Purpose – It feels pretty good doesn’t it? Sometimes this cool, collected feeling becomes foggy and when it drifts into the mist, we are left with all the crap that makes our daily web complete. Microwave bean burritos, too much beer, consternation toward winter, internet, phones and 300 channels on the tube; an imbalance of the greatest sort. Let’s face it, lacking a purpose blows. Maybe we are missing purpose of the greatest kind, or perhaps we are just bored with the miserable weather, the stale taste of the indoors and the way that daylight seems to be a function of how little we care. When you truly want those precious few minutes of remaining light, they never seem to be there. If you haven’t picked up on it, I feel a bit purposeless.
Enter bikes. Over the past several dead-of-winter weeks, I have performed a whole host of mischievous and destructive tasks on my bikes, including taking 120-grit sandpaper to parts I normally try to protect. All this sanding and painting and breathing in of fine metal particles and clouds of primer-black spray paint got me thinking – or maybe the exact opposite. Reason has become the slave of my passion for mountain biking. Responsibility of most sorts is hurled out the window as if it were on fire as my ardor takes hold. Even these seemingly menial tasks provide a purpose. Putting in wrench time is just one more step towards the ultimate goal of hurling oneself down a mountainside glued only to the loose sediment beneath you by two patches of rubber. Speaking of rubber (read Attention Deficit Disorder), it might be time for a review of a tire or two. Or maybe brakes. Or cranks. Or hubs. You’ll have to wait and see what I spit out next. I know you wait on bated breath to read what I put on here, so I will make it snappy.
In my hazy stupor, I have somehow found the time to listen to good stuff like this, recommended to me by my good buddy and purveyor of all things plastic, composite and waterproof; Jake. Also, in typical fashion, here is a quick video with a great feel to it (despite the ending). Best of luck with your mid-week flounderings.
Re-Build Project #1: Fox 40
PS: This is way too good looking. Gasp.
So is this.
