Non dorky cycling gifts from enlightened people

[eclectic]

Well DBF pulled through :)

One of his great gifts to me this year was a gift certificate to our LBS. What great timing, I just took my bike in for a tune up and to get an cateye astrale 8 cadence monitor put on.

What super duper cycling gifts did everyone else get this year?

BTW we haven't opened gifts yet - I peeked :p

[Sheesh]

We just opened presents and Mr. Sheesh bought me some thermal tights (I've been borrowing his and they don't fit very well!). They are a bit thinner than I had hoped, so we're going to exchange them after the holiday.

Mr. Sheesh bought a new cross bike in the fall as his birthday/Christmas gift, but I couldn't NOT give him something. So, I bought him this (http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?itemId=11383) and I also ordered a 5x7 print of a professional photograph taken at one of his cross races.

It's funny, I know that some of my friends and coworkers would think that my gift from DH was lame, but I think it's perfect!

[Trek420]

I got a Girl Friend :)

I'd been asking for one each year for a long time, then I finaly found her right here in the Triathlon section of TE. :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy Hakama*, Knott

*never sure which spelling is right

[Bikingmomof3]

Trek,
You have it all. :D

[Aggie_Ama]

My father in law gave me and DH a $100 gift card to the LBS to split! Normally he is clueless and buys DH fishing stuff and me something I won't use. This year the only clueless part is thinking we will share. :p

[KSH]

Well, both years (2005 and 2006) I have gotten cool stuff for my bike.

2005- My boyfriend and Dad (I pooled their money together) bought me some really sweet carbon handlebars.

2006- For my new Cervelo:
My Mom bought the saddle.
My Dad bought the pedals.
My boyfriend bought handlebar tape, a seat post, a bike fitting, bike assembly, and a tool kit and holder (under the saddle).

I was very lucky and really happy that my new bike came in during December!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I got a Girl Friend :)

I'd been asking for one each year for a long time, then I finaly found her right here in the Triathlon section of TE. :)

That's so sweet! :) :p

[doc]

I got a Girl Friend :)


Merry Christmas and a Happy Hakama*, Knott

*never sure which spelling is right

1. Congrats on the excellent "gift" for christmas

2. Do you mean
Chanuka
Channukah
Hanukah
Hannukkah
??
Any of these, plus others that come out sounding the same are correct. You can't be wrong with a transliteration unless you get the sounds out of order (like hakama?)

[Maureen Valley]

After 45 years of marriage, we've not given each other gifts for years....this just happens after time, guys. So, can you imagine my surprize when I found a card this morning on the morning paper....in it was a very generous gift certificate from my LBS.

What a guy.

Merry Christmas, everyone....Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanza!!

Best from Florida,
Maureen

[Xrayted]

I got a Girl Friend :)

I'd been asking for one each year for a long time, then I finaly found her right here in the Triathlon section of TE. :)


Awwww, and aren't you two just the cutest.... :D


So far I got a Thule 4 bike hitch rack to go on my (new to me) Jeep Wrangler. I wrote down specifically what I wanted and where to get it and my S.O. came through with it 2 weeks ago. Just in time for me to assemble it, load my bike on it and go visit BMo3 in Ohio. He still doesn't get why I wanted the rack, (not a biker at all) but he didn't even blink an eye on it for once. After years of receiving things and sitting there with the deer in the headlights look on my face thinking "whaaaaa?", we're finally making a little progress... :)
There are, however, 2 more small gifts sitting there. I may need my best poker face for the rest of the day. :p At least they can't possibly be a fibre optic UFO. Packages are too small. Phew. (yes ladies he did, a few years ago. :eek:)

Happy and safe holidays!!!

~X.

[Bluetree]

A few weeks ago, I was talking with my parents about my obsession with triathlon, and explained to them the difference between road bikes and TT/tri bikes. My stepdad eventually handed me a blank piece of paper and told me to write down exactly what I was looking for in a tri bike... size, frame, components, everything. He said it would be my Christmas present, sky's the limit.

I handed the paper back to him, blank, explaining that if I wanted a tri bike like that, I'd have to earn myself... through sweat, training, racing, exhaustion, whatever it took. My road bike will do for now. I'm so grateful that my folks are supportive, but triathlon is just something I have to do (and buy) for myself, even if I can't afford the best bike out there.

