Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama

I've heard Colin Powell Speak before (DeAnza - Foothill College Celebrity Forum Speaker Series) - and have so much respect for him. A Republican or maybe we should now say an Independent. A foreign policy expert - a hero. Pro Obama. He trusts Barack, as should we. Thanks Colin!

Matt and Kristy Memorial - a breathtaking site

Today the City of Cupertino dedicated a permanent memorial 

to Kristy Gough and Matt Peterson. 

It is a stunning, and breathtaking tribute. A ghostly white bike perched with the park in the background, and to the left -the road where they were both killed while on a training ride. Plaques read:

In Loving Memory of
Kristy Gough
November 19, 1977 - March 9, 2008
FREE FROM LIMITATIONS & IMAGINARY LINES

Our hearts forever inspired by
Matthew Wayne Peterson
June 4, 1978 - March 9, 2008
RETHINK WHAT IS POSSIBLE

Strong, Light and Beautiful - Skills clinic fun today!

Rashmi, Bev and Rachel enjoyed a perfect day and had the park all to themselves! With two cancellations, we had a private party of 3, and it gave us more time to go on a short ride after we challenged ourselves on the SLaB skills course.

Rash puts in the extra effort on a steep fire road climb - with success!

Rachel demonstrates fantastic limbo form

as we lower bar height more and more!

Commuting in a dress... and...

I can't remember the website/blog I got this from, but it is worthy of repeating. (I'll find out and credit the original poster). Anyhow... Yes... you can ride a bike in a dress and non-cycling shoes. Yes you can run errands on a bike... yes... one can take it to the unsafe level of too far!

Enjoy the added comments on this image!

I feel better finally, and have been commuting again on my beach cruiser... w/ a helmet, with a basket full of my re-fillable CamelBak water bottle, refillable coffee mug, purse, and sometimes groceries on the way home. But yes... I have called my husband while riding down a straight-away to see if he had requests at the grocery store, guilty as charged!

Tomorrow is a skills clinic in Cupertino -

Not to late to join our group!

Email to sign on!

Obama!

Friend of a friend spotted this in the East Village (NY)

Oct. 18th Skills clinic - Memorial on Saturday 18th

Hi all - 

Saturday morning, same time as scheduled skills clinic, there will be a dedication to cyclists' Kristy and Matt who were killed on Steven's Canyon Road this year. It's a special event, and will have a lot of emotion along with shutting down the road from 8ish to after 9 I'm guessing. 

The location of the accident is next to the entrance to our park where I host the skills clinics.  For multiple reasons, we'll move the clinic to later in the morning, if attendee's can still make a mid-day workshop. Thanks for your understanding.

The City of Cupertino has graciously sponsored a permanent memorial in honor of Kristy and Matt at the site of the crash. There will be a brief dedication ceremony as well as a memorial ride on October 18th.

- Saturday, Oct 18
- 8 am ride start (recommend arriving at 7:30am)
- Ride route: Cupertino Civic Center (10350 Torre Avenue) to Stevens Canyon Road

City of Cupertino's Announcement:
Memorials to be Dedicated for Bicyclists

On Sunday, March 9, 2008, two bicyclists were tragically killed in the foothills of Cupertino. Weather permitting, on Saturday, October 18, permanent memorials will be dedicated to Kristy Gough and Matt Peterson. Please join us for this brief ceremony as we honor the memory of our friends and family who have passed.

The morning's events will begin at 8 AM with a gathering at Cupertino Civic Center. Guests will cycle up McClellan Road to Stevens Canyon Road, near the site of the accident.

Those driving by car should go directly to the memorial site, as the road will be closed to automobile traffic once the bicyclists get under way. Shortly after 9 am there will be some brief comments and an unveiling of the plaques. In words provided by their families, there is one tablet for each rider:

In Loving Memory of
Kristy Gough
November 19, 1977 - March 9, 2008
FREE FROM LIMITATIONS & IMAGINARY LINES

Our hearts forever inspired by
Matthew Wayne Peterson
June 4, 1978 - March 9, 2008
RETHINK WHAT IS POSSIBLE

Please check the city web site for more detailed information as the event gets closer.

SLaB October Update

Chicken Soup!

Yay friends like Slabber Cindy and Keith! Due to yesterday's rest and nutritional nurturing... today is a better day. I'm still holding back, and resisting the urge to go to Jame's Harvest Party, but by tomorrow - I hope to be whole again! Thanks for all the well wishes! - B

Octoberfest - not!

