Two great movies that came to mind when the keyboardist for Brad Paisley (whose name I’ll leave out because I didn’t tell him I’d be plastering it on the ‘net) came in to look at a Madone this afternoon. Interesting to think about the parallels between a rock band traveling around the west coast on a big bus and a bike racing team! And yes, I did ask him about Spinal Tap and Almost Famous. Back in the day, sounds like those movies might have been a bit closer to the mark than they are now, with the stars of rock & country getting older, raising families, becoming almost passable as normal people. LB, if you’re reading this, that’s meant as a compliment

This guy’s got the right idea. He has a special section he’s created on the bus, with a wood box his bike goes into so that nothing gets piled on top of it. It’s got to be pretty cool traveling around and seeing the different places you go to by bike. I can’t see spending months on the road myself, but if I had to, bringing my bike with me would be how I’d remain sane. Then again, maybe I’m missing an opportunity here. Maybe you could have a big bus mobile bike shop that travels the country, announcing its presence ahead of time on the ‘net?

Take Comfort in Rituals

We could learn a lot from Starbucks. They’re right up front about what they are, what they’ve established and the relationship they intend to continue with you. Ritual. So much part of your daily routine that you don’t feel guilty about spending $5 for a sugared-up cup of coffee & milk, because it’s not that you’re spending money there, it’s become what you do.

The word ritual carries interesting connotations… something you do without thinking. Something that maybe, sometime in the past, you made a commitment to, and now you’re doing your best to follow through. Something that you need to do before you can go on to the next thing. Something you can’t escape.

So instead of a trip to Starbucks being something you do once in a while, you’re reminded it’s something you do ritualistically, like combing your hair a certain way or saying grace before a meal or inflating your tires to exactly 120 psi before each ride. And on their door, they remind you, every time you pass by, that rituals are a good thing, and thatis Starbucks is a part of your daily life.

Brilliant people running that company.

My daughter Becky, whom many of you know from her work with your Project One bikes and her work with our apparel in the Redwood City store, now has her own blog on-line, appropriately-titled “Becky’s Blog.” There’s a link to it in the menu at the top of this page, and of course here.

See what she’s up to, and don’t forget to leave comments encouraging her to write & ride more! –Mike– (aka “Dad”)

Last night I started putting together a new blog page for info on pro bike racing, including on-the-fly updated “tweets” from various cyclists with interesting things to say.

All things change, some just take more time than others. For years, this diary, which I refused to call a “blog” because, at least at the start, the name didn’t mean anything to me, has been maintained on our website through the use of MS FrontPage or MS Web Expressions, two relatively heavy-duty web programs that require I be at a “real” computer if I want to update anything. But this is the age of the iPhone and instant communication all over the world, so it is time to move on.

It’s likely to be a klunky transition, as I figure out how to deal with “themes” and the interactive potential of a WordPress “blog.” But the future has caught up with me, so it’s time I joined it. Tomorrow should be the first ride report, and we’ll see how photos work. –Mike–