Escondido is Spanish for Hot Box

The Tour of California is here again.

I feel for these guys, 100 degrees plus 11,000 or so feet of climbing 

does not make for a pleasant opening stage. 

I just hope they rehydrate well tonight because stage 2 is going

to be even nastier. Hot valley floors, more climbing, and then 

ending in Palm Springs where the temperature is expected to reach 108. 

Good Luck guys!

Here are some pics from this morning, enjoy:

Philippe Gilbert

showing why you wear white shorts

with WC stripes.

Audi.

Marco Pinotti 

the (Italian) gentleman rider

The Vacansoliel stable

Andy had a little spark on todays stage, maybe I can finally

 wear my Luxembourg socks with pride again.

Not my roof rack,

wish it was.

Sylvain Chavanel

His tattoo is getting bigger. 

 Tyler Farrar the ginger warrior.

 Omega Pharma something or other,

or as Phil Ligget would say: Omeeeeega 

Vacansoliel, the team of the day.

Must of been the bikes. 

Thor.

Bring on the Pink

Available at etsy.com/shop/freebirdvelo

Yikes!

I'm terrible at math so I won't try and count how many days since my last post. I am alive and I have absolutely no excuse for being gone so long. Wish I could say I've been riding too much to write but my Mama told me not to lie. So wish me luck and hopefully this will become more routine. 

On to more important issues. It's May and it's Giro time. Time for pink. Time for pasta. Time for wine. Time to ride. I believe this year's going to be pretty damn good. You got Wiggo, Gesink, Ryder, and Nibbles. Now, I want to go with Nibali but I'm afraid it's not going to be any of the ones I just mentioned. I just wrote all those names for nothing. Another reason I'm kind of excited this year is because the US now has Giro coverage thanks to beIn sports. (I was kind of worried there for while, no carrier was going to carry it in the US) I do enjoy watching Eurosport and Gazetta's coverage on the lil 'ol computer but it's nice to have it reordered and waiting for you when you come home to eat lunch.

How The Race Was Won - Strade Bianche 2013 from Cosmo Catalano on Vimeo.

I may be a little late to this party and I feel like an idiot but I didn't realize @cosmocatalano from Instagram was the brilliant man behind these awesome videos. Got to thank Bianchista for putting one of his videos on her blog. I now have some serious catching up to do, and I suggest you do the same too. 

To do List

I'm a little late writing my New Year's blog, hope you all can for give me. I've vowed to myself not to set resolutions this year, but I do have a few goals. I don't know the difference between the two I just figured if  it had a different name I'd be more likely to get my ass going. In case you're curious here's a list of what I got on the burners this year.

I already got one goal accomplished.
Can be found in the shop.

1. More FreeBird Velo goodies e.g., new stickers, beer cozies, cards, and quite possibly a zine.

Not my poster, but I like it. 

2. Posters. I personally love posters, I have the equipment to make em so why not. Plus, I like the idea of having affordable art available for purchase. And, I have way too many ideas whirling around my head, I need to get them out on something.

3. Ride more. Actually, this one should be listed as improving time-management.

4. Get back my upper body via weights and yoga. I know cyclists are not supposed to utter these words but I am. I want to open a jar of Bonne Maman raspberry jam without looking like Mr. Furley.

5. Guerrilla Marketing. If I discussed it, it wouldn't be guerrilla marketing would it?

There's no reason for this picture.
Just reminds me of how good riding is.

So there it is. A little sampling of things to come this year. Beer cozies, posters, better looking arms while wearing a jersey, and quite possibly a copier based zine fresh out of the early 90's. Yeah, I think these goals sound pretty good.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and

Happy Holidays to everyone!

I just want to take a minute and thank everyone for 

supporting little 'ol FreeBird Velo this year.

 It's nice to know there

 are still good people left in this world 

and most of them are cyclists!

I Prefer See's Not Whitman's

Alrighty, Christmas time is here again and I've made my annual list of Must Haves. 

I have either been lusting after or have actually used these awesome product(s) over

 the the past year, so I am here to share them with you. 

Maybe you're looking for some ideas for your precious loved one, maybe you want to kiss your 

boss's booty or maybe you just wanna scream out: 

"screw you all, I'm buying a motorcycle, you're all getting Whitman's chocolates!"

As for me, whether I see any of these things

under my 10 inch Italian Stone Pine super-ghetto Christmas tree remains to be seen.

Here we go:

Allen and Bijou are geniuses because this is the best drink mix ever.

