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

Merry Christmas, my friends!

As I sit here with a nice full belly and warm feelings of love, peace and happiness I want to take a moment to again thank all of you who feel compelled to stop by here from time to time- whether daily, weekly, monthly or whenever the mood strikes (or a link leads you here).

I write this blog because I am a blogger and a very social person, but also because of the friends I have made and community that has grown here. I am blessed, and more thankful than you know, that you come here to read the stuff that comes out of my head. I sincerely wish you all the very Merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years- I pray for all of us that the new year will be filled with health, happiness and prosperity.

(Me with my 2.5 favorite girls... and yes, that means that my wife and I are having a baby girl.)

The past year has been one filled with many different challenges and struggles, but I feel blessed to be doing what I do and to have the friends and family that I do. All of you make my life so much more satisfying- much more than you know.

Thank you for the support and friendship that you have given- it is a much greater gift to me than you know.

Tim

It's on!

Today after work, I climbed into a dusty "loft" area where a few of my bikes are stored in the building. My two Coltello track racing bikes are both up there- one set up for time trial events and the other for sprint/ omnium events. The Coltello in Metallic Red, the first production frame we made, sat there with a good inch of dust on it. It hadn't been ridden since about two weeks before my crash last April 29th.

After grabbing the bike and the wheels, I scurried down from the loft in hopes of getting a few minutes to work on the bike and get it cleaned up. I got part of the way done when it was time to leave and the lights were being shut off. The bike and wheels got tossed into the back of the car and I drove home. Once home I replaced the tires on the wheels with some fresh rubber and tubes. I then proceeded to put a cog on the rear wheel, put some pedals on, set up the new saddle and generally polish and shine what is one of my most prized bikes- I worked very closely with our former Senior Product Development Manager to create the Coltello track frames using my years of experience racing on the track and his far superior skills in frame design. Together, the efforts brought about the Coltello... and it has brought me great joy ever since.

After chowing down on a bit of grilled tuna and some rice, I finished dialing in the bike and then put on some Mandex and headed outside with the rollers and my allen wrench set to finish setting the bike up to my preferred position. Thing is, I eyeballed it so well inside that I didn't even need to adjust anything once I got outside! The only difference from my "old" position of last year before the crash is that I moved the nose of the saddle forward a little- my back doesn't have quite the same range of flexibility right now.



After a few minutes rolling around on the street in the dark and on the rollers, I was satisfied with the fit and my position. It feels like a full blown race bike; light, stiff, low in front, high in back and ready to go as fast as I can possibly try to make it go.

One might ask the logical question, "hey, Masiguy, why you dialin' in a race bike?" Well, unless something springs up tomorrow, I'm hopping back on the track to race in the local Tuesday Night Race Series here on our velodrome... the one that nearly killed me. This will be my very first time back on the track since the crash and I am both nervous and excited. I love to race on the track and the friends I have there are amazing- their support since the crash and through my recovery has been more than I could have ever expected. I sincerely feel that I owe it to all of them to get back on the track and complete the cycle of my recovery- even if it means sitting at the back and suffering like a dog. At least I'll be suffering with a smile on my face and with friends.

I'll do my best to get pictures and possibly even video while I am there... so stay tuned.

Thanks again to every single person who has been so supportive during my recovery from the crash. Your support is what is making this return to racing possible and when I finally do stand on the podium to receive a medal- whether this year or several years from now- it will be with all of you at heart.

Tim

It's good to not feel bad

Since getting back on the bike after returning from Taiwan and the suffering I did during the epic ride there, I have only missed a few days of being on my bike. Even if modest, I've been logging miles as often as I can. Add to that, the fact that I have a few health issues to deal with and I've been more motivated to ride than I have been for a long time. And the icing on the motivation cake is that I sincerely feel like I owe it to all of you who have supported me so much since the crash to get back on the bike (and stay there this time) and race again. Yes, selfishly I want to race for ME too... but I feel like I owe it to so many other people to get back on the bike and ride again.

At one point in December, I was up to a whopping 225+ lbs- that is after dropping from 205 the night of my crash to 184 when they released me from the hospital the second time. As of today, after my ride on the rollers, I am back down to a more reasonable (and healthy) 208.4. I'm not back in race shape yet, but I'm a helluva lot closer than I was in December!

