Another day in Print-adise

The last couple weeks have lead me and Teri back to the workshop to prep for 2 big Girl Fiend Designs orders.  The greatest part about it was spending some quality time with our homemade screenprinting press... getting to know her a little better and figuring out what SHE wants to do.

Yep, the press is a She.  And, when we figured out that she helps us make cooler shirts when we're blasting zef beats by Die Antwoord, it was a no-brainer to name her after front woman and our fave badass chic, Yo-landi.

With many hours in the shop, doing full order runs of our Girl Fiend, Hell on Wheels, and our latest and greatest design, we started to see the subtle quirks and shifts that Yo-landi's wooden frame had.  Best of all, we figured out how to crank up the music louder and use them to our advantage.

 The result:  two awesome days of printing and a wicked awesome new design that neither of us has stopped wearing!

The Lioness of Flanders!  Girl Fiend-style.

The official Lion of Flanders is a Belgian flag with red toenails.  The more popular version has black toenails, representing the outcasts or separatists who want to emancipate the Flanders region from Belgium to preserve the Dutch language and Flemish culture in history.

As Girl Fiends, we took our love for cycling, Belgium, and the iconic Lion of Flanders and gave it a purple nurple...   Hot pink toenails stand up for bad ass chicks, the flowing mane sharpened into points to emphasize the dark and dangerous.... and the mischievous horns have replaced the softer ears.  It has quickly become both of our new favorite shirts!

And, once we showed them off to Hollywood, he placed an order on the spot to fill up his shelves with The Lioness of Flanders, Girl Fiend, and Hell on Wheels!  Now available at Hollywood Cycles!

With three more designs yet to complete for summer, we still have a lot of hours yet to put in, but I'm so excited to watch each one come to life.  As a kid, I used to cut stencils out of thin plastic, tape them down on a blank shirt, and slowly paint between the lines.  It's so cool to have now grown into bigger and better methods & designs.

Printing in Print-adise!
Kristy Kreme

Live, Sleep, Eat, Breathe, Bike

With spring FINALLY here, I feel like I've been on the go 25 hours a day!  The best part, though, is having my bikes with me for all of it...

We kicked off the first really nice day of the year by taking our retro Schwinn Hollywood & Silver King to the Bulldog in Uptown to help support Evanator's fight against cancer.  The fundraiser was a great success and it was awesome to see so many wonderful people come out to support such a wonderful young man!

Tuesday night we headed to the TNW crits at the State Fairgrounds.  It was so much fun!  I got to rock my new Podiumwear skinsuit for the first time - SO HOT!  Plus, CB, Pritz, and Alye all showed up for the race and we had an awesome time riding together.  Then, true Girl Fiend style, we had a fabulous time hanging out with some beers after the race while we cheered on the men and joked about this and that.  

It has been WAY TO LONG since I've had a handful of teammates to race with and I'm so happy to have that opportunity again.  We have such an awesome group of women on our team - I feel so blessed!

 During the rest of the week, I had fun getting out for a ride to and from work and dusting off my time trial bike for Saturday's Farm Dog.  It was a cold and extremely windy morning and I hemmed and hawed as I tried to 'warm' up on the trainer.  With a new position to try out thanks to my fit with my super coach, Hollywood, I knew I just had to try to be small and hold on for dear life.  The winds were 25-30 mph w/ 40mph gusts and the temps were maybe in the 40's (sans windchill).

The first 3 miles were straight into the head/cross wind and I kept as tucked as I could.  Luckily, there were some tailwind sections to get the speed up, helping me finish at a blazingly fast speed.  As I approached the final 100m of the race, I was doing 31mph and battling a few crosswind gusts that battled my front wheel.  I was too afraid to let go of my bars to grab onto my bullhorns, so I just leaned into the wind and held on tight.

Much to my surprise, the results were posted and I found out that I won the women's Open race!  I was 24 sec. slower than the same time last year, but that was fine with me, considering the conditions.  What blew me away even more though, was beating two of the fastest gals on TT bikes that I know, Bonnie and Julia... I think I've got to thank my fat bike for that... it truly kept my strength up over the winter.

Ridin' high after the big win, Hwood and I ate, took a quick nap, and then geared up again to hit the trails at Theodore Wirth with the Chucker.  It was nice to get out of the wind in the woods and have fun with the boys.  I'd been riding so much this week, though, that I was out of clean cycling kits so I just re-wore my kit from earlier... I love the new Girl Fiend kits so much, I wear them everywhere!  I think I'm gonna have to buy more (or do the laundry more often... whichever's easier)  :o)

And, in the middle of all that riding and racing, I took a day to print our latest t-shirt from Girl Fiend Designs with my fave Girl Fiend, Teri.  Officially available for purchase now... "The Lioness of Flanders"!

