Monday, July 16, 2012
How time fly's by
Wow, has it really been since 2007 that I last posted on this! That's nuts how the time fly's by. Lots to get caught up on in the world of bike share. More to come and soon.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Back home from Texas!
Just a great week in Houston, San Antonio and Austin, Texas, but the hassles of travel, oh my gosh! Here is just a little bit of a glimpse of the craziness at DEN this evening. The RCC was an absolute dump with paper towels all over the floor. We have become a nation of slobs...gosh I sure hope not!
Still, made it home safe and tired but home! Travelled back from Denver with Tyler and Chad who had journeyed to SoCal to test ride some new Trek Stuff on hill climbs and descents! Temps in the 70's and 80's and they report that the ride is incredible! New stuff from Trek...this will be pretty fun!
I liked Houston, but loved San Antonio and Austin. Could definitely spend a lot of time in both of those cities. S.A. is a bit more of a city whereas Austin is a little bit Madison, but a whole lot bigger. Sixth Street in Austin, is incredible and it would be great to get back down there again sometime but I will need to take the next day off!
Visited Bike Barn and Bicycle Sport Shop for the first time this week and both were incredible...each in their own different way. I guess you can say that they have fine tuned their business to their locale! Makes sense, doesn't it?
What this picture of BSS does not show is their coffee bar where Amy made me the best smoothie I have ever had. It was her signature drink and it was incredible! I then met Emily, a runner from Kansas, who made me the best espresso I have had in a long, long time! Great location and just an awesome town.
Meeting with Cindi at Bike World yielded dinner at their place and prepared by Whit himself. It was something else. What I loved about it was we were just a bunch of people sitting around being ourselves. It was a unique evening and I need to come up with some way to thank them both for their hospitality!
Oh, BTW, deziels salad dressing was pretty darn good! Need to get the recipe!
My role at Trek has really become FUN!!! and this is truly living the dream. It was interesting to listen to Brian Deziel...a true rock star...say he was living the dream when ever people asked how he was doing! This is really fun stuff...please pinch me! Is a dream?
Next week, it is off to RBC in Rockford...hopefully a stop in Chicago and then on to Battle Creek for the Team Active EOW (End of Winter) Sale.
2007 is starting to ramp up and it sure looks like this is going to be a VERY, VERY interesting year!
As I sign off for the night, I just thought that I would put a pic of the type of weather that I left today down in Houston. Do not look at the planes but pay attention to the sky. Blue and there is sunshine! Good night!
Still, made it home safe and tired but home! Travelled back from Denver with Tyler and Chad who had journeyed to SoCal to test ride some new Trek Stuff on hill climbs and descents! Temps in the 70's and 80's and they report that the ride is incredible! New stuff from Trek...this will be pretty fun!
I liked Houston, but loved San Antonio and Austin. Could definitely spend a lot of time in both of those cities. S.A. is a bit more of a city whereas Austin is a little bit Madison, but a whole lot bigger. Sixth Street in Austin, is incredible and it would be great to get back down there again sometime but I will need to take the next day off!
Visited Bike Barn and Bicycle Sport Shop for the first time this week and both were incredible...each in their own different way. I guess you can say that they have fine tuned their business to their locale! Makes sense, doesn't it?
What this picture of BSS does not show is their coffee bar where Amy made me the best smoothie I have ever had. It was her signature drink and it was incredible! I then met Emily, a runner from Kansas, who made me the best espresso I have had in a long, long time! Great location and just an awesome town.
Meeting with Cindi at Bike World yielded dinner at their place and prepared by Whit himself. It was something else. What I loved about it was we were just a bunch of people sitting around being ourselves. It was a unique evening and I need to come up with some way to thank them both for their hospitality!
Oh, BTW, deziels salad dressing was pretty darn good! Need to get the recipe!
My role at Trek has really become FUN!!! and this is truly living the dream. It was interesting to listen to Brian Deziel...a true rock star...say he was living the dream when ever people asked how he was doing! This is really fun stuff...please pinch me! Is a dream?