Here is how I feel. Been sick (bronchitis) for 2 weeks of October so far. My friend from München sent me this awesome image of her friends kiddo in Lederhosen. 

I even missed a fantastic Trailer trash party at work today. Had purchased some fantastic costume pieces from Goodwill. But instead stayed in my PJ's at home.

Luckily dear friends are on their way back from La Fiesta. My favorite Mexican restaurant in Mountain View, and are bringing me some "Caldo de Pollo". 

SLaB clinic Oct. 18 Cupertino, Later in Marin!

Just an update that we are scheduling a skills clinic for October 18th. Early in the a.m. for 3-4 hours in Cupertino. You can email me to sign up, and spread the word! Minimum 4-5 ladies to make it happen!

Stay tuned for more SLaB updates as we get back into the swing of things post Interbike Tradeshow!~

Cheers
Stay in touch
and stay Strong, Light and Beautiful!

Don't Vote... wait... I mean do vote!

so close, yet too far (Commute update #3)

Commuting with the racer dude that won't acknowledge the fellow 2 wheeler: update #3.

Yesterday I was running late... and as I exited my street... there he was! He looked right thru me... again no acknowledgement. Again with the tearing of his helmet off while still riding to the Stelling light. But the Green Arrow failed him... and he did a multi-lane cross-over to the cross walk... and then took the pedestrian way across. Yup...  getting closer! ;-)

Now I know he's seen me! Soon I'll let him know he's famous on my blog. he he.

I forgot my real camera... so this was me whipping out my iPhone... and waiting for the 7 seconds (yes seven), for the camera software to ready itself... but still got an okay shot I'd say!

getting Vegas smoke out of my clothes

So I have lots to still share - and am getting my suitcase unpacked... phew... smoke all the way from the Venetian! Went straight from Vegas to a fabulous (SlaB) wedding, and came back with a nasty cold. So today am finally on my feet, or desk chair anyhow... and will send out a SLaB update to the whole group as soon as I compose it!

Thanks for your patience! Lots of great things for SLaB in 2009 coming! More sponsors, different format, event/skills clinic focus, product, benefits, and a network with sponsors that will pay for every mile you log into the calendar - to your charity of choice! I'll update on the +3 Network plan, after I meet with the founder this Friday.

I'm very excited about partnering with shops, brands, and collaborating with existing riding groups, social networking and non-profit charitable and worthy causes for SLaB to contribute to! Let's start before '09, and make a difference now!

Cheers!
Bev

interbike 08- last booth surfing for me

Yesterday I managed to see a fare amount of booth's and talk apparel and sponsors with a few vendors and product lines. I have a great bucket of images... that at this time I cannot upload from my camera to my laptop at Mcarren Airport. Yes... I'm packed up with a very heavy bag full of brochures and publications relating to anything bike or commute and transportation.

Some of my cool finds are listed below:

REFLECTOR "dots".
Small stretchy silvery dots, which you can put on your clothing or bike for commuting. They stay through a remarkable number of washes. Put on your spokes, helmet, where-ever.

(Primal Wear) Custom JERSEYS.
I really liked the product line of customizable kits from Primal wear, and the available designs they have now are super pretty, creative, but made overseas. Only downfall. I'll speak to 2 other jersey makers I chatted with, one that manufactured in the Czech Republic, the other in Mexico. Can't remember their names - but they were serious contendors along with Sugoi - for a custom cycling kit next year!

New Zealand Merino WOOL fabric/jerseys.
Doesn't hurt to have the adorable accent, but we stopped at this booth to chat with the kiwi for data on custom and semi-custom designs from New Zealand, made of this fab fabric. Wicks, is natural, or combined w/ a lycra for the sublimation customization process. Nice designs, nice fabric - soft, more sustainable. Not from China!

53x11 COFFEE:
Super cool coffee roasters with environment, advocacy, and cycling community in mind. SLaB may try to get sponsored by them for 09, we connected well.

HELMET and BIKE GRAPHICS
Some interesting helmets nad helmet graphics, some very cool women's bike graphics, and some lame ones.

