Spokesmen Podcast- #43

The Spokesmen podcast #43 is up and running! We just recorded tonight, so it's hot and fresh out of the oven.

Also, we mention the Daily Mail's publication of James Martin's hate-filled, anti-cyclist review of the Tesla Motors Roadster. David Bernstein of the Fredcast and Spokesmen podcasts was able to secure an interview with Rachel Konrad of Tesla Motors which is a great piece of follow-up.

Tim

Spokesmen Podcast- #42

The Spokesmen podcast #42 is up! We recorded this morning and it's a great show- not that I'm biased. Some might think it's good simply because I do less talking than normal...

Tim

Coming up for a quick breath of air...

In case you don't follow my Twitterstream and didn't see the news elsewhere, we recorded a new episode of the Spokesmen last night with a new special guest... so check it out.

Still running around busier than a one-armed cotton picker, but I've been managing to ride my bike here and there and have not completely regressed to tubbiness. Got through the filming of our video last week and have been running through other major projects this week... and now have to focus my attention on getting the next edition of the catalog written. We've done all the studio product shots and the new bikes look simply astounding. I always say this, but I am extremely proud of the bikes we have created and I am sure they are going to turn more than a few heads... and hopefully find a way into YOUR living rooms (rather than mine, though I'm sure I'll get a few more).

Married life has been great- my lovely wife and I have been spending as much time together as possible as we settle into all this newness- hence my lack of presence here lately. I'll be back though- I promise- as work settles down a little and things get a bit calmer.

Alright- time to get ready to head out the door to work.

Tim

Spokesmen Podcast- #38

Yeah! We did it! Spokesmen podcast show #38 is ready for your listening pleasure. It was a great show this morning- we had a lot of fun and got some laughs in as well as covered good topics... so go give it a listen!

Tim

Let's get this week started...

Had an awesome time at the San Diego Custom Bicycle Show and a few parties associated with it. I talked to builders I've never met and builders I have admired for many years- decades even.

I have two galleries of images up on my Facebook page- beautiful stuff to slobber over and cool people.

Also, big news; we got the band back together! Yes, the Spokesmen have recorded episode #37. It's a bit over an hour (and I ramble again) but it was an awesome show. I really loved getting back together with the group and having a good talk.

Ok... time to go to work.

Tim

Random bits...

My brain is scrambled, so I'm making this short;

1) The Spokesmen Holiday Gift Guide is now up for your listening pleasure!
Go give it a listen. It's cool!

2) I have created a new Masi Friends, Fans and Owners group in Facebook. (For the record, I am ripping off Jill Hamilton the Brand Manager of Haro Bicycles and her Haro group.)
Join, share and enjoy!

Tim

Random bits and Tour stuff...

Sorry I've been gone the past few days, but I've had lots of decent excuses. It's been a busy week... even busier than all the other busy weeks I've been complaining about.

Monday was a big day for me; the PIN came out of the right thumb! It's out and the bone looks good and like it is healing well. Today I had my first session of physical therapy specifically for the thumb and the elbow. Things are looking better, little by little. I am now 100% hardware free and it feels pretty good. I was supposed to have an MRI on the right knee tonight as well, but somebody apparently didn't tell the MRI office and I ended up wasting my time waiting for an appointment that wasn't.

The tools of medieval torture... and pin removal.

Nervousness kicking in...

UGH... that's an ugly image, but the bone looks good.

Pin free- yep, that's a hole in the end of my thumb!

That's a big pin!

The Tour de France continues. Another rider has been tossed out of the race for a "non-negative" test result. The teams of the ProTour have decided to leave the ProTour and will not be renewing their ProTour licenses with the UCI next year. ASO is now worked up in a lather over their self-importance. The doping lab behind the tests this year is the same lab (AFLD) that mishandled the Floyd Landis tests and was chastised by the CAS for their shoddy procedural record. L'Equippe has been instantly leaked the results of the failed tests seconds after the tests are done and before the teams even know. The power-brokers of the sport continue to make cycling look like a minor three-ring circus- the kind that drives around in a beat-up old van with fake wood panel sides and 4 bald tires. It's a farce. Maybe the teams pulling out of the ProTour will for the UCI to try to work better with all the other parties involved. ASO needs to grow up as well before they help to kill the sport for good. The dopes in the sport need to be driven out on a rail and never allowed to return. I really like guys like David Millar and others who have seamlessly returned to racing, but being able to return to the sport means there is less strength behind enforcement of the rules- which ever rules we end up trying to defend and enforce. This has been a great race so far and I am really excited to Evans in yellow, as he is a great bloke by all accounts, even if he doesn't like the press very much. All of the drama surrounding the race is sucking the joy out of the experience for me. Once again, it is the circus and the dopers that are grabbing headlines and not the riders on their bikes. It's another year of having to defend cycling to my non-cycling friends and family. To say it makes me angry is an understatement. I look forward to the day when we simply talk about the riders and their bikes... that'll be a great moment.