Next week, it is off to RBC in Rockford...hopefully a stop in Chicago and then on to Battle Creek for the Team Active EOW (End of Winter) Sale.
2007 is starting to ramp up and it sure looks like this is going to be a VERY, VERY interesting year!
As I sign off for the night, I just thought that I would put a pic of the type of weather that I left today down in Houston. Do not look at the planes but pay attention to the sky. Blue and there is sunshine! Good night!
Friday, February 9, 2007
WOW!
OK, so it has been a while.
My last run in the cold weather that caused so much gasping for air that I thought I was done for led me back to Dean and Dr. Gronski's team. I am now on a serious Prednisone taper that is about half way done and has me feeling almost human again.
Since my last post, almost 3 or 4 weeks ago, I have not run but did jog in and out of Hilldale the other day and did not collapse in search of air.
Since my last post I have travelled to Coralville, Iowa, Boston, MA and just this past week to Chicago. All good stops and I know we are making positive steps forward with the apparel and footwear. While change is in the wind, I feel that we are headed in the right direction.
The trip to Iowa City was an interesting one given the fact that I headed there in doom and gloom as evidenced by this picture.
On the way home the next day the clouds cleared and yielded a totally different look to the exciting terrain that is Iowa. This shot here is actually a bit hilly as I am headed down towards the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa. You can almost make out the river at the bottom of the hill. Got to love those blue skies though!
While in Coralville I got to hit the team at Scheels. These stores are pretty awesome. Can't wait to get back to see them when they are in riding season. I have to admit that I have never been in a store that has a tree right in the center of the store, but Scheels is all about creating a sense of entertainment in their retail stores. This was an incredible difference from the store in Mankato that Di and I stopped at when we went up to visit Gustavus Adolphus with KJ a few years back. This place is so much more incredible it is hard to believe. This is their model for all of their shops.
My time in Boston was accentuated by the Cartoon Network's stupid idea of putting up electronic gizmo's to promote some lame cartoon. Having arrived in to Logan on the 10th of September a few years back, I know how sensitive this area is to things like this. They did lose a lot of people from the local area. You just have to think about what you are doing!
Shot this as I headed over the Charles River as I made my way to Landry's on Commonwealth. Right in BU territory and a great meeting with Mark Vatour and met Mark Phelan. Great visit and we need to get our line better to rock with these guys.
Dinner after day one in Boston took me up to Newburyport for an incredible dinner with Jeff Williams, Ron Shinn and Greg Hannoosh at my most favourite restaurant on the North Shore: Glenn's. The martini's were as awesome as ever!
Lots more to get caught up on given my time away and how I am feeling.
This weekend, it is Chicago and then Texas. Stay tuned!
Oh, one more thing before I sign off for the night. This was the view from the gate at MSN at 0600 as I headed towards Providence via ORD! this almost looks artic-like doesn't it? While I do not fly American, I did think that this pic did a great job of capturing how pleasant the morning was. I get to do the O-dark 30 thing again this coming Monday. Here's hoping it is just a tad more tropical?
Thank goodness I am headed to Houston and points "warm!"
My last run in the cold weather that caused so much gasping for air that I thought I was done for led me back to Dean and Dr. Gronski's team. I am now on a serious Prednisone taper that is about half way done and has me feeling almost human again.
Since my last post, almost 3 or 4 weeks ago, I have not run but did jog in and out of Hilldale the other day and did not collapse in search of air.
Since my last post I have travelled to Coralville, Iowa, Boston, MA and just this past week to Chicago. All good stops and I know we are making positive steps forward with the apparel and footwear. While change is in the wind, I feel that we are headed in the right direction.
The trip to Iowa City was an interesting one given the fact that I headed there in doom and gloom as evidenced by this picture.
On the way home the next day the clouds cleared and yielded a totally different look to the exciting terrain that is Iowa. This shot here is actually a bit hilly as I am headed down towards the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa. You can almost make out the river at the bottom of the hill. Got to love those blue skies though!
