Swing and a miss and a swing and a miss.

Like clockwork, the calendar has once again blessed us with a mid-week Friday, and as we sometimes do, let’s hunker down in the fox hole, otherwise known as today’s post and get to business.
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Photo courtesy Kelly Meets World.


As I am a long time proponent of the tails which are hard, the following clip from Colin is just what the doctor ordered;
“Just drop the saddle on your lightweight hardtail and you’ll downhill just like this guy.

Well maybe it helps that he is ninja.
skills
C”

No doubt. Taking a pencil to a gun fight and annihilating all comers. A man after my own heart if there ever was one.
Hey, not that you care, but recently drjOn conducted an interview with yours truly that appears in the newest issue of The Outcast.
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If you have a wild hair and are curious about anything from my short stay in prison, to when Amerikuh’s ignorance of the bicycle will end, snatch a copy for yourself.
One out of one my moms agree.. It’s a great read.
In news of the Bicycle Film Festival, Eric got ahold of me with some information concerning the upcoming freak out in the country of Los Angeles;
“Stevil,
I’m helping the BFF folks with the festival down here in LA. Friday night’s first screening is The Birth of Big Air, about Matt Hoffman;
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Matt’s gonna be there for the show. My short – ‘Countywide’ – is one of the opening films. I know you’ve got a bunch of readers down here so hopefully you could get the word out for Friday’s 7:30 show.
And for tix.
thx
Eric”

Eric also mentioned that legends such as Scott Breithaupt, Stu Thompson, and Perry Kramer are slated to be present as well. As I told him, my twelve year old self would be shitting his pants to meet those guys, but then again, so would my thirty nine year old self.
While we are on the topic of soiling one’s drawers, it’s only appropriate that I now include a recent correspondence from Andy of Fyxomacallit fame;
“Stevil-
Takes me back to working in gumboots in Vancouver. This cunt ripped the mud pit at 40kph when everyone else struggled to do 20;
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Dan was there in high ‘spirits’.
xx”

It would certainly appear as though cross season is upon us (though from my corner, every season is cross season) and nowhere is this more evident than at this past weekend’s Langtown Classic;
*Editor’s note* I don’t know if the ‘classic’ is an official part of this event’s title, but it should be.
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Photos by Jeff Thrasher.
I have no good reason why I wasn’t in attendance again this year with the exception that the money gods have me in their crushing grip, but I will see to it that I worm out of between their fingers next year.
6’7″ certainly is on my same page when it comes to a cross bike being suitable for year round jackassery, as we partook in a recent round of skinny tired rad gettingness, and as usual, I had my camera at the ready;
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The route we took was the site of the previous ‘J.P.H.N.H. wrote a book ride’. It’s one of my favorite loops due to the fact that in 30 miles we saw all of two cars, and were able to partake in a bleeding sublime stretch of double secret single track. I’ve long entertained the idea of organizing a race along this route, but that would entail actually putting the proverbial bong down long enough to get my act together, neither of which I am very much adept at. Certainly if there are parties who are interested in engaging in such a bicycle related athletic endeavor, send up a flair, and I might see my way to making it happen.
For any interested in local bike team fancy pantedness, The California Giant team is having their coming out soiree on Thursday night.
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Photo taken from their Flickr page.
As I understand it, any who are interested in coming are welcome. I’m going to see if the Giant Strawberry rider who told me that I was ruining the race for everyone will also acknowledge the fact that I will be doing so for the party as well.
At the very least swing by to see if Justin Robinson is actually taller than he was last year.
It came to my attention early Tuesday morning that cycling superstar, skullet wearer and all around cry baby, Laurent Fignon passed from this mortal coil.
God speed Laurent. You were a truly gifted individual;
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Now for no reason in particular, I am going to post a blast from the past. Many moons ago (by the way, exactly how long is a moon?), The Snakehawk sent me this email, along with the following video clip, and after it nestled down into the recesses of my heart, it stayed there as one of my all time favorite correspondences;
“When I saw this today, mind you, on Drunkcyclist, I was not prepared. I was thinking it would be some sort of video about how to be a MAN, or some kind of super ultra MAN sort of advice or inspiration, because that’s exclusively what I find on DC. Well, lo and behold, I was kicked squarely in my estrogen gland, and boy did it secrete. It was like driving over a ketchup packet. I started sobbing and reaching for kleenex in the way that I normally reach for my steak knife, shoe shine, or bullwhip. I was all asob (made that word up), and had to just pack it in for the afternoon. Emotions must be dealt with immediately or they will turn into big spiritual pimples and when you finally pop them, you will make a very big scene, and a painful mess right in the middle of your girlfriend’s birthday dinner.

