I told you I'm not dead...

See! Here I am! Though certainly heavier than I'd like to be for this time of year, I am at least alive... and on a bike.

We were working on photos for our upcoming catalog and got out today with our Creative Director- Pete Demos- and myself to snap the one remaining photo we needed. The above picture is not that picture... but it's still kinda fun.

Special thanks to Twin 6 for supplying us with clothing for the catalog again, and thanks for making the shorts with very robust strength seams... I'm normally an XL bib, so the LG bibs were straining a little under the pressure, but they made it!

Tim

Jesus was a 6 day racer

October Contest!

Hey there kids- it's been a while since I've done a little contest around here... so we're gonna do one now!

Watch this video for details:


Here are the links I mentioned:
I Can Haz Cheeseburger/ LOL Cats
SockGuy
What got this started

Pics to be used for contest:

A

B

C

D

E

F

GH

I

Have fun and make us laugh!

UPDATE: Oh yeah... email your submissions to tjackson (at) masibikes (dot) com.

Tim

U can haz laff

Tim

More Friday Silliness...

Lemme just say that this has been one helluva week... a total mixed bag.

I was going to talk about my doctor visit yesterday, but the sad news about Joe Schraff kinda made my good news seem a little out of place in the universe. However, yesterday was my appointment with my orthopedic surgeon to go over the results of the MRI of my right knee. As it turns out, I have been given a total go ahead! I have a small tear in the lateral meniscus, but it insignificant enough to not require surgery. I crashed in '96 or '97 during a night ride, when I was working for NiteRider, and tore my right PCL. There is still a bit of play in the knee from that, but it didn't show up in the MRI... so it's pretty good. All in all, the knee looks great and I am going to begin some official physical therapy. My right arm and thumb are both rehabbing well also. I am, however, going to be wearing a brace on my right arm at night that is designed to straighten the arm a bit more as I sleep. I have very little pain in the arm, but I am still unable to fully straighten it and the muscle strength is nearly gone. When I ride, the right arm gets tired and becomes weak almost immediately. So I will need to begin doing some very light weightlifting to strengthen the arm muscles again. The thumb- though ugly- is healing really well and the new "nail" is growing in and shoving the old, severed nail off. It looks gross, but it works and I have feeling in it so I am making an effort not to complain.

As silly as it may seem, since I have begun riding a little (about every other day), I also shaved my legs this week for the first time in 3+ months. I have no races on the horizon, but I needed to shave my legs- it's our badge, our secret handshake, our "wassup"... and it feels really great to have them back. In the past 26 years, there's only been 4 periods of time where I haven't shaved my legs; the first year and a half out of high school because I had hurt my knees and ankles running track and field, after I hurt my back and tore the PCL in '96/97, when my daughter was born 7 years ago and then just after the crash. I identify with the shaved legs much more than I do the furry ones and I am very happy to have them back. Another silly and trivial thing is that I have my earrings back in as well; after the crash, they had to pull them out for me (since I was unable to stay conscious) when I was having all the MRI's and CT scans in the hospital. But since I had my last MRI a few weeks ago, I got some new earrings and put them in this week. It's a meaningless thing... except it is another step towards regaining my self and sense of identity in this world. Small things really do mean a lot some times.

Now for the silliness;



On 08/08/08, this might just be one of the proudest moments of my life. Yep- I've got 666 messages in my inbox. That's actually down from the nearly 800 I had at one point...



This is the doodling of our Inside Sales Supervisor- Dave Law. He has a pad of recycled office papers that he keeps his notes on during the day and doodles on while on the phone. He also draws some of the illustrations for the various brands at Haro, as well as did the artwork for my Koi fish tattoo. To say the boy has talent is an understatement. I might take this concept and turn it into a fun Masi T-shirt in the future... you just never know.

This weekend will have a few bike rides in it, though they may just be grocery runs and short errands... but I'll be pedaling instead of driving as much as I possibly can. I might even get to the gym and start that weightlifting regime. But mostly I have lots of neglected chores to catch up on... now that I physically can vacuum, I am going to vacuum. I'm a bit of a pack rat (shut up) and I need to do tons of cleaning before I leave for Vancouver on the 17th... and begin the "silly season" of travel and tradeshows. If I don't clean now, I won't get the chance again until around February! I know it's not exactly glamorous... but it's life- and I'm happy to be getting mine back!

I hope you all have great weekends too. I'll get pictures as I can, I promise.

Tim

Bike Doosh?

Are you a Bike Doosh?

So let us see if you qualify for the specific category of bike doosh. (Masiguy answers in bold red.)

1) Do you race:
a – road (yes)
b – cross (I'm gonna)
c – mtb
d – track (yes)

15pts

2) Do you have an “A” bike and a “B” bike?
a – no, just one bike
b – yes (yes)
c – both “A” bike and “B” bikes are carbon (yes)
d – with Campy Record (one of'em)

16pts

3) Do you use a cycling computer?
a – no (no)
b – yes
c – Power Tap
d – Power Tap on your track bike

0pts

4) Do you carry a mobile phone with you when you ride?
a – no
b – yes (yes)
c – Smartphone
d – iPhone

5pts

5) Do you:
a – match cycling socks to shoes (yes)
b – match shoes to jersey (yes)
c – match jersey to helmet (yes)
d – have multiple matching outfits, shoes and helmets (yes)

16pts

6) Is your handlebar tape:
a – black (yes)
b – white (yes)
c – some other color (yes)
d – installed fresh each month

6pts

7) Do you: (no to all)
a – follow a training plan
b – keep a training log
c – an online training log
d – and pay someone to review it

0pts

8) VO2 Max Test
a – never had one
b – once
c – more than once (yes... it was bad news)
d – every year

5pts

9) Campy versus Shimano
a – who cares (who cares if it works)
b – Shimano
c – Campy
d – SRAM

0pts

10) Helmet and sunglasses
a – you buy whatever from the team sponsor (yes... well, I get'em free)

b – Lazer and Tifosi
c – Bell and Rudy Project (yes)
d – Giro and Oakley (yes)

15pts

11) Do you:
a – ride your bike to the race (sometimes)
b – carpool with pals (yes)
c – drive alone in your Audi A6 sedan with the bike in the trunk
d – refuse to let Smithers use your lug nut tool at Sogn Valley last year (score 5 bonus dick head points!)

