hey. . sorry i didn't keep you updated on uncle Dave's commuting experiment..
that must have been suspenseful ..
but he gave a call on wednesday, while i was at interbike, he said things were going at to plan. .
INterbike was interesting. .
I learned that a lamborgini with decals on display at a bike show has a lot to do with bicycling. . . ?
cheers to really rich people who want to show you how rich they are, . .wahooO!
projectrwanda.org
3 comments:
Ya really think that's what it's all about? Or is he trying to get people excited about Rock Racing so he can sell his line of sport clothing that is coming out? Guy hasn't made all that money without a plan. Kinda like having a bike company, but with more flare or actually having a cycling team that he can make money from not just pouring money into a team for a hobby...nope he is NOT conservative what so ever, but he is straight up! I've had a lot worse experiences with the more conservative manager of a certain team.
suz, i'm sorry, i didn't think anyone read this. I just, well, I go to those big high profile flashy shows and i start to have an existential crisis. i wonder what it's all worth. in bike racing, as a racer or an organization, when does devotion and preparedness turn into selfabsorbtion and egotism? where do you draw the line? and if the first step is that of vainity and egotism, where do you go from there?
and if people are in the sport just to make a buck. . .? what happens when the money isn't to be made? i can't speak for Andy Rihs, but i believe he'd still be there even if his name and finances were dragged through the mud (which they have been) because the nature of the bike and what bicycling can do for a person and for a community is something that he really believes in. . and i know you know what i mean.
plus, you know me. I drive an '81 VW truck that presently has a muffler in 3 seperate parts adding to the nor cal noice pollution, so loud i stopped at Ace Hardware on my way to Wyoming to see my big brother to buy ear plugs so i could hear myself think .. 3 hours out, somewhere in Idaho (you da hoe) my clutch went down to just 3rd and 4th gear, no reverse no nothing else. i made the mistake of parking it nose first at El Taco Loco in Idaho falls when is stopped for a crazy taco and to charge my cell phone battery so i could call my brother and have him start driving towards me if my car broke down and i was out of cell reception and didn't make it to jackson my 11pm.
nevertheless, the truck did fine, i was sure to avoid Teton pass as i didn't have the proper gearing for the 10-12% grade. i later went to two different recommended Jackson mechanics and they both gave me the great news that my truck was essentially "totaled" and would need minimum 2k to fix it at Jxn Hole prices. . so upon a sudden onset of mild depression, i tried to "discover my options" as my therapist father says to me (often) and got on the net to find a website with a list of VW specialists. i found one in Boise, so i gave a ring from my crackberry while sitting at Pearl Street Bagels (GOOD COFFEE!) and the dude was like "i bet you a hundered bucks the pin thing popped off the ball thing and if you reach down and just snap that thing back on, or tie it on with a clothes hanger if its busted, you'll be back in business and on the road in no time!"
i said, "I'll send you and hundred bucks if thats the situation!"
"Nah, man. i don't need your money."
I was a little bit more worried because i had just put 350 dollars worth of new tires on the bad thing. that was b/c upon my arrival to San Fran after US Pro nats, i went up to the 2nd deck of long term parking at SFO and found my front left flat as a pancake. so, figuring it was a slow leak, rather than attempting a swap, i just pulled the bike pump from the back and started going to town.
it didn't help that i had a sprained wrest after crashing ON THE WAY HOME TO THE HOTEL after i dropped out of the road race. but, that's not the point.
i managed a good 30+ psi and hit the road. i made it past the golden gate before i had to pull over and top off the air pressure. . which gave my esteemed director and his girlfriend time to catch me enroute to Santa Rosa. once back on the road, i got a visual of the bmc decaled volvo. . thought it would be funny to drive up and chop my director from the right hand lane. . i did, ha ha .. but as i rode up the further ahead, . . the front left started to deteriate. . at which point my truck's front end began hopping down the highway as my Gavin and Laura pulled up along side me, their eye balls popping out of their head as i bailed to the shoulder of the road.
...
a few exchanged phone calls and about 10 minutes later i particially redeemed myself as i was back on the road again the miniture spare i had luckily chucked in the back the last time i left Colorado.
Gavin said, "that was a quick change!"
"yah, i've had some experience"
"I'll bet you have" he replied.
Now THAT is a good story...
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