Of my hard hitting interviews. This one was with Dave Pryor the organizer of SSCWC which I’m very happy to say I’ll be in attendance for since its on the east coast. Without further ado, lets start the show

Me:What’s more important the biscuits or gravy?

Dave: I butter up my biscuits, baby.

M:There’s a big debate between star trek vs star wars, can we both agree that sun exposure would take out both factions in an instant?

D:No, because Wookies can’t get sunburns and Han Solo has a bitchin’ safety vest. Star Wars wins.

M:So what you’re saying is wookies have lower skin cancer rates because of fur. Very interesting, are you a wookie medical specialist or just play one on TV?

Also where does Dr who fit in in the argument?

D:He fits in somewhere after Dr. J.

M:We’ve been batting this question around internally, how much is too much sushi?

D:midway into the 3rd roll

M:How much research have you done into the subject?Also best and worst bike movie. And it’s completely ok if they’re the same movie.

D:I’ve never finished a 3rd roll and have quit trying. Not really a film buff, so take these answers with a grain of salt (lime juice, and reposado tequila)

Just checking in for my one reader. Ok, I might have 2, if I’m lucky. I wasn’t invited to the “scum city cool kid meeting” this weekend so I chose to go out on my new/old mountain bike I just got.

For a bottle of whiskey, Which for the record is the smartest use for whiskey I’ve done in a while.

Thanks again Paul.

I rode out on my steed and by steed I mean bike. And not quickly.

I headed out to the east 49th trails, yes you in the front.

No, I’m keenly aware that they’re not the best trails in the area. I’d like to remind you guys that I haven’t actually ridden a trail of any kind seriously since…. um….. well…. primus was on MTV. And 120 minutes wasn’t a podcast. So I decided to take it slow.

I got there, had a bit of water and went out on the trail. I saw no trail markers so I just rode until I hit the front again.

I then realised I had ridden the trail backwards. So I pull a 180 and head back out. The first lap was scary to say the least. I wasn’t exactly used to the bike, and actually riding dirt so I was hesitant.

Then something awesome happened.

I remembered how fun it is to ride a bike. There I was riding some simple single track, listening to some tunes by myself in the woods. It was like being a kid again. Only the music came from my cell phone into bluetooth headphones. Back then it was a walkman and probably a Black Crowes tape. And sadly, there was no mountain dew to be found because frankly that would have completed the flashback perfectly. It’s really easy to forget riding a bike is fun, when you’re dealing with running(with a few other people) a race team and really trying to make this thing we’re doing legit. I read/hear/talk about bikes a lot but in all due honesty sometimes they’re not fun.

Today was fun though, the second and third laps I actually got up to speed. I wasn’t hesitant and even felt somewhat good through a few sections.

You, in the RATT tshirt.

No, there is zero chance of me doing any MTB racing not a single one.

No chance of ever seeing me race, but damn if I want to go to mohican or vultures really soon.

mahalo

dave

Nope, niether do I. it’s been a dizzying few days of awesome here at scum city racing. So I’m gonna try to put the pieces back together.

You, in the ironic iron maiden shirt.

No, Of course I don’t have pictures, you guys know I suck at taking pictures J karp is way better then me about that.

Ok, friday was pure fun. Thanks so much to john and crew at noodlecat for allowing me to finally see my dream come to fruition and watch Rad at a bar. With my friends, and beer so so much beer. after getting home and passing out like a rock 630 came way way too early.

Why was I up at 630 aka barista hour on a weekend? well let me explain that. About two months ago ish my friend brian from Yehuda moon told me that chronicle books was sending bike snob here to do a talk. IN CLEVELAND. I was excited, I’ve read snobs blog for years and his books which are quite good so of course I told brian I’d help out if he needed it. So I made some breakfast and rode down to the shop. I met brian and alex at Joy Machines and we headed off to grab the snob and ride around the city.

