Olympic fever is hitting. As the torch rolls into my town this week, emotions are running high. Calgary was host to the 1988 Olympics so it brings back great memories. I did not live in this mountain city then, but the evidence is here of how the Olympics altered this place and inspired so many young people to strive for athletic excellence. The athletes from here participating in this years 2010 Vancouver Olympics are too numerous to mention, but this image shows the Canadian Cross Country Ski Team, based in the mountain paradise of Canmore, Alberta - DeFeet is a proud sponsor and official sock supplier to the team and we wish them all the very best!!!!!
Vancouver, Canada will host the 2010 Olympics in February. DeFeet is a proud sponsor of the Canadian Nordic Ski Team. Canada had huge success with their strong women's team in the last Olympics and the team is set to take on the world again. History will also be made as Brian McKeever, a legally blind skier from Canmore, Alberta, won a 50km NorAm qualifier for a spot on the Olympic team. He will be the first athlete to compete in both the Olympics and Para-Olympic Winter games.
DeFeet developed the Nordic sock with the help of members of the Canadian Cross country Ski team. DeFeet has been the official sock supplier to the team since 2008. We are very proud to be a part of this great organization and we wish them all the very best for the upcoming Olympics!
The latest White House scandal has me scratching my head. As you may know, Hope and I were invited to the White House last December. So I have a different viewpoint on this crazy thing we call news.
We actually did get a personal invite to the White House Holiday Reception in the mail. As DeFeet had been the sole selected sock of the Peloton One special edition socks for the last 4 years. These socks were given out as a momentum if you road bikes with our commanding Chief. I called to RSVP and gave them my social security number and what I thought was Hopes SS#. So we drive up to Washington with our poshest clothing in tow.
The night before the event, we did a reconnaissance of the East Gate. This was to be our entry into this wonder world of power. The next day was spent riding our bikes around the monuments. We got to back to our hotel just in time for me to do my hair and Hope to cake on some make-up. Then a quick 20 minute walk to the East Gate.
We arrived just a tad early to avoid the lines. As we got closer Hope said, oops I forgot my ID. And as you would guess, I forgot the coveted Invite. We walked up to the men in black suites and dark sunglasses...yes, it was dark out. "Name" one of the them said. I blurted out with pride "Hope and Shane Cooper, Sir"...then came the silence. "IDs please." I presented mine and said that my wife Hope did not bring hers. "Mrs Cooper what is your SS#?" Hope spilled it out like a child saying there ABCs. "Again" said the sharp dressed man. Again Hope sang her SS# this time with a questioning voice. "Mam that does not match our records". "Oh well" he said as my pride started to crumble..."come on in." he said with a smile.
Whew, I was relieved that one of us would not have to run back to get her ID...as she was wearing heels!
So in we go in, the security tent that is. All metal objects in the x-ray machine please. Very easy, much easier than the TSA airport screening. We were given thumbs up and waltzed on in to this great nations White House.
On the inside the holiday decorations were incredible. As we milled in and out of the Green, Yellow and Red rooms no one even gave it a second thought that Hope might not be who she claimed she was. We were all the same inside this who's who marbled maze. Why Hope could have been a drag queen terrorist with plastic implants that go boom-fully shaved of course. As Hope and I found ourselves more at home with the situation, we made our way to the line where you give your name to a hostess and then straight into a holding room.
5 couples were in the holding room each with Marine (deck to the 9s) escorting or body guarding them. Then with a flash of an eye...our group was in the same room as the BIG guy standing next to the fire place all decked with Holiday joy.
We then figured it out...we were going to shake hands with the first family. I was ill prepared, as I did not think we would get this close and get to meet the Bushes. I remembered that elevator speech that practiced the night before...just in case. Before I could even start to think about buttoning my coat to hide my 6 flab...It was our turn. Our very handsome Marine said "Mr President" please welcome Shane Cooper and his wife Natalie. Yikes! What just happened? Did he say Natalie? What should I do? Well before I could correct this stud muffin...Laura helped with my conundrum. She held her hand out to Hope and said "Natalie its so nice to meet you, Natalie we wish you and Shane a very Merry Christmas." Dammit, Now what? I cant correct her! Hope will be so mad at me...which was interrupted by. "Shane welcome to the White House" "Y'all folks at DeFeet sure know how to make some really good socks!" I grabbed his hand and tried to shake it with equal pressure "err, why thank you Sir" "we do our best, and they are all made here in the good ol' USA Sir." I think I mumbled some more small vowels and consonance and hoped I used the right adjectives and conjunctions with predicated nouns. But it was George W Bush!
But for the life of me, I could not figure out how to correct the my wife's name. Hope (or Natalie with the wrong SS# could have a butter knife in her cleavage) then interjected with a calm poised jingle, "Mr President, you look very fit. That bike riding is keeping you young." He smiled and said "Looking at you, I might better not try and keep up with you on a bike.". Hey was George just hitting on my wife? Then it was over, kinda like in that movie "Christmas Story" as Ralphie gets shoved down the slide..."you'll shoot your eye out kid!"
After three hours of searching for the White House crapper...for untold reasons. We bid our due as I slammed one more free vodka and tossed a fresh shrimp in my mouth. Off we walked into the cool night air of Washington DC. Hand in hand we walked the quite sidewalks glowing with pride. I was extra excited as my new wife Natalie, that could be a killer in high heels, was even hotter now that she was an alleged Russian spy.
