I'm divorcing 2010 and starting a fling with 2011!

2010 was looking a little worn out and bedraggled. Starting to show her age- a little junk in the trunk. A few too many grey hairs. Things a little lower than they once were.

But then 2011 came along and flashed a wicked smile. She's younger, true, but she's also smart, funny, compassionate... and HOT! Oh man, she's got an as... I mean, great personality. I think she's the one- I see a real future with her, one with great promise. I know we've only just met, but I just have a feeling about her... one that just escapes words.

*****

Kidding aside, I wish all of you a fantastic new year that is filled with nothing that you don't want and all that you do. As for me, I plan to keep trying to be the best father and husband I can and try to grow and improve. Maybe fewer mistakes, but not if they come at the expense of learning, growing and gaining new experiences that make me a more complete person.

This past year has been one of many wonderful blessings, like the birth of my second daughter- Lily, and many other big and small things. This poor blog has been neglected, among other projects I've begun or tried to resurrect, but I am hopeful that 2011 will give me the clarity to focus better on the things that have thus far evaded my grasp.

I am blessed to have the people in my life that I do- from friends and family, to acquaintances, to colleagues, to the myriad of professional contacts and associates, to the athletes I work with... to each and every person who happens to stop by here from time to time to see what the hell I've been up to. Thank you all. Sincerely and from the bottom of my heart- I am blessed. Believe me, when things start to add up or burden me and make me search for happiness, I am always brought back to the myriad people in my life. So thanks. I am better because of you.

Here's to hoping that 2011 is a better year for us all- across the globe. It's a Piscean dream to pray for world peace and an end to hunger and strife, but dammit I can't help it. To all of you across the globe- Happy New Year 2011.

Thank you,

Tim

Welcome 2010!

Although 2010 has not officially arrived here in San Diego, it has for much of the world. With that in mind, I want to take just a moment to wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. For all of my friends celebrating Chinese New Year (February 14th, year of the Tiger), I know that you still have 2 months to go, but I still wish you all a wonderful 2010 as well.

I am blessed to have the friends that I have, as well as the family. Many of the connections I have made through this space are ones that have changed my life and enriched it beyond words. I know, without doubt, that many of the friends I have made through this blog and other forms of Social Media will be friends I will have forever. That never ceases to amaze me and is something that I do not take for granted.

Hopefully this year will have fewer stresses and challenges- the economy will hopefully turn around further and the conflicts of the world will hopefully abate. I dream of a day when my kids will be able to feel safe, or at least I will be able to worry less.

As the glow of 2009 fades away and 2010 begins to shimmer, I want to wish the world a better year than the one we've just had. May your days and nights be filled with happiness, love, health, wealth and security.

Tim

First post of '08!

Beautiful morning- sun is shining, it's a bit "chilly" (by SoCal standards) and I don't have a hangover (not that I should)... so it's perfect weather to ride!

Heading out the door in a few minutes for that first ride of the new year. It's supposed to be pretty darned windy on/ near the mountain with gusts up to 45mph and it's cold- might've even gotten some snow up top over night. BUT I'm still dragging my fat, sprinter caboose up the thing! Will try to get pictures... between gasps for air.

Happy New Year!

Tim
(Go listen tot the podcast from last night, if you haven't already.)

Happy New Year (again)

More New Year's stuff...



Tim
(Go listen to the new podcast too...)

Happy New Year 2008! (And Masiguy Podcast #2)

Well, 2007 is almost a distant speck in our collective rear view mirrors and 2008 is directly ahead. I can honestly say that I am happy as heck to see 2007 vanishing and 2008 arriving... for very personal reasons. That said, 2007 did contain some of the greatest professional highlights of my life. As I've said before recently, 2007 has arguably been the best of my professional life. On a personal level, it ain't been so hot... but life goes on and I am putting my foot on the gas and going forward to a better tomorrow.

There were many highlights to the year for me, too many to try and remember and list all in one post. But the A&F team winning Athens Twilight with Mark Hekman was a highlight, as was traveling to Taiwan, Germany/ Switzerland and Japan. Having the new bikes do so well is nice- demand still greatly outpaces supply. Being a part of a wonderful book project- The Age of Conversation- was a major, major thrill and point of great pride. But... the biggest highlight? YOU. The community of friends I have built here continues to be one of the greatest sources of personal pride that I have. Many of the folks who read this crazy thing are now very good friends of mine- some of whom I get to see from time to time and others I sincerely hope to meet some day. I really can not thank you all enough for the support and friendship I have received- I am indebted.

2008 holds worlds of promise and potential. It's currently a blank slate and I have a pallet of oils ready to smear and shape and texture across the canvas. I'm no Van Gogh or anything, but I've got some clean brushes and a lot of ideas... so get ready. I look forward to continuing to grow and share with you all and to keep trying to make Masi Bicycles one of the most respected brands in the world again. I believe in the products and all the work we are doing, so I hope that continues to shine through and people continue to "get it".

As a special bonus for you tonight, I recorded a new Masiguy Podcast just a short while ago. It's a short podcast, so it's a little easier to listen to- just a few seconds shy of 15 minutes.

Anyway, Happy New Year to you all. Here's to seeing '07 go away and '08 develop into the best year of our collective lives!

Tim

Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays!

Since I have a lot of international readers and friends around the globe (where it is already Christmas day), I thought I'd put up my Christmas/ New Year's post now.

Like Thanksgiving, this year is a different kind of Christmas for me. It's unlike any Christmas before it and will likely be unlike any Christmas that follows it. But such is life. I will be enjoying tonight with my kids at my mother's house for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner with my immediate family of brother and sisters and all of our offspring. The best part, of course, is watching the kids tear through the wrapping and into the presents. The shouts of glee are the best part of the whole evening for me. Tomorrow the kids will be with their mother traveling and having fun, so Christmas day will be the first one for me without my kids. Needless to say, it's a "first" I'm not exactly looking forward to, but life is about new experiences and growth.

The plus side is that I will still be seeing my friends and family tomorrow and will get out for a ride as well. Life is full of balances- with bad comes good, with lows comes highs, etc. I am blessed to have the friends and family that I do and I am always aware of that. This time in my life, though painful and trying, has been very effective at showing me that I will never truly be alone. I have too many friends and a loving family. I am blessed beyond the measure of money, fame or recognition- I have the very tangible and real things that can not ever be purchased or won.

So I hope that this Christmas brings much joy to everybody. Hopefully there is a bicycle involved somehow too- whether for yourself, or whether you built it for your own children or somebody else's. I know that for me, one of the greatest moments of my life was receiving my first bicycle. I'm quite sure my parents had no idea what that bike would lead to in my life. Not only did I taste freedom for the first time on a bicycle, but it has given me a career and served as my vehicle to see the world.

Masiguy- circa 1975 or 76.

Enjoy this time with your friends and family and anybody else you love- even your bike. May the new year be filled with more blessings than you can possibly ever count. Remember those who are less fortunate and find a way to ease their burden because the world needs more of that- locally and globally. AND... may the new year be full of excellent rides, a clean and smooth running drivetrain, no flats and lots and lots of tailwinds!

(And thank you for continuing to read this blog.)

Tim