What I've noticed more and more about being a blogger is trying to stay up on things, being the first to post things etc. While I think that's super important, in this case I decided to be lazy and leave it up to the various more organized sites to do it. Besides, I figured it would be fun to post my photos from the actual NAHBS event last to capitalize on the whole- 'Oh yeah, I've seen that porno already- ZOMG wait, not from this angle! SQUUIIIIRRRTTT!! factor. So without further ado, here are some of my fav snaps of my favorite bike shit I saw at the show:
That titanium integrated stem was so fraking SCHWEET!
..but not as sweet as Naked's!
As everyone knows, Cherubin's nacelle style hand grips on their crazy ass TT track bike we're juuuuust a bit much but man, it was def nice to see it in person. I always dig seeing builders come up with weird ass shit like that..
Okay, so that last one shouldn't count but it was def my favorite Freak bike of the trip. I rolled up next to the owner while he was riding it and asked if he built it. He said he got it from some clothing store that had it built as a prop for all of $50 bucks COMPLETE! Now if that isn't a win I don't know what is..
Speaking of win, I KNEW beyond a shadow of doubt that Bilenky would win for their Horton collection bike and sure enough they did!
This Gallus was def my favorite freak bike that was actually IN the show. SO. RAD! I really wanted to tear ass on some trails with it..
In any case, that's just a few of my favs. There's Plenty more to ogle at on my flickr page..
So here's a funny little story about this guy I met at the show. Rather, at the airport right after I landed. When I first got there I realized my S+S bag was taking a bit too long to come out. So I went into the baggage service office to check up on it. While on line this guy behind me asked if I was a photographer by the looks of my camera bag and G10 hanging off my arm. I said yeah and that I was in town for the bike show. Naturally he warmed up to me right away telling me about how he was in town for the show as well and he was working a booth there. I was like- 'oh cool, what's the name?' He told me and as with most names I'm told, it went in one ear and right out the other. I know, it's a fucking curse. He said there's no way I'd miss his booth since they had the raddest Time Trial bike ever, like EVER-EVER. Which would've been more interesting to me if say I was a dentist or lawyer or something. None the less I gave him the typical- oh, that's cool! reaction. Then I found out my bag was coming in on a later flight which was super annoying but was pleased to know it was safe and accounted for. My new friend and I parted ways and I told him I'd look for his booth when I was at the show..
While I was at the show the next day being overstimulated by bikes I did try and keep it in mind to look for this TT bike he was raving about but just wasn't able to process the whole thing the first day. Later on that night was the Rapha Movie premiere at Mellow Johnny's. Which was pretty cool (oh and this was also kinda funny) I think my favorite part was joking about the semi- absurdity of just being like- 'Hey, yeah, I've got a great idea guys! Let's get some sponsors to build us some sick bikes, quit our jobs and just ride bikes across the country and have our friends film it!!' AS IF! I mean, kudos to those guys for actually doing it but it did seem like a bit much. In any case, feeling parched, I decided to go across the street to grab a drink at the supermarket..
Right before I was about to exit my friend from the airport, who'd just passed the line beyond tipsy, spotted me. We conversed for a few minutes about the show and the like from what I could tell was about 3 inches from my face. GOD ALMIGHTY do I ever hate when drunk people do that! I mean yeah, I get it, you're wasted and all but still. Anyways, he asked me if I saw their fabulous TT bike. I told him about how the show was always too much for me the first day and that I would look for it again tomorrow. Which he followed with enough full body contortions to match his overly aggressive exuberance towards their TT bike that even iggy would do a double take. He even added a little disappointment in there not being able to understand HOW I could possibly miss it? IT'S JUST SO DAMN COOL! YOU'RE SO TOTALLY GOING TO LOVE IT!! Yeah, I bailed on that situation first chance I got..
The second day at the show was along the same lines of WTF there's WAY too much to look at here. Though I really did make a good effort to look for this freaking TT bike. If only to tell my friend YES, I saw it, now quit asking!
