Meeting Heather (sometimes affectionately referred to as “hg” on this blog) was an important moment in my cycling history – she was the first chick that I actually connected with in an exclusively “bike” setting.  In fact, when I went to go meet her for the first time off the bike, I had to sit at the bar for 30 minutes by myself while the bartender and I took guesses as to which pretty girl she might be.  The bar was dark and I had never seen HG without a helmet and spandex.  We eventually figured it out.

Since we met, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with one fantastic cycling-racer lady after another. There is no way to describe how important it is to me to have these relationships.

So, to all my Cycling Homies, thanks for being bad-ass, encouraging, competitive, and hot as hell.

I love you.

Read today’s column, “Seek Out the Heather Gundersen’s of the World“, online* at OregonLive.com or pick up the print version and flip to page T4 (in Travel).

*Note: There is a line out of place in the online edition. I have a note in to get it fixed but it might not happen until Monday. Sigh.