Identity theft...

Yep, I can now count myself as one more victim. Some rat bastard got hold of my credit card number and had him/herself a party. They bought themselves memberships from several different "by-the-month" services, the type that ship regularly each month and bill you accordingly, including one of the more popular acne solutions, little pimpled bastards. Fortunately my wife caught it before things got too out of hand but I'd love to catch the fuck(s) that did this.

MTB cool...

...personified. Not only was he the most dominant multi-event racer of all time, he was one cool ass mofo, his choice of Coors Light not withstanding.

Internet nonsense

As many are, I've been a member at mtbr.com for quite some time. My usual haunts are the Singlespeed, 29er and VRC forums and it's the latter that's driven this post. There's an ongoing bitchfest on the Vintage-Retro-Classic forum that's boiled into an all-out, childish, name calling, finger pointing war between two distinct factions. I'll spare you the rehashing here as this bullshit is easy enough to find and read for yourself. The whole mess begs a few simple questions, why is anyone getting upset about what's said on the Internet and, why can't the same individuals filter through what they're not interested in reading and move past it?

Here's a pic for you to enjoy while I ponder the world's problems. What would Joe say about this nonsense?

A tale of two love affairs...

Steve Potts...artist, craftsman, visionary, fly fisherman, and all around nice guy built this for me 17 years ago and it remains my most treasured cycling possession to this day. With memories of the WTB-equipped Potts and Cunninghams drooled over during a visit to the long since gone Pt.Reyes Bikes still fresh in my head, I gave Steve a call and talked bikes for the better part of an hour. At the time I was riding a Wicked Fat Chance, tricked out with every hot rod part available, including the then new and rare, Rock Shox. I had quite a few bucks sunk into that bike and was newly married, so prospects of me getting on a Potts were grim...or so I thought. Talking over dinner with my bride that evening, I mentioned my conversation with Steve and she immediately asked "Aren't those the pretty bikes with the cool brakes we saw in California?" When I answered in the affirmative she then uttered the words I'll never forget..."Why don't you get one?" After regaining my composure, I asked her if she was kidding and she assured me she was in fact, quite serious!

The next few hours were a blur, phone calls to my LBS, another great, but long since gone shop, Breaking Away Cycles on Long Island. Over the succeeding weeks there were several conversations with Steve regarding the build spec and after about 6 weeks, this beauty was delivered. I've owned many bikes before and since but this one remains, and always will. It's a beautiful bike and it rides like a dream but to me it will always represent the selflessness and support displayed by my wife, then and now.

I titled this post "A tale of two love affairs", one for the bike and the other for the woman I share my life with.

Happy Valentine's Day Susie.

Saturday AM ride.

Took the MotoMonsterX for it's maiden dirt voyage today, just a little singletrack that runs along Neshaminy Creek(about a minute's ride from my house) My lack of fitness aside, it was a fun ride although I need to relearn off-roading on skinny tires. Low temps, scattered snow and icy patches with a few hurdles and run-ups thrown in for good measure, damn I felt like Roger De Vlaeminck!!! I even had my Brooklyn cycling cap on under my helmet! Going to try to get out again tomorrow, maybe on the Inbred which has been renamed "The Jerry Springer Bike" by Fatbob29er.

MotoMonsterX

My take on the whole monster cross thing, definately not as monster as some, more so than others. Ah, what do I know?

Fat front Inbred...

Man, that sounds like someting you'd hear on Jerry Springer..."Get outta mah trayler, ya dang fat front Inbred!!!" Nothing quite as lurid here, just got around to taking a few pics of my Inbred with Pugs fork/LM/Endo combination. My good bud Fatbob29er has politely nudged me a few times to do this and I really feel bad about the delay.

Got a few finishing touches to put to the MotoMonsterCross and I'll post some pics of that as well, just waiting for the arrival of Brown Santa.

Hell, where are my manners? A belated Happy New Year to all.