So... under the tree yesterday morning I find a little box with my name on it, and inside are five crisp new $100 bills and a note saying: "You won't let us buy you a bike, so here's your new Kangaroo wet suit. Love, mom and dad."

My folks rock, even if they confused "Kangaroo" with "Quintana Roo".:D

[Bluetree]

I got a Girl Friend :)

I'd been asking for one each year for a long time, then I finaly found her right here in the Triathlon section of TE. :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy Hakama*, Knott

*never sure which spelling is right

Awesome, Trek! :D :D :D :D

[bcipam]

OK BEST GIFT EVER! My best buddy broke down all 3 of my bikes, cleaned all the components, put on new chains and shined the bikes up making them look better than brand new.

They all looked so pretty it made me cry!!!! I love my buddy!

[Kitsune06]

I got a Girl Friend :)

I'd been asking for one each year for a long time, then I finaly found her right here in the Triathlon section of TE. :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy Hakama*, Knott

*never sure which spelling is right

Isn't that all anyone ever needs to bring a smile to their face? :D "All you need is Love..." I'm so happy everything worked out for you ladies... So happy. :D So that's a little present for me, too.

This year, I've gotten to see two absolutely wonderful women from our lovely little Drift, and my best friends have been helping me more than I could ask (trust me. More than I could ask) as far as finding my way and starting a new life goes. Between their company and help and hope for the future -even if things are rough at the moment- this is the best Christmas I've had in a very long time.

As for xdgf and I, there are some presents under the tree... I'm not sure if we'll be together to open them... I don't think I mind either way. I hope she likes what I got her... not much, but it's the thought, I hope. The majority of my gift list (according to her) was my ticket to see Cirque de Solil with her. It was beautiful.

Mom and Dad heard my lament for need of a camera to capture all the new things in my life (my previous had died last year...) and came through. I hope to get lots of pics of my TE ladies on the next trip/outing/inning/get-together/reunion. :D

... and love. I feel totally loved this year by family and friends and adopted family and friends who I consider family. :D :D
Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone!

[mimitabby]

After 45 years of marriage, we've not given each other gifts for years....this just happens after time, guys. So, can you imagine my surprize when I found a card this morning on the morning paper....in it was a very generous gift certificate from my LBS.

What a guy.

Merry Christmas, everyone....Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanza!!

Best from Florida,
Maureen

Maureen, you don't look old enough to BE 45 let alone being married for 45 years.
Were you a child bride?

Trek, I think you win the prize (well, so far) for best gift...from TE.

Blue, I think you won the prize for the best enlightened gift from family.

and we haven't opened presents so far, but DH is ready to buy me a bike.

[Xrayted]

...this is the best Christmas I've had in a very long time.

... and love. I feel totally loved this year by family and friends and adopted family and friends who I consider family. :D :D
Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone!

Well, now that's the best Christmas present I've received in a long time. And what I most wished for. :cool: :D

Love ya sis!

[KSH]

A few weeks ago, I was talking with my parents about my obsession with triathlon, and explained to them the difference between road bikes and TT/tri bikes. My stepdad eventually handed me a blank piece of paper and told me to write down exactly what I was looking for in a tri bike... size, frame, components, everything. He said it would be my Christmas present, sky's the limit.

I handed the paper back to him, blank, explaining that if I wanted a tri bike like that, I'd have to earn myself... through sweat, training, racing, exhaustion, whatever it took. My road bike will do for now. I'm so grateful that my folks are supportive, but triathlon is just something I have to do (and buy) for myself, even if I can't afford the best bike out there.

So... under the tree yesterday morning I find a little box with my name on it, and inside are five crisp new $100 bills and a note saying: "You won't let us buy you a bike, so here's your new Kangaroo wet suit. Love, mom and dad."

My folks rock, even if they confused "Kangaroo" with "Quintana Roo".:D

WOW! You are so much stronger than I am. I would taken that tri bike in a heart beat... then again, I'm kind of broke and will have to go into debt to buy a new bike over $500!

That is so awesome they gave you money for a new wetsuit though! Really cool! HA! On the Kangaroo comment.

