This commentary provides a nuanced look at how subcultures use gatekeeping to balance identity preservation with the risk of elitist exclusion. It effectively frames social barriers not just as obstacles, but as the complex architecture of community building.
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Gates of Keeping in alt bike?
Added:All right, sweetie. You ready?
>> Of course.
>> Outside today, reporting live from the beating heart of nutmeg country >> outside edition cable actuated and opinionated.
>> This is Alt Bike Now, >> alternative radio >> for alternative moments.
>> I'm Mario Lingard.
>> Oh, I like that. Thanks for doing that foreshadowing, you know.
>> [music] >> So, you sang uh after our hotter or not last week, you've had some thoughts and now you're crushing hard on Yonas.
>> I'm not crushing hard on >> Yonas. I'm crashing hard.
>> Oh my goodness. You are a sharp this morning.
>> Two cups of tea, baby. [laughter] [gasps] >> Folks, a little foreshadowing there.
We've got a lot to talk about when it comes to tours this week.
>> It's not foreshadowing.
>> It isn't. That's a literary device, but because this has already happened. So, >> Oh, >> well, foreshadowing in the in the in the context of this. Okay.
>> I'm not that dumb. I am. I'm just blonde.
>> Blond's right. Snap.
>> I'm naturally blonde, folks. Believe it or not, >> I think everyone believes you. You bring it up a lot. [laughter] >> You pride yourself on being a natural blonde. [gasps] >> We're among the rarest in the world.
>> I thought it was the redheads. Well, I don't see there's not no one's dying their hair red just for fun. Everyone wants to be blonde.
>> All right. All right. Fair enough. Okay.
>> That song about how you're always having fun out there.
>> Yeah. Yeah. And you are.
>> I am having a good time. [laughter] >> Folks, we >> headlines hot.
>> Headlines. Yeah. Headlines hot guys.
We're going to do a little tour stuff. A little our all takes on tour. People seem to like last week, so we're I we say this every week. People seem to like it, [laughter] [gasps] but we're sticking with the TDF stuff, tour to France stuff in the beginning of the show. And then we're going to move on to a new >> there's something called unity as one stand together.
>> Uni Ty.
>> Oh, that's a great >> little Queen Latifah reference there about the new uh a new Kona release.
That's a expedition style bike packing touring bike.
>> And we're going to talk >> which is an allegory of a warthog.
What [snorts] does what does allegory mean?
>> Reference to a literary thing of the past or usually the Bible.
>> Oh, interesting.
>> English as a third language. You got to learn, honey.
>> The only book I know of is the book of heavy metal.
>> The book of heavy metal.
>> Yes.
>> Read it. [laughter] >> Don't need no flashy house, kids car, or ugly wife. The only things I want are what my parents don't.
>> Oh.
>> Need no widescreen TV? Nope.
>> No. In all honesty, the only thing I want to be is in the book of heavy metal.
>> You are >> making your way report backs. I had a storm of the century.
>> Yeah. Arya got into a long You did an eight.
>> You did an Okay. Well, I mean, I think that's >> we'll get into that later. We also have introduction to local pervert and >> favorite friend here right now. Hot Alex is in the building. So, we're going to talk a little bit a little bit about a few of our local riders here, about their inception into the altike world and how that happened.
>> I think it'll be nice to introduce our friends who we ride with right now.
>> And uh finally, really the namesake of the of the episode, we've got gatekeeping in alt cycling.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. So, we're going to talk a little bit about that. And, you know, I think you're going to want to stick around.
>> Little philosophical, a little spicy.
>> Yeah. We're going to get into it. So without >> then we'll wrap up with contributors. So >> without further ado, let's start with the tour of to France dresser.
>> Tell me about Yonas.
>> Well folks, >> what happened?
[laughter] Folks, what hop on is Yonas had as as if you've been following along with just even with ours. Yonas the who's been second in the tour to France to Tag or second to tour France to Tat Pagasha the last two seasons, but has won >> the pre the previous two years before that and also just won the Jirro earlier on this year. uh really was TAD's only competitor if you want to call him that.
>> Well, he is.
>> Yeah. I mean, he is. There's no >> there are no competitors to TAD, but he was the closest and he definitely had the respect of TAD. Yonas can be a very one-dimensional rider compared to to Tade. But, you know, we uh a lot of us were rooting for him, at least in the back of our heads if we weren't in the forefront. He's the underdog >> for sure. All the talking heads were kind of saying, you know, he's in really good form. I wouldn't count him out. I wouldn't count him out. And then he goes down pretty hard.
>> This is stage 15 that he went down. I mean, it was a mountain stage. Big mountain stage. One that really favors him with a mountain top finish.
>> Exactly.
Summit finish is his specialty. He is crowned as being one of the best or the best mountain rider in well living today.
modern tour history, [laughter] which is and everyone today is >> is seemingly leaps and bounds better at what they do than the writers of the past. I'll be the first to admit that being a nostalgist myself, it's hard to say, but you know, we've already had the fastest stage ever of the tour, which is earlier in the week, which is interesting that it had sta had stuck around for 20 25 years. It was a a stage that Mario Chipellini had now acclaimed wife beater. Mario Chipellini had [laughter] won >> acclaimed. Could that be a >> I don't think I ever used that word right.
>> Infamous.
>> Infamous.
>> Abuser.
>> Abuser. Well, women. Yeah. But, you know, we >> domestic.
>> If you take that out of the equation, pretty exciting writer to watch.
>> Terrorist.
>> And he was, you know, obviously a lot of what?
>> Chipo.
>> Yeah. Chipo chipoisms are important as far as the culture is concerned but >> juiced up and meaty you know.
>> Um anyway that somehow that record stood for I don't know how long 20 plus years.
So that was broken. So I mean this this tour is is breaking records left and right. People are going faster than ever.
>> It seems like every year they say that.
>> They say that but I mean I guess because it's progressively faster. Yeah. And then when you have someone like Tade kind of just pushing the envelope. Well, that's why the talking heads were saying Yonas is gonna do so well, you know, because he's been he's been crushing his numbers. He's just like upped the game.
He's doing better than he's ever done.
And he seemed overall really >> I wouldn't say better than he's ever done. I mean, he's won he's won the tour and he was not look I mean, in my opinion, he was not looking in a lot of other people's opinions, he was the shell of what he once was. Well, here's what I'm saying is the pace of the entire Pelaton has just upped. But Yonas is performing his best numbers ever.
Yeah, true.
>> Like that's what I'm saying. He he was very happy because all of them say the best you can do is the best you can do.
And then everything else is, >> you know, up to God. You know what I'm saying? [gasps] >> Well, let's run through a timeline here.
>> Oh my god. Is POD a Christian band?
Because it's GO and POD. All right. Side tangent. My bad. Being outside is very distracting for me. I >> should We should uh we should Let's paint a picture for people here. We're outside today because our local pervert Alex is working on our bathroom. I So, you know, we're outside today. That's why he's going to pop in and talk about bikes with us a little bit. So, we're outside. It's a beautiful scene. We're looking at a bunch of wild flowers. You know, it's a little bit overcast. It's breezy. Very comfortable.
>> There's all these bees that >> Oh my god. I'm looking at an apricot tree with apricots actually growing on it.
>> So, there's a lot going on.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Stimulation wise for this age child.
>> I want to get us into the timeline. Back to the back to France.
>> Back to Yonas.
>> I want to get I want to get in Well, I wanted to work into that one. I'm going on a timeline here. Okay.
>> So, that So, we've got We had a big mountain mixup. Okay.
TAD had stamped his authority on previous mountain stages, but we were all saying, "Oh, we're not at the high mountains yet where Yonas really hits it off." You know, we're still finishing on, you know, like like flats or like slight descents where dominates because he's such a powerful rider. So, this was really going to be Yonas's chance to really show us what he's made of on stage 15. Even though >> the team was gearing up for the team was gearing up for it. I mean, the team was working for Yonas this whole stage. You could tell that he was planning something. Yonas, even though he had been bruised and battered by Tade this whole tour, he in his you could tell he still believed. He want not that he didn't believe he was going to try his hardest. That's a really nice thing about Yonas. He's always going to try his hardest. He doesn't give up. He just sometimes he gets he mentally maybe becomes completely so battered that it looks like he's giving up. But he's a very relatable character I think in the arc of heroes. Right.