While in Coralville I got to hit the team at Scheels. These stores are pretty awesome. Can't wait to get back to see them when they are in riding season. I have to admit that I have never been in a store that has a tree right in the center of the store, but Scheels is all about creating a sense of entertainment in their retail stores. This was an incredible difference from the store in Mankato that Di and I stopped at when we went up to visit Gustavus Adolphus with KJ a few years back. This place is so much more incredible it is hard to believe. This is their model for all of their shops.
My time in Boston was accentuated by the Cartoon Network's stupid idea of putting up electronic gizmo's to promote some lame cartoon. Having arrived in to Logan on the 10th of September a few years back, I know how sensitive this area is to things like this. They did lose a lot of people from the local area. You just have to think about what you are doing!
Shot this as I headed over the Charles River as I made my way to Landry's on Commonwealth. Right in BU territory and a great meeting with Mark Vatour and met Mark Phelan. Great visit and we need to get our line better to rock with these guys.
Dinner after day one in Boston took me up to Newburyport for an incredible dinner with Jeff Williams, Ron Shinn and Greg Hannoosh at my most favourite restaurant on the North Shore: Glenn's. The martini's were as awesome as ever!
Lots more to get caught up on given my time away and how I am feeling.
This weekend, it is Chicago and then Texas. Stay tuned!
Oh, one more thing before I sign off for the night. This was the view from the gate at MSN at 0600 as I headed towards Providence via ORD! this almost looks artic-like doesn't it? While I do not fly American, I did think that this pic did a great job of capturing how pleasant the morning was. I get to do the O-dark 30 thing again this coming Monday. Here's hoping it is just a tad more tropical?
Thank goodness I am headed to Houston and points "warm!"
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Get me some air!
So on Saturday I made the comment that I would get a run in on Sunday in the snow, but after stopping to get a coffee at Caribou, MJ and Kristen made a surprise stop at the casa and there went the afternoon, so to speak.
Actually I got off easy as Di spent the day in the car driving KJ back to DePere and then had to negotiate the drive home on her own on snow covered roads and some crazy traffic.
Well today is Tuesday and I have just gone 4 miles and what an experience. I seem to be getting worse. My intent today was to run some pick ups of 100 to 220 yards each with a spirited walk in between. Well, the first one went pretty well but by the 3rd or 4th it became a real struggle.
I simply could not get the air in to my lungs. The coughing and the congestion in the lungs was pretty significant but the biggest problem was my inability to breathe in air. Temps were in the mid 20's so it was not frigid, but still I could not draw in enough air to keep going. At the end of each pick up it was a struggle to maintain composure.
Sit here right now and will make the call to Gronski in the AM before the trip to Iowa, but I also wonder if this is a matter of not having run in several weeks and trying to do too much? In any event, it sucks and makes me long for the days when I could run and run and run!
The picture today is actually from a few weeks back in NYC as I walked back to hotel from my meeting at Paragon. The NYPD was doing one of their test runs as part of the beefed up homeland security tests that are so common there now.
Thought it was timely to post this, as the President goes on TV tonight with his 2007 State of the Union speech and there is so much complaining on the part of the general public about Iraq, where is Osama, etc. How quickly people have forgotten and how they took the administration to task for not being ready for things that September day.
It was incredible to hear people laughing at the police as they did their trial run that afternoon in January. With the heavy traffic at 3:30 PM in downtown Manhattan, my hat goes off to them to trying to be ready when it happens again. Here is hoping that all they do is run test runs and never have to do this for real!
We really have forgotten how bad it was that day and how "lost" we were.
Actually I got off easy as Di spent the day in the car driving KJ back to DePere and then had to negotiate the drive home on her own on snow covered roads and some crazy traffic.
Well today is Tuesday and I have just gone 4 miles and what an experience. I seem to be getting worse. My intent today was to run some pick ups of 100 to 220 yards each with a spirited walk in between. Well, the first one went pretty well but by the 3rd or 4th it became a real struggle.
I simply could not get the air in to my lungs. The coughing and the congestion in the lungs was pretty significant but the biggest problem was my inability to breathe in air. Temps were in the mid 20's so it was not frigid, but still I could not draw in enough air to keep going. At the end of each pick up it was a struggle to maintain composure.