But you know what, it's not the money... it's the fact that they LISTENED to you when you talked and remembered what you are interested in. :)

[KSH]

I got a Girl Friend :)

I'd been asking for one each year for a long time, then I finaly found her right here in the Triathlon section of TE. :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy Hakama*, Knott

*never sure which spelling is right

That is so sweet and cool!

So... it's "Knotted"... right? And yes, I'm nosy as all get out. :p

[KSH]

OK BEST GIFT EVER! My best buddy broke down all 3 of my bikes, cleaned all the components, pu on new chains and shined the bikes up making them look better than brand new.

They all looked so pretty it made me cry!!!! I love my buddy!

That is a seriously awesome gift.

I wish I had someone in my life who could do that for me!

[Maureen Valley]

Mimitabby...aren't you the sweetest thing. If 19 is a child bride...well...that would be me. My husband, aka Saint Jerry, was a mere 23.....we have one son who is 41 and who lives in San Mateo and hang glides. No grandchildren, never will be. This is a tad off topic...so I apologize to the group.

Best to all:
Maureen

[Duck on Wheels]

I got a Girl Friend :)

I'd been asking for one each year for a long time, then I finaly found her right here in the Triathlon section of TE. :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy Hakama*, Knott

*never sure which spelling is right

You gals got the bestest gift ever :D , or at least Knot did. I don't know Knot well enough to know whether Trek did better at giving or receiving, but I guess I can trust her taste. 'Specially after seeing a couple of pictures this morning ;)

As for "Happy Hakama" ... nope, not one of Trek's efforts at creative spelling (that would be the finally with one l), but a chip off our Dad's punning shoulder. I think Trek was pretty happy in her Hakama this Channuka, right Trek?

[Trek420]

Do you mean
Chanuka
Channukah
Hanukah
Hannukkah??

oh heck, Happy Chaka Khan TE :) :D :D

As DoW explains happy hakama is a pun and not my normal poor speelling :cool: :rolleyes:

A hakama is traditional Japanese garment that in my case is worn over a gi when I do Aikido. Here's my teacher wearing one. Oooh, sorry, that's a little big. Oh well, it's my favorite pic of her.

Bcipam. we have a winner!!! You win the prize, you sure you're just friends??? :p :p Maybe he's trying to tell you something.

[tprevost]

A few weeks ago, I was talking with my parents about my obsession with triathlon, and explained to them the difference between road bikes and TT/tri bikes. My stepdad eventually handed me a blank piece of paper and told me to write down exactly what I was looking for in a tri bike... size, frame, components, everything. He said it would be my Christmas present, sky's the limit.

I handed the paper back to him, blank, explaining that if I wanted a tri bike like that, I'd have to earn myself... through sweat, training, racing, exhaustion, whatever it took. My road bike will do for now. I'm so grateful that my folks are supportive, but triathlon is just something I have to do (and buy) for myself, even if I can't afford the best bike out there.

So... under the tree yesterday morning I find a little box with my name on it, and inside are five crisp new $100 bills and a note saying: "You won't let us buy you a bike, so here's your new Kangaroo wet suit. Love, mom and dad."

My folks rock, even if they confused "Kangaroo" with "Quintana Roo".:D

... what a great post! You brought tears to my eyes :o ... enjoy your new "kangaroo" wet suit and be sure to post lots of pictures of your events! The last one was very adorable :p

trac'

[Tuckervill]

Direct quote from my DH this morning:

"It's the coolest thing to walk into Sears and get all my wife's gifts, and never have to leave the tool department."

He spent all yesterday morning in the shop "assembling" something for me. Turns out it was a work bench with pegboard, to go with the bike stand, complete bike tool set, and the Craftsman screwdrivers and wrenches to go with it! :D

He gets it. :)

[margo49]

Wow!, Tuck-tuck-tuckie
That is so nice.
Also shows he is thinking about *you* and not "the wife" and buying a sterotypical/generic present.

[Triskeliongirl]

Well my major gift was a new travel bike: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=12234&page=2

but Santa left me the grease gun and computer I'd been wanting for her.