No shit, no big deal why not just go riding with someone you have read for years and really respect…. cue gigantic record scratch noise because I never saw that coming. Thankfully John Proppe from team lake effect came through with a loaner for snob so we could ride around town. John’s  a good egg and IMHO a great asset to northeast ohio cycling a rare rider who is both fast as hell and a complete goofball. Which  for the record I think we need more fast goofballs, less strava psychos. But I digress.

funny thing about snob. There’s almost nothing snobby about him. although I did get a kick out of his BSNYC cap. We rode a bit, then adjourned to Luckys for breakfast where the table discussion ran the range from bike shop bathrooms to indifferent cats in amateur porn. Yep I’m that guy I think I’m secretly 12. We ride back to Joy Machines where in an effort to curb my rather awful hangover brian and I had a beer from the store. That was both a great and worst idea ever. fast forward a few hours and we’re setting up at Market garden for snobs talk when I ask snob a rather boring question.

“hey do you need someone to introduce you or something. Not to be wierd but does someone normally do that?”

“yeah why don’t you do it”

what what what? I’m not afraid of a microphone at all but that was a bombshell. I hope there’s at least one photo that shows how FUCKING TERRIFIED I was addressing that crowd. I know I bombed a thirty second intro and the bar gave me the light. Snob’s talk was informative, funny and really something worth seeing. If you skipped it, that’s your loss because he is as funny live as he is in print and I think bikes would be less of a joke to people if they were a joke to everyone. Not that makes any sense, but humor I think is a much better weapon then advocacy. Jokes get things done, laws… eh.

I have a few celebratory beers during his presentation and Brian goes off to tweed ride. So it’s me, and bike snob just shooting the shit about kids and random topics.

Yeah remember that time you met you not only met but got a few bits of awesome advice from bike snob? It’s a thing I’ll hold onto thank you.

Thanks to brian for including me on yesterday and thanks snob for breakfast. And snob I saw you looking at houses don’t lie. You more than secretly want to be bikesnobCLE.

Oh before I sign off, someone explain Ipad photography? Every time I see someone taking pics with an ipad i go all “mark wahlberg” which is 50/50 angry and confused. The visual is terrible and you look mildly insane doing it. So lets just stop that everyone do it for the children.

Mahallo

Dave

Yeah we do. First and foremost huge love to captain george for bringing out his daughter to todays Paris Roubax hangout. For the record the baby is already doing a few things better than captain george

1. she hasn’t broken a bike

2. she’s more or less thirty pounds of cute in a 5 pound bag.

3. apparently she’s not a complete pain in my ass.

But thats OK, more then OK.

Thanks everyone who came out this morning, I worked hard on the event but it was so nice to see everyone(who for the record I missed) It felt like a CX reunion minus Rudy kicking my ass into the ground.

Now I want pizza. Like in and around my mouth.

Mahallo

dave

First and foremost, thank you all who donated to our indie gogo page Every little bit helps around here and as we all know cycling is an expensive habit.

Me, I’m gonna go back to collecting brontosauras leather because frankly its cheaper.

Onto serious business, yes you in the front wearing the snuggie. No, for the record I’m never serious. Life is serious enough thanks much.

Moving on, I hope to see all my one reader at Nano brew tomorrow for our Paris Roubaix watch party it’s gonna be a good time and unfortunately the kitchen won’t be open. Which is cool I fully understand the cooks need their sleep, so if this thing works out maybe next time. I had a good time setting all this up with Jason and crew at Nano who were awesome to deal with and I highly advise contacting them if you need anything.

Onto another friend of the team, Sushi 86 where our salty vet J Karp hides in his tiny office and forwards astrology emails to me while if you ask me constantly spinning on a trainer and plotting his revenge for all the times I’ve messed with him over the years.

For the record the version of J that exists in my head is the complete opposite of what he is, but it’s funny to me. I sure hope his Lita Ford tribute band takes off! Back to business, they’re trying to expand and I think if you’re up to it you should try to  help. I think they have the best sushi downtown and frankly have been absolutely nothing but good to me for years so If you’re feeling it please donate them a few bucks I fully intend to buy a sushi class myself.

Mostly because then my life would have unlimited sushi which for the record is how I intend to die.

Yes, you in the Team Lake Effect kit.

No, no I have absolutely nothing bike related to talk about. Not a thing.

mahallo

dave

This time it’s captain george. We haven’t had any team events in a while and I think we should. My response was simple, I don’t have time for this shit but without further ado I’ve got some hot ones for ya.