That said, these two fame hungry folks the Whoszitz that were not invited to the White House are shedding light on something I have wondered ever since. I feel that the White House is sacred grounds and all those there should be invited guest. But if you think your invited or not...and you show up...the men in sunglasses and the security that is on the roof should know everyone there..they should know my SS# and Hopes SS# they should know every thing about us as approach the gate. There should be deep back ground checks and it should be top level clearance. Hope should have been made to run back to the room...I would have waited in the yellow room for her...so if Whoszitz came up...they would have been stopped in their fame seeking tracks. There you have it. Call it what you want. But we were invited.
What a great night. DeFeet was one of the donating suporters the 2009 MCBC Biker Ball Nov 14th. GRAFFITTI rocked de House with 80s covers and we had lots of DeFeet crowd primes. Crazy thing, cyclist can dance and they can dance a LONG time. Especially if you play some Cure, REM, and U2...
Hope even came out and we rode some really great rides. Hwy 1 and Mt Tam are some fantastic rides.
My kinda trip, music, bikes, friends and the lovely wife. (not in that order)
Famous for his 1982 Boston Marathon near win when a motorcycle altered the outcome of his race and after miles of battling heel to heel, in the final seconds losing to the famed Alberto Salazar.Both set records that day!
Already renowned for his athletic achievements, Dick Beardsley has since become a legend for his motivational talks inspired by the extreme pain he suffered related to a series of devastating accidents that lead him down a very dangerous path of chemical dependency.He has been “clean” for over a decade and shares his experiences with audiences across the the nation.
The Dick Beardsley Foundation was created to raise awareness on the dangers of chemical dependency, whether it is prescription or recreational drugs.Dick speaks to schools ad events with such passion there is no doubt he is making a huge difference in the lives of many people.
We are very fortunate that Dick speaks very passionately about our DeFeet products.
We thank him for his enthusiasm and encourage all to visit his website at:
This was a special project that we sponsored. DeFeet Poverty was great event Check this little ditty out..."de feet cant fail me know!" Thanks to all the folks at the Clinton Library down in Little Rock AK.
A contribution from the research archives of Jen Gonzoles in the DeFeet Custom Dept - One gallon of gasoline contains about 31,000 calories. Average distance traveled by a car on one gallon of gas: 20.36 miles. Bicycle rider at 15 mph burning 31,000 calories: 912 miles. So a bicyclists is 4,379.4% more efficient than the average automobile Of course there are a LOT of assumptions going on in terms of the cyclist's stats in this (cyclist's weight, speed, yadda yadda yadda) Interesting all the same and it makes the point loud and clear! Thanks, Jen!
PINK is IN...from NFL to local fund raisers pink is everywhere! Pink maybe the new color for Autumn changing seasons. What a great feeling to see all the support for Breast Cancer. We all are touched by this devastating disease in some way. We should do our part to help find a cure. Katheryn Harlan is a cycling friend of DeFeet. She is our local breast cancer survivor hero. On the bike Kathryn's nickname is the Power Ant . She is such a tuff nut on bike rides all 5 foot 100lbs of her. Six years ago she was diagnosed with an early stage breast breast cancer found on a routine screening mammorgram. She under went a drasticprocedure and had a double mastectomy. She was riding her bike within 4 weeks...and she found new ways to climb hills...as she did not want to use here chest for leverage. Katheryn is the first to help many of our friends as they stumble into the C word. Whether its someone asking about their grandma...or their mom...or even themselves. Katheryn is there like Super Power Ant to help with the questions.
Katheryn founded theThough Heeling Eyesprogram to help educate and find ways to provide money for early detection for those that can not afford treatment or mammograms. 6 years and $250,000.00 bucks later...I would say she is doing the right thing and not to mention...still riding that bike! Go Power Ant Go! Katheryn's website 2008 Hickory Daily Record Story
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job in sales with DeFeet has been to meet people across the country involved in supporting charity initiatives for causes closest to their heart. It is astounding to see the the level of passion and commitment from the founders of these organizations and the volunteer corps that support them.
To list and name but a few, there is bike shop owner John Crews of Bicycles Plus in Folsom, California, a former BMX Champion who founded Ride for a Reason with two of his customers after personally being affected by Parkinsons at the age of 40. The charity hosts an annual event that raises funds and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease and Cancer.
University Track runner Greg Woodburn founded Share our Soles to clean up old running shoes and help disadvantaged kids all over the world lace up; likewise, Marathon runner Rob Reid, founder of Runners of Compassion takes the homeless out for a run every Tuesday and Thursday.
One of DeFeet’s largest customer’s, Mountain Equipment Co-op in Canada, has raised thousands of dollars for Cancer research through the sale of it’s ‘Everyday is Beautiful’ sock, in memory of Angie Camp, a young inventory Analyst and climber who died of a Brain Tumor.
In January 2010 DeFeet will dedicate a portion of our website to raising awareness about the good deeds that are being done around the country through some of these charities. DeFeet will donate a portion of proceeds from the sale of these socks to their respective charities.
Getting kind words from around the world is such a rush. We set out to make socks for cycling way back in 1993. We never dreamed people from around the world become fans of our products. I guess we're more than just socks and undies now. We never get tired of hearing from our fans. After all, your the reason we are here. So Cheers to all of you...from all of us at DeWorld!
DeFeet will provide special red-white and blue AirEators for all the 2009 USA Cycling's World Team members. We are proud to support our riders as they fight for the coveted World Champion Rainbow jersey. Our US riders deserve socks made in the Good Ol USA!
USA-USA-USA! Go Team Go!
Best of luck Team, we are rooting for you.