>> Yeah. He's he's a relatable hum like a demigod.
>> Right. Right.
>> Yeah. He's Maui.
>> So the night So the night So the night before both Yonas and TAD were checked by doping control.
>> 3 or 2 a.m.
>> 2 a.m. for Yonas and 5:00 a.m. for Tade.
Now, ordinarily, to give you some context, it's usually they test, they respect the rers's sleep because imagine you're doing these 130 mile stages with, you know, uh 13,000 plus feet of elevation. Day [snorts] in and day out, you're 15 stages in. So much >> you got to sleep. You got to sleep. So, the sleep is so important. These guys are like, you know, they >> the the rest is so important, not only for your physical abilities, but for your mental acuity.
>> And so, you know, generally they don't wake up in the middle of the night to test for doping. But I guess the French authorities had had I can't remember the exact terminology, but they had had they had had great suspicion, enough suspicion to wake these guys up and test them. A few other teams were tested, too.
>> Is that the word? Is that the official word? It was like even more official than that.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we know it's it's, you know, we all want to leave the doping era behind, but when you're faster than the doping era, it does open up a lot of questions. I will.
>> No, I mean, it's all about, you know, the socks, >> which I do I honestly do I honestly do believe nutrition was so bad before and it was something from my like from a nutrition background that I had coming into racing. I was appalled by how little people knew about actual nutrition and how they were still, you know, gauging it on as we keep bringing up the horse meat the the cheese wrapped and horse meat >> or just you know the popcorn diet to lose weight. So, you know, there's a lot there was a lot of room for improvement, but you know, there's always got to be suspicion when these guys are just pulling these superhuman efforts.
>> So, >> and those numbers match exactly to like how much performance benefits you can see when you take this substance. And it's like, "Oh, 10% improvement." And then you see, "Oh, you've got 10% improvement." That's a little sus.
>> Yeah. You know, >> to knock on the door at 2 a.m.
>> at 2 a.m. And >> so, so Yonas has got a pee in a cup at 2. You got to produce some urine at 2 a.m.
>> And so anyway, that's we could we we'll put that in a little compartment, okay, for for later. So the stage the stage carries on. It was a It was flatish and then it ended with an above category mountain >> climb. It was It was a bit bumpy.
There's a couple of uh pimples >> pimples in there. So, it's the Yonas's team. Yumbo, not Yumbo, sorry. Visa Lisa bike.
>> Visa Alisa bike is pushing at the front.
Obvious they're pulling all the other riders. Now, remember Jonas >> team, there's like four of them.
>> Yeah. Jonas is not in a like he's like the previous stages he was his lead was being chipped away at in second place by Remco Auso Del Toro you know throwing his right right had a hu had a huge breakaway stage where he put a bunch of time in on and then he lost a bunch of time the next day.
>> Yeah. Phil called him Tim Pidcock. His name is Tom Phil. Yeah, that's an Even I can get that one.
>> I know. Come on, Phil. He's your countryman. Yeah, we'll talk. I think we'll probably have a after this we may have a whole podcast about how Billy [laughter] gets to retire and I held out for a long time, but yeah, he's pulling a Biden. All right, >> so you know, we're we're deep into the stage. Uh Vizma has been basically pulling not Yeah, Visma has basically been pulling all of Yonas's competitors and we're like, why are they doing that?
Obviously, they believed in Yonas that day. Yonas is gonna make a big move.
Well, it was a big move that we never got to see because right at the base of the final climb, this is a climb they had never done before on the tour. So, there is some speculation that there was some paying off by the town mayor, whatever they call him in France, that they should have this stage go through his town. Even though even though it was a bunch of like road traffic and not road traffic, road >> there there was a lot of road furniture.
>> Yeah. Because that's the word.
>> Yeah. Because you know there was a breakaway in this stage and the the person who was in that solo lead, remember that curve, he had to jump over some like road furniture that was >> like the the median divider or whatever.
remember we had to bounce over that >> and we were getting nervous and it was just around there where >> we should also say that this is the second day in the road that our that our Captain America Quinn Simmons >> perhap are maybe could be alt cyclist Quinn Simmons I mean the last episode we talked about that and I did we did have a bunch of messages saying that he is an alt cyclist.
>> Okay. Well, he we had one person who said [laughter] who had a perspective that I was like, >> we're gonna leave this. Yeah, I've got no perspective. But he's >> I'm not gonna I'm not gonna say >> I mean, true to my whatever, regardless of his politics, he is one of the most exciting racers to watch because not only the previous day he was lighting it up out front, but this day too, if you remember.
>> Yeah. [snorts] >> Like huge effort. He's not a mountain climber yet. He made it very far up this climb. And and if it wasn't for impressive, you know, if it wasn't for the big guns really putting in those moves, you know, >> so you know, the boy's trying out there.
>> He's trying. It's pretty incredible.
He's getting a lot of He's the most aggressive rider, I think, two days in a row on that. His parents are there. I saw this awesome I'm on a tangent here, but the stage before when he was out front, his dad was gave him like a high five like from the crowd.
>> It went viral.
>> I thought that I saw that live and I thought that was so cool. I mean, imagine like raising like being a cyclist yourself and raising two because Quinn Simmons brother is also a professional cyclist, but raising a kid and then like seeing them race the tour to France and be able to high-five them from the side of the road while they're leading the tour to France like in the front of the pack in the stars and bars >> in a Yeah. in a breakaway. Like that is beyond my comprehension of coolness.
Like I I would >> hopefully one of our nephews I don't I wouldn't wish that. I wouldn't wish I wouldn't wish being a professional cyclist on anyone that I love. But >> anyway, so Yonas is coming down with his team about to come, you know, about to have his Phoenix moment.
>> And Camp Arts is leading it out. The the motorcycle, the lead moto kind of takes a weird line through. Camp Arts follows.
There's that there's like kind of like a pinch point. They kind of hesitate for a moment and Yonas is in the back of the pack because his team is leading him.
And there's an accordion effect where if the people in front put their brakes on and have to do a maneuver, it just kind of flows to the back. And as it turns out, we you can't couldn't quite fully see it cuz there was a tree in the way.
But Yonas, >> even with all the angles and stuff, it just looked like he lost >> he lost the wheel and >> lost control of his bike momentarily.
Goes down and I mean >> right into the curve of like a >> Yeah. Like right into a curb.
>> Yeah. And he looked >> he looked it was immediately it was like yeah it was really sad. It took out Del Toro and a few others also but they were able to get back on their >> bikes but they got up and was riding.
>> But Yonas second place in the to you know second currently second in the GC.
Jonas, you know, almost >> four minutes and change behind Todd, >> right? Almost immediately we see him, you know, wincing like in pain getting into the ambulance >> and you he looks up at the sky for a brief moment like as he's wincing and that was the moment where I was that like really hit me.
>> Yeah.
>> You know that you spend your entire year preparing for this race 22 this 21 stage race and you've you're living you live in an island of elevation. You can't come >> away from everyone you love.
>> Away from everyone you love. You can't come down and like say hi because then you lose your elevation train.
>> It's it's a monastic practice.
>> You you weigh all your food. Yeah.
>> Not just you, but your whole team that's supporting you. So you have the weight of your team on the shoulders, the weight of the sponsors on your shoulders, your own expectations.
>> And you're nothing, you know, you're nothing more than just a 130 lb >> hero boy.
>> Hero boy. just, you know, you become so fragile and just to have cycling such a cruel sport to have that this could happen to anybody. You know, this could happen to Tade, but he has like this uncanny ability to not get injured from crashes or avoid them altogether.
[snorts] >> I say it's blood magic.