Santa left DH an 06 atmos helmet (good sale!). The biggest surprise was the cool pod it came in. Santa also left DH a couple nice cycling jerseys and a HRM.

Of course the best gift of all was having my family together. I hadn't seen our daughter since she left for college in new england in august. She almost didn't make it home, air traffic/weather problems in chicago, but we managed to get her rerouted to Dallas and made the 9 hour drive to get her home.

[Bluetree]

Tuck, BCIPam - How wonderful you have such thoughtful people in your lives!

KSH - I don't think it's a matter of being strong, I see it as avoiding becoming something I despise. I grew up as the only poor kid in a VERY affluent area, so I always hated entitlement - people getting things they didn't earn for themselves. Plus, I'd feel foolish riding a $4000 bike in a community sprint tri! :p

Kit - Anytime you want to ride the SoCal beaches, my couch is yours (as long as you don't mind me tromping out of there 4am!)

Merry Everything and Happy Forever, everyone!

[Hammer]

My boyfriend is cool... He got me a Saris Bones bike rack for the trunk of my car. I hope that it works well!! He's good to me. Buys stuff, but researchs it first. I'd hoped that he would get me that. He said I couldn't buy one myself a couple months ago, so I thought I probably would get it. But didn't want to get my hopes up too much. There could've been other items taht he'd have found. :D

I'm hoping for a gift card to a sports store or two yet... Christmas isn't over. There are gifts that I'm still anxious to hand out.

Merry Christmas to all!!!

[Bikingmomof3]

Isn't that all anyone ever needs to bring a smile to their face? :D "All you need is Love..." I'm so happy everything worked out for you ladies... So happy. :D So that's a little present for me, too.

... and love. I feel totally loved this year by family and friends and adopted family and friends who I consider family. :D :D
Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone!


Well, now that's the best Christmas present I've received in a long time. And what I most wished for. :cool: :D

Love ya sis!

This has been a wonderful Christmas for me. Not for things, but for my friends and adopted relatives. :) Trek and Knot are happy, which makes me so very happy. :D I met two wonderful ladies, my adopted sisters, and they are both very happy and have brought so much joy to my life, without even knowing it. :cool: Last night I received a phone call from my third adopted sister, who is safely home in Cold Bay and she is happy. :D

Love, friendship, and happiness...these "things" have made this a wonderful holiday for me. One of my best Christmases ever and one I shall never forget. *HUGS*

May all of you expierence peace, love, joy, and friendship this holiday season.

[HillSlugger]

I received wonderful biking gifts:
PI Vector Jersey (constructed like AmFib tights)
PI bike shorts
SheBeest Blue Leopard jersey
Endura Siren rain jacket

I'm pretty well set for almost anything now!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Mimitabby...aren't you the sweetest thing. If 19 is a child bride...well...that would be me. My husband, aka Saint Jerry, was a mere 23.....we have one son who is 41 and who lives in San Mateo and hang glides. No grandchildren, never will be. This is a tad off topic...so I apologize to the group.

Best to all:
Maureen

I thought maybe you were betrothed as an embryo...

[alforfun]

Warm, Warm biking gloves (because my fingerless ones just can't cut it anymore) and a very nice Sugoi hoody. And, of course, just having all my kids home together for a few days, along with me and my DH. Happy Holidays to all!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Such heartwarming and sweet stories from all of you!

I've had the most wonderful holiday weekend, full of simple comforts. DH and I were all on our own this weekend- all 3 grown children were off being busy elsewhere for this xmas.
So we decided to just do whatever we felt like this year. Didn't bother putting up any tree or lights...coffee in bed at dawn, ate apple pie with ice cream for our main Christmas dinner this afternoon(!), then pork loin leftovers this evening!
A continuous fire in the fireplace. A 3 hour ride yesterday (xmas eve) and a 2 hour ride this morning, on xmas day. :) :) (we were very lucky with having weather in the 40's)
Snuggling on the couch with our cool bike-related reading material we had gotten for each other, and a big ol' box of chocolate covered cherries. A nap "apres pie", phoning the kids... all good things that warm the heart, the mind, and the tummy. :p

And warm wishes to all of you TE "sisters"- your words inspire me every day of the year.

[xeney]

I have not been keeping up so I missed the love connection ... congratulations, you two! Couldn't happen to two nicer people.

