munday funday -- 21 November, 2011

an oldie but goodie!  this reminds me of my first "real" mountain bike ride back in the early 90s with a couple of cute boys from the ski club in NY.  little did I know, when I said "yes," just what I was getting myself into.  have you ever had a cycling experience that was a bit over your head?

Links I Like -- 18 November, 2011

I've been thinking a lot about blogging lately.  I've had a blog for the better part of 10 years.  In the pre-Facebook days, lots of bike racers had blogs and we built our own social network of sorts by commenting on each other's blog posts.  Nowadays, when we've got a thought, a photo, or a status update, we take the quick + dirty and post to Facebook or the quicker + dirtier and post to Twitter.  That's all fine + good for an instant gratification type of bonding, but I think there's something to be said for creating a longer-term archive -- something we can see and read and refer back to.

One of the things I think about are all the fun resources I find online.  In the old days, I'd add these to a links list on my website, but with the dynamic nature of the web, that's one of the "features" I'll be eliminating from my new website.

So, I thought I'd share some of the recent links I like.  Maybe you'll even comment on this post.  And maybe I'll do it again sometime, too!

Bicycle Friendly -- a campaign to recognize businesses who are bicycle friendly

Bikesy -- a bicycle route-mapping site specific to the San Francisco area

Cycle Chic:  Female Cyclists Through The Ages -- a beautiful photo essay

Momentum Magazine's Holiday Gift Guide -- some seriously awesome bike bling here

Savvy Tips -- The Nose Knows

After 13 years of riding a bicycle, I've acquired lots of simple tips + advice to make the experience more enjoyable.

For example, who hates the smell of their gear bag?  Yeah, me too.  You know, as diligent as you are with keeping your cycling clothes + what-not clean, there's still that unpleasant odor of gloves + shoes + mysterious other stuff that then permeates everything you own.

Here's my simple solution to that stinky problem.

Take a bar of "real" soap -- you know, the kind of soap you would find at a craft fair or a farmers' market or a coast-side gift shop.  Yeah, the fancy, handmade stuff.  Then, cut it into small blocks and place those blocks in various places in your gear bag (your shoe bag, the side pockets, your helmet pod, etc).  You could even put a piece into your sock drawer or the drawer where you keep your base layers.

I'm very sensitive to scents (lots of allergies) so perfumes are no bueno with me, but the subtle fragrance from a bar of milled soap doesn't seem to bother me.

Bonus points if it's a scent that reminds you of one of your favorite cycling trips.  This weekend we rode to the coast with our Bike Touring 101 clinic and made a stop at the San Gregorio Country Store.  I've always looked around at the books and scarves and hats and other items and thought I'd love to go shopping there, but on a typical ride I don't have the capacity to carry much with me.  But this weekend I picked up a bar of fennel soap (from the River Soap Company).  The scent reminds me of riding on the coast  so it's filled with great memories for me.

Men, don't think this tip won't work for you.  There are lots of scents that are masculine (like evergreen) that would be appropriate for you, too!  And trust me, your female cycling partners would appreciate it!

What are your tips for keeping your cycling gear smelling clean + fresh?

Join Velo Girls on AIDS/LifeCycle in June 2012

Hey friends + fans!  Have you ever imagined how incredible it would be to ride your bike every single day for a whole week?  Maybe even ride all the way from San Francisco to Los Angeles (it's all downhill, don't you know)?  And, in the process, raise funds + awareness for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation?  Yeah, we have, too!

As a matter of fact, many Velo Girls members are alumni of AIDS/LifeCycle (and its predecessor event the California AIDS Ride).  I started riding my bicycle again in 1999 to participate in CAR7.  I hadn't been on a bike in over a decade.  I was woefully not fit.  I smoked and drank.  And I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it sounded like a BIG challenge, and I was all about BIG challenges at the time so I signed up.  And it was a life-changing experience.

If you're looking for a life-changing experience, if you want to do something really good for your body and your community, and do it with a supportive group of women, then join the Velo Girls team for ALC 11.   We'll train together.  We'll fundraise together.  And we'll support each other on this incredible journey.