>> Blood magic cuz you think his mom is witch Yeah.
>> Old world witch.
>> And and I mean that in a really good way.
>> Um I have respect for the dog as Anyway, >> so after this, you want to talk about Remco? Remco goes. So, we'll we'll move this along. Remco ends up, you know, all of a sudden Yonas is gone. It's like a free-for-all for second place.
>> There was a lot of chatter like because another UAE rider went down along with Isach. And when they got back up, they were riding up kind of chatting with themselves. They they've obviously reached Tade and then they relay the news like, "Oh yeah, Yonas has gone down." And then over the team radio, everyone hears like, "Okay, Yonas is in the ambulance. He's not coming back."
And so the the game really turns on because this has always been a race for second place with Todd being in the form he is. So then third place and fourth place, which is Remco and one and Isach like they are all going to be trying now for second place. And I liked at the end Remco really throws it in and he wins that stage with Tade right next to him.
They finish at the same time and it was obviously Tad could have taken that stage I think >> but out of out of respect for what had just happened to his friend and he calls him his friend because Yonas has always been extremely respectful of Tade when he has fallen he he'll like wait up and stuff. I I really like the the respect and the friendship that they have at that high level. So then Remco takes the stage and we are very much looking forward to what happens next because today yesterday they had a race arrest day after that crash and today is an individual time trial which Remco does really well in. He is the rainbow jersey holder for the time trial. So >> he's the best time trialist out there.
>> He's going to he's going to step it up.
>> None of us thought Remco was going to be able to make it up these mountains. So that's a that's a big and and he did it.
You know, Florian Lipoitz who was third in the Tour to France last year was we I think we all expected him to really outshine Remco and put him in his place.
>> Yeah.
>> But it didn't happen. I should we should also note that this stage was also supposed to be another gift to Del Toro.
>> The reason why TAD didn't, you know, aside from the you know the sympathy for Yonas, Tade was leading Del Toro to was pushing Del Toro. kept on calling it Del Toro's mountain >> and this was this is your mountain and so but Del Toro just didn't have it at the end. good captain. You know, he crashed and >> Yeah. Yeah. He had crashed. He didn't have it at the end and and Remco out sprinted him and Todd didn't even I he says he contested for Todd could have won that stage no problem.
>> But yeah, so you know, big changes. So, you know, we could we're we're speculating just like what happened in the Women's Euro about when they kicked out at least when they kicked out >> Weebis in the first stage >> that there was a uh that there maybe >> some uh >> the Italian mafia was there like maybe the doping thing in the middle of the night was like wake up wake them up you know we Paul Sex has got to has got to you know has got to shine here you know.
>> No, cuz we haven't had a French winner yet. So I think they knew that Sex House wasn't going to be TD, but they wanted him to, you know, do a little bit better. So maybe this like dope control in the middle of the night just to wake up Yonas was a was like an edge.
>> That's the [clears throat] mob >> was sex.
>> Give us your urine. [laughter] >> So speculations, [clears throat] tune in. The tour is going to get I think this next week of the tour in the high mountains is going to be awesome. Remco is in great form.
>> Let's wrap it up here. We've talked about the this enough, but it was really exciting and it's big news, so worth talking about.
>> As far as leading up to the women's tour, someone to watch out for is Zoe Backstead, child of Magnus Bagstead. And another person we love watching in Cyclacross as well. She's super strong.
Had >> injury and sickness last year, but she's come back really, really strong. She just won the overall GC for the Belwa ladies tour which is like up in Belgium in the Nether Nettoish lands.
>> That's really exciting because she is a teammate of Kashas and I would love >> this is a tuneup for the this is obviously a tuneup for the for the >> Yeah, this is I mean not all the not all the superstars were there but >> still showing good form. And when does the women's tour start?
>> August. Early August.
>> Early August. So, let's get >> We've got a little time. [clears throat] >> That's it for the for the race stuff.
Ra, you want to talk about the Kana?
[laughter] >> The Ra, talk about the Kona >> Kona Unity, that mixed wheel expedition bike that's got the builtin front rack and a bellied down tube. [laughter] [gasps] >> Big big alt bike release >> uh this past week. Uh the Kona Unity. A play on words, the Kona unit. I'm sure many of you know about that bike. That's kind of like been their hard tail that's been in the in the >> in their lineup for a long time. So, the Kona Unity at first glance. So, I to time to time for Jant to toot his horn here.
>> Totally toot away. You know what? Let me let me to let me build this up for you.
>> Okay.
>> In 2017, Ron and I do the Baja Divide Major Sendoff. That tour requires >> 2016, wasn't it?
>> That was 2017 January.
>> All right.
>> The that requires plus tires. That means three in or wider, >> right?
>> That's just what the trail >> It's a big deal at the time. Plus tires of you. That was real popular. That was the 32 in of the time were plus tires.
>> It is. So at that time 2017, let me tell you, Ronnie is getting these ideas about bike that can suit something like this and riding in the desert.
>> An expedition bike, >> excuse me, >> sorry.
>> That can hold a lot of water essentially without making the bike handle all funny. He lovingly called it the swamp thing. Darren built one out for you and you were riding this thing around in the desert starting in 2018 and into 19. In 2019, there's a Rativus article about it and it's called Ultra Romance's Wartthog. John called it the Wartthog Wash Wiper Dirt Tourer. Say that really fast three times. Wartgashwiper Dirt Tourer. That's pretty good. And that was in 2019. I'm telling you, if you look at the photos, it looks I mean, minus the bellied thing, the the down tube belly. It's the the geo looks very very similar. Ron was able to squeeze a fat tire up there. That's a 5 iner.
Ladies, [laughter] if you can hear me, it's 5 in thick.
>> Thick [snorts] and long. That's thick.
So, that was up there. And then plus tire just a three incher in the back. So set up like that kind of a mullet. And then today we have the Kona Unity.
>> Unity.
>> I was like I almost called it the >> as one stand together. Unity.
Evolution's got to come. Okay. So, this this is also set up like a mullet, >> as in it's got a 700 C or 29iner front and a 275 rear.
>> Yeah.
>> So, you know, the I don't quite know why they mix sizes. Maybe for more bag clearance in the rear. I don't I didn't read into it.
>> But it's a it's it's I know this bike works because I've ridden it in in my interpretation. It's got very similar geometry. Mainly being, you know, when when we built the the the Swamp Thing, Warthog, Wash Wiper, it was based around the geometry for the the Geometron Nikolai finish brand. Made a Ge the Geometron, which was the first.
>> Yeah. I mean, I took a lot from Yeah. I love those futuristic words like that.
The So the Geometron was a full suspension like aggressive downhill bike, downhill, free ride bike, free ride, no free ride, >> enduro bike or whatever. And my friend Brendan was all about it in Durango and he was like we were really pushing the edge of what mountain bike geometry would be. So all the other big brands had pretty standard like what the geometry had been since the early a really not many not much changing. And so this big talk about progressive geometry and mountain biking was coming out. And I was fascinated by it because as we've talked about, I don't know if I talked about it on this pod, but with my own bike design, I love how geometry can modernize a bike without making it look, you know, like what we associate with modern bikes.
>> So you you could do it under the hood, just improvements under the hood. And so you you you lengthen the top tube, steeper seat tube angle, slacker head tube angle. So this Kona Unity has got the same thing. It's got a 75 degree C tube angle, 65 degree head tube angle, >> and with a huge triangle. And that huge triangle you could fit all your water in there. I had a custom frame, a custo Connor, I can't remember his last name in >> Oburst. No, >> Connor Ober [laughter] in Tucson at the time. He was a young guy and he was making these giant water bladders. So, he made me a custom water bladder that fit in that triangle and it was 12 L. I could fit 12 lers of water. Oh, I remember.
>> You remember that? 12 L of water in my triangle.
>> Oh, yeah. I remember that bag for sure.
>> But I remember Connor because he was the first one. Sorry, side note. Who on a camping trip brought eggs and made eggs for breakfast like brought >> little egg egg crackers.