I don't get icky belly while in the saddle, they're pretty tasty,

and these single servings look pretty snappy to use. Plus I have a

short attention span so the multiple flavors look right up my alley. Skratch Labs, 

believe the hype, because YES, they're just that good.

My deep, deep, undying love of cycling started with mountain biking. I was a fan of 

Missy Giove, Julie Furtado and John Tomac, so it's only natural that when 

I want to return to my roots I turn to Yeti, they've been around since those days 

and there's a good reason for it. They make frickin good bikes, that's why. 

I've had an itch to hit the dirt for awhile, there are trails calling my name, 

and it's not fair I have to look at them across the street all week while I'm at work. 

My dream rig would be the 

Yeti SB66 Enduro (lime) with SRAM components. 

Yeah, just something to spin around on.

Maybe, just maybe if I put this pic up my Hubby would be more likely to buy me some of these 

Assos knickers. Not a fan of their douchbaggery advertising but I would love to try a pair of their chamois for longer than 5 minutes. Because dancing around the dressing room is not the same as

sitting on a saddle. I tried on their bibs and fell in love with them, I just couldn't pay the $300. I'm happy with Rapha's 3/4 bibs but would like to have a pair of fall/spring knickers.

Clear the counter Darling, mamma wants a new toy! 

I'm not a genius when it comes to espresso but I do know that Eddy rode for Faema and how

bad could this machine be. It can't be worse than what they carry at Costco. And besides, 

everyday you get to be reminded of monsieur Eddy Merckx, I couldn't think of anything better.

Halsa mats, I wanted one last year and kind of forgot about em, 

but now I want one. I'm getting old, I have back pain and insomnia,

both of which can be helped with the help of these pokey mats. 

It's widely used in Sweden which may sway Hubby's view. 

.

Aaaaghhhh, I love Deus. Their custom builds are absolutely beautiful and they have more

soul than any new rides found on a showroom floor. Trust me, we looked this weekend and it's pretty sad. Plastic cookie cutters galore (except Triumphs of course).

Last but not least, the women's Rapha long sleeve jersey. It seems like I'm always 

on the fence about long sleeve jerseys. Living in Southern California can be 

kind of tricky, but for those early morning rides it just makes 

sense. I never take off my arm warmers anyways so why wouldn't I wear one. 

I kind of like the orange in men's but they're out of stock in small, 

not that I'm hinting or anything.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!

 I want to thank everyone who has supported

FreeBird Velo this year, and I don't just mean buying a tee or two, 

although that's really nice, thank you.

 I want to thank everyone for sharing their input and sharing FBV with others.

It means a lot to me and my little clubhouse company. I love sharing my ideas and 

I get so stoked that there are others who share the same brainwaves.

New Goodies for the Holiday Season

 "Hey Tommy, did you hear? FreeBird Velo has new tees out.

I'm not hinting or anything"

 Yes it's true, I've been utilizing my time wisely and came up with perhaps my favorite tees to date. I have a new one for the ladies, printed on a super comfy tri-blend American Apparel tee. No break in time on this girls, this tee will be your favorite the minute you slip it on. It will remind you that even though your riding buddy just dusted you, you'll get 'em back, maybe not this ride but soon. Unknowing to them, you'll strike like a compact ring ninja.

And now, my favorite tee, possibly ever. I came up with the official FBV motto on a ride, which is only fitting. I was passed by a group of young local club riders on the first climb of the day. Later in the ride I passed a man and his reluctantly riding lady friend. I felt bad but at least I passed someone, which was kind of redeeming after being passed by 20 something year old kids. That's when the slogan came to me, and now I'm sharing it with you. For a limited time only, I'm not trying to be high-falutin or nothing I just want them to be special and a sort of gift to those that follow along with me. Available till November 29 on the FreeBird Velo shop, shipping for Christmas guaranteed, even international orders.

And here we have a classic. Revamped with a new font and printed on an American Apparel tee. Higher quality with the same great message. If you already have one, thank you so much! and if not do yourself a favor and pick one up, or better yet, buy one or a few for your club mates.

So enough with the sales schmoozin, I want to leave you with this shot from last weekend's ride. This is what riding's about.

Ouch!

Caddy

Golfer

                                      
"The winner of Paris-Roubaix earns $39,000 

in prize money. A caddy (not a golfer, but a caddy)
who works for someone that wins 
the PGA Championship gets $145,000"

as seen on Cycling Inquisition