Elite Men Tom Danielson (Durango, Colo./Garmin-Slipstream)– Road Race and Time Trial Tyler Farrar (Wenatchee, Wash./Garmin-Slipstream) – Road Race Brent Bookwalter (Lookout Mountain, Ga./BMC Racing Team) – Road Race Jeff Louder (Salt Lake City, Utah/BMC) – Road Race Craig Lewis (Greenville, S.C./Columbia-High Road)– Road Race Andrew Bajadali (Boulder, Colo./Kelly Benefit Strategies)– Road Race Jason McCartney (Coralville, Iowa/Team Saxo Bank)– Road Race Tim Duggan (Boulder, Colo./Garmin-Slipstream)– Road Race Tom Peterson (North Bend, Wash./Garmnin-Slipstream)– Road Race Tom Zirbel (Boulder, Colo./Bissell) – Time Trial
Elite Women Kristin Armstrong (Boise, Idaho/Cervelo-Lifeforce) – Time Trial and Road Race Amber Neben (Irvine, Calif./ Equipe Nürnberger) – Time Trial and Road Race Kimberly Anderson (Santa Barbara, Calif./Columbia-High Road) – Road Race Mara Abbott (Boulder, Colo./Columbia HTC) – Road Race Meredith Miller (Fort Collins, Colo./Team TIBCO) – Road Race Evelyn Stevens (New York, N.Y.) – Road Race Jessica Phillips (Aspen, Colo./Team Lip Smackers) – Time Trial
U23 Men Peter Stetina (Boulder, Colo./Garmin-Felt-Holowesko) – Road Race and Time Trial Tejay Van Garderen (Superior, Colo./Rabobank Continental Team) – Road Race and Time Trial Kirk Carlsen (Boulder, Colo./Garmin-Felt-Holowesko) – Road Race Chris Barton (Ojai, Calif./BMC) – Road Race Alex Howes (Boulder, Colo./Garmin-Felt-Holowesko) – Road Race
Went on a whim to the Tour of Missouri. Got in day before the start to meet the riders and teams. Had a great interview with Cavendish. He is such a great guy. He is a rocket in the last 500k...then a wonderful, thankful teammate. He takes his courage to the line and wins for the team, thanking everyone that made his win possible.
His new Podium Custom shoes and Custom Socks
BerniEator!
This was my first meeting with Bernhard Eisel the diesel. Man, this guy is intense. Great guy with lots of character. When you meet these guys in person you see what makes them such great riders. The may look like skinny fit cyclist but inside they are gladiators ready for battle.
George in his new USA kit with Cyclismo socks
These are the last few races for George with Team Columbia. I brought him some red, white, and blue Cyclismo's to match his new USA champ kit. We plan to make him some special custom socks for next year. Watching Cav and George race was really cool. Cavendish told a touching story about George being his hero and how he would miss his mentor. By the way Hincapie jeans were looking good out there in cycling fashion, good work Hincapie crew.
The Arch de USA
After meeting riders and teams all day, Bob Stapleton asked me to come to the team Columbia dinner. Had a nice dinner and watched the team interact with jovial good times. Said good night to the team. Then I headed off to the Lobby Chair Bar. Met my mates at at ground zero. Low and behold, this bar had GreyGoose on frozen TAP! For Gods Sake...I have never seen this in all my travels. We Americans got in a heated debate with some Euros about real American beer. They were sucking on Buds (now Belgian owned) we were going head to head with Pabst and when they ran out of Blue Ribbon...we said Schlitz please!
George Hincapie just may be the most loved cyclist ever. I met George when he was just a young man. He and his brother Rich were racing the Carolina Cup. They both were early adapters to DeFeet products. I have a great photo with the three of us posing next to our first company car. A silver Ford Taurus...selling socks from the trunk...sock bootlegger I was!
We have seen George win the hearts of people all over the world. Why? because he is George, a true gentleman with grace and power. I hear so many stories about how George is such a great guy and how he is overwhelmingly nice to those he meet and companies he represents.
One day I was waiting in line at the Charlotte Airport heading to Lav Vegas Interbike. All of a sudden I heard someone shout "COOP". I looked around to see George standing there behind me with a big grin on his face. "Hey Coop, I have something for you." he said. He started digging in his bag, then he pulled out a filthy World Champion jersey. George said "Johan pulled this off his back after the Tour of Holland and told me to give it to Shane when I see him...so here ya go!"
By now the entire gangway was watching this debonair gentleman gifting a sweaty, nasty, filthy, World Champion jersey to some very happy recipient. At that time I had never held a real WC jersey...and the kicker was...Johan won the Worlds that year in DeFeet socks! George knew this would rock DeFeets world to have this at our booth...and to George, yes it was a World Champ jersey and yes Johan was WC which I am sure he respected. But in truth it was just a sweaty jersey that filled his bag with stench, so he did this for DeFeet.
We displayed that jersey with pride at the Interbike show. Some people came up to smell it...truthfully. We finally had to wash it, the soot from our 2001 fire was over coming the smell of the Tour of Holland.
On a recent trip to the Hincapie clothing world head quarters, I was shocked to see the very GOLDEN SOCK award that we gave George some time late 90s for being such a great ambassador for DeFeet. It was hung just a proudly as Tour de France medals and jersey signed by Lance. I have to say I teared up on that one. The Hincapie men have a world class company that only reflects the men themselves.
So, you see George is a true hero to all of us at DeFeet. George is a wonderful gentleman, and that is why when he wins we feel like we win, and when he gets beat or chased...we feel that too.
Long live the King.
View the video and you will see a flash of the Hincapie men and I with the said silver Ford...and infamous stinky, filthy World Champ jersey.
Well what can I say? This is the most wonderful woman in DeWorld. Say hello to Hope. "Hi Hope!" She is posing at the White House Christmas 2008 with a wonderful homemade gingerbread house. And if you look real close you can see Hilary is fixing Hopes hair. DeFeet may not show our feminine side enough, so today I thought I would get us all up to SPEEDE...lady style.