And if you prefer a support role, you can participate as a roadie -- one of the hundreds of crew people who make the entire event happen -- from bike techs, to rest stop staff, to massage therapists and lunch crew.  It's hard work but your contribution makes it possible for the riders to ride their bikes each day.  Roadies aren't required to fundraise (but are encouraged to do so).

Sound like fun?  Learn more at a special Velo Girls AIDS/LifeCycle info meeting on Thursday, November 10th at 6:30pm at the Presidio Sports Basement.  RSVP to Lorri@velogirls.com

corner office with a view

This past weekend we premiered a new clinic: Bike Touring 101. The goal of this clinic is to introduce cyclists to all the opportunities available in cyclo-touring and then to support them on a short two-day excursion. The clinic included a two-hour pre-trip seminar that covered all the ins + outs of various types of touring, bikes, equipment, clothing, etc.

The weekend started Saturday morning in Woodside where we loaded all the bikes and headed out for the coast to our evening destination: Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel. Of course, this meant a trip up and over Skyline. With loaded bikes, no personal records were set on Old La Honda, but the extra weight on the bikes made for smooth sailing all the way down to San Gregorio. On Sunday, we returned to Woodside through farmlands and redwoods. In between, we feasted on local produce, specialities like Olallieberry pie, visited local highlights like the San Gregorio General Store, the Harley Goat Farm, and even had lunch at the world-famous Alice's Restaurant.

The weather was simply perfect: warm, sunny, and clear skies on both Saturday and Sunday. Sitting in the hot tub at the hostel during an amazing sunset on Saturday evening was a rare delight (no fog!). We cooked an amazing dinner on Saturday evening from local foods gathered in Pescadero and everybody slept well at the warm + cozy hostel.

This clinic is definitely a keeper, and I've already started planning more advanced options for 2012.

Here are a few of my favorite images from the weekend:

holiday decorations in La Honda

unique signage at Harley Goat Farms

Jan, happy that the climbing is over and the goat cheese is beginning!

lovely goat cheese

the historic Pigeon Point Lighthouse

post-ride zen

the perfect ending to a perfect day

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Next up is a late addition to the coaching calendar:  co-ed Bike Skills 301 (pacelines + group riding) on Sunday, November 6th.  There's still time to register so come learn how to play nice with others on the bike!

Announcing the 2011/2012 Velo Girls Endurance Challenge

We want to keep you on your bike this winter!  Why?  Because you'll be that much fitter for all the great rides + events we've got planned in 2012.  So, I'm excited to announce the 2011/2012 Velo Girls Endurance Challenge!

What's that you say?  Well, it's a little contest of sorts to keep you motivated and put a bit of a competitive spin on your cycling motivation this winter.

Here's how it works:

#1 -- You must be a current (2011 or 2012) Velo Girls member.  Not a member?  Not a problem.  Join here:  2012 Velo Girls club membership

#2 -- You must record your bike rides on Plus 3 Network as part of the Velo Girls group.  Plus 3 is a super-cool website that lets you keep track of your training and earn donations on your behalf to your chosen beneficiary.  Just click on over to Plus 3 and check it out.  It's fun and it'll make you feel good too.

#3 -- Ride your bike!  Each ride earns points in the Velo Girls Endurance Challenge.  Every foot of climbing earns points, too, so log your rides with your GPS for more opportunities to win.

That's it!  Three simple steps.

At the end of each month (November, December, and January), we'll announce three lucky winners:

Winner #1 -- most road miles logged.

Winner #2 -- most mountain bike or cyclocross miles logged.

Winner #3 -- most elevation gain.

I've got some super-awesome prizes for the winners, like Velo Girls cycling jerseys and other fun gifts from our sponsors.  So, what are you waiting for?  Get ready to have your best year ever on the bike.....with Velo Girls!

munday funday -- 31 October, 2011

Just in case you missed this video when it went viral on Facebook last week, here's a cool link for you to enjoy while firing up your computer this morning. This video was shot by Jason Anderson at the Bay Area Super Prestige cyclocross race on October 23rd with a quad-copter GO-PRO video camera. Yup, a little radio-controlled helicopter with a video camera attached. Check out the video and you can see images of the quad-copter at the end. Pretty darn cool. Turn up the volume and watch it on the big screen for full effect.



doesn't this just make you want to race cyclocross?

unless you're riding in a bubble

YOU need this! You NEED this! You need THIS! what IS this? THIS is group riding skills and who better to teach you how to play nice with others than the expert coaches of Velo Girls Coaching Services!