We had a very bike-centric holiday. I bought my husband a new Ultegra triple crankset for his road bike, and some other gently used Ultegra components from Velogirl's virtual swap meet. (He is Mr. Thrift so I knew "gently used" would make him even happier than brand new.) He is all excited especially since he will need to buy some new tools.

He bought me a new wheelset for my mixte, a nice beefy set with a flip-flop hub in the rear. Plus new tires, because I am switching from 27" to 700c's. And now I should be able to use the fenders he bought me last year.

In a few hours his folks will be here and we will spring the news on them that they are going to be grandparents, and I suspect they will like that gift better than the stuff that is actually under the tree. My parents sure did.

Have a wonderful new year, everyone.

[Geonz]

So, I thought, "well, I just KNOW TE will be full of, oh, estrogenesque holiday TOUCH-FEELY stuff, and I'm not in the mood, call me Spock," but hey, bike gifts can't be bad, right?
SIgh... I've been sucked in :) :)
Merry, Merry, everybody.
Good stuff happening here, too...

[Duck on Wheels]

Congratulations, Xeney :D :D :D

[lauraelmore1033]

...and maybe getting it. I think I'm gettin' a new bike. We haven't opened our presents yet anyway because we're waiting for the kids to come over for dinner. (poor daughter in law has to WORK today!!). DH was looking through the ads in the paper this morning and held up an ad for a double bike holder and said I would probably be needing one of them if I was going to have two bikes. Knowing him, that means we will be going shopping shortly. Yay!:D

[wannaduacentury]

Well I got a bike related gift that I don't use on the bike. Ok I'll explain :) My mom and her(our) sewing friends got together to organize my present unbeknowest to me :rolleyes: Well I got a blue denim long sleeve shirt w/ Biker Chick embroidered in red on the back w/ a chicken on a bicycle. It is too cute. Along the same line, I got a quilted hanging quilt that has the same chicken on a bicycle in 3 frames and on the last one she goes endo over the handlebars(w/ red buttons as the hubs on the bike). Very colorful and pretty and one of a kind. As real bike gifts, I got another long sleeve jersey and a real bike floor pump w/ guage for shrader and presta valves, made by blackburn. It's a good one. Merry Christmas Everyone. I enjoyed your Christmas stories as well. Jennifer

[Xrayted]

Congrats on the bambino xeney!! I guess a little red tricycle is not far off in your future? :D

[Aggie_Ama]

Score! My mom "gets it". She tries so hard to understand cycling. She takes us to rides, picks us up, lets us have a family dinner late so we can ride first and tries to understand the lingo. I bowled competitively for many years and she was so involved, I guess she just wants to understand my passion for cycling.

This morning I opened a present from her and it was the Precaryious "Jack and Jill went up the hill" jersey. My mom remembered this summer I told her I blew past a guy riding and he got really annoyed and used every last ounce of energy to pass me again. She thought it was the perfect jersey. :D

DH got a bunch of cycling goodies: a multi tool, flat pack w/ CO2 pump and tire levers. She gets it- THANKS MOM!

[jeannierides]

My sweet S/O got me a pink *pretty and strong* Chris King headset to go on the bike that we'll be ordering soon... Also water bottles, rearview visors, salsa flip lock for my seatpost (for easier adjusting)... non-cycling - about 10 lbs(!) of pink M&M's & my favorite parfum! What a guy! :)



Merry Everything and Happy Forever, everyone!

What she said.;)

[KnottedYet]

My bike (Flossie) got these great water bottle cages and a pair of matching water bottles (Soma bottles, my favorites) from her gf. (Menace)
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/KnottedYet/DSCN0404.jpg

I got this hot babe from TE. Whoooeeee!
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/KnottedYet/DSCN0382.jpg

Lucky for all 4 of us, she owns Menace...:D

[mtkitchn]

Haven't been on the TE boards in a while, and I'm sure glad I came to peruse tonight! Great stories from everyone, especially those who found new love for the holidays!!!
Brings a tear to my eye!!!!:)

[Meaux]

