

So my fitness is great. 800+ miles in just over six weeks will do that for you.

But the lack of "normal" is beginning to win. So, I'll tuck my tail, bite my lip, call the old company and push hard.

Hopefully, there will be a nice check at the end of that rope.

As Much Fun as it is

I'm not certain I'll be back in the bike industry. At least not anytime soon. If a company like Pedro's is cutting marketing resources/expense/whatnot, that can't be a good sign.

So far, it tells me there won't be much coming available in the short term.

But, as my friend from Pedro's offered after realizing we were both paddling in the same boat, time to ride and sort some things out in your head. Bikes are damn good for that.

It Hurts

I'm feeling a tear. Unfortunately, it isn't a tear in a shirt or pants, but actually it feels like a muscle tear. Nothing outside lets you know it's there, but inside it hurts like hell.

I feel a tear growing in my path. It may be the result of a current sense of panic. It may also be a very real realization that my time spent in a wonderful period of "my career" has come and gone. The longer I sit on the sidelines, the more I believe my brief connection to this industry will remain just that...brief.

While the time spent wasn't enjoyable all of the time, the highs were absolutely incredible. The people, the events, the spectacle all associated with those lucky enough to work and live in the bike industry are truly fun to behold and participate with.

So now as I find myself truly spinning my wheels, I wonder if I should just hop off, or keep on shifting and hope the chain jumps back on without shredding the hub.

Poetic

Something is right with the world when you can drink a beer, fold some pretty darn cool laundry, while blasting your iTunes in the middle of a Monday afternoon.

Some Days are Hard

Yesterday wasn't one of them however. I messed around with Pista which has hung on the wall for the past 2-3 years and got it close enough to ridable to actually ride it again.

Then, there was a great phone conversation to get the ball rolling on a potential next step in the life/work/career game. Again, the gears are cranking and the mind is spinning all without setting out on the bike today.

But just now I couldn't bring myself to check the online job postings. Sometimes reality is just too much. No worries though, something will turn up. It's just a matter of when and where. :)

The Legs...They are Good

They are tired, but that is good. Means they're out there earning their due.

Thanks boys.

Through Rain

I have to say, though being true to my roadie-snob behavior and avoiding rain at all costs, it really can be a treat to just say screw the radar and head out. While I honestly felt this morning that I'd beat any potential precipitation, 20 miles into my 51-mile loop that confidence quickly dripped away.

All in all however, it was fun. Not counting the dozen or so flashes of lightning I saw in my surroundings, nor including the crack of thunder which almost made me crap my chamois, it was fun to just power along through the roads. Passing cars and wondering if everyone in them kept saying, "Dude, it sucks to be you." I really hope they were because as far as I am concerned, it didn't suck to be me.

I was on the road weather be damned. Thankfully a tailwind kept pushing me home and my average pacing stayed up. I also received a nice bit of encouragement from an anonymous blue-jerseyed gent on his way out of Masterson while I was on my way in.

"It'll all payoff later!" he exclaimed much to my vocal amusement.

It already has. "Play on, Playas!"

KY Job Center

So the unemployment office is an interesting place. Notice I didn't say helpful. But interesting.

There was a rather fun question posed during the registration process. It went something along the lines of: "Have you been a professional athlete during the base period (past two years)?" I laughed to myself, and, actually thought of answering yes...though it would be completely untrue.

I wondered though, if I had been a professional athlete during the described time period, I wonder how that would affect my application for unemployment benefits? Anybody out there happen to know?

Arizona by Morning

Been checking out real estate in Tucson today.  Man, life in the desert.  

Not sure how long we can go without grass and trees.

Unexpected Call Backs are Better

For some reason, things just feel better in life when we have options (or potential options as the case currently may be).

Even when there are scary elements in each one, its nice to know that you may have some say in what the future holds.  Hope they pan out and don't just fall through.  However unlikely fruition might be.

Life can be interesting on so many levels.

Life Gets Interesting

Unexpected emails are amazing things.   One such note arrived in my inbox yesterday evening and my mind is an absolute whirlwind.  People I should talk to, things I should figure out, wondering how much fun it could be...all fill the gray matter between my ears.

Can I make money doing it?  Can I make enough?  Can I learn enough to get by at first?  Can I take current relationships and make them into mutually beneficial full-blown partnerships?

Can I, can I, can I??????????

Truth is I don't know.  But it may be really fun to at least try to find out.

Interesting Questions...No Clue as to the Answers

So I am wondering, "How long do I wait?"