1pt

12) Triathlon
a – no thanks (no thanks)
b – once, never again
c – sometimes
d – live for them

0pts

13) On the training ride you:
a – are in there for a while but eventually get dropped
b – are in the group the whole ride feeling good
c – sit in and wait for the end of the hard stuff and then go to the front and ride hard (yep... but I suffer through the hills and wait for all the sprint points)
d – skip it because it is not hard enough for you

5pts

14) On the training ride you talk about:
a – art, music, politics (yes)
b – girls/boys (yes)
c – the latest pro bike race on Vs. (yes)
d – last weeks training ride (yes)

16pts

15) The purpose of the training ride is to:
a – work on your weakness (yes)
b – develop fitness (yes)
c – put the hurt on everyone else (yes)
d – show off your new bike (yes)

16pts

16) The racing season is:
a – too long
b – too short
c – not enough of the races you like to do (why can't the entire season just be Keirin races?)
d – full of stupid races that you think suck even though you have never promoted a race

5pts

17) Relationship
a – In one, it’s great (I hope... I'm SO in trouble... prolly)
b – looking and hoping
c – just broke up, they didn’t understand your desire to train and race
d – no time, you have to train and race

0pts (maybe)

18) When on a date you talk about: (add 5 points for being total nerd)
a – your date
b – yourself
c – the latest pro bike race on Vs.
d – Campy versus Shimano

5pts

19) Your significant other comes to a race:
a – you drop out early to spend more time with them
b – try to make yourself look totally pro by being at the front (yes... until I blow apart and blame it on cramping)
c – ignore them
d – castigate them for not handing up the correct bottle on the correct lap (score 5 more bonus dick head points!)

1pt

20) Following the race you:
a – leave the bike in the garage and spend time with the family (yes... sometimes)
b – help make dinner and talk about the race (yes... usually)
c – sort out all your bike crap until past midnight
d – go for a recovery ride

5pts

Bonus Question
21) Are you:
Smithers? If so subtract all points and score yourself an automatic total of zero. The ability to recognize bike dooshery eliminates any possibility of personal dooshness.

For every “a” score o points, for every “b” score 1 points, for every “c” score 5 points, for every “d’ score 10 points.

0 points: You are so totally not a bike doosh, you are the coolest MF that ever walked the surface of the planet
1 – 20 points: You are not a bike doosh.
21 – 100 points: You mean well, there is hope, resist the temptation to join the dooshocracy
101 – 150 points: You are kind of a bike doosh, try harder el-doosh.
151 – 200 points: You are a total bike doosh, get a life bike doosh.

Masiguy scores... 130 points! Woo-hoo!

And you?

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...

Thank you Anonymous!

Yesterday I received a package from Cafe Press, from an anonymous sender, that contained what is clearly the coolest t-shirt ever made. I mean... seriously... have YOU seen a better t-shirt in recent years?


At first I thought it was from this guy, since he created the template for this blog. He has denied any involvement though.

Then I thought maybe it was this guy, since he is the Masibestfriend. But he's been totally hopped up on goofballs since his surgery. So he's not too likely.

So now I have no idea who took the time to design, purchase and send me this really cool shirt. Needless to say, I am extremely thankful for this incredibly kind gift. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Tim

Goofy is good... sometimes...

My good friend CK has successfully convinced me to further showcase what a dork I am... as if I needed prodding.

Sometimes, it is good to just remember who we are and not take ourselves or our situations too seriously. Sometimes, silly is good.

So, in the spirit of the moment, I give you Masi Geek!

Me with my first bike (and probably my first helicopter). Notice the bars- stem turned backwards so I can reach the bars! It was painted like denim with a blue to orange fade with orange sparkle vinyl seat. Maybe I should do that with one of the new Masis... hmmm...

Here I am in 1986 at the Alabama State Olympics, taking second in the road race. Notice the lean, trim look. 16 years old, 6' 2.5" tall and a whopping 125 pounds! Oh yeah... the ladies were swarming... like flies... over somebody else.

And even at the ripe old age of just 4, I knew cycling was my thing (dig that shirt!). And yes, I've always had a thing for red.

Taichung in January- Notice the concentration and excellent balloon shooting skills.


They're all gone and when you are that good a shot...

... they give you a prize!

Yes, the world is safe from attacking balloons, as long as the Masiguy has a bb gun! You can all sleep soundly now. I know you feel safer- I do too.

Get silly and remember to smile now and again... it's good for you.

Tim

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

Funny Thievery...

Ok, I am blatantly stealing this straight from Skibby. I warned him that I would... so it's all fair... especially since he stole it from somebody else.

Tom Boonen's calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd; no one fools Tom Boonen.

Some kids piss their name in the snow. Tom Boonen can piss his name into concrete.

Leading hand sanitizers claim they can kill 99.9 percent of germs. Tom Boonen can kill 100 percent of whatever the f*@% he wants.

Tom Boonen's tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.

Tom Boonen once visited the Virgin Islands. They are now The Islands.

When Tom Boonen walks into a dark room, he turns the darkness off, not the lights on.

Tom Boonen counted to infinity - twice.

Tom Boonen can do a wheelie on a unicycle.

You read it here first (or maybe not).

Tim