An old friend and former co-worker of mine, John Holderness, is the man behind a cool new cycling social media site called CyclingNutz.com. I'm a cyclist and a social media geek... so I took a look through the site and it's pretty damned cool, so I suggest you give it a look. Adding to the Six Degrees of Masiguy, the photos scrolling through the header are by one of my former Excel Sports Boulder teammates- Mark Johnson/ Ironstring. Join me in welcoming John's site to the family (and in singing a verse of "It's a Small World After All..."). Seriously, go check it out... it's cool... I promise.

Speaking of cool and speaking of speaking... the latest Spokesmen Podcast is up and ready for your listening enthrallment.

The new Masi Fall 08/09 catalog is now done! All the hard work has paid off the create what I can unequivocally say is our best catalog to date. It's a beautiful catalog, the bikes look great, the photography is excellent... the only weak link is the copy I wrote. But the bikes are pretty.

Next week is out National Sales Meeting, so I'll be in and out of the online world again/ as usual. Posting might be sparse again... ok... WILL be sparse again. But I promise I'll get pictures and I'll do my best to post and get more Tour coverage for you too.

Ok... my eyes are crossing, so I'm heading to bed.

Tim

I'm still here.

Sorry for the lack of posting lately, but there just hasn't been much to report and I'm doing my best to NOT spend all my time posting about my frustrations with trying to deal with the healthcare system- it just gets tedious.

The past few days have been like the days before them- sitting around doing very little other than trying to do a bit of work and answering the hundreds of still unanswered emails I have. If you've been trying to email me and have not gotten a timely response- you're in good company. I'm chipping away at them as quickly as I can with the somewhat diminished (but improving) energy levels I have. I also have a new catalog to finish writing... again. The Spring catalog is barely even dry off the printing presses it seems and Fall is now in full development. It's killing me to not be in the office too because the new sample bikes for the catalog are being built. I've gotten a few spy photos from embeds in the building and I can tell you that the new bikes look so amazing. I know I've said it before, but I LOVE MY JOB. How on earth can you be a bike nerd and not love this kind of job?

This week I am fighting to see my doctors so I can get the go ahead to resume my life; hoping to get the pin out of my thumb and get the ok to remove the cervical collar. Once the collar is off, I'll be able to drive again and get that much closer to "normal" life again. The thumb feels like it is healing and my movement of it seems good- it bends at the first knuckle as it should and just feels a little stiff and sore (like much of my body). The knee and elbow have me a bit more concerned, as range of motion has not really returned to either. The knee is progressing, but like all dumb jocks, I want it to be faster... d'uh. The day the blood clots were found, the x-rays on the knee looked very good. So it is likely a matter of soft tissue healing. At this point, I still can not fully straighten my right arm as well. In the hospital, the first stay, the x-rays and scans showed no fractures to the elbow... so it is more soft tissue stuff again. With both the knee and elbow, I'm trying to listen to the instructions of the physical therapist- Sandy- who comes to visit me at home. She's been great and I really have to thank her for her efforts working with me... even when it hurts. I've also had two different homecare nurses visiting for blood draws and check ups and both have been great.

The best news recently has been the stopping of the twice-daily shots to my stomach of the heavy duty anticoagulant. I am SO happy to be done with the needles, but now have a nice little solar system of needle marks and bruises on my abdomen- thanks to the thinners and anticoagulants, I bruise very easily. I'm still taking the Coumadin (blood thinner) for another 5 months and we're still trying to determine my personalized drug level, as each person needs to have a very specifically tailored drug dose. I started with a tiny 4mg dose and am now up to 10mg, with 15mg doses on Monday and Wednesday. Coumadin's effectiveness is compromised by heavy amounts of Vitamin K- which is found in dark green vegetables... like spinach. I LOVE SPINACH! I usually eat lots of spinach salads and now I have to really watch the amount of spinach I eat. Ugh.