How long do I wait to relent in the search to try and hop back into the bike business?  Kentucky is not a hotbed for cycling industry and I don't yet know how interested any potential companies or contacts may be interested for have a use for my "skills."

So the thought of trying to focus on getting another job in that industry which suits my preferences seems almost akin to snipe hunt.  There still is hope that I can essentially talk my way into a gig.  Hopefully one which fits me better than the previous one.  But again I am stuck with, "How long do I wait?"

I am still trying to turn over every possible stone prior to making the big push to my friends in the bike business.  But heaven only knows if there will even be any positions  available.  Anywhere.  One thing I did pick up rather quickly is that bike companies (we're talking industry wide, not just actual bicycle manufacturers) are small.  Save for Trek, everyone else is rather small.  They're small because it's rare that a bike company actually makes it's own product in this country at least. 

So when all of your products with your names plastered all over it comes from across the way (and there are only two ways in this industry - Europe or Asia), you don't need a lot of heads to get the job done.  And that's the big troubling part right now.  Nobody wants or seems to need a lot of heads right now no matter what industry they are in.

Hence, the question comes again, "So how long should I wait?"

Love my Kids

But somebody really needs to get them to understand the meaning of 6:30 am on Sunday mornings.  

Ugh.

Cyclingnews.com found G. Obree

Honestly, I thought this guy was dead.  Maybe that was his "archrival" from back in the hour record pursuit days of the early 90's.  I think there was even a movie made about it all.  

So apparently it was his fellow competitor because sure as heck, there's even a photograph to boot of the Obree (the man himself) and his new self-crafted bicycle.  He's even planning another attempt at the hour record.  

You have to see the photos to truly believe...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=/tech/2009/news/05-30

Nice find Cyclingnews.com...nice find indeed.

Giro is about to Wrap

Kudos to Denis Menchov for besting the field in this year's Giro d' Italia.  Yes, there are two more stages remaining, but, in all likelihood this race is done.

While personally I was hoping Levi would pull through for his first Grand Tour win, it looks like that ship has sailed.  And this may have been his last ticket if others are to be believed.

Anyway, Menchov definitely earned the victory and rode out the countless Italian challenges to his jersey.  A well earned win for what hopefully will remain a well respected career.  

Best part of Interbike

Boulder City is featured in a piece by the New York Times.  I have to say, that my four days spent at the Outdoor Demo were by far the most fun I had at the shows.  

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/05/29/travel/escapes/20090529-american-slideshow_index.html

Back to the Grind

Living in the realm of the unemployed, it becomes interesting how much you notice the factors in life that no longer affect you.  Case in point, the evaporation of a holiday weekend.

Lots of folks I know are pretty miserable right now having gone back to work or making their way in.  Where as I am getting ready to go ride.  Too bad I can't get paid to do this forever.

Come on POWERBALL!!!!!

Bike Lexington 2009

You gotta love cruising downtown on your bikes in the middle of the day with your 4-year-old girl.

All by yourselves with police escorts to keep you company because indeed you are at the caboose of an 800-person train.  But the fact that she rode, rode well, and most importantly had fun while feeling all grown up is what this life is completely about.

Hope you all had one-tenth of the Memorial Day I did.

See you on the roads!

Repeat

So we did it.  Rob and I repeated our victory from last year at the Buffalo Trails Multi Sport race in Maysville, KY.  We thought we knew who our competition would be, but soon after I started my bike leg, Rob saw our true challengers get the second leg under way.

Rob gave me a great two minute cushion as he was the second runner to come into the transition area.  I fumbled with the timing chip; then finally got it in place.  I jumped on my bike and completely missed both pedals; then finally got clipped in.  I got underway and headed out of town when the race went BOOM!  

There was nobody on the road ahead of me.  

Last year, I was amazed at the number of people struggling along the opening road.  This year, there was nobody.  I was on my own.  Somewhere about 4-5 miles into the ride, I was caught and passed by an actual triathlete.  That was a saving grace b/c it finally gave me something to keep pace with.  Don't get me wrong, he dropped me, but I kept him in sight long enough to finally figure out a rhythm.

Two or three other tri guys passed me before the climb up Higney Hill.  But once on the climb, I was finally able to begin reeling people in.  Once past the climb and through a new section of rollers added this year, a group of three (including me) formed.  We picked off another half dozen riders on the long descent.  And then probably another 4-6 riders on the way into town.  I hit a wall on the false flat that began the route into town and got gapped a little bit.  I didn't catch back on but only lost about 5-10 seconds to the other two members of my threesome.

