Weekend Recap

Friday night, dad came into town for the Bucks game. Since it was against the Heat, who have a Marquette alumni playing for them, it was nearly sold out when I went to buy tickets. I like to use StubHub to get cheap game tickets, and it usually works really well, but this time when they sent me the confirmation email and whatnot, the tickets were not attached. I had to call in and spent about 45 min tracking them down. Just what was my $10 internet delivery fee for again?

Ugh. Ticket fiasco aside, it was a good time. Dad brought his bike in, so we rode to the game. I never thought I'd see the day, but here it is, dad riding in the city:



Anyway, the game was pretty uneventful, though there was a bad injury. We left after the 3rd quarter because the Bucks were getting trounced. I think the best part of the game was the jump rope troupe that performed the halftime show. Au revoir, Bradley Center.



When we got home, Cale and I helped dad install his new roof rack. There's one tray for dad's bike and a specialty tray for Sue's recumbent. After that we fell into bed and were up a while later for a Kettle Work Day. Dad came along for that, too, which was cool. We worked on the new Emma Carlin trail, I believe, and man, is it ever a doosy. There should be a refreshments stand halfway to the top.


Photo by Gomez



Here's dad with one of the tools that's prevalent at work days, the McCloud.



After that, Dad headed home and Cale and I intended on going for a road bike ride, but we were tired and it was windy and the moon was in the wrong phase... you name it. So we napped instead. That evening Cale dragged the VR trainer into the apartment and hooked it up to the TV. Better yet, he figured out how to do picture in picture, which lets me watch a movie on one part of the screen and keep track of my progress on the trainer on the other half. It's futuristic.

Here I'm watching Fight Club, along with the trainer screen small in the left hand corner, instead of picking up the apartment. Yikes, it's a little messy.



On Sunday, Cale and I practiced our mountain biking skillz in the parking lot next to our building. Funny story: the convenience store owner asked me later that day what we were up to. I would actually consider him a neighbor, in a sense. He's always working, and Cale and I have gotten on friendly terms with him.

After the parking lot lost its luster (read: I got frustrated and sick of practicing) we went out on the river trails. It was a lot of fun- they're in great condition. I tackled a lot of things that I haven't had the guts to try before. Cale took some videos of me, and it looked so easy (or lame) when I watched them. Maybe that will help make it easier for me to tackle again. I can just watch the videos a few times and say to myself, "See? That was easy, it's no big deal."





Videos here and here. They really are pretty simple things, but it's an accomplishment for me.

After the River Trails, we went to Joey and Emily's house for pancakes and sticky buns. Yum yum! It was a full house, and a good time.

After pancakes it was back home to bed again. Busy weekend. I spent a little more time arranging a trip I've got coming up. Next weekend I'm leaving for North Carolina (Hendersonville, to be exact) and it's going to be good! I'm so looking forward to the trails down there. It'll be great to get in a few longer rides for training.

Classy Times

Mmmm, shall we? We shall.

Bike Updates

I've got some samples of next year's fork decals layin' around, so I figure, I'll put some on my Minute fork. All told, this bike will have five components that have decals designed by me: fork, bars, wheels, stem (though it never made it to production) and brakes, when I get my paws on Prime. Sweet.

I've gotta admit, though, that the cool 'Tower' logo is not my work. Just the stripes template. The logo was designed by Jeremy Pettis, a designer I graduated from MIAD with. He's oozing with creativity, and I was glad to work with him on this. He also helped us out with Marvel and Circus.







What do I do with my other hand? Pocket it is.



Don't know if you guys caught it on the Pegasus website, but Cale and I went biking along the beach with a few friends this past Sunday. Here's the post on that.

GOOD LORD

this is too funny. Watch it, and you can thank me in person later.

re: Vesta

And now, the conclusion to this gripping tale you've all been waiting for:

Ciao Katy

I appreciate the candid note. As our marketing originates in Italy and is presented to other markets like ours, I will report back regarding what is considered most precious. That being said, we are happy that you do like the saddle.

Any additional feedback you send my way will be noted as well. Enjoy your rides. Thanks for your opinion and support.