One of the big fears/ concerns for me now is air travel, which is typically a huge part of my job- between traveling frequently to Taiwan and all the other trips to places like Japan, etc... it's a big part of what I do. Now that I'm in the Clot Club, I have to be very careful; long international flights (especially) drive up the risk of clotting, due to the long stretches of time with reduced blood flow. I might have to start wearing compression socks and frequently get up and walk around the plane. That bums me out... big time. I was scheduled to be in Montreal in August for the Canadian version of Interbike- BTAC. Now, I might not get doctor's approval to go and I'm really upset about that. I missed the show last year and I really enjoy visiting my cycling brothers and sisters in Canada. Montreal, as I've said, is one of my favorite cities to visit and ride in. So, needles to say, I'm hoping for some good news soon on the blood clots and what the doctors think I can get away with. I'm also hoping I can get the approval to shave my face again too... the "beard" is driving me nuts! With the neck collar on, it's an itchy nightmare!

As you can see from all the above, not much has been going on that I haven't already mentioned before. Hence the lack of posting. However, I will be getting Masidaughter this week! THAT is the very best news I have. Not being able to have a regular schedule with her has been very difficult for me. My fear and paranoia of "what if" has kept me from feeling safe trying to care for her, but I am feeling much more mobile now and it is quite simply time for me to regain a normal existence and get back to being Daddy- I miss that even more than I miss riding.

On a bike-related note, sitting in the office is a brand new frame for me to test. It's made of the same Scandium tubeset I am already riding being developed by a vendor of ours, but this one is completely made of the tubing with no carbon stays... just pure, sweet Scandium alloy. It's made with the same geometry as our Gran Criterium bike (which is my all-time favorite geometry) and is painted in the same Pea Soup Green as our SoulVille/SS... it's gorgeous! I can not wait to be able to bolt some parts to it and ride it. The tubing has so many sexy shapes to it- I'll post pictures as soon as I can. I am very optimistic about this tubing because the frame I've been riding (with the carbon stays) has been an incredible bike. I am hoping that the full Scandium frame will produce an even better ride with the added stiffness of the Scandium stays. If it rides as well as I think it will, it might replace the current 7005SLX aluminum/ carbon Gran Criterium frame. This would mean a little bit of an increase in price for the bike- not huge- but would make the ride that much sweeter. Don't get me wrong at all- the current version of the frame rides incredibly well, but the Scandium is just a bit nicer riding and lighter. I promise I'll give a full report once I'm able to put some parts on the frame and throw a leg over the top tube... even if its just to ride my trainer in the driveway as I rehab. Damn I can't wait to ride!

One quick sidenote; all of the Masiguy Podcast episodes are now FINALLY available for download on iTunes. Thanks to David Bernstein, my fellow Spokesmen and the man behind the Fredcast, I am now finally on iTunes. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get it figured out- what can I say, I'm a bike guy... not a tech guy. So if you've been wanting to have me ramble in your ears as you ride or pick up dog poop in your backyard... now you can.

Sorry for the lack of posting, but hopefully you're now up to speed. Many thanks, again, to all who have been emailing and leaving comments of support and encouragement. Your support has been incredible and means more to me than mere words can ever express. I am still constantly shocked by all the support and well-wishes; I sincerely don't know what I ever did to deserve you all. I hope you're all enjoying your weekend and that if you're riding, you're wearing your helmet... please.

Tim

Tragedies

A lot has been said about the tragedy in Mexico that claimed the life of one cyclist and injured at least 10 others. I can't even begin to find all the links and discussions about this terribly senseless tragedy.

The best commentary I've seen on this though belongs to Dave Moulton. It's no secret that I have immense respect for the Dave as a framebuilder, but I also have great respect for him as a writer. His post is eloquent and fitting. I won't even bother to try and say anything more because he does it far, far better than I could ever hope to.