Our Columbia HTC Women's team have been racking up the victories left and right. We are so happy to be a part of this world class team. We support many of the top US women's teams too. Team Tibco, Webcor, and LipSmackers just to name a few.
Ina-Yoko Tuetenburg has been a DeFeet fan for many, many years. Working with such great athletes gives DeFeet a edge on our competition. We get feed back from the worlds best athletes in the worlds toughest conditions.
DeFeet and Michelle Jones go back to late 1990s. Michelle has used our products to tromp many competitors into the pavement.
We also know that women are a BIG part of our industry and make a majority of the buying decisions. I was doing a webinar yesterday with the OAI and the theme was women and why they rock. I remember Hope telling me about the first women to run the Boston marathon was Kathrine Switzer in 1974...WOW! That was not that long ago.
DeFeet is also proudly powered by a group of strong women. Hope Cooper is our CFO, Jill Patton our VP of MFG, Caroline Brandon Production Control and International Coordinator, Ann Corbett VP of Sales, Jen Gonzalez Custom Orders Diva, and Kate McClure Customer Care are providing the feminine business touch. Our Women's Specific line takes the ladies lower foot volume into account in the manufacturing process. We have done lots of testing and research to find solutions to specific minute differences with the female foot. We study color forecast, material blends and fibers, fashion trends, athlete feedback and inject that information into our product lines.
Linda Elgart wins National Championships Points Race
Nothing like the sweet smell of success! While driving home Linda props up her legs up in recovery mode, she is wearing her secret weapon "DeFeet'sDeCompressor". I can hear it now "Home James", in this case "Home John". Wow, what a feet...er...feat.
Track Nationals, Colorado Springs. Race report and travelogue. The story starts a week before nationals, if you want to follow along. Since the track is at almost 6000 feet, John and I decided to take a rather leisurely road trip at altitude, to try to acclimate. We drove to Winnemucca, Nv, and did a great road ride on dirt, spent the night, then went to Salt Lake to spend two nights with my brother and family, and continued with great meals, nice rides, and being at 5000’. The next night we spent in Laramie, Wyoming, a quaint college town at over 7000 feet! Finally, on to Colorado Springs. Right. We are here to race track.
Neither of us was particularly ready. We’d done one day of track racing at districts plus one Tuesday night. No individual pursuits at all. Plus John has had back issues all year. But, one only lives once, so here we were.
Race Reports:
2K pursuit. 6th place, but a PR. I went out way too slowly on the start, (no one does the first lap 7 seconds slower than the subsequent laps!) but then settled into a nice even pace in the 27 mph/27-ish second range, for the rest of the race. I can’t really complain, as I set a PR of 2:52, though with the faster track it about corresponds to my time last year at Hellyer of 2:54. Competition was tough. The winning time in women 50-54 was 2:44. I know all too well that this would go much better if I trained for it. At least I remembered how to pace myself at even laps.
John was also 6th, but wasn’t feeling well at all, and his time was way off of last year. The winning time in the men 60-64 was 2:36, which was 2 seconds faster than John’s winning time of 2008. But not all days are good ones. As it happens, he was really coming down with something, and turned out to be sick and finished with the racing.
Points Race: 1st. This year it was an actual race with 10 people, though half of them were in the older age groups; 4 in the 55’s and one in the 60’s. I had to be careful of the Hammer team at their local track. They failed to gang up on me last year, when I took all the sprints in a very small and not too fast race, so I expected them take some revenge. Shannon Youngquist, who was almost equal to me in pursuit last year, was several seconds faster now. There was another from the team in my age group, plus Marsha Macro (60’s) with no competition, who was free to work with her teammates. There were others teams, too. Patricia Marzi from Salamander Racing beat me in my pursuit round by 2 seconds, and Melanie Peterson (Major Motion) turned out to be my toughest competitor once the race got going.
Before the race I had John tell me the sprint laps: 24, 18, 12, 6, 0. My mantra. 24, 18, 12, 6, 24, 18, 12, 6…I think some people don’t keep this in mind. It’s important.
The sprints went like this:
I led out the first and Melanie Peterson came around. Place: 2nd. I went long and really dug too deep. On the second I was 4th. We were all stacked up at the line. I was tired. Shannon won. I took the third sprint by coming around. Meanwhile, people were attacking. Marsha went off the front, but her teammate chased her down with me on her wheel! On the 4th sprint I let Jane Rinard take it, as she was in the 55’s, and I took 2nd. I could hear the announcer, John Beckman, and I knew that coming into the final I was in the lead, but only by 3 points ahead of Melanie. I had good shelter and was able to pass her, and everyone else, at the line to take it with 17 points.
The race was quite aggressive, and maybe I did too much work bringing back breaks. I could definitely feel the altitude, and also that I was being marked. It was getting harder and harder to recover. But the track is so smooth and fun, and the weather was perfect; cool, and completely still.
So, wow, another one! I wasn’t really expecting it.
I have really loved using the Trail 19 sock for ultra's this summer. I used them in several long training runs and then tested them during the 1st annual Pocatello 50. The conditions were brutal for socks- lots of water, mud, snow and some dust. The Trail 19 kept my feet happy throughout the entire race, coupled with the La Sportiva Crosslite it makes the perfect setup for long mountain runs. I have since worn the socks in several other races including the Wasatch Speedgoat 50k and El Vaquero Loco 50k- they have performed wonderfully every time.
We guarantee a call back within 24hrs. We are turning orders in less than 4 weeks. We have the best product on the market. We are the only company in the world to use CoolMax EcoMade to make your socks. Our socks will last and last and that equals VALUE! Check out our new Custom Design tool create your very own custom masterpiece. Pick up the phone and call 800-688-3067. Operators are standing by.