OIWC:
Luncheon was a smashing busting out the doors event. A fantastic turnout - and fantastic panel of inspirational women from all aspects of our industry. Take-aways from the panel discussion were: Be true to yourself, integrity in business, make goals, and get better at public speaking!

iZIP bikes and eBikes (Schwinn)
Electric bikes were the big trend. Get folks out of their cars any way you can! I took a shuttle to a "Bikes to commute" event at the Springs Preserve. An amazing natural preserve I didn't have time to tour, but was landscaped beautifully with native plants and desert scapes. Ed Begley Jr. Spoke, and folks tested the bikes. Mostly it was dealers asking about carrying the iZip product. My friends Larry Pizzi and Rob Kaplan were hosting the iZip event. I had met Ed Begley Jr. before at the Silicon Valley Green Fair, and was hoping to get another chance to converse. He may have remembered me - but I told him for sure I wanted to go for a bike ride with him and his wife! I also asked him for connections at Whole Foods... regarding the bike rack blogging and activism I'm trying to affect. He seemed sincere to get back in touch with us, to help on that matter!

I'll add photos later for these comments. Thanks for following along my interbike journey!

More interbike sept 24 (yesterdays booth gawking)

So besides ending the day with seeing Lance Armstrong Cyclocross race (was it his first time?), and what looked like he had fun actually, I did get to see so many great booths, so here are a few photos of them. Women's jerseys from Germany, Guys who can custom make jerseys in Columbia, Crumpler bags from Australia. Crumpler also had fantastic crazy guerrilla marketing (well maybe not such guerrilla, but planned) by puttling printed toilet paper in all the stalls.

The Day ended at the show with a networking and launch gathering at Pedro's booth, for +3 - a VERY COOL website that helps sponsor us average joe athletes mile by mile, for what cause we choose. SLaB will very much sign onto this!

More today - have to run to breakfast!

Day 2 interbike - so much, plus Lance!

So there is too much to blog at 2 a.m. - but saw many very nice women's products. Lots of old friends, cool graphics, interesting bags, hydrasacks, helmets, jerseys, pogo sticks, yes, pogo sticks, and more. So I'll report on all the products later... but thought I'd share how my day ended. With a bus ride to the Cyclocross race... and LANCE ARMSTRONG deciding to show up and give this sport a try. Very fun. Good timing on my part, as the bus driver drove in, we could see him (Lance) at the Treck truck. So I boogied over w/ the small paparazzi group, and snapped a couple pre race, number pinning on shots. Then this incredibly blurry, didn't quite pan fast enough, no filter... as is.. image during the race. No - he did not win, couldn't even tell you who did or what place he was in. We were far away from the finish, but could hear some muffled MC in the distance. Was a great, long and tiring day. Topped off by friends driving here to say hi... from San Diego - today, to leave tomorrow. Crazy Vegas times.

Day 1 Interbike (yesterday's outdoor demo)

Rode at Bootleg Canyon on demo equipment including: XFUSION shocks on an Iron Horse Bike. Crank Brothers Pedals, and an ALLAY saddle tht had a "Pump" to adjustfirmness! Great day out in the Las Vegas sun, on a hillside that overlooked Lake Mead.

Checking in - checking out

Checking in tonight for Interbike... 

and then checking everyone's products out!

In the spirit of our SLaB arm warmers with "On Your Left" printed on the right arm, and the left arm saying "Zero Emissions"... with the disclaimer "except that burrito I ate at lunch" I  bring you this comic strip my honey spotted.

I'll be offsetting my carbon emissions with a TerraPass and being sure to pursue sustainable products at each booth. Stay tuned, as I'll be sure to blog each day about the show, and if I'm super savvey, even upload from my iPhone on the spot!

Group Ride- Cadence Workout Group

Pete, Terry, Walter, Mayo, Bev and Nadine

Sunday was yet another stunning day in California, and we spent the afternoon at Saratoga Gap. As Walter said (with Holland accent), it's WORLD CLASS nice! We had a group from the office of Cadence' Design's corporate gym (Club One a.m. fit class) that wanted to go for an excursion, outside, on the dirt! Two beginner ladies, me, my honey Terry, and Walter with their physical trainer; workout guru, spin instructin'- Pete! 

Both gals don't have bikes, (one has a 15yr old number that is not up to speed), so we brought our GT demo bikes. It is so great to be able to get folks out on "real" bikes, or up-to-date mountain bikes so they can see what they'd like to invest in, and have a great first ride experience. 