My good friend Stevil at How to Avoid the Bummer Life had a post up yesterday about the incident. Then he pulled it down and replaced with another post- trying to bring back a little less of the Bummer. But ultimately that post came down too- after all, the blog is a marketing extension of the Swobo brand. As a marketer myself, I can see the reasoning... but as a cyclist I can also see the need to share the tragedy as a way to remind all to be careful and thankful and to pray for those touched by this incident. Solidarity and community are really important- I know this now more than ever.

My friends from the Spokesmen and I have been talking about this incident via email this morning as well. Is it good or bad to show the terrible image and is it good or bad to really even discuss it. There are concerns over the friends and families of the injured and killed, as well as sheer decency over continually spreading the image of somebody losing their life in such a terrible way. Like CyclingNews did with their mention of the incident, I've chosen not to show the picture. I have chosen not to because it simply hurts to much to see. I was the victim of a hit and run crash nearly four years ago and I am now recovering from injuries in a racing crash. Knowing a little too intimately how the survivors feel makes it hard to look at or show the picture. Also, I must admit that if pictures existed of my accident, I would feel a little sick seeing them on the Internet- because it was traumatic and was something that emotionally impacted my daughter as well as me (since she was there).

My point is that I do feel it is necessary to talk about this and to be upset about it. But I think we all make our own judgment calls on how we choose to do it and what we choose to say, or show. I'm lucky to be alive today, as are the 10 other crash victims. I give thanks every day that I get to see my kids and deal with the healthcare headaches I have. Life is a blessing and is never a guarantee. I share in the pain of this tragedy and I hope that everybody who reads this will pray for the victims and the people who love them. I also hope that everybody will take a moment to love themselves and their families and friends. I've said it before, but life is far too short and we never know when our understanding of it will change dramatically and without warning.

Ok, enough with the heavy thoughts for today.

Tim

Spokesmen Podcast #31

Spokesmen Podcast #31 is up for your listening pleasure. It's a long-ish one, around 59 minutes, but it's a good one- pretty lighthearted with laughing, so it's a fun listen.

GO NOW!

Tim

Spokesmen Podcast #30

This morning I skipped the Percocet so I could remain coherent long enough to participate in the Spokesmen Podcast. It was great to chat with my fellow Spokesmen and friends David Bernstein, Tim Grahl and Carlton Reid. Fritz and Donna couldn't make it today, but were both there in spirit.

Of course, we talked about my crash, but we covered other topics as well- so go give it a listen. You won't regret it.

Tim

Video Weekly Wrap-up

Since I've been playing with all this new media stuff, I'm closing out this week with a video post.
Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5... the last one!


Links;
Seesmic
David Bernstein- FredCast, Spokesmen Podcast
Philip Gomes- Spinopsys
VeloNews calendar
Cyclepassion calendar
Rochelle Gilmore

Enjoy! (Sorry it is several videos...)

Tim
Extra Super Double Thanks to Ryan Rish of the Inferno Racing Team for his editing advice!

Spokesmen Podcast #26

For the 4 readers here who actually like the sound of my voice, the Spokesmen Podcast episode 26 has been posted up for your listening "pleasure".

It was a good show and I don't drone on endlessly about Masi bikes (for those who think I do). We had the usual good banter and it was fun as always. Plus, it's a slightly shorter episode, so it's a bit easier to listen to.

Enjoy!

Tim

Spokesmen VIDEO podcast- #24!

THIS is so freaking cool! The lost episode of the Spokesmen Podcast, live and in video from Interbike is now available.

Just remember the expression "face for radio"... please... I'm sensitive.

Tim

Go listen!

The Spokesmen episode #25 was recorded yesterday in the morning and was posted last night. It's a good one, so go give it a listen. It's the best audio quality we've had yet and no dropped people... it's a good one.

Speaking of "listening"- ever listen to your iPod and hear a song that you'd forgotten you placed on it, or even forgotten that you own? During my trainer ride this evening, as I was hammering away, one of my all-time favorite songs played in my ears: The Smiths, How Soon Is Now. That song has given me chills for over 20 years now. Made the end of my workout just a little better...

What's your song?

Tim

Calling all Podcasters;

I've been a member of The Spokesmen podcast(which we recorded this morning and should be up for a listen soon) for a while now and I've been a guest on a number of other podcasts, but I really want to do my own podcast as well (as I've been whining about for months/ years).

I've finally gotten an ok headset with mic that records pretty clearly now. On top of that, I've finally gotten Audacity to work- though I am still learning how to use it, so I'm not exactly proficient with it yet.

