A Girl and Her Bike(s)

Change of Pace

I’ve been in the outdoor industry for 6ish years now.

That is 6 years of learning about running, cycling and anything and everything fitness related. 6 years of technical jargon about “moisture wicking fabrics” and “9, 10 and 11 speed cassettes.” 6 years of pro deals, bike flipping and new running shoes every few months. 6 years of clinics, trade shows and studying the new season’s catalogs. 6 years of new technology and new faces and new trends.

And, unfortunately, 6 years of being talked down to. 6 years of the question “Oh, you ride a bike?” 6 years of people telling me I don’t know what I’m talking about. 6 years of people assuming that I’m “just a salesperson” who doesn’t have a passion for the sport/industry she decided to dedicate her life to. 6 years of entitled douchebags who look at me like a piece of meat when I am trying to sell them a bicycle. 6 years of trying and trying and trying and trying and trying not to bothered by this all…..

I’m done.

I need a break from it all. I need a break from trying. I need a break from proving myself on a daily basis.

I quit my job with, what many would say, is “the best” clothing company in my industry. I quit because I was not happy. I quit because I was tired.

Now I’m moving into a new direction. I’m going to start working with one of my other hobbies. I’m going to start working in coffee. I have some opportunities with a roaster/cafe that I love, whose passion I find inspiring.

I am incredibly excited and also very nervous about this change of pace. However, I know that I made the right decision. I needed something to shake me up, and I think this is just the thing.

New beginnings are always invigorating.

I love Northern California.

(Source: emilyraee)

GPOY.

Yesterday we headed out at 10, stopped at a back country saloon at 1, cruised over to this state park and hit some dirt, then stopped into a swimming hole.

Basically…..best Friday ever. These kind of rides are what I live for.

(Source: emilyraee)

My wall. Feel free to send me more, I’d love to fill it!

(Source: emilyraee)

Apologies.

Hey all,

This blog has fallen by the wayside. I was so insanely busy with work, and then I quit my job, and now I am riding. A lot.

So I will try and update it more often, but I can’t promise anything. I am, however, still updating my “regular” tumblr here - emilyraee

Check it out, and stay tuned. Emily on her bike = happy, healthy Emily with little time for interneting, and lots of time for fun.

Happy riding

Em

Watching the TTT w/ Brian Nygaard today….

I got super stoked to tell him that Fuglsang is on my Fantasy Vuelta team.

(Yeah….I made a fantasy vuelta team. I’m a dork. But I’m already the winner in my mini-league.)

And yeah…..Brian Nygaard came into my work today to watch the Vuelta. Did I also mention how much I love my job???

Best. Job. Ever.

I love this. I miss Austin. Thanks for making me super nostalgic, John.

(via thenorsephoto)

Mountain Bikes

Me: I really want a mountain bike. Like, an old steel one that's super simple, with a rigid fork.
Coworker: Why do you want something heavy like that? Just get something new.
Me: I want to put one of those flat porteur racks on the front.
Coworker: But then you couldn't take it on trails.
Me: I know. But the other day I saw this guy on a rad old Ibis who was carrying a pizza on his bike. I want a bike with big squishy tires that I can carry a pizza on.
Coworker: You are so weird.
Me: Yeahhhh....

The god of thunder.

(via velotone)

queenstage:

Before team buses with showers, there were basins of water out in the open. Photo from Tour de France 1935 by Robert Capa.

(Photo via Slate)

queenstage:

Tour de France by Robert Capa, 1935. Note the flask in the jersey pocket. What’s in it??

(Photo via Slate)

Hardly Serious with Jens Voigt

Is anyone else religiously reading Jensie’s blog like I am?

This is pure gold….his conversational style allows the reader to imagine themselves sitting across the breakfast table from Jens while he drinks his 3 cups of morning coffee.

If you don’t know, now you know.

(via cranktastic)

cadenced:

Nathan Byukusenge from Team Rwanda. There’s a fascinating account of efforts to bring Rwanda’s cycling talents to the world stage in the New Yorker. You can also find coverage of the Tour of Rwanda over at Cycling News which is where the photo by Mjrka Boensch Bees comes from.

cadenced:

Raymond Poulidor and Roger Pingeon climb the Col du Galibier in the 1967 Tour de France. Whilst Felice Gimondi would take the stage running from Divonne-les-Bains to Briançon, Pigneon would maintain his hold on the maillot jaune through to Paris. The picture comes from L’Equipe’s Tour de France, 100 ans 1903-2003.