Here are the weight numbers since 2/7;
2/7- 210
2/8- 212
2/9- 211
2/10- 211
2/11- 212
2/12- 212
2/13- 210.4
2/14- 210.8
2/15- 209.6/ 208.4 (before my roller workout/ after my roller workout)

I know I won't be winning any mountaintop finishes, but I'm feeling a heck of a lot better at that weight than I was at 225.

I've been eating better and riding a lot more, as well as taking my cholesterol meds, so I am looking forward to seeing what the blood test results look like in April. I've also returned to the gym... well, once, for the first time since my crash. I went to the YMCA yesterday for the first post-accident workout and it didn't feel as bad as I feared it would. My right knee was a little sore last night after the workout and I was a little spooked by that, since that is the knee that had the double fracture and has/ had a micro tear in the lateral meniscus. BUT... the soreness was almost entirely gone this morning and my ride on the rollers this afternoon was pain-free. Today, on the rollers, I pushed a little harder too- I did my rock-n-roll sprint interval workout on my fixed gear on the rollers. The point is to sprint as hard as you can during each full-on guitar solo/ riff that happens in each song. I have my Shuffle packed with LOTS of great songs for this type of workout and was pretty much flogging myself for awhile there. I had one block of White Zombie, Rage Against the Machine, Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters. But in the end, it was a great workout and I was dripping with sweat by the time I was done... and it felt great!

I still think I want to try and do some kind of weight loss/ get-in-shape support group type of thing, but I have to find the time to focus long enough to get it going... but stay tuned.

Again, I feel compelled to thank all of you who have been so supportive during my recovery from the crash (and before then too). Without your help and support, I know I wouldn't be as strong and on the road to recovery as I am now. Thank you, from deep within me.

Tim

Heading home...

Packing up the bike into the case and heading down to check out of the hotel. It's been a great trip and I'll have pictures and stories to post soon. I arrive in San Diego close to midnight, so don't expect a post until some time tomorrow.

Thanks to all the kind folks at Norco and the ladies (Amy, Mia, Tania) of Momentum Magazine (and their CIC). I look forward to getting back up to Vancouver sooner, rather than later. Thanks too, to all the retailers who gave us their time during our visits in their shops. I sincerely appreciate the support of the Masi brand and the great feedback.

Ok, gotta finish packing- bye!

Tim

Inching along...

FINALLY got a follow-up visit scheduled with the orthopedic surgeon who performed the miracle surgery to reattach the end of my thumb and examined my knee and my other fractures (like my vertebrae, skull and rib). I won't go on a rant about our healthcare system here, but suffice it to say I've been a tad frustrated lately.


Also experimenting with a new computer stand/ rolling desk for my laptop, that my sister Sara gave me. Trying to find a way to work "comfortably"... which is proving to be quite difficult. BUT... I'm still trying, just the same.

Thanks for all the comments and photos sent to me after my "do me a favor" post on Friday. I'll have a new post up soon sharing some of the photos I received and stories that were sent in. Thanks for helping to brighten things up during this recovery.

Ok... it's time for nap #1 for today.

Tim

Friends are great!

Thank you Smithers!


It's ok that I like flowers... sometimes a fella just likes to feel pretty.

Chris Smith is The Man behind Time USA and is a "competitor" of mine in the road bike market, but we're also friends. Friendships like this one are the main reason I love my profession so much.

Thanks Smithers- the flowers mean a lot and I really appreciate it.

Tim

Thank you... and where do I start?

First, I have to give my heartfelt thanks to all of my friends, family and readers- the support has been nothing short of touching.

Typing is really hard with 1.5 hands, so this will be short tonight. I will be back with more and pictures too... I promise.

I will be ok and I will be back... but it's gonna be a long journey (and a painful one at that).

I just wanted to let everybody know I'm home and alive. Alive is the word... and I'm lucky to be able to say that. Luckier than I ever want to get again.

I'll be back tomorrow with pictures and a few more words (typing is really hard). I might even record a podcast- since that might be easier.

I don't know how to say thanks to all of you- I'm not too proud to admit that I've cried a few times over the incredible kindness I've received.

Thank you.

Tim

AMA and the joy of 1000!

Yesterday was my short presentation/ speaking "engagement" for the AMA seminar on Web 2.0/ Social Media.

I came in just in time to catch the end of an excellent presentation by Bill Flitter of Pheedo. Made me wish I'd gotten there earlier to hear the entire thing.

My new friend (and fellow cyclist) Dana VanDen Heuvel and my dear friend Toby Bloomberg warmly and generously introduced me to the seminar attendees and turned me loose for my very informal discussion on blogging and other social media, as it pertains to businesses and marketing.