Just this weekend at our Bike Skills 101 clinic, I was having a conversation with a number of participants about our upcoming co-ed Bike Skills 301 (pacelines + group riding) clinic. One of them stated that she would never ride in a paceline, even though she rides on her husband's wheel all the time. Another stated that he loves riding centuries and would love to ride them faster but doesn't like riding in close proximity to other riders. And yet another stated that he pacelines all the time but doesn't always trust the riders he rides with.

Bike Skills 301 (pacelines + group riding skills) is the PERFECT clinic for all three of these cyclists (and probably for you, too)! Why? Because whether or not you ever race your bike, you'll have the opportunity to ride with other riders at some point in your cycling career. Group riding is FUN! Group riding will help you ride longer and faster. And if you learn the skills, you'll be a safer rider and can share your knowledge with your friends and other folks with whom you ride.

First, we teach you the science behind pacelining -- draft theory. We teach you about energy savings and how to find the ideal position in relationship to other riders. We teach you how to find the wind (and how to protect yourself from it).

Then, we teach you how to be safe when pacelining -- communication skills, how to safely position yourself and how to modulate your speed without having a negative impact on other riders.

And then we take it all out on the road and work on group riding skills, starting with two-rider partner drills and progressing to various types of pacelines and echelons.

So, unless you're riding in a bubble, you'll have lots of opportunities to ride with other riders, which means lots of opportunities to ride faster, longer, and safer by utilizing group riding skills.

Our last co-ed Bike Skills 301 clinic of 2011 will be held on November 6th in Woodside. I would highly encourage you to come and add some skills to your cycling toolbox. Bring your teammates, friends, or significant other so you can learn together and reinforce your learning. Register by October 30th and save $20!

Click here for NOW: Bike Skills 301 Registration

cycling symphonic

Little-known fact: I was a pretty darn good musician in a former life. I attended Ithaca College on a full music scholarship. My major was the oboe, but I played all the woodwinds, French horn, mallets, keyboards, and sang. Music was my life -- my everything. I had planned to be a professional oboist with a symphony orchestra. It was a crazy-risky career choice for a girl from a poor, working-class family. But somehow, my parents were very supportive of this goal.

By an odd twist of fate, coupled with a healthy dose of performance anxiety and a case of cold feet, I changed my degree program a couple of times and graduated with a BFA in Theatre Management. That was career #1 for me and I managed professional theatres for the first 13 years of my career. That was also the career that brought me to California back in 1997.

Music is still a HUGE part of my life. I have more than 12,000 songs of all genres in my iTunes library and that doesn't include all the cassette tapes I've never converted or replaced. I listen to music from the moment I awake until the moment I go to sleep. I listen in my home, in my car, in my office, and while I'm sitting on my roof-top deck. It's the soundtrack of my life. But the one place I DON'T listen to music is while I'm riding my bicycle.

When I ride my bike, I want to connect fully with my environment. I want to see, hear, and smell the world around me. I want to unplug from the technology that pervades every waking moment of my life. I want to take myself off the grid, without distractions of phone, text, email, or facebook. I want to immerse myself into the sensory experience of riding my bicycle in the great big wide open world.

The debate of whether or not cyclists should listen to music while riding is in the same league as the Campy/Shimano debate, the Hatfields and the McCoys, or Democrat versus Republican. Cyclists get pretty emotional and passionate in their opinion about this. I'll just suffice to say that in California, the vehicle code (which also governs bicycles) states that you can wear one earbud when riding a bicycle.