>> He was like 20.
>> He was like 21 or 22 at the time. Yeah.
Anyway, >> advanced guy. Tucson. Born and raised in Tucson. I think he lives in Durango now.
I I like I like saw him there last year when I was on my birthday ride. He was like across the street and I was like, "Holy [ __ ] hey, Connor." And then we dipped into trails, didn't have time.
Anyway, so cool bike. Uh expeditionbased, which is really cool.
They've also got a built-in front rack, which I didn't have that on. I didn't have that. Looks super stable. Looks beefy. I would say, you know, knowing these like expedition type bikes, you could take these things anywhere and everywhere. It's going to be It's not going to be something you're going to want to ride around unloaded. So, it's really only for trips, >> big trips, >> you know, big trips. It's not something you're just going to be like, you know what? I'm going out for a little ride.
Going to take my my big old Warthog Unity bike and but as far as like an expedition by taking like, >> you know, without racks, well, you have your built-in rack, taking everything out there and having it not adversely affect the handling of the bike. that bike when I was out on trails. I did a a multi-day trip in the San Juans and I think we were out for six days and I didn't even like top up on water just for fun. I was just like, "How much water can I bring out here?" That's cool.
>> And you just don't feel it. You have so much traction >> because of all the weight in there, but make sure you get a low gear obviously.
>> Yeah. I mean, you've you've definitely got the pie dish in the back there. You can fit it. And it just, this is the kind of bike that animates for me all kinds of like backcountry >> riding. Some of my favorite stuff is when you're really out there and it feels like you are really out there in the wild and you still have everything you need on your bike for days and days.
Like that is such a good feeling. Am I right? Even though it's a heavy bike day, but >> it it just it animates so much adventure for me. Is that same deal for you? Like we're already thinking about all the big trips that we've done and >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, this is really kind of cool.
>> It's not going to be a bike that you use much, >> but the times that you use it, you're going to love it.
>> It's a It's [laughter] a It's a for specific like I think I'm I'm all about like narrow use case scenarios for bikes. Um because that that helps you really build out your stable, you know, if you've got the room. And you know, I I like building bikes like specific for certain like trail networks and things around here.
And this is something that really plays into that. The the expedition bike, I think everyone's got even if you even if you only use it once, it's going to be life-changing. [laughter] Not the bike ride, but the actual >> Well, it [ __ ] that you get into out there.
>> Exactly. It opens up a lot more variety out there on what you can what you can do >> what you can comfortably do on a bike and have fun doing it.
>> So cool up on you Kona. Nice. So you can check it out on on on all the all the you know websites right now.
>> Ra is done on Kana.
>> Ra is done on Kana folks. Um okay. What do we got?
>> And good job designing this bike in 2020 2017.
>> Thank you. I knew I was on I knew I was on to something. I you know I didn't have quite the I remember >> releasing that or soft releasing it and getting getting emails from Bike Radar, cycling news and like a few other outlets and being so confused but they were like >> really into like what are you doing man?
[laughter] >> Hey, >> they were like oh he's doing he's doing bikes. I was like no I'm just I don't know what I'm doing but >> I guess that was the first bike that you >> Yeah. did with Yeah. that I had the I was like, "Okay, we might do it." Oh, yeah. D I Daniel uh Danny and Carla.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> I made one for him.
>> That's right.
>> We made one for him and I think he's still riding it, >> but that was our sponsored athlete at the time.
>> That's right. Perido NBT is the >> because we were already moving out of being on the road full-time and I was like, well, we got to pay someone else to be out or not pay but make I wanted to have a team rider kind of what how Matt from Crust had done with Romancer for me.
>> Yeah.
>> And so I was like, okay. And so Danny did some awesome rides on that. We did the Commamino Diablo with him on that.
>> That's right.
>> And the Deep Sand.
>> Yeah. It worked great.
>> So, you know, cool stuff. Cool stuff.
Uh, >> that's when I met Sam.
>> Yes. So, let's put a bow on that and move on to Storm of the Century with Ara >> Bing God. [laughter] >> You uh you did I want to I want to just say I think >> promises were made.
>> Promises were made.
>> Promises were kept. So out of your >> All right, listeners >> 800 miles 800 miles that you've logged [laughter] in this year and an eighth of that >> done one day.
>> Done in one day.
>> Yeah. So I It's wasn't a century proper.
I was shy five.
>> Mhm. I think that's cooler.
>> You think so?
>> Uhhuh. Yeah.
>> I mean I was shy 4 >> one.
>> I always like to do like if it's going to be a century I'll keep it at 99.
>> Just you just love edging just to be like it's like such a flex. feel like centuries don't mean anything to me. 99 was on a ride.
>> Well, I'm not that way. I do love triple digits.
>> But I'm also very okay with 95. I had a great day. I took my road bike out and mostly stuck to roads. Although I hit some gravel cuz you must if you Well, I must if I want to enjoy myself. It can't just be >> paint a picture. What bike are you on?
I'm on the Cannondale Precad CAD bike. It's red.
>> A road bike.
>> It's a [clears throat] road bike. I already said it's a road bike.
>> Great. Great little fast car. It's red.
This color of speed and it weighs I think like 19 lbs.
>> Tell us about the What kind of tires have we got? What do we got? We got some >> I mean we got what we got the fattest tire we could fit in there which is a 30. which is a 30 and it's not a size that Ultra Dynamico made sadly. So they >> your average speed would be quite a bit higher.
>> It would be a lot higher I would say.
Yeah. If I was riding on race casing Ultra Dynamico best in the industry.
>> What are on there? What what tires are on there?
>> Those are Challenge P.
>> Right. Right.
>> What is it? Perry Rubé something. So there's a slight amount of protection on it. But I do, you know, challenged those those tires have lasted quite a quite a bit, but they're not they're not vulcanized. So they they it's like kind of made up in the old style. So unfortunately like the edges do kind of come unlaminated, unglued, but starting to happen. Yeah.
>> For for the Cannondale. But, you know, this is my fake team bike >> cuz everyone in Nutmeg Country team >> are obsessed with red >> is obsessed with red >> and they all have the it's >> the fastest color.
>> Darren ZR1's built up for them in the team colors. So, I have a fake one >> which we will be pre-ordering in probably next week, folks.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Yep. CR1 by Ron's Bikes Country Road mid-reache road bike. You can fit 33s or 38s. Those are the two things that Ultra Dynamica offers. So or or just or if you want 30s, I won't say no.
>> Yeah, I would love a 33. I mean, put me on the list.
>> Yeah. Yeah, >> if possible. But yeah, beautiful ride.
It's riding roads. I used to ride all the time when I was doing my centuries with the full moon regularly. It was it was just a beautiful day out. It was like the first really nice day that we had pretty much all week because we had all of the smoke from the wildfires in Canada and up north in the upper peninsula there coming down and just wreaking havoc. Like it looked like the sky >> it wreaked >> it it smelled but it also just made the sun look like the moon. My nephew was like look at the moon in the middle of the day. I was like, "That's the sun, you dummy. [laughter] >> God, learn. You're 6 years old. You should know."
>> Oh, you should know that by [laughter] now.
>> Yeah. So, >> yeah. And then there was all that rain on Saturday when we normally our big >> We had six inches of rain.
>> It was like a storm. And I saw a lot of trees down on my ride. I love seeing what, you know, nature has wrought to these lands after after a big storm day like that. So, I just wanted to be on my bike all day. It was going to be like 70 and kind of peekab-boo sun and I just had a great solo day. You know, I also needed that day to process through some stuff. You know, on these centuries, there's always tears. Tears for fears.
And yeah, just just love it for all kinds of mental and physical upkeep. And I was pretty fast. No, I think my fastest century I've ever done was at Mids South a bunch of years ago with you and Patrick. Like everybody was there and I did like 105 in 13 miles.
>> Really? You averaged 13 miles an hour?
>> I did. I checked my activities.
>> What was what was the elevation gain on?
