One Sunday awhile back I rode out to the Bittersweet Coffee and Bakery in downtown Louisville. Louisville is about 10 miles east of Boulder, with one or two steep sections to remind you that although you are headed east and away from the mountains, you may still be riding up hill.
We’d had a dump of snow earlier in the week leaving sections of the bike path icy and slick, which kept me extra vigilant and a bit on guard. There were only a couple of spots, where I dismounted. I canvassed the Twitter crowd on one area in particular and it came back pretty evenly split between dismounting and riding through. I dismounted and hobbled across the ice patch realizing too late how slick cleats are on ice.
What would you do? Ride or dismount?
I took the South Boulder Creek Path to Old Tale Road then onto Baseline. Old Tale Road has to be one of my favorite streets in Boulder: wide, bucolic, and with a feeling of an old country road. I rode Baseline until turning right onto 42, then followed the sign to Main St. Louisville. Pretty easy shot. You can make it even easier by going down South Boulder Road but I find it neither as scenic or as pleasant a ride.
The extra energy to remain upright in the icy conditions meant that I made a spectacle of
Santa and the Pinky DeRosa
myself wolfing and scarfing down a gluten-free peanut butter/chocolate dollop before I even got seated. I had intended to take a picture of it, but like many the plans of mice and men and something or other. But the coffee was good and the view of the inflatable Santa impressive. Bittersweet is a coffee shop lover’s coffee shop. It looks like it used to be someone’s home with the dark wood paneling, divided rooms and tiny bathroom. You could imagine a family living sitting comfortably in one of the big chairs drinking a coffee. But now it’s an assortment of families, students and cyclists drinking mugs of coffee and indulging in the really amazing baked goods. The coffee is not bad either. I thought the americano was a bit bitter but hubby disagreed and said it was one of the best he had. I think the dollop may have coated my taste buds with a fine layer of sugar and made the espresso taste more tart than it probably actually was.
Since my ride we’ve received yet another big wallop of snow and the streets are more iced up now so it may be several weeks before I get out there again. Although, that may not be a bad thing after the holiday’s rampage through the pies and ice cream.
The weather in Boulder over the past two weeks or so has been aggressively frigid; the kind of cold that slashes at the part of your wrist exposed between your glove and the bottom of your sleeve, turns your breath into rainforest heavy dew that fogs up your glasses and freezes your gears. I, at one point, gave up the commuting goal and took the bus into work. I really feel that people don’t take the bus because the inside is as depressing as hell, which is only matched by the surliness of some of the drivers. But that’s another post altogether.
One great benefit of the weather is that it affords me extra time to do some reading. So, I picked up Julien Smith’s Flinch and Steven Pressfield’s War of Art. Both address the internal critic in each of us; the voice inside of us that crushes our creativity and slashes at our self-esteem when we try and step beyond our comfort zone. Julien’s inner predator is called Flinch, Steven’s is called Lizard Brain. Both believe that the path to life’s success is to constantly and consistently confront the Lizard Flinch; that if you aren’t uncomfortable, losing friends and families to your true self, then you’re not practicing your art. I’ve simplified and trivialized to some degree both books and although I do think there is real value in reading both, after the inspiration to get into the ring and kicked butt has left, I realize that I really love my family and friends and think they are an important part of my path. Of course, there are people we’ve all met in our lives that take great pleasure in bringing us down but there also wonderful people in our circle that have supported and lifted us.
Both books provide great reminders of the need to work and practice to achieve any sort of progress in writing, learning a new language – that there are simply no short cuts. You can either choose to Tweet and watch Survivor or you can work on that painting, getting code, whatever it is that enables you to create.
One of the thoughts that has emerged after reading both books is how singular their approach is to how we should engage with work. There’s nothing about collaborating, or working to benefit the larger community; it’s all about you vs. the Lizard Finch. I don’t think there is anything wrong with a person pursuing their purpose, I do think there is a problem when others are used and cast aside as fodder for anyone’s ambition. I’m not saying either novel is outright suggesting that but it can be easy to jump to that conclusion when you read how you may loose friends and family along the way towards building your own business, writing your novel, etc. Read David Brooks’ Life Reports, where he posts the thoughts of an older generation of Americans about their life towards the end of their life, they’ve never say they should have spent more time at work.
I recommend reading either book to learn suggestions for silencing your own Lizard Finch and then hug your dog.
A couple of weeks ago, hubby and I caught a tail wind and landed on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. I’m not trying to be cute about the tail wind, the wind was absolutely, chillingly brutal! (Yes, I am prone to exaggeration but it’s a birth right. I’m Texan) As I tried to pry my eyes open against the wind and swirling sand and debris I could just make out the Lake and it was stunning. I can imagine that Lake Tahoe is overrun with holiday makers during the spring and summer; it was actually quite pleasant the day we left. Nevertheless, we had a great time checking out the little towns that dot Hwy 50. I fell in love (I think) with Truckee. I write ‘I think’ because we essentially darted from the car to the nearest shelter to get a glimpse of the main street, then satisfied, darted back to the car.
