Gone Baby Gone

May 14th, 2008

It’s already been about a week since Bussmann left the shop. Then Randy put in his notice a few weeks ago. I believe his last day is in a week, but nobody has seen him in the last two and all of his shit is moved out.

With that, the shop has turned a page and it brings light the simple fact that although this is a place of meager financial shelter and easy work, at the drop of a cion for any reason, nobody has any regrets to leave it. It’s not a home, but just a point within the transition to & fro. And it’s all family like until it matters.

Randini is off doing what Randini’s do and that’s the way it should be. I’d imagine he’s on a slack-line in the woods at this point contemplating Angel Fire and Moab.

Bussmann on the other hand picked up one of the coolest jobs on the entire planet. He’s now working for New Belgium Brewing as the manager of their Tour de Fat Carnival Bikes. He gets to weld up creations of all two wheeled kind and then tugg them around the country to the various Festivals and test them on Drunk idiots.

How cool is that?

This ultimately marks the end of a long session working with Randy as he and I began last year digging skeletons out of the ground in Bisbee, AZ where we lived in a small house with Marvelous Maren and her incredible hand-stands. It was a time I’ll never forget.

As far as Pineapple goes, I met him on day one at this shop. Now, he’s got a new hip ad a new approach on life maybe. I give my best to success on the road with the Carni Folks. It was good to work with him. He made the drudgery of shop life funny or at the least, noticeably easier than otherwise.

Now though, it’s back to just wrenching and doing the best to gel with the other shop heads and since most of them are from Michigan, I just feel weird. Big juan and self sometimes need consoling on the whole deal.

And so it goes…

One Year Gone.

May 12th, 2008

1 Year Coming…

May 8th, 2008

Maydom

May 6th, 2008

May 6th here and we saw snow. Then Blair comes into a difficult day, ready to head out for a night ride. Damn.

Next up I hope will be the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde as long as my sponsor pulls through with the entry.

What? It’ll be the first camping trip for the fam. I’ll ride my dumb ass around for half the day on Saturday, then we’ll chill Sunday and check out the ruins and a bit of Cortez. Should be a good time.

Ordered Stans ZTR 355 rims today and I’m going to be lacing those to a set of American Classic Hubs that look like they may not last a season. They’re so milled out it’s ridiculous. But fuck it, Precious rolled me a nice deal at The Joe Murray Swap, so I had to. I also snagged a pair of hand made Evil Kim paniers that are the coolest.

MBAA finals are up here on the 17th. Very impressive. I might have to attend, but as HB says “and really, is 30 miles a ‘marathon’ race?” What to do? I’m sure if I try hard enough, it will hurt. But then again, why am I paying someone money to ride my trails and with a bunch of other people when mostly, solo es muy buenoer. Sounds retarded on paper.

Tie it all up with a Coconino Dirty Century complete with free results. I may bring a couple of double shots for that one, and then leisurely throw the cans aside as I pedal.

Story of the Week

May 5th, 2008

I’d always thought that there’d be a day when it finally happened, and indeed, last Friday it did. As I was ascending Schultz about half way up, two pseudo downhiller types came raging by me in a wide right turn. Lame I thought, and as the turn ended the trail narrowed and the third guy came into view. I had no where to go, and neither did he, so we collided smashing bars & forks. I was sent to the ground while he plowed into a log. As I got up, I turned and looked towards him and said:

“hey pal, do you know how this works? Do you know who has the right of way?”

There was only a slow dumb giggle in response, while he scrambled to get back on his bike and race off. I couldn’t believe it. Not only did I just get wrecked by a downhiller, on Schultz of all places, but he was tacky enough to not even stop nor make eye contact.

What is that? Wreckless endangerment?

I finished my ride. Kilo and I made it up to the dry lakes and she had a blast in the water. It took about that long for me to stop grinding my teeth. I stumbled around shrugging my shoulder while I missed the turn to the second lake of the dry lake hills. I managed to reroute us back down to Schultz somehow and as Kilo and I wandered back through the main trail head parking area, there was one of the guys from that incident, and three bikes. I wondered if this was happening.

The other two, one having collided with me, were on their way back up to Schultz tank to get the truck they shuttled in. Never mind the lameness of anyone shuttling Schultz, I stopped a distance away from the guy and the bikes and contemplated what the correct course of action would be. I had time to rationalize and still, I turned around and confronted him. He was evasive with answers seemingly aware of the situation that had happened, but having no will to be involved. I was able to get out of him who was who and which bike belonged to the one that crashed into me. Although I was momentarily at peace since the kid was not there, I left and returned to my car down at the “Y” of Schultz & Elden Lookout.

At the moment I opened the door to my car, I realized that I had not served myself enough justice in the situation and so hurried up packing the bike and the dog into the car, and drove back up to the trail head where that kid and those bikes were. I got out, walked over to the bike that was involved in the crash, set it flat on the ground and proceeded to bend the rear dérailleur approximately 100 degrees perpendicular to the wheel. I wanted it to break off, but it didn’t as the hanger was part of the one piece steel rear frame. Mongoose quality.

Somewhat satisfied, but not entirely, I started walking back to the car. The guys friend tried to defend him, but I couldn’t hear any of that. I simply said that if his buddy was enough of an idiot to essentially attempt a hit & run on the trail, then he deserved what just happened. The friend reluctantly agreed. Right then, the guy in question, returned with the truck. I expected that, as I had contemplated prior, I was going to get into a punch up. I accepted this and was willing, but as the kid got out of his shuttle truck, he avoided me at all costs and hurried around to his bike. I suggested some basic trail ettiquette ideas to him, and he did nothing. He reluctantly adimitted to the incident but that was it. I was amazed. He was already at his bike and simply wanting to leave the experience, but once he realized the damage to the bike, became completely slumped and saddened.

And then I just left. Now, I maybe feel some guilt towards the bike for having damage it, which was only the messenger. I suppose I’ll have some shit Karma because of this, and I don’t care. He got what I think was a deserving result of careless action. I have since learned to stay off Schultz which is fine. Let the douchebags of the world have that trail. I just hope it’s not Ang or anyone else that gets involved in a collision next time. There will be hell to pay someday. Regardless, in a positive light, maybe that kid will show up at the shop this week to get his dérailleur replaced.

Monday.

May 5th, 2008

From China With Love

May 3rd, 2008

Hopefully I’ll get some pics of this Adventure that my long time friend Clint is having in China:

Hiya all,
After a TON of airplane time, we arrived at last in Chengdu. It is even more different than we could ever imagine. The whole language thing is even more of a barrier than I thought it would be. Maddy is enjoying ordering things by pointing at stuff. Coffee can not be obtained until 9 am. This is a massive problem. We start riding on the 5th south for Dali. Luckily for us, jetlag isn’t a huge problem. We wake up in the morning feeling just like home, except for the cardboard-feeling mattress we have in the room. It’s plenty hot and humid here. Fortunately, the smog keeps the majority of the sun from baking us. We miss our dogs, but they are in good hands for now. China is more of an awesome experience than I could have ever imagined!!! We love you all and wish you the best.
clint
Sounds like the start of a good time.

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