Normally when I get home from work I rush home and immediately get on the bike, but on Mondays I get to take things a little slower. Yesterday I cleaned the house, went to sushi, caught up on some retouching and lazed around until it was time to go to bed. My favorite part is cuddling up in my cozy Happy Socks (PS, I have a discount code for you below!) with a Wafel and Honey Zinger tea. This is where I usually plan out the rest of my week or catch up on my addiction of YouTube videos. As uneventful as rest days can be, it's a much needed day of the week for me personally. I know some people can go nonstop with working out all week, but I love having Mondays off to catch up on other life stuff. Do you guys have rest days? What do you usually do on them?
P.S. My addiction to socks is getting more intense every month and for the first time ever I have a discount code for you! If you want some Happy Socks for you, or to gift as a present this month, I have a 15% off code AND free shipping when you use the code HAPPYMAE at checkout! Valid until 12/31/15.
Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has been following along on my blog this month! I'm super excited to announce that I've teamed up with a few amazing brands to have giveaways the week leading up to Christmas! I've never ever done a giveaway before and I can't wait to share with you guys the stuff that I love!!
Brands that will be apart of the giveaway:
Specialized (2 winners)
Oakley (3 winners)
Pur Cosmetics (1 winner)
Revision Skincare (10 winners)
RipVan Wafels (several winners, but not sure exactly how many yet)
Details will come soon, but stay tuned on how to win starting on Monday!
Workout Wardrobe Organization
Hi everyone! I'm starting to question whether or not my cycling wardrobe is larger than my regular wardrobe. With the majority of my kits in the wash, what better time to show you my attempt at organization while it's tidy! The clothing rack and compartment holder are both from Ikea, and I believe the plastic bin is from Target. This set up has helped A LOT since my closet and dresser are bursting at the doors. How is it that I have so many clothes, yet I seem to wear the same five things time and time again? Anyways, I'm off topic. I hope this helps anyone else who is struggling with workout wardrobe chaos!
xx
Mae
Commuter Clothes
It hasn’t always been about spandex and speed. Racing? Training? Those words didn’t exist for me a few years ago. I used to ride around the city to meet friends, get coffee and mash around for no other reason except to enjoy the view. Because I didn’t know much about cycling specific clothing, I subjected myself to some uncomfortable rides from time to time. You live and learn, right?
This week I slowed it down a bit in hopes of passing on my knowledge of casual clothes to you, so I put the Specialized Utility Crew, Levi's Commuter Jeans and Vans Lo Pro (similar version here) to the test! Here in the South it can be rain or shine in a matter of minutes and that's exactly what happened last week. I’m pleased to say that after putting everything through the elements, I highly recommend all of it.
This top was great for function, style and comfort. I kept cool with Drirelease Merino, the relaxed fit allowed me to put my own spin on the outfit by tying it up, and the zippered side pocket gave me a new place to put my keys. I’m wearing this style in Emerald Green, but you can also snag this tee in Carbon Heather for a more neutral look. The Levi's Commuter jeans have a high rise cut, so I don't show any booty, and the water repellant material really helped when it started to rain. Of course, the rain got to me through my clothes, but all of it dried fairly quick! The shoes aren't meant to have any commuter specific qualities, but I find them very comfortable to ride in. However, if I had known it was going to rain, I would have gone with MTB shoes instead. Although the Vans are great when it's sunny, I found my self slipping around a bit when it started to pour.
How does your work and bike life fit together?
How does your work and bike life fit together?
Do you commute, ride before work, lunch time or after work? Tell us, we’d love to hear how you get your ride in!
I usually ride after work, but love a good sunrise when I can catch it.
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New Kit Day
When fitness meets fashion, I’m one happy lady.
The bib shorts have a hook-up for easy access when nature calls, the middle back pocket has a hole for my headphones, the material features cold fabric technology, the design is absolutely stunning and there is a matching Evade helmet. Check, check and check!
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Chattanooga Adventures
Sometimes you get up on a Saturday morning to take a day trip and meet your best friend in an unfamiliar city for coffee, breakfast and a walk down the Tennessee river. The morning air was crisp and cooler than the summer heat I’m used to in Atlanta, not by much, but enough to enjoy sitting outside for a good southern meal. After we went our separate ways, I pedaled around Chattanooga. I’ve only visited one other time, to watch the US Pro Nationals, so I took a few hours to explore and enjoy a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
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This one is for the ladies!
This one is for the ladies. In a predominately male dominated sport, I raise a toast with my bidon to the badass girls out there who ride bikes.
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Patience While Racing
I’m still learning patience while racing. My adrenaline tells my brain to go, go, go but my legs remind me to wait.
During the road race, one of my awesome teammates did a lot of the work on Saturday and we were able to control the pace for the first part of the race. I managed to get in a break on the last lap, but lost the front two girls once again (I’m really going to work on this because this is twice now). I snagged third during a sprint, but I’m going back and forth as to why I keep getting dropped once I get in a break. Mental or physical? Probably both. Regardless, it’s such a bittersweet feeling to get away from the peloton only to find yourself in no mans land.
Feeling good going into today’s crit (perhaps a little too good), I did not remember patience. Although not a large group, I was hesitant to be in the back incase of a crash, so I stayed up front entirely too much. On the last lap, the girl who won yesterday took off and I responded immediately. I ended up sprinting entirely too early and got swarmed at the last 500 meters. I have SO much to learn, but damn, I love racing my bike.
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