Southern California - why I shouldn't sell bikes

I was out for a quick ride this morning and saw a Cervelo crossing the street at an intersection as I waited to turn right. The guy seemed unusually interested in seeing a passing cyclist (maybe because I was also on a Cervelo?) and waved and I waved back. I saw that it was a P3 carbon, which was a bit of a surprise since the guy wasn't really in a TT position. But his buddy was on a road bike, so maybe he was just out for an easy ride with his buddy. I turned right and chased downhill to catch up to them at the bottom of a short hill. (Yup, this guy definitely isn't being very aero for this ride. No way I could catch up coasting downhill against a P3 carbon!) Rolled to an intersection and said hi.

The guy asks how I like my bike. I love it, of course. I told him he has an awfully nice bike, too, and he told me it's a demo from the store and the first day he's on it. (A multi-day test ride?) As we continue along, I asked how he likes it so far, and he tells me it's only been 10 miles, but so far, he loves it. But he doesn't own a TT bike, so it's a bit hard to say.

Oh wait... George, is that you? I asked him what bike he normally rides and he told me that as he had told me at the store (!!!) he normally races his Scott. Yup, that's George Vargas all right, the guy who sold me my R3. Said hi, a bit embarrassed I didn't recognize him, and rode with him and his friend for a minute or so before continuing on my way.

I'm surprised he could recognize me out on the street. He interacts with a lot more riders than I interact with. I guess that's why he's the salesperson and I'm not. Anyway, great guy, and very helpful with my bike purchase. If/when I am in the market for another really nice bike, if Nytro carries the bikes I'm considering, I'll probably seek him out to help me with picking out that bike, too.

Where is that shop? Next time I'm in SD, I might stop in and browse (leaving credit cards in the car!)...




I was out for a quick ride this morning and saw a Cervelo crossing the street at an intersection as I waited to turn right. The guy seemed unusually interested in seeing a passing cyclist (maybe because I was also on a Cervelo?) and waved and I waved back. I saw that it was a P3 carbon, which was a bit of a surprise since the guy wasn't really in a TT position. But his buddy was on a road bike, so maybe he was just out for an easy ride with his buddy. I turned right and chased downhill to catch up to them at the bottom of a short hill. (Yup, this guy definitely isn't being very aero for this ride. No way I could catch up coasting downhill against a P3 carbon!) Rolled to an intersection and said hi.

The guy asks how I like my bike. I love it, of course. I told him he has an awfully nice bike, too, and he told me it's a demo from the store and the first day he's on it. (A multi-day test ride?) As we continue along, I asked how he likes it so far, and he tells me it's only been 10 miles, but so far, he loves it. But he doesn't own a TT bike, so it's a bit hard to say.

Oh wait... George, is that you? I asked him what bike he normally rides and he told me that as he had told me at the store (!!!) he normally races his Scott. Yup, that's George Vargas all right, the guy who sold me my R3. Said hi, a bit embarrassed I didn't recognize him, and rode with him and his friend for a minute or so before continuing on my way.

I'm surprised he could recognize me out on the street. He interacts with a lot more riders than I interact with. I guess that's why he's the salesperson and I'm not. Anyway, great guy, and very helpful with my bike purchase. If/when I am in the market for another really nice bike, if Nytro carries the bikes I'm considering, I'll probably seek him out to help me with picking out that bike, too.

http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/203.gif people DO look differently with a helmet (cycling clothes) than they do in street clothes!

funny story!

Where is that shop?

Encinitas. You guys passed it on the way to Solana Beach. Not a huge store, but jam packed with lots of drool-worthy stuff.

Nytro homepage (http://www.nytro.com/)

caligurl, I think that's the problem. He had seen me with a helmet before. Before today, I mostly recognized him by his hair.

Already drooling. Thanks for the info Jason. I'll keep it in mind for my next trip down there...


Encinitas. You guys passed it on the way to Solana Beach. Not a huge store, but jam packed with lots of drool-worthy stuff.

Nytro homepage (http://www.nytro.com/)

caligurl, I think that's the problem. He had seen me with a helmet before. Before today, I mostly recognized him by his hair.

Yup, place is full of cool stuff. George is a distance/ultra marathon guy. Wonder if that'll be the bike he rides on the 508. Guess we'll see if he's on it out on course.

Ugh The 508. I once read a training article for this race that said you need to learn how to ride while vommiting without hitting your frame.

Ugh The 508. I once read a training article for this race that said you need to learn how to ride while vommiting without hitting your frame.