DeFeet Tour de France Armskins and an STP ride Encounter
Contributed by Ann Corbett, DeFeet National Sales Manager:
To Jump in and blog between the lines of Wolf and the Socklogist is daunting. These are two very funny writers with great imaginations, but hey, there is lots to write about with these great DeFeet products, so I'll take the risk!
After ten years with DeFeet and now in a new role that takes me from coast to coast, there are lots of stories to tell.
This July The Cascade Bicycle club hosted the 30th Annual STP ride, a classic event that involved 10,000 riders cycling 200 miles from Seattle to Portland, most of us completing it in two days and a few die hards blasting it out in a day. An astounding corps of volunteers blocked roads, fixed bikes, served PB sandwiches, etc. etc. etc. while riders of all ages, abilities and some with special challenges rode this beautiful Pacific Northwest route.
The 2009 Group Health Seattle to Portland ride, was sponsored by two of DeFeet’s very valued accounts, Performance Bikes and REI. REI hosted the first rest stop in their HQ parking lot with live music, food and lots of great energy. My riding buddy showed up at the start line wearing a favorite Art’s Cyclery jersey, yet another great DeFeet account. Good karma all around for this journey.
And then an hour into the ride on a sunny Seattle morning with stunning views of Mount Rainier, a sleek looking gentleman rider approached asking where I got my “Hot” looking white Armskins and where could he get some. “Ha! I know exactly where to get them and would be thrilled to tell you all about them.” I was preaching to the converted as he was wearing a DeFeet UnD-Lite base layer and knew all about us.
Turns out he was not only a stellar cyclist, a fellow Canadian, but also a specialist in neuromuscular massage. So......only one hour into this ride my neck hurt already, what a fortunate encounter! Periodically throughout the day we rode together, he setting a fast paceline that shaved some time off the day. He agreed to straighten my neck out in exchange for a pair of armskins. We made a deal!
Eternally grateful for the DeFeet TdF Armskins but I think I got the better deal. My new friend dropped back several times during a soggy 100 miles on Day 2 to make sure the neck etc. were all holding up fine and we all crossed the finish line together into what eventually turned to deluge in Portland, Oregon.
STP is a spectacular event! Congratulations to the Cascade Bicycle Club whose motto is “Building better communities through cycling”. They certainly connect many communities, people and cyclists from all over North America.
For anyone traveling through Vancouver, Canada who needs a massage, I highly recommend a visit to Chris at Bayswater Neuromuscular clinic - make sure you wear a pair of DeFeet Armskins!
Today I am very proud to live in Catawba County NC. I just received an email from my little sisters Julie and Caroline telling me about our local landfill being on CNN. A few years ago, I read about our local landfills co-generation facility and how it would converting waist to energy. This landfill (see video here) is on one of our favorite cycling routes "one doub-blo haight" as the locals call it. Which translates to 1008.
This route takes our group to the beautiful quite country roads of Catawba County and offers nice paved roads with light traffic. So, now as we ride past the landfill we can all breath easier and feel that we are doing our part to help clean our environment. The County claims over $600,000.00 in revenue from this fantastic idea. Think GREEN can have doub-blo meanings"Ride a Bike".
Bob Stapleton has done it again. He has assembled a fantastic team of nine men that know what it takes to win races. This team shows that there is no i in TEAM.
Cav says "ello" as he sprints past the finish line to his second TdF win in 2 days. DeFeet is so proud to work with Team Columbia HTC. In today's stage, the team worked so well and really put the screws on the rest of the field. Then Cavindish worked his magic and turned the field into mashed potato's. What a great team! 2 DeFeet wins back to back. Go Team Go!
It was only last year when North Carolina was hit buy the bicycle advocates worst nightmare. Our local Congressman Patrick McHenry was slamming bicycle riding "the Democrats solution to pollution is... are you ready...I cant make this up...ride a bike!". He ranted and raved about bikes and how they were from the 1900s and that Democrats were trying to save to worlds oil problems with "ride a bike".
Wow I was shocked and embarrassed that he would say such an ignorant statement. I was so shocked, that I reached out to my friends in the outdoor and bike industry to see what we could do to stop his bicycle slander.
As the election neared I sided with his opponent Daniel Johnston (D). I started getting calls from the bicycle industry leaders...what can we do to get McHenry out and Johnson in. To no avail we lost and McHenry was set to rant irresponsibly and spread his bike hate for 2 more years.
Our family does a charity ride each year called Brett's ride. It was early October and I was riding with my 10 year old. He was stoked to ride in such a big mass of bike riders. Then we came up on this guy...yes it was Patrick McHenry on a bike!
McHenry is a big supporter of the BRETT'S ride and there he was...riding a bike! So I started a conversation and told him how his speech had effected our industry. I told him I was working with his competitor and that I was hoping for a change. He was very nice and said he would meet with me after the elections to talk about bikes. Later in the ride my wife and 7 year old road past him. Hope did not recognise him and told him his seat was too low...and he stopped to change it and said thanks.
After the election dust settled his office called me. They wanted to set a meeting. So today we had a lunch meeting. Not without a tour of DeFeet first. I gave him all the Bikes Belong info and made sure to tell him how important "Safe Routes to School" is to our community. I told him about the Bike Summit and I asked him to join the Bicycle Coalition.
He talked about greenways and how it would help the local NC folks. Over all he was very open minded about bikes. He also works out with some running and Crossfit. My thought is, we could not beat him...so lets get him to think like us about bikes...lets change his mind. I will keep you posted, I asked him to get involved with Safe Routes to School. On thing he did say, he now understands that cyclist are very vocal and informed. I am sure he now knows cyclist vote on both sides of the ticket.