One place we hunkered down in was Rosies Cafe. We could do much outside and there weren’t too many bike shops to explore so Rosie’s was the next best thing. Not only was lunch really good, they had all these antique bikes hanging from the ceiling.
Recently, I had the great opportunity to sit down with Sarai of GirlBikeLove to talk about how I might be able to contribute to her goal of making GirlBikeLove a resource for women cyclists. GirlBikeLove does not have an exclusive focus on racers, commuters or mtb, although it has tons of great articles on those topics. It’s focus is on women in cycling and finding the best grub, trails, gear, emerging cycling stars, etc to help more women feel comfortable getting back onto their bikes or simply riding with more confidence.
Since that meeting, I’ve met other members of the GBL team and am so impressed with the range of experience and knowledge of those involved. From an event organizer to a bike builder to an expert on nutrition, Sarai seems to have gathered together a dynamic group of women. I’m really excited to be involved.
So, what does the image have to do with GirlBikeLove. Nothing, really. But this girl is waiting for the wind to die down so I can go for a ride.
The gals ran up these faster than I could ride down
I couldn’t figure out where the noise was coming from as I sat in the office on an early Sunday morning. It sounded close enough to be the neighbors but more substantial. It wasn’t until my husband woke up and reminded me of the Cyclecross event down the road from us that I finally connected the booming voice to the Boulder Cup cyclecross race.
We arrived for the women’s elite event at 2:40, which Katie Compton appeared to conquer with ease. She finished with about a 30 second cushion. I admit that I know next to nothing about cyclecross racing but I do know it is an amazing spectator sport. The course was tight and allowed a number of opportunities to watch the racers fly or flounder (in the sand) around the circuit. Watching the athletes quickly dismount and charge up the stairs was simply inspiring. I almost dashed home so I could ride like I was being chased to the nearest coffee shop.
Valmont Bike Park is fantastic and the setting itself, with the Flatirons soaring in the distance, made the event feel really epic. The whole park was brimming with athletes, participants, vendors (cyclecross audiences like both wine and BEER!) and a great vibe. I don’t know how many more events are scheduled but I’ll definitely get back to watch; I do know the park is currently closed for maintenance. The recent snow storm and racing has done a number on the track. In the meantime, enjoy these photos:
I think these two traded places throughout
Flatirons
Bring your pet along to Boulder Cup
The gals ran up these faster than I could ride down
Why can’t I be like everyone else? You would think a lovely, black, squishy gel flow saddle would be the perfect fit for someone who likes long rides, up hill. But for some reason, the sella Italia and I have never had a compatible relationship. But this post isn’t about criticizing a product that didn’t work for me because it certainly works for many other people.
It’s about the amazing experience of unpacking and installing a Brooks saddle. I actually didn’t purchase it, my hubby did. But I got to unpack it and what an unexpected delight; not only did it come with a beautiful saddle but with a tool to immediately install it and a newsletter that immersed me in the Brooks culture.
Brooks Saddle Unpacking
Look at the packaging and the great reads when I first received it I didn’t know whether to stay inside and read or take a few spins. Of course, I went for a couple of rides and aside from feeling a bit like I might slip from the saddle, I was so much more comfortable. Don’t know why hard leather would be more comfortable for me than cushioned luxury but I suspect it may have do with the fact that I was applying uneven pressure to my pedals and maybe this uneven pressure was throwing my leg extension off causing some discomfort.
Check out this great video on the making of Brooks Saddles
Momentum Magazine was on it, as was Copenhagenize, who wrote a great article on it and the PathLessTraveled, each sounding the alarm about GM’s tone-deaf ad trying to persuade an already in-debt audience (students) to get further into debt and out of shape by buying car to save face. Here’s the ad:
Outdated and I'm not talking about the bike
There’s been so many great responses to the ad and even Giant got into the act with a super ad in response that I don’t think I have anything to add. Well, maybe just one question. What do GM and (and now) Zipcar know about the emerging commuter culture that has them on the defense like this? Are they responding to a shift in the market or just trying to appeal to the next generation of car owners? If you believe in the product marketing maxim that if you get them early, you get them for life then maybe it’s the latter. But maybe, just maybe we are beginning to see a shift from perceiving commuters as outliers and recognizing the real health and financial benefits of cycling over driving. Perhaps the misconception of a sweat-drenched, hemp-wearing, Huffy-riding commuter on their way to work at a co-op is changing to be one of everyday folks: office workers, parents, kids, educators, students, etc using a cleaner, cheaper, healthier way to get around. I’m not suggesting that cars will be replaced by bikes anytime soon but it’s refreshing to see that an alternative way of getting around is being perceived as less alternative.