How about peeing without hitting your water bottle? ;)

Gina was waiting for me a the shack on GMR when TCR rode up and said Hi. She said she didn't recognize him til he for a bit. So if George frequently dyes his hair different colors, might not be you at all!:D

George is also a climbing guy. He told me he climbs a million vertical feet per year. :eek:


Ugh The 508. I once read a training article for this race that said you need to learn how to ride while vommiting without hitting your frame.
Never mind the 508. And never mind a carbon frame. Those are easy to clean off. Always vomit to the left. That way, it won't get in the drivetrain. The one time I had to vomit while riding a bike--I was very much out of shape, but resolved to get back in shape after seeing at Breathless Agony how badly out of shape I was--I fortunately still had the presence of mind to aim to the left. I managed to miss the frame, but more importantly, I didn't risk hitting the drivetrain! I was on the 17% grade section of Mt Soledad, so stopping wasn't really an option. If I stopped, I wasn't sure I could start up again.

Jason, you're an animal!!!

Mental note #1: Pass Jason on his right.

Mental note #2: Get fast enough to be able to pass Jason -- only then start worrying about the vomit's path.

Mental note #3: Yeah, right (#2)



George is also a climbing guy. He told me he climbs a million vertical feet per year. :eek:


Never mind the 508. And never mind a carbon frame. Those are easy to clean off. Always vomit to the left. That way, it won't get in the drivetrain. The one time I had to vomit while riding a bike--I was very much out of shape, but resolved to get back in shape after seeing at Breathless Agony how badly out of shape I was--I fortunately still had the presence of mind to aim to the left. I managed to miss the frame, but more importantly, I didn't risk hitting the drivetrain! I was on the 17% grade section of Mt Soledad, so stopping wasn't really an option. If I stopped, I wasn't sure I could start up again.

ok..... everyone who has ever said i don't push myself... you are ALL right! i've NEVER EVER ridden to the point that i want to barf... much less barfed! i got dizzy the time i was chasing down erik (saunders).... but no where near puking!!!!!!!!!

i'm not worthy........

Yup, place is full of cool stuff. George is a distance/ultra marathon guy. Wonder if that'll be the bike he rides on the 508. Guess we'll see if he's on it out on course.

It is one of the two bikes he will have. While stopping at the store yesterday I got a chance to eyeball that bike. I will see much more of it on the 508 seeing how I am on his support crew. :)

George is a nice guy and a strong rider. He will do well. There will be no barfing.

markw, will you be at the 508?

What other bike will he be using? His regular climbing bike?

ok..... everyone who has ever said i don't push myself... you are ALL right! i've NEVER EVER ridden to the point that i want to barf... much less barfed! i got dizzy the time i was chasing down erik (saunders).... but no where near puking!!!!!!!!!

i'm not worthy........

There is a picture somewhere on the net of me barfing after an itt... I will have to find it :eek:

There is a picture somewhere on the net of me barfing after an itt... I will have to find it :eek:

yuck... please don't post it here..... EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

:lol:

post, post, POST it! :)

It's been hit or miss with Nytro whenever I've been in there. Either I've had decent service with knowledgeable employees or poor to no service with idiots waiting on me.

They certainly have some nice bikes to drool over though.

My wife is going over there this afternoon to pick up a Bento box for my century ride on Saturday.

What other bike will he be using? His regular climbing bike?

He will have a climbing bike, but I am not sure what it is.

It is one of the two bikes he will have. While stopping at the store yesterday I got a chance to eyeball that bike. I will see much more of it on the 508 seeing how I am on his support crew. :)

George is a nice guy and a strong rider. He will do well. There will be no barfing.

markw, will you be at the 508?

Yes, crewing for Michael Wolfe. We're still looking for 1 more crew member since you jumped ship to the uprights. :) Jim Kern is crewing for Tim W. Should be a good race, George mentioned he wanted a 33 hour ride. I think Michael will be in that range too, he was a climbing madman on RAO. Anyway, we have a line on a couple people that may be interested, jschen mentioned a guy over at UCSD that was into ultras, and there's a guy up in LA that Jim and Tim recommended.

George at Nytro is who sold and fitted me with my Soloist Team back in May. Wasn't pleased with the Nytro fit (they put the saddle an inch too high!!) but otherwise good service. He also mentioned to me to come join their Tuesday or Friday morning rides that leave the store at 7am (be advised the Friday ride is a hammerfest - I got dropped when they hit 29 mph by the Oceanside pier!!).