Last night I had my MRI of my right knee, so hopefully in a few days I'll get good news from my orthopedist. The knee is still pretty swollen and I can not straighten the leg fully yet. It still hurts too, but then again- I have a double fracture... so, ya know. Getting the pin out of my thumb on Monday was a highlight for sure. Dr. Perlman was awesome and I am lucky that I have been able to work with some great doctors- even if the process and system has left me feeling gutted at times by the unending red tape and setbacks. The doctors and nurses have been fantastic though and I DO feel lucky to work with them. My new physical therapist for my thumb/ elbow is awesome too. Throughout this whole dreadful process, I've tried to hold onto and remember my blessings.
Yesterday, was an accidentally monumental day for me; I walked into the R&D area of our workshop/ warehouse and walked past the new personal fixed gear "creation" of our creative director, Pete Demos. As I walked by, out of morbid curiosity, I pulled the bike from the rack, tossed a leg over the top tube and rode it around the work area for a couple minutes to get a feel for his concept. I rode it! I rode a bike for the first time since April 29th when I crashed. It felt heavenly when I realized what I had just done. It was honestly about a minute or two after I got rolling before I realized what I was doing- I was feeling so "normal" that I simply followed my usual ingrained instincts and hopped on the bike. Sincerely, after I had the realization, I nearly cried. It sounds so stupid, but it was overpowering to be ON a bike. I rode for only 2-3 minutes, but it didn't hurt at all. I could grip the bars, I could stand up and I could fully pedal without pain. It was a momentarily euphoric event. People- let me reinforce the belief that little things in life really do matter. It was a far cry from a training ride, but it was a ride on a bike... and I hadn't had one in a long time.
Speaking of Pete's bike...
For obvious reasons, it's called The Skittles Bike. It hurts my eyes to look at it... but I admit that "there's an ass for every seat" in this world. Pete is asking for comments and thoughts about his bike... so let him have it!Oscar Freire won today's Tour stage. Oscar is one of my favorite riders (God I hope he's clean) and it makes me happy to see him win in the green jersey. He's always shown great class as a rider and sprinter. I surely wouldn't mind seeing him finish the Tour in green. Tomorrow's stage will be a real test for the remaining GC riders. Finishing on a climb into Italy, it should make for a very interesting day. Should make for great racing drama.
Next week is our National Sales Meeting again. Posting will be hit-n-miss, but I'm going to try to post as much as possible... amybe even from the sales meeting itself. You just NEVER know with me...
Tim
22 comments:
I know how you feel, Tim! Now that I'm back on my bike, every pedal stroke is special.
And for Pete- Well, it's not something I would ride, but it's beautifully executed, and if it makes you happy...
Pete - The bike is beautiful! I love the colors it has a nice Euro feel. I would buy this bike... Actually I want to buy this bike. I live in San Diego how do I get one? :)
OMGoodness!!!! You were riding!!! RIDING! That's FANTASTIC!!!! congrats!
Thats awesome, it is almost as bright as my ride. I love it though. Do you know what grips those are? I see they say masi, but are they cork?
Isn't that the way it's supposed to be? Wonderful news! I would forget everything in the presence of that SWEET bike and be compelled to throw my leg over it too! Best therapist you could ever have!
Super thrilled for you, Tim. You made it to the other side.
Way to go, Tim! That first time on the bike after a crash is truly a special time.
Good luck at the Sales Meeting, and I look forward to seeing you at Interbike.
Mark
Tim,
Great to hear that you rode a bike. Maybe you will be ready for Red Trolley next year. :)
You make me feel like a big baby for complaining about my bruised ribs.
Congrats on riding, when I recently rode a bike after 6 months off the bike from an accident I was ecstatic. It felt both completely amazing and as natural as breathing.
And I am pretty sure I just put those exact same red BMX pedals on the mostly white bike I am currently building. So, yeah, I like that skittles bike.
(The pink chainring is a little flashy for me though.)
What a fun bike! I can see how you were compelled to ride it...speaking of which, you RODE A BIKE! That is so wonderful to hear!
The fact that you hopped on and started riding without a thought shows more than any scan how much better you must be feeling. And I have to agree with Joel Price (nice name ;-) ) on the bike - looks gooood. I commute on a lemon yellow '72 Schwinn Speedster and love the attention the color gets.
Tell Pete to melt down that thing and try again.
It's one thing for the fixed gear guys and gals to set up their bikes with colors and that sort of madness but for it to come like that from the factory is silly. It would only alienate those that are potential buyers.
Specialized did this with their newest BMX line and it only annoyed BMX riders.
i like the colors, just not the color scheme. bicycles are gloriously elegant and simple, and their paint schemes should follow suit in spirit. there's too many combinations going on here, and they don't all work together well necessarily. :)
I'll be watching for you at Master's this year :-)
Good to see you are well, Bubba.
Redneked
...... besides, I rode that this morning, it already exists.
Soulville SS??
Rides pretty damned sweet. You should try one.
That looks sick Tim! Do you know what tires he is using? -Tony formerly of B&L.
Been there! I was working on refurbishing some bikes for kids in DC who had no bikes and I was cranking them out, handing them off to be test-ridden. When there were no test-riders around, I jumped on some old steel upright hybrid and rode it around for 2 minutes.
It was the first time I had been on a bike in 2 months after a really bad crash. I had been worried for weeks about whether I could get back on the bike again and it happened without a thought or a plan.
Take care Tim! That fixie looks great. Let's hope he leaves the attitude that usually comes along with fixies at home...
Hats off to another sexy Masi! You guys are clearly full steam with R&D. Although the colors are plentiful, I love how this bike and other Masi's like it (soulville) - all seem to maintain that shadowy vintage look. I love the wheelset selection. Kind of a wooden rims and old school rubber from 1890 look. A whole lotta class. Now if this bike had a slightly more Steam-Punk look, you'd see these things fly of LBS racks. Nice work Pete!
Are the rims a faux wood? I can't tell. if so, where can I find some?
Okay.....Seriously....After 2 days of lusting I can't wait any longer. How can I get my hands on one of these? I'll fly to San Diego and ride back home to Chicago if I have to!
Why don't you allow your "craziest" customers to mix and match the colors as they see fit via a web based parts "mixer". This way no two bikes are the same, and everyone can get exactly the design they want! Gives a whole new meaning to the word Mixtie (that's what you should call it..:-)
I'm sure you're familiar with product dev theories such as "customer co-creation", "crowdsourcing", and "mass customization". No one is really doing this in the bicycle industry, so it might be a great way to get noticed. And you could charge a premium while not canibalizing your dealer sales. In fact, maybe the bikes can be shipped to the customers local Masi dealer for - everyone wins!
Get on it - I'll buy one...
That bike in yellow with the orange Masi logo with either all silver or black parts with a black brooks for the black componets or tan one for the all silver parts and you will sell a million of them. As it is now I don't think you will sell 10.
Masirider 84
I SO want to know what bar that is that he's got on that bike. I love the elegant sweep in it. Gotta get me one!
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