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02-28-2005
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#1
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Quick recap of The Event Whose Name Shall Not Be Revealed...
Saturday, TEWNSNBR (okay, it was a Single Speed Punk Bike Enduro, all right?) took place in some esoteric corner of Maryland with over 40 riders showing up to stomp pedals and spit snow. The ride was supposed to be SS only, with the threat of duct-tape disablement looming for those who dared to brandish gears. Most didn't. Out of the 40+ group, at least two monsters were running fixed gears; only one chick showed up, and she decided to forego her geared hardtail for a loaner SS that was a little big for her. Didn't matter, as she proceeded to whoop the ass of most of the guys there--climbing and descending--including yours truly, but I get ahead of myself.
The ride started with a moderate road climb to the trailhead, then it was into the woods for some snow-slick singletrack. The idea was to scout for "punks"--brightly colored icons hung on tree branches and the like that counted as points toward a post-ride award--along the way, while trying to keep an eye on the trail at the same time. Since I made the punks, I considered stashing a few in my jacket and springing them on everyone after the ride, since it was the only way I was going to snag any, but decided to play fair and scrap the idea. In addition to the punks, there were various stage events, among them a tricky creek crossing, a protracted rock garden, hill climbs, and the obligatory snow derby, all of which counted for more points. Somewhere midpoint in the ride, near the bottom of a sketchy and epinephrine-inducing downhill, we were treated to a mini keg of DeGroen's Marzen that the minions of Dionysus saw fit to deposit in the woods. Equipped with an extra empty water bottle, each of us sampled the dark elixir, sat and wolfed down energy bars and fig newtons, discussed the ride, and reveled in the tacit understanding that this, this was what life was all about.
A few chugs later, we all hopped aboard our bikes and continued with the enduro, but not before I managed to embarrass myself by toppling over onto the pavement during a track stand. Sad thing is, I couldn't even blame it on the beer, since I had less than a water bottle full.
All told, we covered over 12 miles in slippery conditions and near freezing temps Every face I saw reflected bliss tinged only occasionally with the strain of the ride and the cold. Saw one creek diver, one broken chain situation, one wipe out directly ahead of me, almost wiped out myself on a downhill (swerved a bit too severely to avoid a big rock, let go of the bar, unclipped one foot, dabbed awkwardly at speed a couple of times, caught the bar again with the AWOL hand as it swung back to stab me, and managed to pull it together without scrubbing speed). Many of the hill climbs were so snow-sloppy that only the really strong and skilled pulled 'em off, though everyone gave it their all. Afterwards, some of us gathered in a local pub to down some Guinness and refuel, and to witness the awards ceremony. Congrats to the male and female winners of the Sid and Nancy Awards, two beer bottles, complete with labels bearing images of the eponymous punk couple and capped with freewheel stars, for the dude and chick who garnered the most points.
That's it in a nutshell. Thanks to all who attended, and to the anonymous few who put the whole thing together. It was good to see so many faces of people I hadn't been on a ride with in quite a while: 32seventeen, Hijalti, Shiva Steve, Mugg, Chris, Tim, Tony, to name a few. Good time!
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
Last edited by iconoclaSSt : 02-28-2005 at 11:53 AM.
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02-28-2005
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#2
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Pix...
Slick downhill...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#3
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Aother pic...
Becky blasts by on a borrowed bike...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#4
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Pic 4...
A break in the action...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#5
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Pic 5...
Tricklin' in to the start of the next stage...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
Last edited by iconoclaSSt : 02-28-2005 at 11:54 AM.
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02-28-2005
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#6
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Pic 6...
Pre-stage gathering...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
Last edited by iconoclaSSt : 02-28-2005 at 11:56 AM.
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02-28-2005
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#7
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Pic 7
Cold riders wait...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#8
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Pic 8...
Start of a stage...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#9
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Pic 9...
Rollin' across the tundra...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#10
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Next pic...
More riders diggin' in...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#11
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Next pic...
Hijalti climbs...he yelled to me to snap a pic as proof! Sorry it's so far away, but I'll vouch for ya, bro...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#12
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Next one...
Refueling mid-ride...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#13
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Next...
King Punk and
riders heading back out...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
Last edited by iconoclaSSt : 03-01-2005 at 08:16 AM.
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02-28-2005
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#14
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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More...
Derby stage...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#15
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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More...
Lining up...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#16
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Another pic...