Anyway, I'm placing an info request to all of you who are so much more tech savvy than me; how do I combine this new headset and working Audacity into a simple audio podcast of my own? I am looking for the best free software/ podcast host to do this with. I pride myself on using free systems (since this is all out of my own "pocket", if you will).

Please let me know what has worked for you and what systems I should be trying. Keep in mind, Mac Fiends, that I am using a simpleton PC laptop.

So speak slowly and use small words...

Tim

Are we there yet?

Is it Vegas yet? Lord, merciful Jeebus... we finished building the booth for the show today. It got crated and put on a semi today, so it is officially out of our hair until we get to Sin City in a few days.

(Totally OSHA approved...)

Oh yeah, and this morning, before the sun came up- in all my spare time- I finally jumped back in on an episode of the Spokesmen Podcast. It was great to join the crew again... and also reminded me how I've been absent from the world of blogging and podcasting for far too long- not to mention actually riding a bike (it's been way more than a week since I've been on a bike). Anyway, it was a great show so go give it a listen.

Ok... good night... I'm beat to hell and need some sleep.

Tim

"So, where you been?"

I swear, I go a couple days without posting and I get a bunch of emails asking if I've fallen into some huge chasm or something. Jeesh...

If you haven't already seen this, go check it out. It's an interview that I did with Tim Parr and Sky Yaeger, of SWOBO, on my other blog. It's actually a really good read- if you allow yourself to get past my yammering. (I've heard somewhere that the interviewer is supposed to talk less than than interviewees... but I never studied Journalism in college.)

The Spokesmen have done episodes 19 and 20 without me... and they sound even more intelligent. I find that disturbing.

Lots of other cool stuff has been happening, but frankly my brain is just a tad too fried to remember it all. Things have remained super busy at Masi Global Domination Headquarters. Lots of cool stuff is percolating away. Really cool stuff. Stuff you're gonna like/ love/ want/ need/ desire... promise. It's a very exciting time to be a product dork. At least to me. It's also very frustrating and maddening and enough to make you wanna scream from time to time, but it's worth it. I mean, you can't make an omelet without braking a few eggs (and you can't make butter with a toothpick). All the labor that goes into creating a new and better bike is worth it when that first sample shows up.


I've had this frame and fork for months now and still haven't built it up... even though I have one of these for it... I know- I should be shot. I'm thinking that I will build it up with a full-on race kit with the coolest parts I can gather and turn it into my cross racing bike. I mean, the CXR is a runaway hit, but I'm nowhere near fast enough (or good enough) at cross to really compete on the thing, so I might as well rock the way cool steel and at least look good at the back of the field. Oh yeah, as a reminder- this is the frame and fork we are using on the new Speciale CX that is coming out late this summer/ early fall. A sweet bike with rack and fender mounts as well for commuting or even light touring. And, yes, that's a lugged, flat crown fork with really cool lugged dropouts too... and a further yes, the color is a metallic burgundy. As a first year product for us, supply will be limited as we start off, so visit your retailer now and beg them to get an order in for you- otherwise, you might not get one when you want it. I'm just sayin'...

Le Tour starts in just a couple days, in London. That means I gotta get my act together so I can start doing my daily updates on the race. I'm hoping to do at least as well as I did with the Giro and post more often than not. Updates may come late in the evening, but I will do my best to get updates posted each day. I'll also post tomorrow with my pre-race predictions, prognostications and general know-it-all comments. Prediction one- Christoph Moreau is NOT going to win the Tour. Sorry folks... it ain't gonna happen. He may once again be the highest placed French rider in the final GC, but he ain't winning. You can quote me on that.

More tomorrow.

Tim
(PS- Thanks for sticking around during these quiet periods; I do truly appreciate it.)

Spokesmen Podcast #17

The Spokesmen Podcast #17 is now up! We recorded this morning... and this is the first time I managed to not talk the entire time. Other members of the group actually got to say something too. It was a stretch for me... but I managed.

Go give it a listen!

Tim

Spokesmen Podcast #16

The Spokesmen podcast, episode #16, is available for your listening pleasure. It was recorded just this morning, so it is piping hot and fresh!

Enjoy!

Tim- aka "The Guy Who Never Shuts Up"