World famous CAT 3 rider, HENRY HANK VALENZUELA III has a saying- SUFFER IN SILENCE. I believe these are pretty good words to live by, and sometimes I should heed them myself, but all in all, I'm a pretty tough bitch. I don't like to hear others complain and don't get me started on moaners and grunters. I made him a tee and it started out as a one of a kind but now it's about to go international and quite possibly another color. We'll see what comes of it. Keep an eye out for it at my shop on Etsy.com. or just click on my shop button to the right. Should be up by the weekend.
MY MITTS GOT TOO HOT
I mentioned before I was going to get a set of pink brake hoods in honor of the Giro. Well, I found a pair of pink Hüdz 1/2 off, which made them a little easier to buy. Not the best color combos but it's only for a month. Taking off the original Campy ones were a pain. Now I need white bar tape because Becky says:
-"LESS RAPHA, MORE GIRO!"
On my ride today I felt like a cave woman, I was a gatherer, look at the goodies I found. Everyone knows fruit can't be considered stolen if its just one or two.
It's May, time for the Giro. I'm celebrating by putting on pink brake hoods, but they're only staying on there for the month. I don't want to be one of THOSE women. Besides, I don't think they're going to look to hot, photos to come.
Another big thing for the month of May is the opening of the Rapha Cycle Club in San Fransisco. There has never been a better excuse to head North than to visit my wallet's mortal enemy- Rapha. Love them.
Speaking of the Giro and Italy, I just discovered Capo's new Spring/Summer line up. And looky what I found- a celeste colored kit. I need a new swimsuit but this kit takes precedence over that for sure.
I'd like to introduce everyone to FREEBIRD VELO's new mascot!
BECKY!
She will be floating around from time to time to add some feisty-ness to the blog. I hope you've all seen American Flyers. If not, I don't know what to tell you. Are you riding a beach cruiser? I identify a little bit with Becky, she's kind of an airhead, she's frisky, and she likes Fig Newtons.
So welcome to Freebird Becky, hope you brought your rock, we might need it sometime.
I'm an American. Am I happy about it? Yes. Do I sometimes daydream about being born into a Tuscan family, raising olives and taking my truffle sniffing dog named Fausto out into the woods, hunting tasty fungus? Yes I do. I have an unhealthy at times, passion for all things Italian. Whether it be cycling related, food, travel(at some point), and their wonderful use of the coffee bean. I hope by some karmic coincidence, if I submerse myself in all things Italian I will come back as an Italian, hopefully still female with a bigger rack, and thick, shiny, lustrous hair, oh, and still have my passion for cycling. I understand the rack might interfere with my aerodynamics but I'm willing to take a chance.
Before I turned into an Italo-phile (is that right?) and I started looking for my first road bike, I checked out our LBS, Cyclery USA. I've been going there since my first bike. For my first road bike I test rode a Trek 1.5, I think, it was white with neon green. I never put a leg over a road bike in my life until that day. It was like that bike was made for me. It felt surprisingly good, even after being on cushy mountain bikes. I have to owe it to Trek or my body geometry, I don't know which, but they do make a well made, handsome bike. You see, Treks are handsome. Bianchi's on the other hand are georgeous. After watching this video it reminded me of the first time I test rode that atomic pea green Trek. I also like hearing Fabian talk about his first time on the cobbles, makes me appreciate him even more.
I will say Trek-Leopard is taking a lot of crap for their kits but I like 'em. The blue/green band kind of looks like celeste.
I know this is a cycling blog but one or two of you out there might surf too. This wetsuit was too sick to just keep to my little old self, sorry it's a girls suit.
Also a new shop, at least to me, down in Newport, called Almond. Need to check it out this weekend.
And also the hubby needs to try out his birthday present I made him. This fine custom sea-ghetto handplane.
It's Tuesday, Paris Roubaix was two days ago. I've had time to process and watch the final hour of racing three times over. I was watching Cancellara and Hushovd when they were having a heated discussion with what looks like a director's car and Garmin's team car. I did read in an interview- Thor said he wanted to respect his teammate up the road so he would stay on Cancellara's wheel the whole day and not attack. Is that real racing? Does that seem like a pussy move, I say yes. They were 20 seconds from the lead group at one time, why didn't they bridge the gap? I want to see real racing, brutal, painful, glorious racing. Don't get me wrong, I know they rode their hearts out, but what I saw was pathetic. Where is the Thor from stage 17 in 2009 Tour de France, breaking away to take full control of the green jersey from Cavendish.
How would you like to see that coming up in your rear view?
Funny coincidence: there's a quote from Cancellara in the May issue of Velonews magazine, yes I still read paper products. Here it is:
In the end it was Belgian, Johann van Summeren who emerged out of the cobbled dust bowl. With a flat no less for the last few k's, but still able to propose to his long-time girlfriend.
Just for the ladies and you sensitive guys
Garmin got their long awaited big Classics win. I'm kind of thinking that this would of happened for them sooner or later, they didn't need all the extra artillery that Cervelo added. Anything can happen with a proper breakaway. That's my 2cents.
All in all it was a sweet Paris Roubaix. Don't get me wrong, Cancellara had a good race and tried to put in a last minute attack. He either didn't have the legs or was actually foiled by Garmin's supposed attack plan. It just shows us that riders are human.
