Gentle Lovers

A friend of mine was recently asked by her coach to send a list of 10 race related goals for the 2009 road season so that her coach could start putting together a training plan. So with that in mind, I present to you my personal goal for 2009:

Rad BMX Dance

While you suckers are out spending long hours on the roads, I’ll be hanging out at the nearest parking lot working on my flatland skills. Then I’ll send my coach a list of 10 high school homecoming dances and hopefully he will get back to me with a plan for how I’m going to bike-dance at each of them.

thanks for the photo, nate armbrust! thanks for coming to my work and getting soup, too.

Danimation,  Danimal, or Professor Brother to some.  He may be fast approaching the tender age of trentaqauttro, but he’s still got more piss and vinegar than a 5 year old boy hopped up on pop rocks and pixie sticks.  And, better yet, he’s only barely legal.  Heroes and myths be damned.  A living legend walks among us.

A pre-birthday salute to you!

full time badass! new oregon state champ kevin hulick (or hulik if you look on velonews) put it in’em and broke it off in a spectacular tractor pull sprint finish sunday.

thanks for the photo, shane young and cyclepath.

the van is packed. our clothes are washed (as per our arrangement, moho cleans the bikes and i do laundry). shoes, ‘veeds backup helmet, gloves… and there is a bike around here somewhere. food, gas, pit wheels, a towel, my number? okay. fresh, see you guys at ten.  this familiar sunday routine is just about ready to be tucked in for another ten months. sure, we’ll do more cross racing, but nothing pulls it together like the crusade.  to keep up my tough guy image i thought i’d finish off the night with a nice hot bath and shave my legs, perhaps enjoying a little quiet time to reflect on the last couple months.  unfortunately my attempt at a special personal moment sort of failed: i threw out all the candles a while back in an effort to reclaim our house for manhood, our bathtub is strikingly uncomfortable and kind of filthy, and i had to shave with a utility knife because my mach 12 thing is dull as shit. after several minor lacerations and countless awkward positions i admitted failure and decided a regular shower would have to provide the necessary ambiance.  sure enough, despite the fluorescent lights and undeniable odor of a locker room (thanks dial soap FOR MEN!- you can’t trust gender specific soap), i settled into a lovely notion:  bikes have been a prominent positive element in my life as long as i can remember.  when i was confused i escaped on one.  as a kid it was a toy, as a teen it was my freedom, and as a young adult i either repaired them or delivered packages with’em to pay rent.  a key to social development, riding was a way to relate, and now i use it to beat myself stupid every weekend. most importantly, rolling around on bikes has introduced me to the goddamn greatest bunch of people a fellow could be lucky enough to know, and i can’t imagine where i’d be without them. so, here’s to bikes and friends.

swift, witty, handsome
ripping legs off, looking good
sorry ladies: taken!

Photo: canis studio

man i miss the johnson farm.

portland boasts some outstanding mobile eateries offering a vast range of ethnic fare.  it’s a buyers market- propane powered stepvans all over town are vying for my five bucks. reeling me in with meat on a stick, fresh garlic naan, rich curries, and comforting waffles, rarely can i justify clumsily cobbling together my own meals when such treats are so fiscally and geographically accessible.  when it’s time for tacos and i’m within five miles of 31’st and powell, the decision is simple: tacos de morelos.  the fajita burrito is slammin’, the tortas righteous.  the taco trifecta of one pastor, one carnitas, and one pescado hits me just right. when i want something light the veggie burrito sets the mood: grilled zucchini, carrots, and cauliflower always put me right where i want to be. the verde salsa with avocado adds a little snap and i hose down everything with it. for you veg-vegans, he makes the beans (and adds no lard) and the tortillas have no animal products as far as i can tell from the label. isreal has been at this spot for three years and has recently opened a satellite location a little ways east. he’s proud of each plate that he serves, and rightly so.  swing by, tell him the gentle lovers sent you… even though he will probably guess that since you are on a bike and wearing tights.

initially the idea behind the identity discs was to use them during our races to stun and overtake foes, but we decided it would be more fun to drill the masters racers that didn’t have costumes.  while trying to aim low and going for bike frames/shins, there was some unintended bloodshed. well, okay… we might have been trying to hurt potestio, but to everyone else we injured (and didn’t track down and apologize to in person) i’d like to send out a heartfelt apology and thank you for being good sports. i was prepared for relentless rebuttal but somehow escaped unscathed.  great costumes and spirit- it’s nice to see our event not get too diluted with popularity like things so often do. i’ll never look at the ‘goose the same now that edwin rode it naked.

i stole this photo from jason sager.  many nights of study and design, countless hours in the sweatshop, a small fortune in fabric and puffy paint…  all so moho can hit that guy with a frisbee. awesome. Read the rest of this entry »

A little unicorn prancing through a field of cross racers.

Photo stolen from VeloDramatic.

Hottness courtesy of Sam Nicoletti.