>> It wasn't much. It was I think I want to say like four or five. And the one that I just did 95 with 5,737 completed in 756. 7 hours 56 minutes. So I averaged 12, which is very good for me just like right off the right off the bat.
>> Said only only 700 miles in the legs this year prior to that.
>> Yeah.
>> So yeah, I was very impressed. I just think you're so cool that you when I was on a ride with the with the guys and they're like, "Where's Arya today?" And I was like, "Extreme Arya out doing a century."
>> Yeah. The pendulum has swung to the extreme side.
>> The extreme side. And they're like, "Wow." And I was like thinking, I was like, "It's pretty [ __ ] cool that that my sweetheart is is capable of so much and and and can perform at this level just like, you know, when you set your mind to it and you do it. I guess there's something about What is that about these Century Rides that makes them so doable for you?" I think it's just being outside all day.
>> And so you have But you're not necessarily like an outside all day type of person though.
>> Yeah. I could I could not. But I think for my type of mind >> there's like so many decisions you have to make in a day. Like what are you going to eat? What are you going to do in this hour and that hour? What are the tasks? Like all of that melts away and you just become laser focused on like I've got my food in my bag. I've got the route downloaded. Like for 10 hours I am doing this singular thing that is moving my body through space like the best I can >> and the decision-making fatigue goes away. Like all of all of the daily stuff kind of melts away and you're just like in it. you're in the moment and you can kind of like check out almost of your dayto-day and like the drudgery of every day like dishes and deciding on dinner and all this stuff goes away and you can just be and I think that's the thing about centuries that I love so much is just a whole day to yourself to >> to just be out there and deal with whatever comes up. And I'm really proud of myself for this specific one because I kept my breaks really short. Like all the past centuries I've done, they have always been I'm out there for like 12 hours. I was only out there for 9 and a half hours and it was very intentional of like taking breaks whenever I wanted, but I just didn't linger too long.
>> Yeah. I was shocked with how quickly you got that done.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I didn't linger too long.
And while I was riding, I was very conscious of like keeping my pace and my speed up. So I was kind of locked in and really enjoyed myself. Like the the the selft talk I had in my head was like you're going to do this in sub 8 hours and I know you can do it. Like if you want to quit, you can quit later. Like quitting comes very easily in my head. So, I don't need to [laughter] work on thinking that I could quit anytime because that's always available to me.
But what I was thinking was like, >> of course, you can do this in sub 8.
Like, you got it in your legs. And then I did. Yeah.
>> So, it was pretty cool.
>> Yeah.
>> Highly recommend it.
>> I'm definitely going to bring back Full Moon Centuries cuz I I need it.
>> I think that's your aptitude. You know, these long these long rides are definitely your aptitude.
>> Yeah. I feel now that you're getting speedier at them, you could even go longer. That's like the cool thing about, you know, once you get once you Yeah. doing a century. I feel like just about anyone who's listening to this, you could do a century. Like you could do it. It's just a matter of doing it.
You know, if you keep eating, that's the that's the keep eating. If you I you know, Sarah Swallow told me this once. I really that really I really liked the that that the only thing you like on a bike tour you could go as long as you want. You just keep eating. That's all that's all it takes. You just got to keep on giving the body fuel that it likes and not like making your stomach sick. But, you know, if you keep on giving your body calories, you'd be amazed with what it can do.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, and so, yeah, I just I think, you know, as you get faster with it, you could start doing like 150, you could do 200, you could start doing these randering rides. And I'm you know but you know it's just I don't do >> well Samantha and I talked on the phone yesterday and we did bring up QB QBP Paris press Paris again cuz that's just like something it's the there's more exciting races for sure >> but because it's so historic the first one and there's a structure to it that like brings in group efforts and like uh rearing like gearing up for it. It's in 2027. I don't know. I I keep flirting with it. I don't know.
>> I could see you liking that. Yeah. Me personally, >> hell hell to the no.
>> Hell to the no. I don't [laughter] ever want to be on my bike for that long.
Like that. Like I Yeah. And you do. We have these different >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm always afraid of Yeah. I'm the more I have the moderate approach. You have the extreme approach.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> That's why I'm the extremist and Ronnie's the moderate.
>> Uh in politics as well.
[gasps] >> So, that wraps up the storm of the century, doesn't it? It sure does.
>> Mhm. I'm really proud of you for for getting out there and doing that. That was really cool.
>> Thank you. I hadn't done ride that long since the tour divide 2023.
>> Wow. Is that real?
>> Yeah, that's real. I had not done a century.
>> She's back >> or anywhere close since then. And it feels really good, I must say.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I'm I'm curious to when we get to talk about this next one hopefully just next a month away. Oh, Full Moon is actually coming up. Uh it's it's it's half full right now. just you like I'm such a sicko right now for it cuz I like want to ride every day now because you know how it's kind of addictive like I felt really good.
>> Yeah. Yesterday I went for like a 10 mile recovery ride and I was just like singing and had a great time.
>> Mhm.
>> Yeah. When you when >> I think I might do it every week >> when the legs feel good.
>> Yeah. The legs are uh you know they're good. Uh you know uh so yeah.
>> All right. Well, >> should we bring out the local pervert?
>> Do or or were we doing Yeah, that's right. We have a local pervert to bring out. So, I'm going to put this on a quick pause. Going to go upstairs and and extract Alex from our bathroom.
>> I don't know you can call it a bathroom right now. There's nothing.
>> There's nothing in there.
>> I don't know if you can call it bathroom before that either, though.
>> I'll post photos.
>> Yeah, before and after photos, folks.
Like we were saying, we were basically just popping a squat in a hole in the floor. Not basically. It was a dark hole in >> Ask our friends. Yeah, we had an indoor the >> Maybe we should get MJ on the show, Ron's mom, to talk about horrified by our bathroom for years.
>> She bit her tongue, though. She's done a good job.
>> All right. Well, let's go find Alex.
>> Let's get Alex, our savior.
>> Oh, boy. Live, local, and late breaking.
We've got You want to do your full name?
You want We've already said it.
>> Yeah, you already said it. Go for it.
>> Alexander Dyson, local pervert and and con and roof salesman now.
>> Yeah. and runner up for best in show.
>> Runner up for best of show at the nor easter. Yeah. Yeah. And harbinger of the word of the term bricked up here on this podcast.
>> Yes. Thank you for that.
>> Yeah. You're welcome. [laughter] >> I'm happy to hear it getting used.
>> Are you bricked up right now?
>> We're getting there.
>> Moment [laughter] for Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Um so only the second guest is the first live guest. I No, I guess Taylor was a live guest, but the first like in person guest.
>> I know. What a fall from grace. It's gone from Taylor Finny to the local pervert. [laughter] And I should say that we refer to you as the local pervert [laughter] because of how like the like the cold sweats that you were having at the noraster last year while you were while you were entering your CR1 team road bike into the competition for best and show >> and afterwards when you were faced with a Brian Chapman's Bianke the Bianke that he had read. Oh, you >> Oh, no. I remember. Yeah. I think about it every day. Every morning I wake up everything. It was your size and you did not get it. But you were you were you were coming at me. Your eyes were so glazed over.
>> I remember the eyes.
>> The eyes were and I was like I I didn't I was I'm going to say that that was the moment when you really endeared yourself to me as local pervert.
>> As local pervert cuz I was like this guy has it harder than any of us. Like like he [laughter] like >> that was a that was one of the best bikes on site that day. I I was so impressed by how just [laughter] completely pieed you were about the spike and asking everyone, should I should I get it?
[laughter] And and I was like, wow, this this is this was some this is something else. So, >> it was the eyes of a jungle cat as it's about to pounce on its prey. You know how they get all big and like >> a jungle cat? I don't know.
>> You know, like low and they're about to lunge. I I implore your listeners to go and look up the bike I'm talking about because it is a beautiful beautiful bike. It was a It was a trashed Bianke that Brian Chapman got his hands on totally refinished. I think he like took out some dents, >> repainted it just this like lusty silver made the brakes.