Not something I get to see every day; the Masiguy blog on a big projector screen. Suddenly felt a little self-conscious...


For those who have seen me speak before in any kind of setting- Interbike, Sales Meetings, etc- I get pretty "animated" with hands/ arms flailing. I tried to keep it in check during the presentation... tried.


I managed to do "ok" with the restrained flailing. Donna would have been impressed- she's seen me in the midst of a full-on, coffee-fueled, bike rant before, so she's seen me at my worst.


Overall though, it went really well and I was very happy to have been given such a chance to speak. I am still very flattered by the offer from Dana and Toby be a part of the seminar discussion.

While sitting in the conference room after the close of the seminar, I had a conversation with Barbara Janszen from the local AMA chapter and discussed possibly speaking at one of their meetings as well. So maybe I'll get another chance to provide the same sort of rambling goofballery and blogging/ social media cheerleading.

After things were officially done with the seminar Toby, Dana, Bill, Bill's business partner Lohn Liberatore and myself went and had a couple beers and some great food at the Yard House. It was a great evening full of great conversations... including the numerous bike geek rants between Dana and myself. Not only is Dana a cyclist himself, but he's also a former shop owner.

As the night drew to a close, Toby was kind enough to do one of her short Flip videos with me outside on the sidewalk- which was pretty funny on a busy sidewalk on a Friday night in downtown San Diego.

All in all, it was a great time and a real honor for me to get to speak to the group of attendees at the seminar. I hope they all received something of value from the discussion. I know I had a great time having the opportunity to speak and hopefully I'll get to do it again.

This post is also post number 1000 for me since I began this blog on March 4th 2005. This March marks 3 years of Masiguy. There wouldn't be 1000 posts here and I never would have spoken yesterday at the AMA group if it weren't for those of you who stop here to read this stuff. I am constantly amazed by the community of readers that has grown here. If I miss a few days of posting, I get comments and emails asking if things are ok. When I share news about my life, I get an amazing outpouring of support. When I post pictures of beautiful bikes, I get wonderful comments of support, critique and sometimes great discoveries happen. This blog has served as a forum for those of you who read this thing and/ or have an interest in the Masi brand. It has also served as a way to shape the future of the brand and the products we produce. In short- it's become something much larger than I ever dreamed in March of 2004. So even though my 3 year anniversary is still a few days away, post number 1000 has me feeling pretty nostalgic and introspective... and sincerely thankful to you all.

I hope I manage another 1000 posts (and some more podcasts and video... I know) and that you all continue to read this thing because even though I would keep doing this without any readers at all, it sure is a helluva lot better with you guys participating.

A million thanks.

Tim

Home!

Well, I rolled in from Vegas at 2:00AM this morning. Got myself a couple hours of sleep and now I'm trying to take stock of all my photos, business cards I collected and gathering my thoughts... and there are lots of each.

This was the best Interbike show experience I think I've ever had. Being on a winning team always makes things better, but the overall response to the line and all of the major changes we made to the bikes were received far better than I dreamed. I am over the moon over how the bikes were talked about and the number of shops, industry reps, other industry company folks and other bike company people who walked in to the booth to look at the line and said, "WOW!" Though I am the "face/ voice" of the Masi brand, a lot of the credit goes to the folks behind the scenes who help to make the bikes possible- Wayne Doran (Product Manager), Pat Crosby (Haro MTB Product Manager who has helped with some design work), Rick Ortiz (graphic artist and catalog designer) and Pete Demos (Artistic Director). Beyond that, it must be further recognized that the efforts of former Senior Product Development Manager, Mike Varley, paved the way for many of the bikes in the line. I have been very lucky to get to be responsible for stewarding the rebirth of one of the very best names in cycling history. The product line now represents the strongest offering in many years. To say that I am pleased with the bikes and the new catalog would be an understatement. Though I am always very enthusiastic about the brand, I sincerely believe that this is the very best range of product we've ever produced and that we are on the verge of becoming one of those brands that people in and out of the industry will be talking about and listening to.

So, yes, it was a great Interbike and I am very happy. That said, I'm also very tired and need a nap! I'll be following up with many more thoughts, tales and tons of pictures.

Thank you for your patience with the spotty posting the past few months during this massive relaunch of the brand- it is nothing short of a miracle that we were able to pull it all off in such an amazingly short period of time. I am more confident than ever that you will like the new product range. The new/ revised/ updated website will be up very soon, but the new catalog is already in print and available... so go to the website and get one ordered.