Ride on,

Nat

That's nice :)

Vesta Saddle Claims

The black and gold monument to black and gold is nearly complete! I'm going to get new tubeless ready SUNringlé Black Flag wheels for it (in gold, I do think), and I need to either get some grips or wrap some bartape, but other than that, it's about done. Oh, and I'm going to put some white vinyl decals on the frame. Not a bad rattle can job, right?





This is what it looked like in-process:



There's one very special component on the bike; a Fizik Vesta women's specific saddle. It's the exact saddle I wanted, with the perfect color scheme for this bike.



However, we'll see if it preforms in the way it claims. I emailed Fizik's brand specialist to voice my concern:

Hi Nat,

We talked at Frostbike- I wanted to know how to get my hands on a Vesta saddle. Well, I've been checking QBP, and much to my delight they got them in stock. I ordered one and am now the proud owner of a beautiful black Vesta.

However, I'm emailing because I take issue with the slogan "Comfort relief for your most precious parts." Now, I understand you're not saying 'vital parts', such as your vital organs, circulatory system and bone structure. I understand that's not the focus here. On the other hand there are a number of fairly unnecessary things that aren't really vital but are what I would label 'precious'. Such as fingers, legs, my nose, etc. What I'm getting at is that I would consider my most 'precious' part not to be my labia or any of these other things, but my eyes. Without these, I wouldn't be able to mountain bike (or at least, not as easily) and I would have to find a new job. Even losing just one would suck pretty hard.

Then again, since it is such a good looking saddle that will look most excellent on my gloss and matte black mountain bike, I guess it's not too big of a stretch to say that it is "Comfort relief for my eyes". I'm gonna give this one to you, but I've gotta be honest and tell you I'm not totally convinced you have my most precious parts in mind.

;)

Tomorrow, his response. Stay tuned!

Wake Up Call

Last weekend Cale and I went out on a ride up in Cedarburg with a bunch of guys from the team. Guys who, as it turns out, have been training all winter. Unlike Cale and I. For the first time in a long time, I was the slowest person on the ride. It didn't feel good, that's for sure. Cale and I were both fading hard, and I basically had to be towed back during the fourth and final hour.

This episode has encouraged me to get my ass in gear. Apparently lifting weights once a week and going on six mile snow bike rides bi-weekly just doesn't cut it? Since then I've done something pretty much every day. A short run (to try to outpace my shame), squats workout, hour+ trainer rides. It's not much, I guess, but it's better than doing nothing.

In other news, Cale won the Chili Cook Off at work. That's my boyfriend! I'll have you know I helped, though. I took it to work and heated it up and everything. Without me, the prize winning chili would have been an undiscovered nobody sitting in our fridge.

It was a good time, the whole day had a sense of occasion to it. Which Wednesdays don't exactly exude every week, you know?



Brake fluid humor:

Bar Review

Having a pretty good day today. Sun's trying to peek out, the temp's just fine, and the birds have been singing. Also, Pinkbike posted a review of handlebars, so some of 'my' Answer bars got a little press. I sigh with happiness every time someone comments that they like the look of the bars. "Everytime a compliment is typed a graphic designer feels validated." [Every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings.]





Sigh. Oh happy day :)

Frostbike Photos

I finally got around to uploading some photos from Frostbike from the other camera.
All sorts of famous people at the show. For instance, the Michelin Man.



We got some awesome glasses at the sale.



One of the coolest bikes, an All City, at the show. It was a striking bike, kind of a spring green with a lot of black parts.

Oooooooo

oooohhhhh
The Kat came back
She couldn't stay away
The Kat came back that very next day.

My mom made up that song (I think. Is that an actual thing?) when I was little to reassure me that my tomcat would eventually come home whenever he was away tomcatting. It's been running through my head today because KAT'S BACK! My buddy Kat has been away in Antarctica for the past four months and she's back for a bit before she goes off to Alaska. Yes, she is a travellin' lady.





Kat is entirely welcome but I don't know if we'll be able to have Kat's stuffed buffalo, Custer, back again. The cat does not like the looks of the guy.





He paced around it for about 20 minutes before he finally decided to put him on the suspicious list and get on with his day.

Step Aside!

I am SO going to win this, so I apologize to all the losers- ahem, other contestants- in advance.

Design Contest for Women's MTB Workshop