It’s been a great ride so far!

It’s been two weeks in the new job as Marketing Manager for Focus Bicycles USA… and I’m still totally blissed out! I admit that being without a job for 6 months had it’s moments of “fun”, but it sure feels good to be “back in the saddle” and officially participating again. Focus works with some amazing athletes and teams, as well as has amazing products (biased, yes), and I get to be involved with it all… and it rocks!

The weekend after my first week, I drove up to LA for the last day of the Los Angeles leg of the SoCal Cross Cup. Rain, mud, and great racing provided an awesome baptism into the job… and I loved it. Team Rapha-Focus riders Chris Jones made the podium in 4th in the men’s race and Julie Krazniak had an excellent ride for 2nd in the women’s race (before heading off to get married to Rapha’s own Jeremy Dunn). I had a blast posting pictures and updates while running around the course and shaking hands with friends along the way. Yes, I love this job!

The new-to-me 2003 Jetta GLS wagon has been a dream as well, so far. I don’t wanna jnx anything, given my luck with cars… but it’s a great car so far and I hope it stays that way. New roof racks are on the way- thanks to the help of friends at Thule- and I’ll soon be a full-on Bike Nerd™®© (MMXII all rights reserved)! Bought myself a Chliton’s repair manual for the car today… luckily it has lots of pictures in it because car repair might as well be ancient Greek, as far as I am concerned. That said, I look forward to being able to perform a few small repairs and minor maintenance on my own (I hope). Those who know me well have likely already blown whatever they were drinking onto to their computer screens, via their noses, with laughter. To you, I say, SHUT UP!

Six months with no job, leading in to Christmas, means things are tight and the holiday season is a little less “joyous” in material ways, but I am still incredibly thankful and happy. We don’t have a lot, but we have blessings… and they mean the world to me. Yesterday was the Campagnolo Toy Drive ride, benefiting the Rady Children’s Hospital. The event is a highlight for me each year, and this year was no different… other than it felt even better to be involved this year. It’s not like I donated tons of toys, but it felt so good to drop off stuffed animals that I can imagine being hugged tightly on Christmas day… and that feels mighty damn good. 

This Friday night is our company Christmas party. It’ll be the last day of my 3rd week on the job. I feel kinda giddy about it. Nearly everybody I work with has been a friend of mine for years, but this marks the first time I’ve officially celebrated the holidays with any of them… and I really hope it’s far from being the last one. 

Tim 

Wow, been a few days… again…

I tried to write a synopsis/ wrap-up to my time in Philly while I was still there… but I got distracted by work. Go figure… 

The 8 days in Philly were awesome! I am truly amazed by the level of talent in the company and the amazing amount of work already being done by my coworkers and the entire company. Coming from a much smaller company, now being a part of something much larger is pretty impressive… and pleasantly frightening. Listening to talk about the GEOX team with the Fuji folks, then listening to Kestrel Brand Manager Steven Harad talk about being in the wind tunnel with a couple of his athletes, or the fact that I’ll be working with Joe Breeze… it’s enough to make a bike geek a little lightheaded. 

On top of the bike geeking, I’m working with some great people who are just cool for being who they are. I’m genuinely happy to be working with this team of folks and had a great time getting the chance to hang out a little bit. In about 2 weeks, I’ll be traveling to Taiwan with many of them- and will be in Taichung for a week before the show in Taipei to meet and work with my new partners there… and I get to ride my bike while I’m there too! My coworker Steven Fairchild has already gotten the ball rolling to get me set up with a bike to keep in Taiwan so I can ride when I’m in Taichung… since that’s gonna happen a lot. AND since Steven is an avid racer too, I’m looking forward to getting the chance to do some events while I’m there in the future. 

I’ll have to put together a post introducing everybody individually… maybe I’ll sneak pictures of them on my next trip to Philly and then write up a little something… exposing them to the world. But until then, I just have to give them all a sincere and heartfelt “thank you”!

I got back into LA just fine with a non-stop 6hr flight from Philly. It was smooth sailing- aside from the exceedingly chatty seating companion I had, who told me nearly every detail of her life. In exceptional detail. The officially endorsed Best Friend, picked me up from the airport and we had some great Vietnamese food for dinner before heading to his house so I could get my car. After spending a little more time than planned setting up my “new” MacBook Pro (Jim’s old one), I was finally on the road back to San Diego… at 4:ooAM! The good news is that my car was having some crazy electrical problems that had me terrified the whole way home so I had NO Problem staying awake for the 2hr drive! The electrical system seems like it is going to fail again- the engine computer was replaced about 3.5-4yrs ago, at great expense and frustration. Now, I am an even bigger member of the cult of Mac… with 2 different iPhones, several iPods and now the MacBook… I’m thinking it’s time to dig out my old black mock-turtlenecks. I don’t yet feel any smug superiority, but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time. 

Last night was also Katie’s Alice in Wonderland play at school. I have a history of missing nearly all school-related activities, whether due to being unable to get out of the office or from being out of town for work, so each event I can get to is an amazing gift. I’ll have to post a couple pics and maybe a few snips of video too… because it was WAY above the normal level of cute. I only wish Ann and Lily could’ve been here as well- I know they would have enjoyed it too. My mother and step-father came to the play as well… and my son even made a cameo appearance! It was an amazing night for family and a reminder of why I get out of bed each day… it’s for them. 

It’s dumping rain here now, which I find very ironic considering how nice the weather is in Philly right now… so it’s gonna be an indoor weekend. Maybe the punkin and I will get out to see a movie… when not getting caught up on some overdue cleaning. AND… it’s been 2 weeks since we recorded the last Spokesmen, which means we’ll be recording tomorrow morning and I’m really looking forward to it (don’t forget to supply me with some good tips for the show).

And now it’s time to enjoy the weekend… each and every one of yous-guys/ gals!

Tim