god dammit,
hawk.”

I’m not a ‘cat person’ or a ‘dog person’ or anything like that. I don’t subscribe to such trite nonsense. I am an animal person. I like possums and birds and snakes, and lizards.. Of course the kind of animal that cuddles I am most partial to, but I tend to not make any sweeping judgements one way or the other.
If there is one thing that I would very much like to do before I die, it would be to go to a big cat refuge and rub my face on some of their gigantic noses.
Arybody got they own kind of to do list.
We’ve covered just about all that I suspect your attention spans can handle. I would like to mention that the new order of kits arrived on Monday afternoon, so for those of you who placed an order, keep your eyes peeled to your mail box. The goods have been shipped should start trickling in directly;
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Fist pumps and air humps.
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Spread this like it's sick

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17 Responses to “Swing and a miss and a swing and a miss.”

  1. Crank September 1, 2010 at 7:07 am #

    And I thought the lion thing was a reminder of the Neely comic, man fruit. Irritatingly touching and emotional.

  2. Monty September 1, 2010 at 8:30 am #

    Thanks for making me cry at work.

  3. T6BG September 1, 2010 at 8:46 am #

    Is that a photo of Dan Cheever playing tennis? Evil!

  4. JP September 1, 2010 at 9:01 am #

    That’s how I ride my hardtail. For exactly two to three seconds before I completely eat shit!

  5. jkzen September 1, 2010 at 9:52 am #

    any extra kits for those too non-committal to have placed their order at the appropriate time? (size M all around)??

  6. Rev Big Ring September 1, 2010 at 9:55 am #

    those folks should be ashamed, they are clearly not taking ‘cross very serious. outlandish….

  7. ben September 1, 2010 at 9:55 am #

    Funny, I don’t REMEMBER being at Whistler in ’09…

  8. jonny September 1, 2010 at 10:45 am #

    Me likey the big kitties!

  9. Karl Hungus September 1, 2010 at 10:54 am #

    With regards to the super secret race idea…do it! We need some Grasshopper type “races” here in SC county. I would love to know your route by the way.
    And just so I’m understanding this correctly…Cal Giant is having an event to announce their team? Did Steve Jobs take over as team manager?

  10. -dan September 1, 2010 at 1:18 pm #

    did two chairlift downhill runs at the last pedro’s fest on my hardtail single speed with rim brakes. it was insane – and after two, i quit. shit that dude is nuts, and adversely, bad ass!

  11. 333 September 1, 2010 at 2:08 pm #

    stevil,
    you missed the best photo:
    http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs421.snc4/46441_1519383259016_1067562564_3262878_7918358_n.jpg
    captain morgan having a rough time …
    that there, was the race of the season.

  12. badbeard September 1, 2010 at 2:51 pm #

    Dear Stevil,
    A moon is a month. (The secret’s in the name…)
    badbeard

  13. 3Bills September 1, 2010 at 4:25 pm #

    Here is a fun fact about lions; their balls are surprisingly small.

  14. Colin M September 1, 2010 at 8:27 pm #

    Good to see the pro field still has some partiers.
    Completely agree on the preserve thing. I’ve had a few friends go and their photos were both inspiring and honest.

  15. reverend dick September 2, 2010 at 9:17 am #

    Well, seeing how the last JPHNH ride went for me, I’m in. Can I have some booze with my rain?

  16. Rob September 2, 2010 at 4:00 pm #

    Thanks for the NoFX Colin.