Sit here right now and will make the call to Gronski in the AM before the trip to Iowa, but I also wonder if this is a matter of not having run in several weeks and trying to do too much? In any event, it sucks and makes me long for the days when I could run and run and run!
The picture today is actually from a few weeks back in NYC as I walked back to hotel from my meeting at Paragon. The NYPD was doing one of their test runs as part of the beefed up homeland security tests that are so common there now.
Thought it was timely to post this, as the President goes on TV tonight with his 2007 State of the Union speech and there is so much complaining on the part of the general public about Iraq, where is Osama, etc. How quickly people have forgotten and how they took the administration to task for not being ready for things that September day.
It was incredible to hear people laughing at the police as they did their trial run that afternoon in January. With the heavy traffic at 3:30 PM in downtown Manhattan, my hat goes off to them to trying to be ready when it happens again. Here is hoping that all they do is run test runs and never have to do this for real!
We really have forgotten how bad it was that day and how "lost" we were.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Back to earth
After 3 days in the Mile High City, I got back to the flat lands of the mid west and a taste of the colder temperature we should have gotten in December, but did not. With temps slated to be in the mid 20's for a high through the weekend, winter is here as is the snow.
Some tough calls in the Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins areas but it is how one gets better. We got some great input from all the dealers that we met with.
Some observations on the Mile High City:
Those side streets must have really been a mess out West. Lots of ice and ruts in the road as a result of the multiple storms that dumped all that sun and then when the cold temperatures held for weeks on end! You can can almost see the areas in which the cars were parked and the snow remaining that has really reduced parking areas in this residential area near Golden Bear Bikes in Broomfield.
Denver is oh so beautiful, but crowded and oh, the traffic! The view of the mountains was simply awesome and the sunshine made the days really nice in spite of the cooler temperatures.
The growth is everywhere. Not sure where all the people are coming from but there are construction projects everywhere and what used to be a lonely drive out to Denver International Airport now shows signs of development everywhere. I know that it is a thing called progress, but it is taking over everything and everywhere.
What was Stapleton Airport is now being re developed. This has given the city a lot of land for redevelopment right near the city. This is perhaps what they should be dong in Chicago with taking over the land we now call O'Hare and build an airport somewhere to the west or southwest. Just beyond those freight cars is the open space that used to be Stapleton Airport. Lots of shopping and condos going in to what was once the airport. The skyline contrasted against the Front Range is a terrific view.
I am amazed at all of the bike lane markings. They were even there on the road out to the airport.
The Holiday Inn Select in Cherry Creek is a place no one should stay at. The hotel is not being kept up. I know the weather has been bad, but when you have dirty dishes in the breakfast buffet line...well, that is inexcusable. The lack of cleanliness in the room and the hotel in general is very disappointing.
Sitting here on Saturday night. In the AM Kevin will head back to SNC for the start of the Spring semester. Snow is in the forecast for Sunday which should make the drive up and back interesting. The break has been a good one, but I think that he is ready to get back to school and make his way towards improving on the efforts of the Fall. Some talk of transferring to either Marquette or the UW at some time in the future. He visited Marquette unofficially yesterday but the big wait is to see if he can get in to either school.
I head off to Chicago this coming week and then hit Boston the week after next for Nike action. With KJ back at school, things will get back to normal around here for the first time since the middle of December.
Can't wait for Spring to pop in the coming weeks and getting back out on the fields. The run in the snow planned for a few days ago did not come off, but tomorrow with up to 4 inches on the way, it has got to be part of the day!
Some tough calls in the Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins areas but it is how one gets better. We got some great input from all the dealers that we met with.
Some observations on the Mile High City:
Those side streets must have really been a mess out West. Lots of ice and ruts in the road as a result of the multiple storms that dumped all that sun and then when the cold temperatures held for weeks on end! You can can almost see the areas in which the cars were parked and the snow remaining that has really reduced parking areas in this residential area near Golden Bear Bikes in Broomfield.
Denver is oh so beautiful, but crowded and oh, the traffic! The view of the mountains was simply awesome and the sunshine made the days really nice in spite of the cooler temperatures.