I got lots of bike related stuff!! DH got me a Timbuk2 Bag in a Box certificate, so I'm getting a really awesome messenger bag soon. Then, my grandparents (bless their hearts, they're so baffled by the biking, but they're trying they really are) got me a Camelbak. I'm really excited about using that. I drink LOTS of water on my rides, so this is a GOD SEND!! My brother and sister-in-law got me a new saddlebag and some Descente socks. My father-in-law got me a really huge (relatively) saddlebag, so I'll probably exchange my brother's for something at the LBS. It's sort of like a gift certificate. I'll get some tools to go in my new giant bag. And my mom and step-dad got me those Primal Wear tattoo arm warmers. They are SO cool!! And our MS150 sponsor got us all $25 gift certificates to an LBS, so there will be bike joy. I also got some good non-cycling stuff. I was apparently a very good little girl this year!!

[HipGnosis6]

My dad drug out his Raleigh hybrid that he's had for ages and expressed interest in riding it this last summer. His gift from me was a helmet that wasn't straight out of the 80's. He was very suprised, and thrilled with it. It took some searching to find a helmet that I knew would fit his giant dome but it was worth the effort.

My bro took some pictures of him wearing it, I'll have to get him to send them to me!

[KnottedYet]

As for "Happy Hakama" ... nope, not one of Trek's efforts at creative spelling (that would be the finally with one l), but a chip off our Dad's punning shoulder. I think Trek was pretty happy in her Hakama this Channuka, right Trek?

Yup, she's one "L" of a speller... :p

[Bikingmomof3]

Congratulations Xeney!!! :D

[KnottedYet]

Yay, Xeney! Another cyclist on the way!:D

[xeney]

Thank you, everyone! We are very happy, and we've seen the heartbeat twice so we are starting to relax.

[LBTC]

Best gift from DH, and it's bike related on a tangent.....

An Everlast 75 Pound heavy bag so I can do kickboxing workouts at home. My most favourite cross training. YAY!

And we believe we've found real and true friends in our new home town - spent an evening there on Saturday. We're thinking next year we'll make our plans with them and not family so we can actually *enjoy* ourselves. :rolleyes:

Your stories are so heart warming and touching - fabulous milestones in life and so much gratitude. I'm feeling grateful, too, for my DH, and my new friends in my town and on this forum. You ladies have been an inspiration to me, especially these last 6 months. Thank you all for that.

Merry everything and Happy wonderful to each of you.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[mimitabby]

DH gave me a winter helmet kit! it is really cool, it fits in the helmet holes and covers my ears.

and my cute nephew announced that he was no longer a vegan because he hated missing out on his uncle's (my dh) pies. That was a very nice gift for a lot of reasons. For one, we can quit worrying so much about his malnutrition since he can now eat eggs and dairy!

[Bad JuJu]

Wow, new love, new (and renewed) friendships, new bikes, and at least one baby-in-the-making: sounds like we hit a collective home run bike-wise this year! I'm so thrilled for all of us.

I only got one directly bike-related gift: a RoadID clip-on blinkie--it's really cool. But my main gift, a waterproof, shock-resistant digital camera, is indirectly bike-related, since DH knew I wanted a camera like this to carry along in my handlebar bag on rides. I hope to be posting some cool biking pix soon, both here and on my blog.

Happy Holidays to us all! Still to come...New Year's Eve.:D

[maillotpois]

Congrats Xeney and Trek/Knot - and everyone else!! Sounds like the holiday has everyone in great spirits!

I am, too! I got to ride my bike!!!

[Aint Doody]

My M-I-L gave me 2 carbon bottle cages. (How did she know??!!!) My husband gave me the Trilly Kiss tights from TE that I ordered and asked him to wrap. Hey, I'd rather be specific. He also gave me a wonderful jewelry armoire--that was totally unexpected. And wow! I really love it.

[sjf]

It got Pearlazumi tights, a Bikegore jacket from Performance, booties and warm gloves. "Santa" definitely wants me to get into cold weather riding which I've been resisting so far. :)

[bikerchick68]

my best bike gift? My ride buddy, who had a major surgery, got the green light to ride!!! First ride will be next weekend, maybe 12 miles at MAYBE 11mph... and I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!!! I miss having her to ride with... it's just more fun for me to ride with someone else... :D

maillotpois... SOOO happy you got to ride!!! Has it been 6 months? All clear now?