>> Handmade the brakes and oh my god trying those brakes. like you know you you grab them at first and you're like that's a little soft but like no you keep going perfectly modulated >> you're saying all the words I love.
>> So let's start.
>> We already said your name. Where'd you grow up?
>> West Hartford, Connecticut.
>> Hey with a hint of the Philadelphia area.
>> Hint of the Philadelphia area.
>> Yeah. Yeah. From ages >> cream cheese.
>> Yes. Exactly.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah. From ages 8 to 13 I was outside of the >> Oh Philly in the suburbs. So then, but 13 and and beyond, you're back in Harford.
>> Yes.
>> West Harford.
>> West Harford. West Harford.
>> West Harford.
>> Let's be clear.
>> Westford. West Harford.
>> Although I lived in Harford in my adult years.
>> Yep. Okay. And I can see a Zen in your lip right now. So this is also our Zen master. [laughter] >> Yes.
Bringing the edge to Nut.
>> Bring the edge to Nutmeg Country. What's your What's your age if you don't mind me asking?
>> 33. 34 next week.
>> Okay. And I >> Same as you. You're turning 21 next week, right? Yeah. Yeah. Just about.
That's right. That's right. We do. We don't share a birthday, but it's one day apart, right?
>> Yeah.
>> So, a fellow Leo here, folks. And it is our season. We are roaring.deed. You roar with me. The just off to the side of the mic.
>> Roar. Roar.
>> Roar.
>> Roar. [laughter] >> Okay. Well, >> and shout out fellow Leo Joe Cruz.
>> Yeah. Yep. Joe Cruz. Shout out.
>> Oh, he was in my dream last night. Brian Walsh.
>> And Brian Walsh. We got a lot of We got a lot of Leos right around. Yeah. Okay.
So, in our own crew here.
>> Yeah.
>> So, when you were growing up, >> what was your you know, like what were you into?
>> I want to I want to lead We're going to tie this into what got you into into curated bikes. Use that context, please.
>> Yeah. I'd say as a teenager is mostly skateboards and marijuana.
>> Okay. Solid.
>> And then when I was 17, I got a like 1982 two or three puke Odyssey.
>> Okay. that I immediately stripped down and got a fixed gear rear wheel for.
>> So, what what year is this?
>> This was 2009.
>> Okay.
>> So, the height of Fixie culture.
>> Still pretty, you know, you are advanced cuz that's still, you know, you're still within the the the restraints of, you know, it hadn't quite jumped the shark yet, the fixed gear movement. Maybe it had, >> but you're still there. You're still there. You know, if you go beyond if you're getting into fixed gears beyond 2010, then you're probably you're probably delivering for Jimmy John.
[laughter] >> But >> so at this time, what got me into it was my friend Paul >> showed me.
>> Want to shout out Paul?
>> Yeah, I'll shout out Paul. Paul Pilipition, my childhood friend who you say it. Okay.
>> We've been getting him deep into the alt bikes lately. So, we grew up skateboarding and riding bikes together.
And >> I remember we stumbled across the Macapma video. If you remember the Maka Framma guys, they were like a fixed gear >> team club cult out in San Francisco.
>> Oh, but different than MASH.
>> Different than MASH.
>> Is this is this like Alt Mash possibly?
>> I'd say maybe probably around the same >> Okay.
>> Genesis. I don't really know MASH's timeline, >> but this was just like a club.
>> Okay.
>> And they put out just a cool long form video that was, you know, it's just them like throwing big skids down these, you know, San Francisco hills. And you know, you get like early fixed gear freestyle, but they're doing it on like Biankey's with arrow spokes.
>> Okay, I could I could picture it. I'm throwing up a little bit in my mouth, but I could picture it, [laughter] you know.
>> Okay, >> keep it down, Ron. Keep it down.
>> So, that got fixed gear on my radar, which >> made me want to build one up. And, >> you know, I I wouldn't say I was a bike builder at that time, but >> Okay. But you had you were you were you had an eye for for for curation. Yeah.
So to speak.
So, leading into what you're into now, when did you start getting into more ATB Reddit subreddit style builds?
>> Subreddit style builds.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> We should say we should preface this all by saying you're a big deal on Reddit.
>> I'm a medium deal.
>> Medium deal.
>> Yeah. On like one subreddit on X-iking.
>> X-iking.
>> Yeah.
>> Describe to us X-iking. Reddit.
>> X-iking. It's, you know, you take it.
It's basically take a vintage 26er, you know, throw some bars with some rise on there, slap together a bunch of old components, some new components. I don't know. It's I feel like the your like classic restood 26er aesthetic.
>> Okay. All right.
>> You know, bags, racks.
>> Would you say that was your inception into the modern altike world?
>> No, I think the wind here. Hold on.
Let's let this breeze pass just in case it gets a little noisy. I think my modern inception was I kind of wanted to get into gravel and I was following Tony Kpichka already just from his climbing and his trail running which I was doing both of >> and he was on the crust team with you >> and so I was seeing his aesthetic of like the crust bikes with you know like the the deep profile you know he'd have zips envys hunts >> and just kind of that like restood aesthetic. M M Yes, that's right. I for I think that's really cool to have that connection cuz you're also an ultra runner yourself.
>> Yeah, formerly.
>> I mean, a Leadville 100 finisher right here.
>> Yes.
>> You got the buckle.
>> I got the buckle. I got the big buckle.
>> You're You're so good about your accolades. Also a finisher of the Appalachian Trail.
>> Oh, yeah. Correct. 2020 southbound >> classic style.
>> No, the classic style would be northbound.
>> Okay. Well, >> but I go against the grain. He goes, >> but yeah. No, I mean like in purest continuous style.
>> A purist. That's what I wanted to bring.
He's pure.
>> Pure. He's pure.
>> He's a certain level of pure.
>> You're a Connecticut boy.
>> Yes. [laughter] >> Pedigree.
>> So, what was your what was your first I should say, what was your first alt build?
>> My first alt build? Well, my my first build was that bomb track that I kind of just built up like >> I don't know. It was it was big bike spec, you know, and it was it was very capable, >> you know, 6 650 by 50. I I built it up.
At this point, I figured out that you lived 30 minutes away. And then you were promoting the Spring Fling, and that was my first what I thought was a gravel ride.
>> Oh, you thought that was a gravel ride?
>> I thought that [laughter] was a gravel ride. It's not a gravel ride, folks.
>> Pure ATB.
>> Pure ATB on a drop bar bike.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] >> 50s. That's pretty good, though.
>> Yeah. 50s. I I got through it.
>> So that was the that build and I remember going on a few that was when we started inviting you on some cuz you were obviously an like an endurance guy.
So I knew you I knew you're a real sicko. I knew you could get out. I knew you could get down with these longer rides with us.
>> Yeah.
>> And and but you were on that bomb track.
You had some pretty wide bars on it too.
>> I had some cow chipper 50s. Too wide.
Wide. Yeah. Yeah. And um >> honestly when I was first seeing you come for rides I thought you were a roadie.
>> Oh thank you. [laughter] My bad. I meant that as an insult.
[clears throat] >> I took it as a compliment.
>> That's great.
>> Well, he was performance. [snorts] He was He was optimized. He was optimized.
He still is with the Zen, you know.
>> Yeah. Oh, yeah.
>> This guy's peeds right there.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, so we did some pretty long rides together up near your way.
Yes. And but it really, you know, for me, it wasn't really until you started to put together your team bike, your CR1 team bike, that I was like, where is this guy getting this stuff? Like, so te tell us about your descent into madness.
[laughter] >> Well, I'd say, okay, so my first alt bike after the bomb track, I really wanted a 26er.
>> Okay.
>> So, I started with somebody's already mostly built Antelopee Trek 830.
>> Okay.
>> And it was, you know, like Nitto riser bars, Dior 1x10, those like Maxis dirt jumper, you know, with like the peanut butter sidewalls.
>> And it was a good start. And then from there just kind of slipped into madness.
>> I remember I I ordered ortho bars for that bike.
