SEWAGE FISHING IN LA RIVER

Look closely, one of the three dudes brandishes a large stick as he tries to catch fish by hand in this video featuring the LA River next to the 5 freeway bike path. Carcinogens—they’re what’s for dinner.

Leprechauns chuck rocks instead of tick tocks

But when something tickles them for whatever reason you can see them humming a tune and stomping a hoove for when they sing tis a sign of clear skies and up ahead the promise of spring.

*this message typed by thumb, transmitted by esp

CHE ROLLS OVER IN GRAVE

*this message typed by thumb, transmitted by esp

And so it's adios to the mullet again

*this message typed by thumb, transmitted by esp

Mr. B, Back in Action, Kickin', Punchin' and Throwin' 4's

He was so stoked on the promise of spring he put it in reverse and exited the burrow he'd stealthily been snoozing in for the past three months. These days, Mr. B is all about catchin' rays and always, ALWAYS keeping it midcentury modern.

*this message typed by thumb, transmitted by esp

spagettt

*this message typed by thumb, transmitted by esp

HEADFIRST, CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL, NO FOR AN ANSWER REUNION SHOW

Listening to these bands circa high school in Kansas Ciy I never dreamed I’d see them play. . .fifteen years later.

 

 

 

 

A Bee flew inside my jersey today. . .

On a descent and left me, and this world, with a sting. Not nearly as bad as the time a bee flew in my mouth while I was riding, but that's another story son set for stun.

*this message typed by thumb, transmitted by esp

Milan San Remo

I'm picking Garmin Slipstream as the winner, Lance in the hunt and very close but off the podium.

*this message typed by thumb, transmitted by esp

Behold the String of Spittle Present on Ben Bernanke's Lower Lip During his 60 Minutes Interview

Couldn't Scott Pelley have pointed it out to him? Or maybe made the 'dude you have something on your mouth' gesture?

At least Benny B made eye contact with the camera something he doesn't do during his confidence-inspiring public appearances.

*this message typed by thumb, transmitted by esp

HE IS RISEN!

*this message typed by thumb, transmitted by esp

As seen at Postal Works in Silver Lake

Does Barry know about this?

*this message typed by thumb, transmitted by esp

DIVERSITY

It was a diverse crowd at ATOC. Okay, almost 100% lily white, but there was diversity amongst the bikes present (see disc wheel below!) including this guy on a, uh, I think they’re called Trik-ee’s or something? He really had it down, powering through turns, carving like Duane Peters, etc.

AND MULLET OF THE YEAR GOES TO: EMP

Chapeau, mate.

DISCIN' AROUND

 

HEY MAN, NICE DISC WHEEL

Take off your baggy shorts and you can lose that uncontrollable rear wheel though and go faster.

I’m pretty sure this was an eBay buy for homeboy. In spite of the authentic Euro mullet, this is another ironic statement from urban bike goon set, not an homage to Mr. Horse Hormones Johan Museeuw, he of the flax bikes.

 

Worth showin’ though because Mapei may have had the coolest kits ever, the apex of the Euro look.

Wearing a Nike shoe bag on your back—that’s some serious fucking dedication.

BARKSTRONG

As seen at Tour of California—note the dog and owner match.

SOMEHOW

Managed to grab a decent shot of the entire Astana team at the Rose Bowl stage of the Tour of Cali on my phone camera, which is a tremendous pain in the ass to operate, gratingly slow, and generally annoying. But it worked out okay this time.

 

Have to say, having Lance there brought out a shitload of people and it was thrilling to watch him race.

 

PUPPY POWER

Buster, one of the more affable pups I’ve come across in a while. Eight years old but still has that pup sheen to him, a lot of life.

 

Move Over Sho Kosugi

Now there’s something meatier.

Old news to the MB world, news to me, the Niner 29” carbon rigid fork. Nice.

Planning to re-enter MB racing sphere this season. Find myself drawn to the simple aesthetic of rigid MB’s and single speed road bikes.

MB suspended bikes work much better than rigid designs ever did. I can still remember waking up in my sleeping bag at our riverside campsite the day after riding the 409 trail on a full rigid steel Stumpjumper with Deore DX and thumbshifters and having such intense shooting pain in my forearms that I thought I must have broken my wrist somehow the day before. Nope, that’s just the full rigid MB’s innate level of comfort.

Since then I’ve gotten to put every major suspension design, and many failed designs, through the paces in the dirt. The modern crop of suspension bikes work very well. But as much as I enjoy riding them, I just don’t dig the infnite atomization of offroad riding styles into five gazillion very terrain and purpose specific bikes. Awesome in their intended element, doddling everywhere else.

I have loved every bike I’ve owned, but I strive to keep the quiver lean. Bike projects and routine maintenance eat up dozens of hours when you work on your own rigs (and you should if you rely on them to keep you upright and safe every day). More bikes, more components to break and go out of adjustment.

Suspended MB’s are superior to rigid MB’s, but unless Lance lends me a private mechanic for the next few seasons, I would prefer not to spend time that could be spent riding dealing with a plethora of pivot points, blown seals, etc. So rigid, perhaps?

WHAT'S NEXT: DOPING EDITION

Thyroid medication?

So far ahead of the curve you wouldn't suspect it's already climbing the podium.

What are you hoping for today, SF?