Recovery

Starting to feel way better today. No more aches and pains. Got a solid 10 hours of sleep last night, but I won't jump on the bike till tomorrow. It's important I feel fully recovered and to not push myself on the bike, otherwise I risk going downward into a worse state of health. It's been frustrating not feeling on top of things, but I've managed a cross-country move, a pseudo new job or sorts and overall different lifestyle. Lots of changes to say the least. The stress of the move coupled with the amount of riding I've been doing finally caught up to me.

Inner Sunset

Still sick, however can't complain with this view. It's from our new apartment in Inner Sunset. To the left you can see the sun setting and the Pacific Ocean. Directly in the middle is the edge of Golden Gate Park. To the left and beyond are the Marin Headlands. You can even see part of the peaks I ride. Glad to be here.

3 Days in a Row

Three days of no riding makes Andrio an unhappy boy. I've also fallen off the regimented workout horse. I'm lucky enough to get in any riding whatsoever. I just keep telling myself its temporary and things will be back to normal soon.

This Weather is Killing Me

Man, its gorgeous outside, and I can't go riding because we've been painting our apartment all weekend long. Are stuff is arriving on Tuesday so it was the only time we had. It's worth it, though. However, the sun has been shining and I've been seeing so many riders out and enjoying the sun. I can't wait to get fully settled so I can concentrate more on my training. In the meantime I have the Marin Headlands to keep me happy.

We Have Arrived

My wife, dog and I made it to San Francisco without a hitch. With four large suitcases in tow, including my bike, we managed to get from one coast to the other relatively easily. We're in temporary housing for now. The view is spectacular from our balcony. My bike made it safely in the new Evoc bag. So many mixed emotions going through my head right now, but mostly excitement.

Last Day in BK

So surreal when a bunch of strangers come in and pack all your belongings in half a day. We were fortunate enough to have a moving company do all the hard work for us. To me there's nothing more stressful than a move, but somehow this one has been pretty easy, despite being a 1/3 complete. We still have to find a place to live and coordinate the movers to unpack our stuff, not to mention get to the airport with all of our luggage including my bike. Almost there.

Reflector

As we approach our last week in New York I can't help but reflect on the good and bad things about this city. It has presented itself with so many challenges I can honestly say made me stronger and more aware of what's important in life.

I used to, for the longest time, have the mindset of living to work. My work was a driving force in my life, but I'm slowly converting to the latter thought of working to live. No better place to make that transition than the West Coast. I grew up there, and know how much slower and easier life can be.

My work will always be an important factor in my life. I'll continue to work hard, regardless of what that work may be. If it's designing, illustrating or training on my bicycle, I'll have had that time in the big city to remember as a major milestone and personal mountain I climbed and conquered.

The Wiggle

There's a little known secret in San Francisco called 'the wiggle'. It's a bike route that avoids many of the steep grades of the city. It'll be a nice welcome back to riding real hills instead of the gentle grades of the east. Here in Brooklyn I have to ride at least 20 miles outside of the city to find anything worthy of being considered a leg burner. For mountain biking the best trails are an hour north of the city. It'll be interesting to go from really technical trails to the relatively buffed out single-track of the Marin Headlands.

See You Soon SF

My wife and I just announced to our friends and family that we are moving to San Francisco. While New York has been good to us, we're looking forward to moving back to the west coast. I, for one, am especially excited about the move. The Marin Headlands and NorCal riding at my doorstep, not to mention all the amazing roads and especially mountains to conquer.

So look out San Francisco, cause here we come!

Tall Bikes

Gotta love the tall-bike. Rode past this guy who was cruising along Riverside Drive on a Sunday afternoon. I've ridden one before, and it's pretty scary at first, but once you get rolling it's just like riding any other bike. They're mostly hand-crafted, as I've never seen an official line of tall-bikes for purchase. Safety hazard? I think not, just pure fun. Look at the guy's expression.

Upon approach of a tall-bike it's hard to misidentify.

Two New Favorites

Just picked up an issue of The Ride and Rouleur, respectively. They both feature gorgeous photography and/or illustration. I haven't read any of the articles just yet, but they both just eek design and high-quality content. They remind me of Monocle. Rouleur is especially collectible. The Ride provides a good mix of road, mountain and lifestyle while Rouleur caters more to roadies. Definitely both worth checking out if you're wanting an alternative to Bicycling, Bike, or Velo news.

Leap Year

It's my birthday today, which means I just turned 8! I was born at 5am on February 29th in Vancouver, WA. It's been 5 years to do the day since moving to New York, and so many great things have happened to me in the relatively short time. I have a wonderful wife and family, a great dog, my health, a successful career, and incredible friends. Thanks to everyone for wishing me a happy birthday today. [Photo by Jenny]

So what did I do today? Not much. I decided to take the day off from work, did some indoor training since the weather was crap, finished re-watching Mad Men in anticipation of the new season, watched a movie, took a nap, and walked Marlow. The night will continue with my wife taking me out for a surprise dinner and end with cake and birthday presents. Overall a low-key and relaxed birthday.

Road-Rash

I got beat up this weekend. It started on Friday when I got my hand caught in the leg-joint of my Cyclops trainer. It took a big bite off of my skin. It was an early morning workout and I just wasn't paying attention to where my hand was at. Then on Saturday I hit the deck twice, once on pavement, resulting in the road-rash pictured above, and the other on slippery wooden planks of the Brooklyn Bridge. I've got a number of smaller bruises, but I'm otherwise okay. Fine additions to my collection of war wounds.

Don't Do Drugs

It's been an odd couple of weeks for professional cyclists involved in some sort of doping scheme. Lance's case was closed by the feds; Alberto Contador was retroactively banned for two years, stripping him of the 2012 Tour de France and Giro title(s), and faces two million Euros in fines; and Jan Ulrich, although retired was given a similar two-year ban for doping. So there you have it. All within a week. So kids, don't do drugs.

To Shave or Not to Shave

I've always wondered about cyclists and shaved legs. I've never done it before, but I've always been curious. Are there any benefits? Is it purely aesthetics? Tradition perhaps? To me for the longest time it's been the identifier if you're either a 'mountain biker' or 'roadie'. The thing is I love both disciplines equally. I liken the whole ritual to that of people getting tans.

I used to be really self-conscious about my legs because I'm so skinny. But now I'm not afraid to wear lycra shorts as I've slowly sculpted my biker legs over the years. What do the ladies think? Is it sexy or gross to see a man with shaved legs? What would my wife think? I've never asked her before.

While there's isn't much to justify the benefits of shaving your legs, which includes aerodynamics, heat dissipation, road rash (wound treatment), deep tissue massages. The main reason I'd consider shaving my legs is to show my commitment to the sport, that I'm serious about cycling. But does one need smooth legs to show that?

The closest thing I ever got to a tattoo was wearing a bicycle chain around my wrist, no clasp, secured as if on a bicycle. It was a bitch getting on, and I wore it for many years. Since I can't grow facial hair could this be my mustache phase? I'm really interested in knowing what everything thinks, cyclists and non-cyclists alike. What say you?

[Update: I did not shave my legs.]