>> And then at the same time I stumbled across an M2 Stumpy on eBay >> and I don't I don't know if you remember. I texted you and was just like, "Hey man, like if I get both these things, I'm basically just recreating your M2. Is that cool?" And you're like, "Haha, go for it."
>> I love I I I love seeing those bikes recreated. I love seeing people's like personal takes on them and cuz was something a little different.
>> Just last week, there was a beautiful one that was Orthobar M2 Stumpy, same one I have, and the guy messaged me and was just like, "Hey, I just wanted to reach out. Like, I saw yours on X-iking and this is like a total ripoff of yours and by Proxy Ronnies."
>> That's cool. Yeah, I love that.
>> Yeah, that was that was really cool.
>> Mhm. So, tell us about your I guess tell us about your favorite bike right now.
How many First off, how many bikes do you have? So, uh, no, actually I want to I want to start this over.
>> Try again. Yep.
>> How many bikes did you have when you first built up that bomb track? So, your your inception into madness.
>> That was my third. I had >> So, did you did you have three bikes in the stable at that point?
>> Yes. And what were they?
>> I had my Bianke Pista Concept fixed gear. Pure like late 2000s aesthetic fixed gear.
>> Okay. You were delivering Jimmy John's on that.
>> I was delivering Jimmy John's on that.
Correct. And then I had a 1983 Puke Odyssey. Not the one I turned into a fixed gear because that got stolen in Boulder when I was a kid. It was just another one my dad got at a garage sale and was like, "Same bike. You want it?"
And I was like, "100 bucks. Why not?"
>> Rode that thing probably twice. Okay.
>> That's still in my dad's garage. And then the bomb track.
>> Okay. So, three bikes. Okay. That How many years ago was that?
>> Four.
>> Four years ago.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> Where are you going with this?
[laughter] >> Let's go four years later. What? Tell describe to us your stable right now.
>> Do you want me to just go through them one by one?
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> In a descending I want the best one last.
>> The best one last. Well, the best one is almost built and we're waiting on that derailer and >> you could get into it a little. I think a pre, you know, we'll build up. Yeah.
What's your worst one right now?
>> I you know, >> it's got to be ridable.
>> You don't hate any of your kids, but I'd say I have a Klein built up as a single speed right now.
It's beautiful, but we're just not in a good single speed area as you've mentioned. Well, >> you know, it's just you've either got the wrong gearing to get there or you've got the wrong gearing for when you're there.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> So, it it doesn't get ridden much.
>> You like to ride in alt cycling. I think a hallmark of alt cycling is riding your bike to the trail head. Absolutely. You know, I think that's a big, you know, that's a big deal.
>> And also, when you live in the third smallest state in the union, you have no excuse. [laughter] [gasps] >> Fair enough. So, so that's the Ra uh Klein Rascal, right?
>> 1991 Klein Rascal.
>> Okay. All right. It's cool.
>> Check what's your What's your Instagram handle?
>> A LX Dyso N.
>> I would check that out. He's got a lot of cool builds on there. Pretty good photographer, too.
>> Hey, thanks.
>> So, okay. Let's move on. What's next?
>> Every day.
>> All right. I'm I'm ditching the worst to best premise because I love them all equally.
>> Okay. All right. All right.
>> We've got the Bridgestone T700. 1987 Bridgestone T700.
>> That bike you just built that up.
>> Yeah. So that's like early I mean Grant Peterson had been at Bridgestone for a couple of years, but you can tell that's like full Grant Peterson DNA, you know, like the early >> ATB or um Yeah, I guess ATB, you know, >> motorbike.
>> Yeah, cuz it Well, it's it was speced in 1987 with 28s.
>> Yeah.
>> So it's, you know, he calls it a sport tour. There's really nothing touring about it other than clearance.
>> You know, mid-reache calipers came speced with 28s. Currently running Cava 33s. You got a photo of that on your Instagram?
>> I do.
>> Check that out.
>> Check it out.
>> Okay, that one's hot.
>> That one's hot.
>> What do we got next?
>> Next, we've got the Stumpy. The M2 Stumpy. Ortho Bars.
>> Okay.
>> The best bunny hopping bar.
>> Yeah.
>> Out there.
>> That's true, >> folks. You want You want some good bunny hoppers. The Ortho bars are like picking up your groceries. It's just your bars are right next to you.
>> It's true.
>> Throw a dropper post on there. You'll get 10 feet high. [laughter] And then we've got What are those? 26.
Oh, I've got the MB1 I just finished up.
>> Oh, yeah. That's a hot one.
>> So, 1991 Bridgestone MB1.
>> Yeah, Darren puts Darren didn't make the fork. He just put in some >> Yeah. on it.
>> So, I got it with a period incorrect Judy. I swapped it out. I found the wrong paint color Richie Logic Unicrown fork.
>> Yeah, Darren added the midblade mounts cuz I was like, I'm taking it to powder, you know, jazz it up a little bit and got a pretty close powder match. That's a That's a good bike.
>> That's a good bike. So, that one's dropper posted >> 1 by11 with modern White Industries cranks.
>> Okay. Okay.
>> White Industries hubs.
>> Nice. Nice.
>> Fun rig.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Is that all the 26ers?
>> No. And then I've got >> Trek 930 1994. [laughter] That's got an Edson steel segmented fork. That's That's the basket shredder.
>> Okay. Okay.
>> Okay. So, now moving on to we've got the team bike.
>> Okay. Are people still listening? Are you guys Are you guys still listening?
America >> and beyond.
>> We love this.
>> America loves this.
>> We've got the Ron's Bikes Larkin CR1 team color edition.
>> One of eight.
>> The Armadilla.
>> The Armadilla.
>> Yeah. One of eight team bikes.
>> So that's got a fully Super Record 13.
>> Super Record 12. Rimre Mechanical.
>> The last of the Rimre Mechanical. Yes.
Record groups. probably the best rim brake mechanical group set that will ever be conceived.
>> I will say I I have I hopped on that the other day and I was like blown away by how like the shifting was very >> nice. The clicks are fantastic.
>> Everything you love about Campy was denatured into that that shifting experience. So that bike is hot as hell.
>> That bike is hot as hell.
>> You got pictures of that on your Instagram?
>> Oh yeah. Okay.
>> Oh yeah. All right. You're going to have to check out his Instagram for all of these.
>> Yeah.
>> And then and then we've got the chisel.
>> The chisel. The upcoming >> the upcoming.
>> So tell us what you've done with this.
>> So I bought the 2025 chisel full sus off of a buddy.
>> This is aluminum full suspension cross country bike by Specializ.
>> Yeah. So 130 mil fork, 110 mil shock in the rear.
>> So XC plus light down country. Good for New England.
>> And with the way that we talk on this podcast with mountain biking being the lowest rung of cycling culture, >> you know, many would would hear you talking about this bike and just be like, god, another one, you know, but what have you done to this? How have you made this your own?
>> I had a graphic designer make some decals to look like the Specialized branding is and the fox fork is that of the fat chances. Mhm.
>> I had it powder coated the like fat chance lavender >> and I designed the whole thing. It's basically supposed to look like a 1991 team fat chance yo Eddie >> with I was referencing John Watson's personal one a lot. So thank you John Watson for the excellent reference photos. [clears throat] >> So yeah I put a a 130 mil Fox Factory fork on there 34 >> Mhm. Cashima dropper to match.
>> Carbon Envy bars.
>> Okay.
>> It's so you got Let's hear about the the purple ano that we got on here.
>> For purple ano? We've got uh White Industries hubs. We've got purple Garber to match.
>> We've got a purple mad drone derailer >> coming any day now.
>> Mhm. Mhm. This bike is going to be fire.
>> It's Yeah, >> folks. not up on the Instagram yet, but I I'm thinking I want to take photos of this bike when it comes out because I >> probably this week.
>> Yeah. Okay. So, you know, we'll uh we'll keep you keep you updated on that. I'll probably might, you know, maybe even send it into the radus, see if John wants to put it up.