Turns out, one of those guys, was our duathlon relay challenger.  The one Rob saw leave the transition area after me.  Apparently Rob had about a 90-second gap on their runner because the rider beat me by about that much on the bike leg.  Obviously, he had a great ride (which I confirmed after talking to him after the race).  I had a good one, but just not great.  No worries, though, as we still picked up the victory by two minutes.

Thanks Rob!  It was a little bit closer than the 20 minute gap we had last year, but it still was a great time.  And fun to get a little nervous over!

Thanks to Big Dan for coming out to see the end of the race as well.  Great to see good people on challenging days!

Got the day started right

I was able to enjoy a nice spin with my good buddy Harlan.  He's constantly looking to find time to ride and generally coming up empty.  But when you're in the mood for a quality riding buddy for some good talking...Harlan's your man!

Ride on Harlan!

Company websites

I guess I should know because my previous employer did the same thing...but if you're a nationally advertised brand, why wouldn't you put your job postings on your own webpage?

Great minds, great things

Some friends of mine in the bike business are entering a fun part of the year.  Preparing 2010 product for catalogs, launches, and marketing.

Granted, if you work in marketing, this means you're knee deep in lots of crap and you probably need to spend 22 hours of the day getting the work done in the allotted time.  But still, once again finding myself outside looking in, it's hard not to wish I were there doing the same.

Check out the Raleigh Facebook group for some photos of some stylish new rigs coming your way next year.  There's some sexy new carbon, elegant city bikes, and a darn spiffy lugged steel road bike sporting 2010 Ultegra gear.

MasiGuy is back up to his marketing brilliance spending time in Minnesota with actual Masi owners working on his next catalog iteration.  How they survive a twice-a-year product cycle is beyond me.

And check out Swobo for all their cool beans stuff.  A recent addition is the new 3Wrencho tool from Portland Design Works.

Either way, you can see these folks' fine works by checking the links on the right side of this page.  Have a good Friday everyone!

And good luck to all my friends in the bike business ramping things up for 2010!

Gotta get focused

So I found out a few of my portfolio entries are essentially missing b/c for some reason when you create a PDF, some of the InDesign effects are lost.  No worries, I still have a lot of pages left.

Got the oil changed in both cars.  One is washed, the other is in desperate need of it.

Had an impromptu and essentially blind interview this morning.  Great folks, they just don't have a need for me and they were exceptionally gracious with their time.

I got the chance to buy my daughter some ice cream when she actually deserved it.  :):):)

No ride so far today...need to pick up some TT bars and a helmet I'm borrowing...need to actually design and print a portfolio...need to keep job hunting...need to stay awake long enough to get it all done.  

Oh what fun!

Wow

Just saw some updates posted on my former online stomping ground.  

Oh my...

Tired

52 miles when you only planned on 45 isn't so bad.  Throw in a climb your riding buddy has told you previously he's only ridden down before because the road up ahead is flooded and it gets to be a tall order.

For the first time since I believe I was 15, I walked my bike up a hill today.  I got halfway up and then dismounted.  While I'm not completely ashamed (it scared the crap out of me going down), I am a little disappointed I gave up when I did.  

Nonetheless, a great ride through some great parts of rural KY today.  Gearing up for the duathlon on Saturday!  Hopefully tomorrow's TT in the Giro will have a decidedly American flavor for our friend Levi.  

And here we go...

This is now the primary blog for me.  

A week into my new career of joining the ranks of the unemployed, I am having fun while at the same time finding life without the routine of the daily grind a bit frightening.  That's the best way I can describe it right now.

The perks:

1. I have come to enjoy being on the bike more than I have in a long while.  No longer worried about "getting caught" dumping work for a ride even though I had open permission to do so. Stupid to worry in that regard, I know.
2. Getting to catch up on things I normally put off for a good long while...like car washing, laundry, lawn mowing, etc.  Hopefully I'll get better at getting these things done too.
3. Amazing support from amazingly good people whom I am fortunate enough to call my family and friends.  A sincere and heartfelt thank you to you all.
4. More time to ride.  More time for golf.

The drawbacks:

1. Everything is on hold.  New bike.  Classes for the kids.  Frivolous yet fun little purchases. Everything.
2. Decisions.  What should I do, where should we go?  Is it to find a job as fast as possible or get back in school for something new and completely different?
3. More time to be lazy.

Any way...I am going to use this space just to document how things progress.  I already had to delete one blog about this time a week ago.  So I know it's a pretty easy solution to get this offline if immediately necessary.

Hope everyone out in bloggerville is having a good Wednesday!  I'll be in touch.

hello again

At some point, this may become my primary means of blogging communication.