When I listen to music, I listen with every part of my brain.....with every part of my being. It actually makes it challenging to focus on certain types of work (like reading and writing) so I have to be very careful how loudly I'm listening to my music and what types of music I listen to. I have a mix called "mindless music" that is comprised of jazz, classical, and other types of music that I won't find myself really listening to (or trying to sing along with). But even then, I realize that I'm easily distracted by the music in the background.

I was listening to a new download tonight -- Peter Gabriel's New Blood (Special Edition) which is superb and you should check it out. I allowed myself the luxury (and distraction) of playing it on my Apple TV through the sound bar on my television (which has phenomenal sound quality). I felt myself being transported into a place of familiarity (with lyrics I remember from 20 years ago) and emotion (with the orchestral + operatic qualities). It was an all-encompassing experience and I wasn't able to keep working.

And, in that moment, I realized that because I get so focused and involved with the music I listen to, it wouldn't be prudent of me to ride while I listen. I can lose myself in music. When I ride I need to focus 100% of my attention on my environment. I need to think about other road users, the terrain, and my own state of physical being. When listening to music, using every bit of gray matter I've got, there's nothing left to be alert and aware when I'm riding.

So yeah, I've always thought I just wanted to escape technology (and that's true), but the reality is that music is such a complete sensory experience for me that there would be nothing left to pedal my bicycle safely.

How about you? Do you listen to music while you ride?

ps -- this image has nothing to do with this blog post but I was searching for related images about music and cycling and the brain and happened upon this happy guy and wanted to share it!

if Mickey Mantle rode a bike

I went to see a movie this weekend -- Moneyball -- the story of Billy Beane, the Oakland A's, and sabermetrics. Yeah, a baseball movie. I'm not a big baseball fan and don't really know much about the sport or its history, but Moneyball received positive reviews from my friends and who doesn't want to stare at Brad Pitt for two hours?

The film opened with a quote by Mickey Mantle:

"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing all your life."

Immediately, before even knowing the context of the quote in the sport of baseball, I felt the urge to share this quote with my cycling world. You see, that's how I feel about my job. I teach people how to ride a bicycle. But we all know how to ride a bicycle, right? In my opinion, no. Although most of us have ridden bikes since childhood, we don't really KNOW how to ride a bike. Of course, when I tell people that, especially cyclists who have been riding for a while, I run the risk of offending them. But by the end of a four-hour Bike Skills clinic or a two-hour one-on-one session, clients agree that they really didn't know what they thought they knew. And they agree that NOW they know how to ride a bicycle.

As children, we're very in touch with our environment and how we interact with it. We have a keen sense of proprioception. We listen to our body. When we hop on a bike, we intuitively know what to do. We don't try to fix, manage, or correct the natural physics and mechanics of the bike. We let the bike do what it was designed so well to do. We don't over-think it. We trust the technology and the science behind it. And riding a bike is easier because of this.

In the past 10 years, I've developed a career of teaching folks (mostly adults) how to ride a bike. More than 900 men + women participate in our various Bike Skills clinics each year. For some, this is their first experience riding in their entire lifetime. For others, they're returning to the bike as an adult after a hiatus. And for others, they've been riding for a long period of time but want to really learn and understand how to ride. Some folks want to learn specific skills (like descending or group riding or racing or mountain biking). Some folks find me because they've experienced fear or a serious crash or simply the frustration of not being "perfect" at this sport that was so easy for them as a child. Many feel they don't need the fundamentals. Of course, in my opinion, everyone needs the fundamentals. The fundamentals are the foundation of everything we do on the bike.

So, like Mickey Mantle and the sport of baseball, I try to enlighten cyclists about all the things they don't know that they don't know. We all know how to ride a bike. We've done it our entire lives. But it's pretty amazing how much we don't really know or understand about riding a bike.

Come, learn, understand, improve in our final clinics for the 2011 season:

Oct 22nd -- Bike Skills 101 -- Fundamental Bike Handling Skills sponsored by BicycleLawyer.com

Oct 22nd -- Bike Skills 201 -- Climbing + Descending sponsored by Teresa Callen of Image Arts Salon

Oh, and Mickey Mantle DID ride a bike. He's often discussed the importance of life-long fitness and an active lifestyle. Here's an image from a 1977 print ad by AMF.