Wow! what a great team Bob Stapleton is running. A TEAM full of winners. DeFeet is proud to be a part of this great group of people.
To say we test our products on the worlds best athletes is not an overstatement. We have been doing this since 1992. These wonderful folks tell us what works and we bring that knowledge to you. We listen and implement their feedback into our products. No marketing consultants required!
Ina is winning all over the world. She has been a DeFeet fan for many years. She has always given great feedback on our products which is then passed to our consumers in product form.
Women need a specific sock...we asked the fastest women in the world what they wanted...now have the womens specific fit system.
Cav is testing a shorter team sock, which is 1 cm shorter than our 5 inch team sock. We will make it happen Cav...you keep winning.
Is'nt he....pretty in pink! Here we go, Team Columbia wearing pink at the GIRO! GO GO GO...Powered by DeFeet LeviLites. We are tickled pink that Columbia is in high gear. Ok, enough with the pink slips...err....DeFeet is very proud to be a part of such a top notch orgainzation. Thank you Thomas Lovkvist and all the Highroad team for fighting for another day in the maglia rosa. You take care of the racing and leave your pinkies to DeFeet!
Have a blast to ride to work, that's what I say. I have been riding to work for 3 plus years. Riding to work can be such a great part of your day. In the first year I road to work just on Fridays . In 2007, I made a new goal of 100 days of riding to work...I blew right past that goal. In 2008 I road every day that I could. I only drove my car 20 days (give or take). Now in 2009 I ride to work as a habit and drive only when it is the only option.
Things to think about : As with Roadies or MTBers, Commuters have objects of desire too. Cool hip things, are just as cool and hip, when you enter this new world. Lightweight objects can be chucked out the window, and safety comes at the top of the list. Beefy wheels, safe tires, new riding clothing, LED or HID lights are all things that can get just as exciting as the newest light weight gizmo that cyclists drool over. Take a look at the handmade bike show to see some real eye candy. http://picasaweb.google.com/nahbshow/20090227Utility#
I have found a dedicated bike for commuting is the way to go. If you have a 5 mile flat lander commute, maybe the single speed or chopper is your pick. But a hilly 12 mile trip I find the comfort of a triple with panniers is my best option. Things like messenger bags vs backpack vs panniers are good areas of study. How will they fit your riding style will be up to you. A nice rack is always something to consider with lots of choices. I found the best to be Tubus for value and durablillity. They may look to be expensive, but you get what you pay for. I lost my Mac Pro in a rack disaster one day as my cheap rack became a dragging break device.
Safety is at the top of the list and much more important as the sun goes down. Night riding can be done safely, but needs some special prep. Seeing and being seen are the objectives so headlights and taillights are mandatory. Size and type will depending on your local street conditions. I found battery life to be very important (are you charged up?) . Make sure to have a back up light plan. Pick routes that keep you off main roads. I ride through quite neighborhoods and backroads. I also pack a bottle of bear spray...just incase I encounter a situation that leaves me to feel small and vuneralble. Make May your bike to work month and Happy trails
Pros: Car Tires last longer Use less Gas Oil Changes last longer Have better overall Health Mental State Maintain your ideal Weight Maintain a level of Fitness
This is a quick video about our dear Mother that we all share. The Triple Kranks wish you a Happy Earthday. Be good to your mother, you only have one! Peace.
Few would disagree that the Tour of Flanders and Paris - Roubaix are the most 'prized' of the Spring Classic races. DeFeet is proud that yet again our products were used to win these events 'back-to-back'. DeFeet has been ridden to more major victories in professional cycling in Europe than any other American manufactured product.
DeFeet has stood by this cobblestone trophy many times. We should count them, sometime.
It's interesting that people talk most about their socks when they can see that their toes are sticking out of them. Now, for the first time (at least that we've seen), someone has nailed it in a review. Hats off to Liz Schleeper.
If you really want to help Mother Verde use the old saying... "if you save your pennies...you dont have to worry about the dollars...they just add up!"
While commuting to the office, I see pennies dumped out like cigarettes at a stop lights! WOW, some times I cant believe what I see. Older pennies pre 1984 have become worth 3 cents due to the copper content. Now that gives, quite a return...too bad the Uncle Sam wont let us melt them down. Kinda crazy, our government gives a value to a piece of copper...then when the materials value exceeds the coined value they expect us to except the lower value. SHE"S A BEAUTY
Onward. One day I saw a water hose in a trash can. It was not just any old water hose, but a bright YELLOW water hose. So yes, I stopped, and said to a kind elderly lady "that trash?" She nodded yes. I coiled it round my shoulders, all 30 foot of it, and continued pedaling to work. Still have it, very nice hose too. NO DOG SHI@
Just 2 days later...rich neighborhood...2 bikes, one yellow scooter, and a yellow "no dog shi**ing' sign..."that trash?" yup...had to get my car for this pick up. My kids are enjoying the bikes. I plan on taking a trip to TRIPS FOR KIDS to donate a few of them. One mans trash.... Lights Out Pepsi and Coke
"Bring out ya dead" "whats in your desk draw"
We at DeFeet look for ways to save. We watch each cone of yarn very carefully. We have turned the lights off in our vending machines. While this may hurt the advertising of said sugar fix, it sure saves us some coin. All those magazines to be recycled...I had 400 lbs of industry rags last year. The Altoid tins line my desk draw holding used paper clips-rubber bands-coins and what ever else I can't toss out. We try to find anyway possible to save. My guitar straps are made from old vredestein tubes. they have old titanium campy cogs as decorations. I think they are quite smashing if I must say so my self. Saved me like 50 bucks each...saved the land fill 2 rubber tubes.