I didn't see shit for TT bikes anywhere that day either..
Then once again, later on that night I found myself at another shop party. This one was at that fuuuucking HUGE place out on Lamar. The line for the free BBQ was WICKED long so Ross and I decided to talk a walk down the street to one of the cool restaurants instead. Also to catch a breather from all the crowds etc. We hung out for a while, had some burgers, shot the shit. Then with our bellies full, we walked back. We found ourselves on one of those little traffic triangles at a busy intersection about to cross. When all of a sudden my 'buddy' somehow pops out from behind a street sign post sign and surprises me once more with questions about the show and had I seen the TT bike etc. I made the mistake of saying no again half wondering if he was drunk enough to impersonate a slinky this time. Fortunately a vacant cab came through the interesection just in time to swallow him up and take him back into town while telling me about how sick the TT bike was. YOU GOTTA SEE IT, THE BIKE IS JUST SO COO- thump, vrrrooom! It was at that point that I remarked to Ross- 'How is it that this dude keeps showing up out of nowhere and assaulting me about seeing this stupid fucking TT bike?!' Ross giving me the shrugs was no help but he does have a bunch of cool guns so he can get away with shit like that ;-)
SIDE NOTE: While I was waiting for Ross and Jen to head to the next event, a group of old single speed coots rolled over to me asking about my HED3 wheels. Fucking wheels. Anyways, they were wasted and really funny talking about how they loved single speed bikes and nothing else. They we all in their like late 50's. Then when they were rolling away, the last dude left, stopped, turned around walked up to me, looked me in dead the eyes and said: Gears are for queers. Then snickered a little bit before giving me a fist pound. Dude was HILARIOUS!
Anyways, on the last day of the show I made it my mission to find this fucking TT bike and or my buddy in question. Not because I gave two shits, but I was just SO curious to see WTF this guys was hounding me about already!
And guess what? I STILL didn't see shit despite keeping a watchful eye out for the both of em! :-/
This is one of those things that was bugging me for the rest of my stay in Austin. How is it possible that I went to this show three days in a row and didn't spot the thing?! I was half paranoid going to events etc thinking I would see the TT guy again and deal with his reaction at totally missing the raddest TT bike ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET..
Thankfully I made it back to Jersey without bumping into him again. Tho all the while I had this whole TT bike guy incident hounding me. Keep an eye out for the TT bike a voice would occasionally whisper. It was like a fucking monkey on my back for the next week or so!
It wasn't until I saw Prolly's post on yup, you guessed it- THE FUCKING LIGER TT BIKE that the connection in my mind was finally made! Which I guarantee my neighbors raised their eyelids to when hearing the muffled howling laughter coming through their floor boards. I mean, WOW how fucking hilarious is that?! It's like, I just couldn't get past the paint job of that retarded fucking bike to realize there was a gnarly TT bike under it. I mean, I saw that thing every day, scoffed at it everyday, and even took fucking photos of it on two separate occasions. But for whatever reason, I just couldn't for the life of me see it in the same way my buddy could. Obviously we have VERY different tastes when it comes to TT bikes. Tho I have to say, I think that particular TT bike will forever live in my mind as one of my favorites from now on. :-)
Well then, I think that concludes my NAHBS posts for this year. Big HUGE thanks once again to Ross and Jen for driving me around, letting me stay at their place and shooting rad fucking guns! Andrew for showing me around town and being rad in general. Along with Chris for hanging and shooting the shit with me at NAHBS. Along with everyone else I met and hung out with during my stay there! All you people fucking ROCK!! I'll def be looking you mofoz up again next time I find myself there :-) Feel free to hit me up when you find yourselves in NYC of course too!
1 comment:
I couldn't get past the rear wheel art on that Liger, either. But oh that Naked cycles stem, and the front hub even moreso -- yowie.
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