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!

Happy Birthday Mark

Today is the day! # 23! and looking like a Disco guy this past summer!

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!"

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.

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!

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.

Wow, was it cold!

So off I went! In to the lightly falling snow on a January's Saturday afternoon. Temps were in the mid 20's but I had my layers on! Gosh was it quiet and peaceful. Stayed pretty warm the first 8 miles of the 10 that I rode, but boy those last 2 were just a bit chilly.

The Cap City path was just me and several people out walking in the snow.

Yes, winter has finally returned after an almost 6 week absence. No telling how long he will stay around as the sun is getting higher in the sky and limiting the cooling that is possible. Kind of like what happened last year when we got cold early and then warmed up shortly after Christmas and then got cold thru February before having a pretty good Spring and awesome summer.

Things are out of sync weather wise but I do not miss the snow all that much.

A note back from Mark Vatour at Landry's today about the Nike bag. It is interesting to note that when you send things out blindly how many people actually respond and just say thanks! So far of the 7 that were sent I have only 2 thank yous. Interesting.

This afternoon and evening my Saints and Colts continued their march towards the Super Bowl. They are one win away from the Big Show. On Sunday, we get the other half of the bracket.

UW survived against Northwestern but XU did not do so against SLU. NTB must be upset.

Tomorrow I will run in the snow! That should be fun and a sensual outing. The quiet is what gets me.

A day in New York City

This place is really beginning to grow on me. It is about as International a city as I have come across in recent years. Just walking around this place is so incredible. The only problem is that it costs BIG, yes, BIG Bucks to live here! I kid you not!

So here a picture of Paragon Sporting Goods looking to the North West. Pretty awesome old building that has been totally re-done over the years.

So the prime reason for today was to call on John Gorde at Paragon Sporting Goods. He mentioned that NO ONE had asked to see him in almost 6 years. I am simply in awe and feel there just has to be a reason. Unless, I have really stepped in to something I should not have. Come on, how can we sell them Nike bike apparel and not sell them shoes to go with the apparel. This makes no sense to me!

Paragon is a NYC destination! Right smack in the midst of the Union Square area. The exterior does not exude much,but they have everything! they had this classic shoe display that had all brands given equal billing. It was interesting to watch people compare one colorway to the next.

Anyway...dinner last night at the Cosmos Diner. Go see them at www.cosmosdiner.com This place looks like the place on Seinfeld, but it is not! My waitress was named Olga! Really, and she has been her for less than a year and is making it here in the USA!

Lunch today at some place called "BITE" and it was really nice and good. Had the Pea Soup with added bacon and it was definitely, "all good!" I should have taken a picture now that I think about it.

Met with John and Joe at Paragon and I hope made progress. Six years?

My driver out to La Guardia is from la Republica Dominicana and was a really nice guy. He had a nice ride too. Lincoln! His direct family is still back on the island nation.

Anyway, it is now 2:30 AM on Friday and I need to get to sleep. So will hope to add more to this recap of what has now become one of my favorite cities in the world!

New York, New York

Thursday morning here in Manhattan and have just gotten the update from Mike Blatte that "the Eagle has landed!" Shoes will be here shortly for my trip over to Paragon this afternoon and the meeting with John Gorde. Hopes are that we will get some of the Nike line in to their shoe collection for this summer season.

En route to Chicago yesterday I got to see what is typically a summer sight around the USA. The Oscar Meyer Weinermobile:Not sure where he was headed and why he was out so early in the year. Maybe it is yet another sign of global warming, or is it the El Nino?

Hope to get out and take a few snaps of some of the sights here in NYC prior to my meeting at Paragon. Then it will be back to LaGuardia for the flight to ORD followed by the drive home. Should be a late night no matter if things are on schedule or not. UGH!

Sunny skies here in New York but chilly.

The hotel (Union Square Inn) is better than I thought. There are tons of places in the area and they are in the midst of fixing the place up. At $150 a night, it is a value in New York. I think I would stay here instead of the Bentley in the future though a Hampton would be nice too.

Well, that is it for now. Oh my gosh! A 2CV just pulled up across the street. I need a snap of that one for sure.

UW Medical Center

So tomorrow I go to the UW Hospital to see if they can figure out what is wrong with my lungs and breathing. This thing started back in August and has only gotten better with the administration of drugs, which I hate.

It will be an early start to the day as I need to be ready to go at 0630, and that is without a cup of coffee or any other type of stimulant. This should prove to be VERY interesting. Pics and a full report tomorrow night from NYC!