The growth is everywhere. Not sure where all the people are coming from but there are construction projects everywhere and what used to be a lonely drive out to Denver International Airport now shows signs of development everywhere. I know that it is a thing called progress, but it is taking over everything and everywhere.
What was Stapleton Airport is now being re developed. This has given the city a lot of land for redevelopment right near the city. This is perhaps what they should be dong in Chicago with taking over the land we now call O'Hare and build an airport somewhere to the west or southwest. Just beyond those freight cars is the open space that used to be Stapleton Airport. Lots of shopping and condos going in to what was once the airport. The skyline contrasted against the Front Range is a terrific view.
I am amazed at all of the bike lane markings. They were even there on the road out to the airport.
The Holiday Inn Select in Cherry Creek is a place no one should stay at. The hotel is not being kept up. I know the weather has been bad, but when you have dirty dishes in the breakfast buffet line...well, that is inexcusable. The lack of cleanliness in the room and the hotel in general is very disappointing.
Sitting here on Saturday night. In the AM Kevin will head back to SNC for the start of the Spring semester. Snow is in the forecast for Sunday which should make the drive up and back interesting. The break has been a good one, but I think that he is ready to get back to school and make his way towards improving on the efforts of the Fall. Some talk of transferring to either Marquette or the UW at some time in the future. He visited Marquette unofficially yesterday but the big wait is to see if he can get in to either school.
I head off to Chicago this coming week and then hit Boston the week after next for Nike action. With KJ back at school, things will get back to normal around here for the first time since the middle of December.
Can't wait for Spring to pop in the coming weeks and getting back out on the fields. The run in the snow planned for a few days ago did not come off, but tomorrow with up to 4 inches on the way, it has got to be part of the day!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Rocky Mountain High
Howdy from Denver...actually Cherry Creek!
Got up this morning and looked to the West from my room at the Hampton Inn and got the million dollar view. Look at those peaks! What a great way to start the day. Actually Lee's was just to the West of the hotel. My drive to the store made it more like an adventure. Never take the easy road!
Made the rounds with Larry Young today to Lee's in Fort Collins, University Bikes in Boulder and then on to Wheatridge to see Kathy Placchi. Got beat up pretty bad given the competitive marketplace. We have lots to do if we are going to stand as best in class.
It seems as if the competition is here like no where else in the country. Lots of sales support and in store support.
Today was otherwise an awesome day. Snow in the mountains and lots of sunshine. It actually felt pretty warm after lows below zero last night. Some melting but they are looking forward to even warmer temperatures as the week goes on. It has been a tough string of cold and snow for the Front Range.
You just have to love those mountains. I can see why people love this part of the country. Too bad there is no ocean or big lakes. I thing I can get a sense of why Vancouver is so loved as a location. I t makes me a bit afraid to ever go there. I just may not want to leave. Mountains, water, trees, etc.
Tomorrow it is on to Aurora with Chris Grande and the back to mad town on Thursday.
Got up this morning and looked to the West from my room at the Hampton Inn and got the million dollar view. Look at those peaks! What a great way to start the day. Actually Lee's was just to the West of the hotel. My drive to the store made it more like an adventure. Never take the easy road!
Made the rounds with Larry Young today to Lee's in Fort Collins, University Bikes in Boulder and then on to Wheatridge to see Kathy Placchi. Got beat up pretty bad given the competitive marketplace. We have lots to do if we are going to stand as best in class.
It seems as if the competition is here like no where else in the country. Lots of sales support and in store support.
Today was otherwise an awesome day. Snow in the mountains and lots of sunshine. It actually felt pretty warm after lows below zero last night. Some melting but they are looking forward to even warmer temperatures as the week goes on. It has been a tough string of cold and snow for the Front Range.
You just have to love those mountains. I can see why people love this part of the country. Too bad there is no ocean or big lakes. I thing I can get a sense of why Vancouver is so loved as a location. I t makes me a bit afraid to ever go there. I just may not want to leave. Mountains, water, trees, etc.Tomorrow it is on to Aurora with Chris Grande and the back to mad town on Thursday.
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