[light_sabe_r]

Congrats Xeney, Trek and Knotted yet!!

Some really cool stuff you guys got this year.

In the bike related presents category... My main present was the Heart rate monitor from BF which I have been using for the past two months.

He also spoilt me with a fuel belt for my next tri! ^_^ amongst other things,

(I got an enormous pasta pot! JUST what I needed since our old one rusted after 3 months of constant use. I love it already!)

my parents (in a collective hamper thing) gave us both these BRITA water bottles. They have a filter in them so no matter where we end up on our ride the water is going to taste great and not contain any nasties. I quickly decorated my bottle with all the stickers I recieved from the christmas Card exchange! ^_^ Really great idea, shame they kind of slip and slide in our bottle cages though... We're gonna try and find some wetsuit coolers to go round them and thicken up the bottle I think.

Best friend just went to thailand and bought us back a bike figure made out of newspaper-mache. It's really cool too.



I spoiled BF with a pair of running shoes, socks, Davitamon lotto water bottles (since he's a DL fan...)

And since my parents just both bought bikes, I bought them each a pair of gloves and a few blinkies. (they already had helmets)

But the best present I got was SLEEP and RELAXATION. ^_^

[RoadRaven]

I've had the most wonderful holiday weekend, full of simple comforts. DH and I were all on our own this weekend- all 3 grown children were off being busy elsewhere for this xmas.
So we decided to just do whatever we felt like this year. Didn't bother putting up any tree or lights...coffee in bed at dawn, ate apple pie with ice cream for our main Christmas dinner this afternoon(!), then pork loin leftovers this evening!
A continuous fire in the fireplace. A 3 hour ride yesterday (xmas eve) and a 2 hour ride this morning, on xmas day. :) :) (we were very lucky with having weather in the 40's)
Snuggling on the couch with our cool bike-related reading material we had gotten for each other, and a big ol' box of chocolate covered cherries. A nap "apres pie", phoning the kids... all good things that warm the heart, the mind, and the tummy. :p

This sounds just delightful... as much as I adore my children (4 teenagers and an 11 year old) I would love to have some of this kind of time with my man. Neither of us are into the christmas hype, and endeavour to downplay it for the kids without them losing what they perceive many others to be having. Small bought gifts or home-made gifts are the order of the day, and a quiet meal with each of the grandparents. We get together with the siblings/inlaws and the childrens cousins a few days after Christmas for a "sports day" where we eat leftovers, play a few games and end up down at the river if its hot. A family time without the pressure of a christmas meal or pressies for a thousand people.

But Lisa... your day is the kind I look forward to. A few phone calls to children/parents maybe, but essentially just me and him, and a bike ride.
A dream.

[pyxichick]

What great stories!

My mom gave me a pair of smartwool cycling socks, and on Dec. 24th, even though she had too much cooking and wrapping to do to come with me, told me to take her Subaru over to the U.P. and go xc skiing (she even paid for my trail pass.)

It's great to have family members who support our passions.

Happy Christmas, Solstice, Hannukah, New Year, etc. everyone!

love,
kate :)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

But Lisa... your day is the kind I look forward to. A few phone calls to children/parents maybe, but essentially just me and him, and a bike ride.
A dream.

RoadRaven- don't worry- the day will come! And it sneaks up on by surprise...one day you realize that your kids are grown and on their own and you and your mate can frolic and do whatever you damn well please! ;) :rolleyes: :rolleyes: (not that I don't adore my kids, mind you)
DH and I have a big wooden bed that the manufacturer called it's "Sumatra" line. This inspired us to think of ourselves as a pair of monkeys sleeping up in our nest of leaves high up in the Sumatran jungle canopy. From our leavy nest we can be bad and throw fruit pits (and other things!) down on the unsuspecting passersby on the jungle trails far below... all while having our morning coffee in bed of course... :p

[colby]

I got a Girl Friend :)

I'd been asking for one each year for a long time, then I finaly found her right here in the Triathlon section of TE. :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy Hakama*, Knott

*never sure which spelling is right

Trek and Knott sitting in a tree... :p ;)