Ciao Ciao, Arrivederci!, Arrivederci!
We take the concept of the paid internship pretty serious at TSH and it is with a bit of sadness that we say goodbye for a bit to Alexa who most capably puts this blog’s dreams and store’s ideas into words. Before she heads off to a well deserved Guggenheim Summer Internship we asked her to pen a little post about her time at Hero Headquarters. We will miss our wordsmith, friend and model! -Luke Batten
Exit Post (for an Intern)
By Alexa Daugherty
The life of a Tenspeed Hero intern begins and ends in a whirlwind. This experience can’t really be summed up in any one word or phrase – due, in part, to the fact that TSH is so grounded in the power of imagination – so here are several words, phrases (and paragraphs) about my time at TSH.
First, the way I got involved with TSH makes no sense (or maybe does make sense when you think about the world through the eyes of a hero) and makes me feel very optimistic about the universe. I was working at a coffee shop, wearing a Tour de France 2010 shirt when TSH Hero Luke Hero came up and took a photo of me for #instagram. A year after this, at Hero Headquarters’ apartment garage sale, Luke asked me, “what are you good at?” and I said, “writing and uh…I can do manual labor.” That was more than a slight lie. Despite this, the very next day I found myself at TSH – hearing about Ellsworth Kelly, drinking coffee, talking about Manhattan, and feeling excited about my dive into this world of fans and heroes.
This spontaneous, trusting entry into Hero-ness showed me that life-changing relationships can start out of something super simple – like a Tour de France shirt, an instagram post, or just the right arrangement of socks hanging amidst flowers. TSH emphasizes the details in everything – like the way hands move when tying up laces on vintage cycling shoes or how shallow focus can make trees look even more magical than they already are – and appreciates this minutia immensely. In living out this study of detail, TSH heroes take pride in the quality of zippers, argue about CMYK colors, and go out of their way to turn casual “ahoys!” into enlightening conversations. From these conversations, I’ve gleaned a few things…
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– iPhone memory can fill up quickly on a ten-day road trip
– In France, there are many Roman ruins. Intrusions of the past into the present, it is fun to imagine (or maybe see) young children riding their bikes along these ancient aqueducts and temples. They also serve as good examples of Deleuzian time-images, a concept that one film class never really explained for me
– Women’s Cycling is full of tough, though affectionate, women who deserve premium quality, fit-for-them, athletic gear
– Some people have never eaten Greek Yogurt and they are crazy
– Orthogonal lines are king and queen and prince and princess
– If you’re in Wyoming and see a neon-clad family cooking ramen say hello, talk about the Grand Tetons, and end up eating The Best Breakfast Ever.
– Serious athletes are super fun to talk to…especially about upcoming races and the fit of a Small vs. Medium Jersey, but also about Cheezits and Chicago’s best donuts..
– When your boss gets a LinkedIn account you might think its time to start being serious. It is not.
– Flash in dark rooms (not darkrooms) is great. Still, outdoor photography is best.
– Explore on Google maps then explore in real life to find new paths to places you don’t know
– Rapha and DMT shoes are very different on an aesthetic and technical level and look great together, lending life to the cliché that opposites attract.
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Everyday, a TSH intern learns new things – even if that means seeing Without You by Spooky Black for the first time. I will miss the day-to-day craze of this place that finds a way to advocate for cycling and female empowerment through design and socks. I will also miss meeting racers, talking with them about cycling as a fan and hero, and weaving their narratives into relatable posts. TSH is and always will be a place for society, athleticism, and art to intersect – I’m glad I got to help out.
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Alexa at TSH!
