Brick by brick.

Writing these weekly posts is not unlike building a brick wall. Each piece is set down, adhered into place with the save button, and then I move onto the next, with the glaring difference being that this post won't prevent your neighbor from watching you try to learn to twerk in your backyard. 

But it does offer a sense of security in different ways. It reaffirms the notion that while we may be the others, we're not alone. It connects oddballs and square pegs, and at the bare minimum, occasionally might provide a momentary distraction from the absolute absurdity going down outside each and every one of our doors. 

Having said that, let's dip our toes into the cess that is today's effort.

First up, here's some footage with real good audio of a Fugazi show in 1996, that will remind you plainly that if you never had the good fortune to see them live, you missed out on one of the wonders of the world;

There really has never been anything like them before or since.

In news of bike events, the annual SSUSA shibang went down in Chico, California over the weekend, also known as the home of Paul Component Engineering, also known as the home of Sierra Nevada Brewing, also known as the home of Amain Hobbies, and also known as the place Blue Collar Robert Ives said if he'd started riding mountain bikes there, he never would have again.

I had a number of inquiries as to whether or not I'd be in attendance, but alas, between having to take a month off from the bar, still having an enviable collection of broken ribs, plus one as of yet unresolved cracked dome, besides managing my adult babysitting operation at said watering hole, I opted to sit still and continue operating in seclusion. 

But, I reached out to a few people and very graciously I heard back from The Gnome (that 'The Gnome') and generously, he had a few words to share;

"Stevil-

I can't coin it. All I can assess is that we are all it and you and many others should be in attendance. There is a power among us as we collect annually to say hello and laugh and cry. It was 1996 when I decided that everything about my pursuit of life would begin and end with the bicycle. This path has been wrought with pain and color only festivities like SSUSA can revitalize. 

It is only this small group who truly knows the soul of singlespeeding. These 30 years later, as my first SSUSA wasn't even; it was Downieville and it was the NCSSWC that you and Ferrentino managed. Attending the Chico, CA SSUSA validated that we (are mostly) still here and the torch is being carried further again.

Thanks to all the heads of State. Too many to list, it was the Arizona contingent of singlespders who pulled through with the formatting I think, and PAUL Components as a beacon in the night throughout the grid of Chico streets. It was the usual antics and a bike ride for measure. The aid station was a collective of survivors and what joy to be alive again to do this.

We pedaled and I saw many but not all, nor enough of the blessed hellions that make this party never seem to stop. Next year is Utah. If you can prepare, again. You know the drill. I hope we all get to see you then.

Cheers."

Goddamn. He writes real pretty. Maybe I should actually start paying people to submit missives here from time to time. 

I also reached out to Mo, formerly of DirtRag as Robert Ives told me he had furiously been shooting photos. He asked how many I needed, to which I responded "just a few. A couple riding shots, a couple of shenanigan shots... You know the drill."

As of publishing time, I'd not heard back from him so here's a photo of a Dank cüzie that was made for the 2017 running of the event, with a breakfast burrito I ate for dinner last night in the background;

Anyway, huge thanks to The Gnome for his assortment of thoughts on the matter.

 In news that is of regional significance, do you like apples?

Well, how about these apples?;

Seattle's first forested urban MTB trail opens just four miles from downtown.

I've monkeyed around on some urban trails there in Seattle and they are a good time. I'm forever a fan of trail networks within the confines of an urban environment (Richmond, Virginia, and Minneapolis are two crown jewels of the sort), so I certainly look forward to seeing what else the EMBA and Seattle Parks and Rec have in store with this effort.

I suspect Hodala will soon be drinking cans of backpack beers all along that stretch.

Lastly, as I am want to do, I'd like to present the brand freshest episode of Revolting;

Like some drugged out long hairs once said, all in all its just another stick in your balls.