Ok, time for a little sleep.

Tim

PS- I forgot to mention; check the Monday edition of the Boston Globe, in the Business section, for an article on commuting bicycles. Ross Kerber of the Globe came out to Dirt Demo and rode the new SoulVille and also rode the Hangover/ Lake Mead ride on a new Gran Criterium. There might just be a picture of the SoulVille in the article... so keep your eyes peeled.

Dopers suck!

T-Mobile's Patrik Sinkewitz tests positive for testosterone (apparently enough to give Miss America some testicles)...

Bob Stapleton, the American who is the team director of the team was quoted on CyclingNews as saying;

"We knew this [anti-doping project] was going to be a tough fight when we started it, but it was something that we felt was possible. We're going to stay and fight. The [team's] riders were informed by the media right as they were leaving today. They were obviously shocked, but they headed for their bikes and wanted to show that they believe in what they're doing," Stapleton said.

If that doesn't give you hope for the sport, then I sure as hell don't know what does or should.

Thank you Bob!

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.)

Hooray for kindergarten!

I am a talentless hack compared to this guy...

Emil is a parent (Ren's dad) in my daughter's kindergarten class. I'm also damned sure that he and I know each other or have met each other long before sharing a kindergarten class with our kids and one of these days we'll figure it out (or somebody smarter than us will point it all out for us).

Anyway, Emil put together this awesome video tribute to the class and their teacher Morgan Weir. It's awesome and as anybody who reads this blog knows... I'm a softy, so the little video really hit home.

Thanks again Emil (and Morgan, if you happen upon this).

Tim

You KNOW you want one...

Ok, this is simply too cool to not mention... trust me.

Thanks Squirrel!

Tim

PS- You know you want one. Really...

Sea Otter '07- a pictorial essay (Part 1)

Since I didn't actually know where we were going, this was my view for about 8+ hours...

I'm really not very good at looking serious while singing with the radio.


Ain't that Masi just too purdy for words? I mean, DANG, that thing is sweet!

Since we all ride bikes, we had a light lunch. It was yummy... if you have to ask.

Now we all know where he lives! I didn't think it would be this easy to find him...

The hills were covered with wildflowers. It was very pretty.

Driving down the Tejon Pass into the Grapevine... it was so lush and green- for a change.


They grow something like 2/3's of the nation's produce in the Grapevine area... and still find time/ space to drill for oil.

Don't take this exit off the 5 North... I just have a bad feeling about it...

For those who can't grow almonds... there's always oil.

We grow big cabbage out here... (it looked heavy)


Time for sleep... more pics and stupid comments later...

Tim

Back from The Otter...

I'm back from The Otter.

Unearthing myself from hundreds of emails, etc.

Will post lots of pictures and stories very soon- promise.


Tim

Happy Easter y'all. (Or Passover...)

Happy Easter folks!

I know the posting has been light the past few days. Lots going on, as usual- isn't that my generic excuse for every time I don't post for awhile? It's true though... I swear.

Anyway, today is another holiday and holidays tend to have that introspective effect on me. Maybe it's the time I spend with my family or something... probably.

So, in keeping with that process, let me simply wish you all a very happy Easter or Passover... or whatever you celebrate (if you celebrate). These breaks from work always get me thinking about the people I love and care about (including you folks- hence this post). Always take the time to remember the people who are a part of your life- life is far shorter than we all know and precious moments come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and many times we simply don't see them coming. Life can change in the blink of an eye, so cherish life. I'm not promoting the idea of being paranoid and scared... just remember that if you are breathing and have people in your life that make you smile, that you are very lucky indeed. Blessings come in many shapes, colors and sizes... enjoy them.

Thank you all for being a part of this silly thing I call my blog. I value you as part of the tapestry of blessings I have in my life... seriously, I do. Stop laughing at me, already! (Ok, I'm done being mushy.)

Tim
(PS- On a bike related note; congratulations to Alessandro Ballan for winning the 91st Tour of Flanders. Ballan outsprinted Leif Hoste- second for the second year in a row- for the win. Tom Boonen was prevented from gaining his third Flanders win... for now. He'll get the thrid win one day though, you can pretty much bet. Sounds like it was a pretty aggressive race and Ballan was simply the strongest on the day. He has confirmed his place among the greats of the sport- nobody wins Flanders on luck alone.)