bicycles and design and bicycles

I've had some crazy days followed by pretty chill and relaxing nights. Good catching up with good friends in the bicycle world and meeting new people here as well. I've had the opportunity of spending alot of great quality time with someone I have a ton of respect for in the design world, Rob Forbes. He is most known as the founder of Design Within Reach, but overall has great design taste for the world and society. His blog, while not updated regularly enough often has great insight into city life and traveling through his perspective.

He's a smart guy and shares a lot of the philosophies that I have for the bicycle and what it can do to help save us all and not just be a consumer product, but a major part of ones life in terms of form, function, utility and fashion.

I met him a few times in the Laguna Beach area over the last 6 months, but I've had more time to sit and chat with him over drinks and even some Ruths Chris this time around.

I have to admit, though, its been fun poking and prodding info about DWR in general and furniture tid bits here and there, talking about the obsession that traveling for work can give you and how the little things like getting an upgrade or using the lounge at the airport can make or break a trip.....we're all human.

On a side note, I can definitely tell you that hotel room living isn't the best sometimes, but that the Grand Hyatt in Taipei is a dump and while there are good restaurants it is crazy overpriced AND that Hotel One in Taichung is amazing with great rooms, great work zone, surround sound in the rooms with ipod hookups and a nice clean modern feel.