And finally a band plug...go to http://www.myspace.com/thetriplekranks "Mother Verde" is a song that has lots to say...if you listen close you may go back in time...to a place in your head...maybe your of age to remember the Electric Company TV show...give a Hoot...don't Pollute.
Wolf Den fans, I apologize for falling behind for a while. Posted at right are the last four articles, from December 08 to March 09. Leaders, Embarrassment & Growth, Halftime and Communications Breakdown.
Not long ago we got a call from a wonderful lady by the name of Connie Fails. She was working on a special fund raiser for the Clinton Library. Connie said her son (Noah Singer) was a bike racer and that she loved our DeFeet brand name and products...she asked if she could use our name for the event (DEFEET POVERTY) . Connie also wanted to order custom DEFEET POVERTY socks with for the event...now she had our attention.
The event was a fashion show and silent auction. Held in the Clinton Library in Little Rock Arkansas.
Local kids got to use their creativity to design blank canvas TOMS shoes and turn them into flashy and fun...fashion accessories.
All the models were having a blast with this project. They ranged in age from pre-teen to real professional models.
Tom Boonen signs DeFeet Poverty QuickStep jersey.
The silent auction raised money for the Clinton Global Foundation. DeFeet donated a QUICKSTEP jersey signed by Tom Boonen and we also donated a 40 color serigraph of Greg LeMond.
TOMS shoes concept is way cool and when you buy a pair TOMS shoes donate a pair for life to a child in a 3rd world country. This event was first class... so were all the people...and so was Little Rock Ak. We came home with a new reason to smile...Connie you folks rock!!!
KORTOMOMOLU at the DeFeet Poverty event As a special highlight of the evening the runner up on Project Runway - KortoMomolu was there showing her new line and her support for DeFeetPoverty. The event was sponsored by Heifer International Foundation www.heifer.org and The Clinton Foundation www.clintonfoundation.org
DeFeet has been the scourge of the peleton at the Tour of California, taking first and second in back to back stages. Riders love the DeFeet Custom Shop and have been commissioning us to do personalized products for them.
Friday night was hot in Nor Cal. Note the DeFeet REGULATOR sweater I have on? Made of TUFF & LIGHT...keeps you cool, stronger than kevlar, and if must say...slimming. So whats so cool about the sweater? If you ride your bike to a pub, it will keep you cool on the way...cars can see the refective strips, and if you have too many drinks and fall down or get in a knife fight...you should fair better safty wise. It was auctioned right off my back! It went to a good cause...and who ever has it now...well lets say, I hope it comes clean! Glad no one wanted the yeller pants...would have been hard to take off. www.myspace.com/thetriplekranks for the latest on the band. Thanks to my good friend Chris Wright...we did a short 38 mile ride over the hills of NorCal...I got to see the fog on the seven sisters (bitches as I would call them)...man there are some HILLS in Mill Valley. Thx Chris!
Paul Willerton: "It's tea time, Shane. Pull up a lounger. Today was inauguration day for Mr. Obama. Did you listen or watch? I was ordering a breakfast burrito during the speech, but I heard him say that we will "use the power of the sun and wind" to help bring us into a new age of oil independancy. Along those lines, DeFeet has made huge strides in the last year to do our part to 'decrease our footprint'. The most obvious of course is our use of EcoMade™ fiber, which is made from used recycled plastic bottles."
Shane Cooper: "Yes Paul, I am so stocked to see the great US of A with such a great batch of HOPE. Our new President brings so many new and fresh ideas to our country. What impressed me most was his eagerness to get to work and his poise. I think were on the road to recovery. As for our recycled yarn...man this stuff is GOOD...all the same properties of CoolMax...but made from the recycled plastic bottles...100,000,000 plastic bottles in the trash...take one down recycle it around...99,000,000 plastic bottles in the trash...you get my point?"
PW: "DeFeet was instrumental in getting CoolMax® to move forward with the creation of this recycled yarn. DeFeet has always pushed hard to limit it's waste and use resources sparingly. Forcing our yarn vendors to use recycleable yarn cones was one move that we made years before it became 'fashionable'. Regarding the use of "used" (key word) recycled plastic bottles, the industry has widely endorsed products made from this source. Like many shades of 'green' today, there are companies out there that are abusing the word 'recycled' to try to sell products. For example, using plastic bottles in yarns or fabrics that were never 'used' to begin with. What are your thoughts on that?"
SC: "Here are some facts...over 100 million plastic bottles a day are put in the trash everyday in America. That is almost 40 Billion per year. each one takes 1000 years to biodegrade! Now if the numbers I have are correct. It takes thirty two .5 liter plastic bottle to make a pound of yarn. There is half a lb of coolmax yarn per dozen socks...so 32 bottles = 42 pair of socks....wow kinda crazy!"
PW: "Thank you for the facts, Shane. Let's round up some bottles and make more socks out of them!"
So...I get home last Thursday night...and IT finally came...THE proof to all my friends that this red neck and his woman did indeed go to Washington as an invited guest of the White House. As I opened envelope to make sure that Hope and I had our eyes open, I flipped the tube on to catch our now former Presidents farewell address. Much to my surprise I saw the NEWS FLASH of a horrible plane crash...and the most miraculous news that everyone survived! Wow what a great headline...the kinda thing we need right now!
Mrs. Laura, the President, Hope and I hanging out in the BIG house...
US Air pilot Pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger saved many lives with a brave maneuver over the Hudson River. This sure is the kinda news that send shivers down your spin...in a good way...GREAT JOB! SULLY!!!!!!