Until then, just make sure that you are doing it all and taking full advantage of the gift!

BCS Night

Busy tonight as there is a game going on down in Glendale, AZ!

It has been a struggle

Trying to get back into "it" again, but I am finding the lungs having a hard time pulling in the air that is needed. For some reason the time on the bike feels just a bit better, but even then, when the shortness of breath comes, it is just no fun!

Hard to believe how much this darn asthma can imapct one's ability to run, breathe, etc.

This has been going on since August and I have never had anything like this. A good run or a good ride makes me appreciate it all the more.

This Sunday was incredible. Temps in the low 40's and some sun that eventually gave way to clouds and then rain. MJ arrived shortly after noon time with his laundry and a desire to get some rest and say hi. Ross Behling and his friend, Caroline stopped in to say a quick hello after no one answered the door when Ross came a calling last night, or should I say, this morning (1:15 AM). He actually commented that he was feeling pretty good!

KJ is off in Cross Plains for a big day with Laura's family. Today is Christmas for her Mom's side of the family. He will not be coming home tonight due to all of the festivities. I am sure there will be stories when we see him tomorrow. Dropped him off near Regent Street for his ride with Nick out to the West.

My pic of the day is a look back towards downtowm Madison as I made my way along the path just next to Lake Monona. Yes, there were blue skies and awesome temps for January 7th.

My big regret, but no suprise, of the day was that I turned in to the wind as I headed home. Still, it was a good and spirited ride for 20+ miles. Up 3 from last weeks 17. Actually got my first buzz after a ride following today's effort. It was as good as a run enduced high can be. That is a good thing!

After spaghetti dinner, MJ headed home to Chicago and we tended to cleaning up the tree. WOW! Was it dry! This tree would pop in no time if a match was held under it. I will not be doing that!

Tomorrow a trip in to Waterloo and then to Cascade for a discussion that may lead to who knows where! Still trying to figure out what it is they do and why they do it better. On Wednesday, I go towards Chicago and then on to NYC for key meeting at Paragon.

What a way to start a new year!

How terrific is it to come out to the car in the early AM prior the drive to Waterloo and look to the East and see this view through the trees. Terrific, fantastic, awesome...none capture the beauty of it all.

So 2006 is in the books and now we ramp up for 2007!

It will be interesting to check back in 12 months (or whenever) to see how far we have come and grown. Lots of things going on in all facets, which just adds to the excitement and mystery.

So much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to.

Good to be back in the office today and surrounded by all of the Trek folk. Good stuff as we get excited about the year ahead. Got details of the new kit for the Discovery Channel team and with the new look it just might lead to some positive DC business.

It looks as if we may have Jimmy McMillin on a bike. Lots of pressure from his neighbor, Vince Leone and others to do so. More to come on Jim and his bike!

Note to a Lance lover today with pictures from the 2003 TDF bike. That is the one where he went down on a climb after getting tangled up with someone's lunch basket or messenger bag.

It will be interesting to hear what the reaction is!

That's all for tonight! Time to go watch some MORE college football.

2007! Here we go and what a start!

Awakened this morning to a simply awesome start of the new year! Nothing but blue skies and incredible temps for this time of the year. I too, am growing tired of these almost daily stories about how crazy this winter has been so far.

Somehow, the ability to go get a coffee at 10 AM in nothing but a shirt, slacks and sunglasses makes me giddy with the new year.

UW won down in Florida by 3 points, so that was another good thing about the start of 2007. It was an ugly encounter with Arkansas, but it's the final score that counts.

My first run of the year was a 40 minute loop in the neighborhood with lots of hills. Temps in the mid 30's as I headed off and there was still some sunshine in the skies. The days are getting longer and it was still bright as I made my way up the Schumann Drive hill at 4:30 PM. The pix to the right was taken earlier in the day but clearly shows how great the 1st day of 2007 was.
It will be interesting to see how the rest of this winter goes.

Trips to Colorado, New York, Texas, Boston and elsewhere are already on the schedule, but somehow it will be hard to beat today for what it was!

Trek welcomes the US sales team to Waterloo later this week and I have things working with Paragon Sports in NYC that will hopefully POP this week. Other potentials in the mix but somehow things look very very good right now!

Oh, before we get too far in to the new year, here is a pic of the cat trying to figure out how to get out of the fireplace...it was soooo easy to get in, but somehow seems harder to find one's way out! This beast acts just like a puppy. Pretty amazing animal!