What makes me the happiest about this photo – other than seeing my team looking fierce in our new Colavita kits on our new Stradalli bikes – is realizing that it’s January, I’m in shorts, and there are palm trees.Here’s me with Tom, the owner of our new bike sponsor, Stradalli Cycle. I’d say more here, but the picture is doing a far better job than I ever could.Team Colavita rode out to support some of the Team Stradalli boys at a local crit. While we were there, we met some regional Colavita riders who agreed to jump in some photos with the team (although I hope that it wasn’t too hard of a sell).Cooking dinner with Colavita products at Tom’s house. I can’t think of better sponsors than Colavita and Stradalli – food AND bikes! Is there anything else in life that matters?? Not pictured: me cooking. That’s because I’m better at spectating and snacking in the background.The team rode up the coast and stopped for lunch on the beach. My favorite part of this ride was when we jumped on the bikes immediately after downing fish tacos, coffee, and fries to ride hard back to the hotel. As Mary so delicately put it when we finished riding, “I didn’t know I’d be having those fish tacos twice.”Tom drove us to dinner in his Rolls Royce one night. He left it unlocked and (briefly) unattended and that is how I got a picture in the driver’s seat. Sadly, no actual driving was involved in this moment.Team Colavita and Team Stradalli together after a short morning ride and long morning coffee stop. We were facing into the glaring morning sun which explains the squinting, but all I can think when I see my face is, “McKayla is not impressed.”Stradalli makes great, affordable carbon road bikes and I’d probably hand over a minor organ in exchange for this sweet gold and black frame.After a long day on the bike, I was starving by the time the waiter brought my hummus appetizer. It tasted fantastic, so I Â offhandedly commented that it was so good I wanted to stick my face in it. When Tom offered to buy my lunch if I followed through, it didn’t take a moment of hesitation. Frankly, I’d have done it for free. The only regret was that the spicy seasoning burned my skin, but it’s a small price to pay for a face full of delicious.The owner of this underwear tried to push me into the pool when I came to show the group my new purple hat.We went out for Italian food one night and had Colavita wine and olive oil. The waiters brought out platter after platter of delicious food that we inhaled, assuming that was the dinner. Then we were handed menus so we could order entrees. This was the same night somebody asked me what kind of rider I was, followed by saying, “Not a climber, huh?” THANKS.Team Colavita at the Stradalli warehouse with some of the Stradalli guys. It was such a man-cave until we showed up with our piles of stuff and our loud giggles and inappropriate jokes. These guys will probably never recover.Mary and I duck-facing in our new Rudy Project casual sunglasses.This is Princess, Tom’s pet and new Team Colavita mascot. Also pictured: a small dog.Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Stradalli has used scantily-clad women in their promotional materials in the past. It’s not my favorite use of the female body, but sex sells and that success had led to my team having a great sponsor for this year. I’m all for supporting any company that supports women’s cycling. From what I’ve experienced so far, Tom and the whole Stradalli group have been great and I love the feel of my new bike. And as you can see from this picture, we’re redefining what it means to be Stradalli sexy one pleather leotard at a time.
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Palm trees, great-looking kits, classy bikes and smiling faces….What a great camp week!
Palm trees, great-looking kits, classy bikes and smiling faces….What a great camp week!