Handmade in Minneapolis, women's tees by Bella.. super soft, long torso, women's cut, with water-based inks that are soft to the touch.  On sale exclusively at Hollywood Cycles!  It's definitely my new favorite!

Now we just have to get our work done and ramp up for another handful of races on the horizon.  Hopefully we'll have sunny skies, dry trails, clear roads, safe rides, and great stories!

Lovin' life,
Kristy Kreme

License to Ride, Not Limit My Life

Over the last couple months, I've read many articles written by pro cyclists and cycling media about the UCI's rule 1.02.019 that forbids UCI license holders from racing events that do not fall under their umbrella.  I will admit that I've paid little attention to it until lately, thinking it didn't apply to me so why add more stress and frustration to my day... but I can't stop thinking about the injustice of it all.

Yes, according to CyclingNews.com, the UCI has post-poned the rule for the 2013 race season, holding off on fines and disciplinary actions, but threats still loom over the 2014 season and full enforcement of the rule.  Per their article: Rule 1.2.019 states, "No licence holder may participate in an event that has not been included on a national, continental or world calendar or that has not been recognised by a national federation, a continental confederation or the UCI."  Related rules 1.2.020 and 1.2.021 provide additional details, including specifying punishment via fine or suspension for all UCI licence holders who violate the rule.

I don't race pro, and I'm not interested in a UCI license any time soon.. but I find this passion deep inside me to stand against it, and join the fight.  Especially having started a new team and trying to coach my teammates on the rule and what limitations we face, my decision to be Pro-Choice about my racing should not have fines looming over it.

By definition a LICENSE is "a: permission to act, b. freedom of action; c. a permission granted by competent authority to engage in a business or occupation or in an activity".  It seems quite peculiar that the antonyms of LICENSE include "prohibition" according to Webster's Dictionary.  Where is the "freedom" in the UCI's rule?  Last I knew, a license PERMITTED you to participate in something, not LIMIT you from something else.  I have a driver's license that allows me to drive a car.. doesn't mean I can't ride a bike or boat or skateboard.  My library card can't fine me for BUYING a book rather than renting it.

I've heard that in many European countries, most if not all cycling events are UCI events, but it's just not the case in the US.  We have grassroots races, fund raising race/rides, and even simple tours about town to encourage more people to ride bikes.  Who is the UCI to tell any license holder that they can't participate in something like the MS150 or Tour de Cure because they support a family member's struggle?  Or that they can't do the local mountain bike race near their cabin on a warm summer day?
Why should someone be fined or worse because they want to participate in their favorite event of the year?  The answer, sadly, resides with an entity so far from reach, I can't just shake the stupid out of them.

Lucky for me, I'm sure I'm low enough on the totem pole to avoid any fines (other than the threatened ones from a kit we've worn for years)...  but it pains me to know that some of the men and women I love to race with and watch racing could be affected.  And the fear it instills in others causes my jaw to ache as I clench and grind my teeth at just the thought.  Sadly, USAC doesn't seem to have any power of their own to stand against it.. and I can only foresee large drops in license renewals next year to accentuate it.  It's still 8 months away, but I can honestly say that renewing my license is gonna take some thought...

I ride to be free.  To feel the wind on my face.  To feel my heart in my chest.  To see the world around me so many take for granted.  I race because I love to push myself harder.  I race because I love to be on the trails and roads with others.  I race and ride because it has brought so many wonderful people and experiences to my life.  I don't care if an event is this or that or licensed by some national institution or not.. I do it because I love to be on my bike. Period.

And I live in a country outlined by "land of the free, home of the brave"... I will not let anyone dictate what I can or cannot do on my bike.  We are different.  We are unique.  Not every rule can apply to all situations.   What possible reason is there to keep such limitations active in such a diverse world?  All it does is drive people away, not encourage more to try their hand at the greatest thing that ever happened to my life.

Even still, in this rant that maybe a handful will read, I'm sad to say it lies on the UCI to abolish such a limitation on cyclists... but I will honestly wait, on baited breath, for them to pull their heads out of their asses and do the right thing.

I vow to ride when I want, where I want, and for whatever reason I want to.  I love my bikes and I love my life.  No license will limit me.

Kristy Kreme