A couple weekends past, it was a beautiful Fall day with perfect temperatures, leaves slowly beginning to change and there was the sweet prospect of a ride up a quiet canyon road. In short, it was a perfect cycling moment, which makes this admission that much more difficult. Our goal for the ride was to cycle to Gold Hill, which is about an hours drive from Boulder. It’s a stunningly beautiful ride because the road bends and curves along a tree-lined street. Staring out it’s a gentle roll up Canyon Rd and even when you begin ascending up Four-Mile Canyon the grade is manageable. However, anytime there is a road labeled Suicide Rd. you know that you probably don’t have enough gears on your bike.
We started the day’s ride from our house, which is east of downtown. Boulder is awesome in that you can ride virtually from one end of town to the other strictly along bike paths, which we did. We took Boulder Creek Path which runs parallel all along Canyon Rd until you are forced to quickly (very) cross Canyon to catch up with Four Mile Canyon. (I say quickly because cars are moving pretty quickly up and down this road, so there’s no time to fiddle with your pedals.)
There was a fire up in Four Mile this year and you don’t fully comprehend the devastation until you come upon both the sensory and physical manifestations of a fire like that. There were points along the road where we smelled the charred trees and vegetation before seeing it.
You could smell the burned out trees before seeing them
I hadn’t realized how horrific the fire must have been and was saddened to see whole sections of trees along the road charred and blackened. But I was relieved to see many homes had survived and some were even rebuilding.
Despite the damage, it was still a beautiful ride. Well, it was until I was forced to do an inglorious dismount. As you can tell from the picture above the road turns to dirt and about 1/2 mile into the off-road my dreams of reaching Gold Hill and having a bevvie at Gold Hill Inn quickly turned to dust, as well. I just couldn’t turn the pedals. To be fair I hadn’t ridden much in the mountains this summer for a variety of reasons and I’m still sporting a double crank instead of the more age-appropriate triple or compact crank. But still. This was first time in a very long time I’ve had to stop and dismount. The only face saving relief from the ordeal was that I dismounted before I was unable to completely turn the pedals and unclick from them. It would have been quite humiliating to have hubby and his friend lift the bike off of me.
Nearly 18 months ago, I started working out at Crossfit Roots, where I met a bunch of people who did interesting things, including working out til they were breathing out their ears (I wish I could claim that phrase but alas I cannot.) It’s there that I met Andrew Hyde, who was heavy into the startup community and was actively working on creating a TED event for Boulder. In between jobs, I offered to help out not really knowing what I was getting into. at. all. But I have to say if most of my spontaneous, why-not decisions brought such unexpected and great experiences I would be living a more amazing life.
This year was the second TEDxBoulder and I think it was really something special. The whole organizer team comprising:
came together and I think helped bring together a lot of ideas and input, the audience (including me) rarely gets the chance to hear and experience.
I enjoyed each of the speakers and there were a number of talks that have really stayed with me but I think the theme of “just doing one thing” to make a change, make a difference, is a concept that I am still thinking about two days later. Like a good book or movie, where the characters or plot stay with you, the calls to get involved by some of the speakers from TEDxBoulder certainly inspired me.
I think I did “do one thing” when I asked to get involved with TEDx and I hope that the experience I had Saturday night, which was so positive and inspiring, was shared by the community in which I live. Certainly not every chance or risk I’ve taken has been so fulfilling but this is one experience from which I have gotten so much more than I could have expected.
Last weekend, hubby and I filled out our custom cards, got our shots and headed down to Denver to see the ArtCrank show at the Super Ordinary Gallery. A small space but packed with a great collection of biking inspired posters. We went down on Saturday so probably missed most of the vibe and scene but we still felt hip and trendy if only for a few moment.
The event represented a super collaboration between artists & Trek to create a bike about art. Check out the video. Any effort or cause that strives to change how people view bikes has got to be creative and fun and I think ArtCrank does a great job of promoting local artists, cyclists and reaching out nationally to spread their message. Check out their About page to find out how they help raise money and awareness for groups.
We hung out for a bit, bought a couple of prints and enjoyed hanging out in what appears to be a very cool part of Denver.
Why can’t I be like everyone else? You would think a lovely, black, squishy gel flow saddle would be the perfect fit for someone who likes long rides, up hill. But for some reason, the sella Italia and I have never had a compatible relationship. But this post isn’t about criticizing a product that didn’t work for me because it certainly works for many other people.