It was a bike-work Saturday afternoon when my concentration was broken. Stella, my 7 year old daughter, burst into the room with "hey dad, you have a card from the White House!" This was nothing new, as we have been getting Christmas cards from Crawford TX for the past 3 years. I opened the card and saw it was not a Christmas card but an invitation to the White House Holiday Reception, and it was from the big guy himself! As I read it out loud Stella said, "Boy, Dad I can't wait to go to the White House...I have always wanted to go". I said, "Stella, this is a party for grown ups"...and she said she would act very grown up if she could go. It took a few hours to promise Stella I would act like a grown-up.
I have to say I was excited, as my Maw and Paw brought us to the great land in the late 60s...and now I would be a guest of the President. To walk the halls and see the place from the inside whilst sucking on a shrimp and sipping a nice toddy...wow. A place where all the world changing decisions are made, the good and the bad, the ugly, by the Republicans and Democrats for the last 200 years... this nation where hard work, drive and determination can lead to Freedom and Liberty for all.
Memorial Bike Ride Hope and I rode our bikes around the National Mall to see all the memorials. Washington-WWII-Lincoln-Vietnam-Korea-Jefferson...these historical sites sure can choke a guy up. I found myself with such a thankful, peaceful feeling. All the brave men and women that gave the ultimate price for our freedoms. Sometimes I wonder if being an immigrant makes one just as patriotic as being born in a country. And I must say, I have wondered for many years now what would happen when we are just a shell of a country. From our clothes to our grains... from our toys to our call centers...we must stop the exportation of our livelihoods.
Hope and Hillary. This was the first shot we snapped in the White House...Hillary in all her glory. Wow 2 strong women! There were several gingerbread houses...some even made of pure white chocolate. I wonder what happens to them...not to say that women make baked goods. Strong, smart women are equally qualified to lead our business and Country. Just wanted to point that out...as I would hate to show a photo of these two strong smart women and talk about gingerbread houses...so kudos ladies you are champs.
Coop and good ol Ronny! I tried my best to look like I belong in this place...I loved this painting of Reagan...and I also love to watch Nancy give him instructions....kinda makes me feel Presidential when Hope tells me what to do. I think i had lots of training as a young man for just such a trip...you see I receive many invitations to the Principals offices. And I did learn to smile when I walked in.
HEY YALL LOOK AT ME.This was the entrance to the Blue room...so cool...walking in the foot steps of Freedom! Keep in mind that these walls have seen every war since the Revolutionary War. It has been burned down-ripped apart but "we the people" keep bringing it back. Laura Bush worked very hard working on restoring our White House. Some may think that's trivial...but after seeing this place...I give a huge shout out...we need this kind of love for our White House. We need to preserve it and honor it and we need to share it with our new leaders as long as we are the Great UNITED STATES of AMERICA.
Young Minds. Stella, told Hope and I that Abe Lincoln knew sign language. We asked her how she knew, and she told us if we look close at Lincoln's hands that you will see his signal an A made with his right hand and a L with his left...yes that is coming from a second grader. I have to say, I am looking forward to take Morgan 10 and Stella 7 to Washington DC very soon. I want to share the walk around the National Mall. I hope they can sense the freedom and the wonder that I felt.
Its not about the man. You know going to the White House I felt a strong sense of freedom. And I feel that the White House is there for all of us. Its not about the man occupying it...sure what he does and what Senate and our Congressmen do make our world go round. But, my point is, they are all there for the greater good. We are so fortunate to have the freedom to speak our mind, and if you take a visit to Washington DC and look around you will see that freedom is born of the people and by the people. But it is not "Free"...Freedom is very costly. So as we stand on that very soapbox that so many have before to complain about our leaders...remember that freedom that we fight for is what gives you the opportunity to stand on you box and say what you want...so yell and scream...but make sure you vote and support our great nation in every way you can. So why do I feel so blue? Well that would be the economy and the mess that were in as a Nation if not World. It has taken us 2 years to say the word Recession and now we are close to a Depression. Exporting our jobs has raped this great nation of its riches and our hard fought Freedoms. We now have to turn this trend back to prosperity, and that my friends is going to take lots of time. But we can do this if we all work hard like our forefathers. Think Globally and act locally.
Thanks to Matt and Jim from Thunder Ridge High School...miles and miles of sand... Hi Coach,
In case you were wondering, the TRXC socks held up very nicely in the Sahara Race. While they didn't keep sand out (the full gaiters were supposed to have done that), they withstood the wear and tear of long hours in hot sand ... and, after a nice wash, they're good as new!
('TRXC' socks are Aireator's made for Thunder Ridge High School by the DeFeet Custom Shop)
"Proper MAINTAINTANANCE of the perineal area is essential during high level training and racing. Nothing can ruin stage race success faster than an infected saddle sore." -Dave Zabriskie
Dave Zabriskie is a long-time friend of DeFeet. He is the only American to win stages of Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espagna. His latest venture, 'DZNUTS', is a product that can help any cyclist. Try a tube and experience a new level of comfort on the bike. dz-nuts.com
Everyone knows Europe is different from the US. Nowhere is it more evident than in how we use the bicycle. Times are changing, and the US is paying attention. Will you be part of the movement?
DeFeet founder Shane Cooper wanted to create a song that harked back to the joys of riding a bike as a kid. With the help of his band, The Triple Kranks, he pulled it off. It's a catchy tune - don't be suprised if you walk around singing "It's soo easy!" - which is reason enough to like this song these days! Drummer Greg Simmons provides some comic relief in his (hiked up) DeFeet UnD Briefs.
