May 08 2009
Stevil Is Finally Wrong
If you’re like me, and I know you are, mountain bikes are the only appropriate way to truly enjoy cycling. Anything else is just filler.
Today, between regularly scheduled business and business (toilet or otherwise), I stumbled upon Stevil’s lastest rant, much to my dismay?
“You know, on my Wednesday afternoon solo speed cycle ride in my stretchy pants and tap shoes I began reflecting on all of the bitching I’ve seen and heard the past few years about the explosion of tarck bikes and those who love them. It occurred to me that 20 some odd years ago, a common topic among my two wheeled brethren and myself was that we all wished there were more folks who rode bikes thereby creating a greater visual presence which we hoped would result in a more common understanding and acceptance of our ilk. Today, as in this very moment, there are more folks riding bikes, and appreciating bikes, which is in fact creating a louder dialog among city planners and so fourth than I’ve ever seen before, but simultaneously I hear a bunch of clap trap about ’stupid fixter this, and stupid fakenger that.’
Of course these folks aren’t the only newish group who are in our fold, but they seem to be on the receiving end of a bulk of the ire, and frankly, I just don’t get it.
More people on bikes?
Check.
A boost to the industry and the lifestyle which we hold so dear?
Check.
More bike shops, alley cat races (and bike events in general), and a greater visual presence?
Check, and check, even if the presence (see: acceptance) is in tiny, and sometimes unrecognizable increments.
More people are on bikes now than ever in my lifetime, but they’re not on the right kind of bikes, or their clothes are silly, or they don’t embrace the history which we take so seriously, or they take themselves too seriously, and they don’t have that right because they’ve only been riding for a year…
Anyway, if anybody can explain to me what the big deal is, I’m all ears.
Ears and eyebrows.
Dr. Stevil Phil
And that reminds me, I have big eye brows. Well, truthfully, I have one big eyebrow, and sometimes when I ride it gets filled with sweat and man, when I’m peacefully riding along and that dam breaks, It’s like getting a vile of vodka and cat urine dumped in my eyes.
It’s a wonder I’ve not met up with a business end of a ditch because of it.
Ok, thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Back to business.”
Well I’ll be damned. Lets back this trainwreck of a truck up right now!
xoxo,
Johnny