April 7, 9 am at nano brew they graciously offered to open early so we can watch paris roubaix. On large tvs, with beer. Like cycling is a civilized sport. I am very excite over this one as Paris Roubax is one of my favorite races of the year. Watching it in a bar certainly makes things much much better so come on out we’ll be selling tshirts at nano if you want some scum city armor.

April 26, 8 PM we’re once again teaming up with Jonathan Sawyer and having a screening of Rad at Noodlecat.

I’m gonna let the awesomeness of a Rad Screening at a bar sink in. Wait, you with the skinny jeans and brand new chrome bag Oh you haven’t seen rad? Well, under 25 guy wearing a 35 year old tshirt nows the chance to watch one of the finest films ever recorded complete with

-bike dancing

-ass sliding

-Lori Laughlin and some awesome 80s hair

So I think you guys should come out to both events, we’ll be selling shirts at both as well(thanks owners and operators for allowing that, every little bit helps around here).

Wait, you on the recumbent with no beard, they allow that? I thought you needed minimum four inches of beard to ride one of those shitty contraptions? Speak up sir I can’t hear you over your windshield.

training? You’re asking why I’m not blogging about basemiles. Jesus Renato remove that man from the room and ban him from all future press conferences. Or make him hang out with captain george.

I’ll answer the question though. BECAUSE IT’S FUCKING FREEZING Jesus winter, go home you’re drunk. It’s damn near april and we’re still hovering around freezing so that’s why I havent been piling on the basemiles this year.

Not that I care anyway.

Ok my one reader I’m off to drink way more coffee and answer some emails.

mahallo

dave

Now I occasionally talk tech. Oh for the love of all creation I’m going to keep it to once in a great while and try to keep it to useful information.Please, I’m not that boring and out of material..

Yet.

Ok, so you want to build a winter bike, or you’ve got an old bike that’s been pushed to the side in favor of others. So you think, I’ll just make it a SS and ride it around the city. Actually that’s an awesome thing to do and I think everyone should. So you rig/buy/steal/whatever a back wheel and you’re about to finish up the drive train and here’s where some advice can be left. Buy an all half link BMX chain and leave one extra link on there. Most dropouts and I mean nearly all on older bikes are an inch long both vertical and horizontal. And with a half link chain you’re only gonna go back in the dropout a little bit leaving that extra one. Now why would you do this? That’s a really good question you in the back doing the macarena. Now stop doing the macarena and I’ll tell you. Because there’s good odds that after a good salty Cleveland winter your chain no matter what brand is gonna get brittle and weak. I bought a stainless steel model myself and even with lubing and cleaning it still gets beaten up by the salt. And you’ll get what happened to me, riding down short vincent I heard a very loud POP and pulled over. One side on my chain had snapped under stress, now mind you this is my cross bike that gets seriously abused so I wasn’t too shocked. I limped over to the bike rack and for a nominal fee(honestly I can’t remember) they took a link out and I was back working in under ten minutes. Now had I not used a half link chain, and left one on there when building my bike that would have been the end of my day. No more money, see you later charlie. So when you’re building your bike up this spring remember half link chains fit more drive trains and they’re not too much more money.

Yes, you in the front eating noodles.

Yes, yes they’re heavy and if you’re worried about chain weight on your work/ss/townie bike you have serious issues. Or you’re the veterans veteran J Karp, who to my knowledge goes into a trance in front of the QBP catalog when chain shopping. I’ve seen it my one reader and it’s scary. Then 7 to 10 days after his chain vision quest is over I think he just throws in the towel and buys a Kool Chain. You don’t even want to see him go stem shopping. We once had to have a 3 day ritual over a saddle, and I still think he still got a fizik.

Bike racers are strange mang. Real strange.

I also saw someone recently shopping for cranks and bottom brackets. Now there’s an incredibly confusing item to buy, only being made worse by the new brackets/cranks that are coming onto the market so in an effort to help you MTB/SS cross new guy paul made this chart, which I think sums it up rather well.

Stolen from Paul’s instagram but I think it’s as Stevil said “aces”. So that’s my bit of tech for the year. Hope you enjoyed it and if you didn’t um… yeah. I don’t care.

On the fundraising drive, thank you so much to our backers and donors. It means so much to me that people are putting down their hard earned money to help us on our Indiegogo Page bike racing is not a cheap hobby. Hell I’d rather collect exotic cars then race bikes, it’s cheaper. But I thank all our supporters and I’m so grateful for the assist.

enjoy your weekend.

