We're all good girls and boys.
And we deserve all the head scratches that find their way to us.
This could be a metaphor for a nice meal prepared for us, recognition for a job well done, or even an actual head scratch. We're doing great, and I'm proud of us. And by 'us' I mean 'me' unless you're actually feeling productive and stable, in which case by 'us', I actually mean us.
First up, did you all hear about the woman who got stranded because the battery on her bike died?
Now, I'm not the sort of person who would admonish someone for riding an e-bike, but I am the sort of person who chooses to ride a bike under my own power, and feels as though e-bikes are just another effort by a struggling industry to convince people they need a new wizbang or doodad, which really only further complicates a situation which wasn't terribly complicated to begin with.
Certainly, on a standard pedal bike any of us might suffer a mechanical that would leave me stranded. Hell, I had a light system that failed once leaving me stuck outside for fifteen hours once. I feel the same way about off road e-bikes as I do belt drive systems. Use them if you want to, but I will enjoy a smug sense of irony when they inevitably end up making your life far more challenging than it needs to be.
I also readily acknowledge I have Di2 on a bike which is the most complicated thing I own, and will probably inevitably strand me somewhere, at which time all of my words can get thrown back in my face.
*Editor's note* Apparently the article is incorrect. According to the rescue report, she couldn't ride the bike because she had a flat tire which is confounding in an entirely different set of ways.
In the world of bike events you should probably put on your calendar, Paul reached out with a brand new one he's got cooking for Easter Sunday.
In an email to his circle, he elaborated thusly;
"Hey,
I want to promote this event as best I can. I don't ask for much from anyone but if you can send this around to your "feeds" and try to drum up some interest, that would be great!
I am looking forward to this new event. I will have cool shirts and patches for sale as well as a swag bag for everyone that shows up. It is a downhill rally, so you don't need the crazy fitness required like the cbc. There will be a after party hang out. I'm closed that day so we can do that for a change.
Thanks,
Paul"
If you'd like more info, head to the Atomic site.
Paul's always been so good about keeping me abreast of his not inconsiderable efforts, and I am so appreciative of still being in the loop.
Let's see... What else do I have? Oh yeah- So, when I broke myself off in 2015, I celebrated my recovery by getting myself a nice new mountain bike. In fact, at there time I think it was the first all new bike I'd owned in about eighteen years.
Well, this time around I decided I'd scrimped and saved for a new messenger bag long enough, and opted to give a sibling to my beloved Dank bag seen here being the awesome workhorse she is;
-In the form of a 'Garbage Barge';
I'll be picking up and dropping off like a motherfucker.
I feel like these bags are perfect examples of functional art. I can't use a sewing machine to save my life, but the grace and efficiency in which Cory and Andy both can not only use the machines, but design a bag that they both know from practical experience checks all the necessary boxes is an enviable gift to be sure.
I think doing nice things for ourselves in the wake of a physical or emotional challenge is another fine example of self care, and I'm all in with it.
Finally, I got an email from Blake that I feel is important to put up here as well;
"I saw this and… well…. Had to share;"
I have a birthday in September, if anyone has $875 burning a hole in their pocket.
Now, as the curtain drops, here's the brand newest episode of Revolting for you to eat;
It's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, but still isn't as good as a nice head scratch.
2 comments
I took a 3h mtb ride with my dad and his ebike for his birthday this weekend. He turned 80! Ebikes have their place.
I work on ebikes more and more these days. I will tell you that changing a bolt on hub motor wheel on the ground is quite hard, and I am a tire changing GOD. There are often a few washers/spacers/chain tugs not to mention the wiring harness and chain to deal with all while hefting a 10lbs wheel up into the drop outs.
If the rider had an up to the job e-mtn bike with “regular” wheels and a mid drive system this is a non story about regular old flat tires. People get stranded because they don’t understand the operation of their equipment everyday.
I’m mostly concerned about souped up or poorly maintained ebikes catching fire in the woods. Eh…what’s one more fire.