“Wrap yo’self ’round my leg and let’s see what there is to discuss.”

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Hello dear people (more than two persons can be considered ‘people’ so I’m safe addressing my audience as such.)
As I sit before you with a bowl of sauerkraut and mashed potatoes in my lap (marrying a German girl has its drawbacks), I am on the ass end of a trip to visit extended family in Los Angeles… Manhattan Beach, to be specific, and if there was a dumping ground of the beautiful people, I would expect Manhattan Beach to be it. I was told on a previous trip that under no uncertain terms should I expect there to be a dive bar within the city limits.
The last time I was down there, Spencer from Ritte Van Vlanderingham proved this to be an untruth, and unfortunately as much as I anticipated another meeting with he who has nice teeth, it wasn’t in the cards for us, as I was on full time baby duty with my newly acquired niece and nephew, who if you squint, look kinda like this;
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For my part, and in keeping in tune with the old-timy flavor of today’s post thus far, I did find a little something that Virgin Air had to offer in the ways of what Spencer and I would be putting on hold;
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Though I wouldn’t be darkening the doors of any dive bars, I did double down on babytime, which was quite alright with me. In my absence, I got a few emails from folks that I think will be of mutual benefit to throw up now.
From one of my most favorite people on the planet, next to myself, I get this expression of brotherly love from The Snakehawk himself;
“keep your slippery palms out of my brain. happy seasons of the abyss to you and your lovers. i still read your words with fervent fervor and it gives me my favorite type of fevers.
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may the fork be with you.
love,
gayhokk.”

The Snakehawk gives me hope that maybe somewhere in this universe there is a place for a shitless me as well.
Max from The Stomparillaz got ahold of me with a transmission regarding a different kind of huge;
“bigggr = bettterer;
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ps yer all invited to STomp yer ass up that hill off in the distance and frolick about in the basin’s above telluride on fattty’s for a couple days. sometime around
8.14.2011 which should put me at 3 months of being a dad and decidedly in need of some SToMPn
you need slightly less barley pop at 13,000 for the desired effect, and the high alt tundra is a magic carpet for fat tyre exploration. . just gotta get up der
peas out slappy”

Those Colorado boys have been up there in the thin air doing my Surly peeps proud.
In other news from my home state, Jim from Vecchios Bicicletteria sent me an email invitation to any and all who want to get a slice of their holiday cheer this coming week’s end;
“Stevil,
If’n you would, might you mention on your bad and nationwide blogy thing that Vecchio’s Bicicletteria in Boulder, CO (where everyone else in Boulder but us takes cyclocross very seriously) is having it’s sorta-annual Holiday party this coming Friday, December 17th stating around 5pm-ish.
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If you happen to find yourself in da ‘hood, stop by for some Holiday cheer and libation.
Thx, the manage(to function)ment.”

I would love to be in attendance at this, because besides bicycles, there is one thing that Vecchios knows, and that is making party. Sadly, I don’t have plans to be in The Colorado this weekend, so please, if you are within stumbling distance, make an appearance, and in my absence, give them an upper decker.
1833 Pearl Street, Republic of Boulder CO. 80302
Make it happen.
Reggie emailed me with a clip which I’m sure has been making the rounds, and thank Heaven (or wherever) for that;
“You have probably seen this… but just in case you have not:

Happy Holidays Stevil, you brought some much needed cheer this year.
Cheers,
Reggie”

That’s a pretty nice holiday gift. Similarly, another gift that found its way to my door was this beaut from Jamie;
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That’s right… It’s a signed and numbered print of the man himself from Eerie Von’s archives.
My living room wall just got both, a lot shorter and about 85% more pissed off.
From master frame builder, Rick Hunter I got a bit of news that is absolutely the opposite of ‘bad’;
“Thinking of you.”
If I coud, I would give that guy a job just on general principal.
Finally in closing, and speaking of master frame builders, it is with an extraordinarily heavy heart I announce that I have to thin my highly prized stable of custom bicycles.
This isn’t because I love these particular bikes less than the others, or that I somehow have an easier time letting them go. I literally have lost sleep over this decision, and it sickens me that it has come to this.
The fact of the matter is that in order for me to continue doing what I’m doing here on this web log, and pay rent, and pay taxes, and actually fund the continuing Black Market product line, I have to make sacrifices.
So far I’ve sold nearly everything else I have in my possession so that I can keep my head above water, and at the risk of sounding glib, my loss is most definitely someone else’s gain.
No other aspect of what I’ve sold, is this more true than when it comes to my beloved bicycles.
To avoid dragging this out any further than I have to, here are the first two on the block;
My custom pearlescent green powder coated Hunter;
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18.5 center to center, 22.5 top tube center to center (23.5 effective).
Fox 120 RLC, (new) Easton XC 1 wheels, XT front and rear ders, TruVativ cranks, Race face BB, Easton Monkey Bars, (new) Avid Elixir 5 brakes, XT shifters, Thompson stem, King HS, King cages. I will swap out the seat post with what most be a Thompson, and the saddle with a WTB Devo. $1,700 and she’s yours.

My bass boat Gold Retrotec;
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Due to the curved TT, this bike is 15.5 C to C, but the top tube is 22.5, also (23.5 effective) so it fits and rides similarly to a BMX bike. It could either fit someone of my same physical dimensions, or someone with a super short inseam and a freakishly long upper body. Fox 100 RLC, DT Swiss XR 4, XTR group, Race Face Deus bars, Thompson stem, King HS, Thompson post, King cages. I will swap out the saddle with a WTB something or other. Also $1,700 and she’s yours.
I’ve had some amazing adventures on these bikes, and above all else, I want them to find good homes. I trust that this can happen here.
Both of these beauties are secured in the Black Market store, and can be seen in all their glory there. In the meantime, I’m happy to answer any questions you might have regarding my babies, which can be directed to stevil@allhailtheblackmarket.com.
Though neither bike has much of a coiffure to speak of, perhaps if they could talk they might be saying ‘wrap yo’ leg ’round myself’.
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8 Responses to ““Wrap yo’self ’round my leg and let’s see what there is to discuss.””

  1. Colin M December 15, 2010 at 7:21 am #

    I’m always scared when I see friends start to sell their 26 inch wheeled hard tails. I know the dark side is looming…

  2. max December 15, 2010 at 8:52 am #

    come out to Santa Cross on sunday! it’s our last race of the season in the los angeles. i promise to have some warm beer that i may have opened and drank some of, for you.

  3. Jeff December 15, 2010 at 9:27 am #

    Hey dude, there sure as shit is a dive bar in Manhattan Beach…it’s just not in the city proper. I too was frustrated when I first moved to Manhattan Beach. You need to get out to Schooners. It may not be as seedy as say, San Pedro or something, but it’s pretty damn divey. Also–since you’re inclined to ride a bike, you also might try the Poopdeck or the Mermaid in Hermosa Beach.

  4. cary December 15, 2010 at 11:18 am #

    Oh how I love that Retrotec. I just gave my nephew my 26er single speed and have a place for it. Why do you taunt me Stevil!

  5. JoshRVA December 15, 2010 at 2:37 pm #

    Vaaan Daaamme. Makes me wish I were a few inches taller and a few thousand richer. Oh wait I wish that anyway.

  6. Stevil December 15, 2010 at 5:17 pm #

    Jeff, You are absolutely right, and Schooners was where I ended up last time I was down. A home away from home if there ever was one.

  7. innerlighter December 15, 2010 at 5:26 pm #

    Your nephew wears a dress?

  8. East Bay Ed December 18, 2010 at 9:51 am #

    Cheers for the first upper deck reference of the holiday season. Let it not be the last.