Dave

ps Mahalo

Ye gods man, Captain george stop caling me…. I mean really. Today was brutal at work the job itself was OK but it seemed like all my clients took crazy pills.

*phone call Captain George*

Um, why haven’t you been blogging recently?

Truth be told I’ve been riding my bike and working on team management stuff, we had a few roster changes that tossed me for a loop.

*captain George*

So, if you’ve not been blogging and/or updating everyone as to the teams goings on. What have you been doing?

Um, I love you george but frankly sometimes I want to sit at home, drink a few beers and listen to Johnny cash and reflect. Or in my case hatch a completely insane funding plan to carry the team which can be found here anyone who reads this blog, please consider tossing out a few bucks. We’re trying to crowd source our entire year’s budget. Crazy? Yeah Illogical? Absolutely not. This team did everything you could have done to land traditional sponsorship.

So everyone I’m asking you to spend some dollars. Not many, not wallet breaking. Buy a shirt, buy some stickers. Every cent you spend is going to allow us to keep racing our bike without worrying about where our race fees our coming from. In a rare moment of contrition I’m going to admit a fact none of us would talk about.

This is not a team of doctors, lawyers and folks with spare money. We’re bike messengers, bike shop owners, professional dog wranglers average Clevelanders who absolutely love to race our bikes. Most of us worry from time to time about money. We’d really like to just not have to worry about that whole “racing” thing. We’d rather worry about friends and family. Which is why we’re asking help from friends and family. Please support this band of brothers that is Scum City. For the ones still around this team is an awkward family but with Randy the new guy(for the record he had to be solidly convinced to go to worlds, something about[I won't get in a van with strange dudes]”

Oh randy, you have so much to learn.

Please, if you’ve ever laughed at my idiocy, buy a tshirt. If you’ve ever had food off a truck at an NEOCX race plz buy a shirt. If you’ve ever raced in an alleycat we’ve thrown go to Joy machines and drop a few bucks.

This team, collectively has bled in the street for bikes in so many senses. I want to take this team to national races with the Cleveland Skyline and a really well placed “FOH with that” attitude.

Cleveland, if you didn’t already know it. Scum City Racing is the people you already know. We’ve bled for Cleveland, Now please let us go and show that off.

mahallo

dave.

Hey Y’all it’s a serious post! The management and I would like to thank everyone on the team for another great year of riding bikes with our friends old and new. It’s been an incredible year for the team and I’ve never been prouder of what we’re accomplishing. I’m really looking forward to another year of riding my bike with my friends in 2013, Maybe I’ll be able to keep up but that’s a pipe dream and we all know it.

Thanks to Stevil for your support, I’d have lost it six times over by now and one day you gotta fly out to hang out here in lovely Cleveland. You’re always welcome to comment on the quality of my bathroom. Thanks to Pete Discoe at Swobo, you’re support of a messenger owned and operated cycling team is appreciated and the same offer stands. You land in town you don’t pay for a beer. Thanks to Molly for allowing me to embarrass myself via interview, you were a great sport. Thanks to the Northeast Ohio Cycling community for putting up with us, especially Captain George. I swear we’re gonna get you back for the dry cleaning from that road race Rudy.

Happy thanksgiving to the team, our friends and growing families. I look forward to a better 2013.

Cheers

Dave.

Solon cross again, also known as the land of 1000 turns. For my 2 readers out there the Solon all Switchback all the time classic has come and gone. Shocking to no one out there, I sucked. Really sucked, I kept trying to not brake to a dead stop in the one of 455 switchbacks and just kept eating shit. Oh well, that’s bike racin for ya.

Sorry for the lack of updates recently, we here at scum city racing have hit the “grind” portion of the season, it’s like wednesday of the work week. You’re not quite happy it’s nearly friday but I suspect after turkey day it’ll all go smoothly like like Russel ordering a doughnut.

Yes, you in the front in the bow tie?

No, no I’m taking today off and I’m gonna relax at home. But I’ll do every race in december.

So best of luck to the guys who are no doubt off to Wooster rite meow make me proud, if you need me I’ll be hanging out with my kitties.