"Punk..."
Drawn from another artist's drawing of Rollins, with some alterations, hence my inability to produce a good likeness...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#17
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Couple more...
Sid and Nancy trophies...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#18
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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Last one...(phew!)
Beauty and the beasts...Becky with her trophy...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#19
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Steel and teeth.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 491
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Where's the water diver???
Great pics! I can't wait to see more!
b1umb0y
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02-28-2005
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#20
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Cold. Blue. Steel.
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,716
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awesome!
that looks like a super cool (pun intended) time! and the trophies are so creative. is Becky going to get her very own SS now??  |
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02-28-2005
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#21
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I am the owl
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,444
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Nice write up and some good pix.
Thanks to everyone who showed up and thanks to everyone who helped make it happen. I'll try to post point totals sometime in the near future and a pic of the winners with their trophies.
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02-28-2005
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#22
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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FIxed Freeeek....
and moustache bars...yeah, good stuff...
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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02-28-2005
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#23
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mtbr member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 60
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Right on with the write up and pics! Good riding with you again.
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02-28-2005
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#24
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gray hair in my shammy
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 423
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That was great fun, Thanks again to Joe and everyone else who put this together..
BTW, that young lady kicked my arse..........I think I'm in love..... 
__________________
"Veni, vedi, pulsus" "I came, I saw, I pushed"
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02-28-2005
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#25
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mtbr member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 141
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Thanks again SSO for puttin' on a great time - great day, party conditions.
Awesome riding with new folks and peeps I already knew.
Drevil, you hurted me. But I still got mo' punks bee-otch!
- Sid
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02-28-2005
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#26
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mtbr member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 215
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Great recap!
Great pics and recap Steve - now we just need to get Mugg to post some slim portion of the, oh, 500 or so pics he snapped!
An extra special thanks to the er, um, dis-organizing non-committee! Sorry I had to run off with my points and punk but fatherly duties beckoned. Pray for more snow in '06!
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02-28-2005
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#27
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mtbr member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2
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Dabbed awkwardly???
Dabbed Awkwardly???
"almost wiped out myself on a downhill (swerved a bit too severely to avoid a big rock, let go of the bar, unclipped one foot, dabbed awkwardly at speed a couple of times, caught the bar again with the AWOL hand as it swung back to stab me, and managed to pull it together without scrubbing speed)."
Thats not the way I remember it... I seem to remember walking a steep muddy, and slippery as hell section right behind those houses after watching you "dab" your head, shoulder, back, feet, face, elbow, and back again.
You were back up quick, so I guess that counts for not scrubbing too much speed.
Thanks for the awesome writeup, pics, and the chuckle. Big thanks to riderx and all those who helped put this on. Looking forward to doing it again in 06.
Last edited by lasst : 02-28-2005 at 06:52 PM.
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02-28-2005
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#28
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mtbr member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,348
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Man...
I miss the trails around Loch Raven...
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03-01-2005
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#29
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Faster Than Your TV!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 300
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No, no, no...
Quote:
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Originally Posted by lasst
Dabbed Awkwardly???
"almost wiped out myself on a downhill (swerved a bit too severely to avoid a big rock, let go of the bar, unclipped one foot, dabbed awkwardly at speed a couple of times, caught the bar again with the AWOL hand as it swung back to stab me, and managed to pull it together without scrubbing speed)."
Thats not the way I remember it... I seem to remember walking a steep muddy, and slippery as hell section right behind those houses after watching you "dab" your head, shoulder, back, feet, face, elbow, and back again.
You were back up quick, so I guess that counts for not scrubbing too much speed.
Thanks for the awesome writeup, pics, and the chuckle. Big thanks to riderx and all those who helped put this on. Looking forward to doing it again in 06. |
You got it all wrong...that was ANOTHER spill you're referring to (MUCH slower). Hey, I never claimed the one I described was the only one, haw! Or perhaps you're thinking of another rider (no face plants for me)?
__________________
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Wrench In the Gears
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03-01-2005
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#30
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Fahrrad fahren
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 285
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photographic evidence
Great RR Steve. Thanks for the pics.
Heres one for you:
Here is the link to my report:
DFL Again. SSPBE 2005.
Cheers,
H
__________________
"The heart was quiet. The charm of a trip of a bicycle was anew felt as comfortable drunkenness from beer in the filled time."
Fixing Frederick
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