Speaking of first trail rides, I was super impressed with all of their abilities to brave some rocky terrain. Mayo and Nadine made it down steeps, over rocks and on loose gravel corners. Even Walter admitted normally he might walk down to get past a super technical section, and was happy for the do-over mentality, to improve skills, and start clearing sections to dismount the bike less often. He did fantastic, and was a natural. Now if only I could get him to keep his helmet on! (don't worry, while riding on the trail - it was, but relunctantly was on flat fireroads).

Nadine and Bev, happy bikers.

The entire album from the day is posted on www.iamSLaB.com - photo page at the bottom!

Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition

Join me at the OIWC Tech Clinic and Leadership Luncheon in Vegas this week!

This is an ad I designed for the OIWC group's events at Interbike next week. At the 11th, and I mean 11th hour... I needed to reformat this, I like this one better! Anyhow been prepping cycling clients and myself for Vegas next week -  and am looking forward to seeing lots of old friends, and checking out women's products, and seeking sponsors for SLAB for 09!

Still have space to share and split some costs - but get to stay in the best room ever with fresh air and a balcony at Venetian - so come join me in Vegas!

Commuting update - lockers rock!

Decided to roll on a lighter bike today, this GTw Zaskar, which rocks! It's available for demo purposes at our SLaB events. (Always good for me to test the equipment). The only thing for commuting that I missed, was my basket for putting the Doppia Macchiato in, and the "da du da de da daaa" music in my head of the wicked witch theme song from Wizard of Oz. 

This is the way to treat an employee bike commuter though... gorgeous bike lockers, and plenty of them! at least capacity for 24 bikes, protected from the elements. Two per bin, cleverly divided w/ a diagonal board so your bike backs in with ease. Room for the front wheel and handle bars to turn perpendicular and steady the bike, taking a shorter footprint space.

The Best!

RACER SITING

Oh... and saw my fellow Webcor racer dude this morning! Turns out he buys a baguette and continues down that side of the road to either Petes, or the office park on the North Side - and leaves later than I usually do. I was running late today - so now I see why we've not been synchronized at the lights in a while!

Calling all numb nuts

Interbike has begun, and SLaB is already getting more sponsors! Topeak's ALLAY saddles are the newest in ergonomic break throughs! They won an IF Design Award at EuroBike, and we get to test them!

You are the first to see these ads, SLaB connections run wide in the bike industry! Headlines like "Be nice to your naughty bits", "Calling all numb nuts", and "Your nether regions will thank you" are silly fun, and to the point of why bike riding is less interesting for some to try. This should help! An air pump!

I'm looking forward to testing, along with some lucky SLaB ladies - these ergonomic products.

Keeping score

At our friends annual wine tasting party Saturday night... we had "score sheets". You wrote the number on the bottle, which is hidden in a bag, and scored the "nose", "Taste", "Finish" of each. 

My first year attending this event I was new to thinking of wine in 3 phases of tasting, I just liked it. Well it's score-sheet was a steep curve of okay --> to great. Each getting better, as I got buzzed. 

This years score sheet was the topic of the end of the

night when I asked my husband if he was driving home, or I was. It was 2 a.m. and we had run out of most the wine - and were snacking on anything the hostess brought around. He said firmly "ME"... just look at the cards.

Well from an amateurs eye - one would think I drank 10 glasses to his 6, but actually I took only a sip from some, as I scored them as low as 6's all the way across - then dumped them in the lawn or containers provided. But I must say - I surely did drink more than usual - and to use the phrase I learned from the host of the party...

"Yesterday I borrowed fun from today"

One week to Vegas!

Getting ready for 4 nights at Interbike Tradeshow in Vegas next week! I've been volunteering for the OIWC (Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition) for their events at the show. Mostly doing free graphic design - and giving input for the Luncheon event and Awards. 

It's crunch time and I'm very much burning the candle at all ends. Between my contract at Apple, 2 other clients, and trying to get SLaB together for chatting with potential sponsors at the tradeshow - this OIWC work is happening at midnight.

If you are going or considering going, my honey can't join me, and I got a killer room (2 queens) at the Venetian that I'd love to split the costs with some rad Cycling woman! (room has balcony overlooking the Pool! "fresh" air in Vegas is hard to come by! Toss me a note if you are interested!

On the trail at sunset

Another picture from our ride Thursday at Saratoga Gap with SLaB, Jill Kintner and Kathy Pruitt