>> Yeah, that would be most excellent.
>> So, okay. I'm sure these are all going on your your cuz you're a Reddit superstar.
>> I wouldn't go that far, but yeah, I'll usually post them. I'll post [laughter] >> that's Well, folks, ultra romance is the ultra romance of Reddit. He's not even on Reddit. [laughter] He's the king of exiking and he doesn't have an account. That's why we keep him around here, folks. [laughter] >> Leos love to compliment. And if you >> Yeah, Leos, we we're just like licking each other's fur right now.
>> Yeah. Oh, yeah.
>> All right. Now, we want what everyone's thinking right now. Okay, I'm going to say it. Are you single? How can you How can you deal with such a sick addiction being such a depraved pervert >> and keep a relationship at the same time? Because I have a girlfriend who is a special needs teacher and has a lot of patience for folks with ADHD. [laughter] >> That's the ticket.
>> That's the ticket.
>> Yeah. I didn't realize she was a special needs teacher. That makes a lot of sense.
>> Yep. [laughter] [cough] >> Wow. Wow. Okay. An epiphany here. So, folks, if you're this much of a pervert, you better go find someone who >> has the patience of a saint.
>> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. and uh is able to you know appreciate the uh eccentricities of the brain.
>> Yes. Lots of patience is required.
>> Wow. Okay. So, she's all about the local pervert.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. All right. [laughter] >> Yes.
>> Yeah.
>> Yes, she is.
>> Well, I think uh I think that pretty much I I hope that I a continuation of this series. I would like to have Sarah on just to ask her.
>> Yeah, that would be fun.
>> Yeah. Just to like say like, "Oh, yeah.
What do you think of all this?" Because you know this is this is a you know I I think a lot of us are wondering how you balance cycling and relationships and not only cycling but the cycling when it's becomes a lifestyle.
>> Oh well you throw out your receipts before she gets home.
>> Okay. So we're already we're already >> but she would look at the receipts and be like not another bike Alex. No, it was it was more there was one time I had I had an invoice from I I ordered a Rifendelle Markx rack off at Crust and she's like that thing was $160.
I would have guessed it was 40. I was like I got to start hiding those slips from now on.
>> Oh yeah. Okay.
>> You're going to b at that.
>> So yeah, we pro So we won't bring that up with her.
>> Yeah. So we won't tell her how much Garbra cranks are.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right. [laughter] >> I'm getting them at cost.
>> Yeah.
>> All right. Well, >> I would love to have her on.
>> Yeah. Yeah. We're going to have her on some point.
>> Just tell her all of this information.
>> Yeah. I'll I'll give her a fair [laughter] warning.
>> What have you been [gasps] hiding?
>> Yeah. Yeah. I think a lot of us alt cyclists out there are wondering how you even get a girlfriend in the first place. [snorts] Like, we're all wondering how we get our first girlfriends, you know, because we're such deep nerds.
>> This is not Alex.
>> This is hot Alex, though, folks. You know, this is an exception. This is your This is This is everyone's housewives fantasy. [laughter] Have the construction man come over and unclog the toilet and come downstairs and be like, "Well, I did that."
>> laying [laughter] pipe >> laying pipe in here.
>> Which I will be doing later today at your house, by the way. Literal pipe laying. Not >> That's right.
>> Not the metaphorical.
>> And And last week when you when you had your hands all covered in our fecal matter after removing our toilet, Arya was feeding you cherries.
>> That was Yeah, that was nice. filthy.
>> That was very thoughtful. Thank you for that.
>> I got >> All right. Well, we're already an hour and 8 minutes into this podcast and you have given us some serious content here.
I think everyone's going to really content.
>> Yeah. Content. You are. [laughter] >> I know.
>> Yeah, you are on it.
>> Megan the Stallion was wearing a shirt that said this is or something. So, this is fresh in the It's fresh in the brain.
>> All right. I'm bummed I miss tour talk.
What did you guys talk about?
>> Well, you'll have to listen. All right.
>> You'll have to listen like everyone else. But hopefully they've or if they fast forwarded through that to this. I don't know [laughter] folks. Uh we are going to conclude this segment with >> Oh, wait. One one more bike. I still have the Jeez. Of course >> I have the Alamax.
>> Oh yes, of course. You have an you have That's right. for this bathroom. A work trade. [laughter] We got an the I don't know if y'all saw the the kind of like What would you call that color?
>> Butternut.
>> Curry.
>> Curry.
>> Oh, I like that. Yeah. curry colored Alax that Alex is going to be building up. Can't wait. I mean, honestly, you know, in our group, I love the way that Troy builds bikes. Troy and I have kind of been riffing off one another for years, though. So, it's cool to have this influx of like new energy and how you seriously are talented in your your vision for the builds.
>> Hey, thanks, Ron.
>> And so, and not only that, but you've been my my biggest inspiration along the [laughter] way. You're you're a sponge for not only the culture, but for how to actually do you you build your own wheels. You do all the stuff. You're new you're relatively new to cycling yet you're able to do so much.
>> And so I think that that kind of leads into our next discussion on gatekeeping and cycling, >> you know.
>> Oh, there's also the country fixed.
>> Oh, you have another butt. You have the country fixed. You are a complete pervert.
>> Yeah, you love that one.
>> I love that one. You are Oh my god, you are disgusting.
>> Yeah, it's true.
[laughter] That towel is stiff.
>> Do it's a minute 10. Do we even have time to get into gatekeeping and cycling?
>> Totally.
>> Okay. All right. Yeah, people like the long pods. So, >> I listen to podcast.
>> Feel [clears throat] free to feel free to stick around if you want or if you need to get back to work. [snorts] >> We're talking about we're we're here right now.
>> It'll only be another another 20 minutes or so, but maybe >> I do have to work on your bathroom, but you know, but also >> Yeah, >> I'm on my own clock, so [ __ ] it. That's right. [laughter] >> All right. Well, folks, gatekeeping and cycling. Uh, is gatekeeping alt? That is kind of like what we're thinking here.
Now, I'm going to pass it off to Arya because you've got some sociological expertise to lend to this. Well, the Webster dictionary defines gatekeeping [laughter] as Okay, but seriously, let's figure out what gatekeeping actually is and then we could get into the meat and potatoes because there was or the tofu and potatoes because there was a viral video like real or something that I saw and you saw too. Maybe you saw as well. No, Sally saw it. Saw it too. cuz I was talking to her about what it means. This person said like they used to ride bikes that were fast bikes and had to wear spandex but al kind of ends up being a uniform too and there's gatekeeping with within like not party pacing. I guess I'm doing a very bad job at synthesizing what this guy was saying, but basically that like it's the SLC punk take is punks end up looking like each other and then they have to have the uniform to even be punk when the whole thing is you're trying not to fit in >> or you're trying you're just doing your own thing and use the word gatekeeping which is what got us going on this and I really like gatekeeping as a concept.
cept in theory, but I think because people know this word, they use it and without really thinking about it because it's lexiconic.
And gatekeeping refers to like restricting. This is the definition, right? It's controlling access, withholding information, limiting participation in an exclusive community.
It could include policing, which is like enforcing strict unwritten rules, excluding keeping individuals out of a group hobby or status by unilaterally imposing criteria.
And last aspect is hoarding, which is like keeping secrets or valuable resources like lo store locations or media to oneself to maintain their exclusivity. And by these definitions, what do you guys think?
>> Yeah. Yeah. I don't know how it is in cities, you know, we because I feel like we're a bit apart because we live out in the country, >> but as I've noted on this podcast before, we see another cyclist, especially if they're our age in this area, it doesn't matter what they're on, we're chasing them down and inviting them to our rides. And if they can stand a group chat, an overactive group chat, then they'll >> which is mainly, you know, halfway focused on pizza, then they may be able to, you know, meet up with one of our rides. But I I don't think that we gatekeep at all. But at the same time, I'm not opposed to gatekeeping because I I I look at it as more as gatekeeping as culture building. Whereas, you know, there are ways that you can, you know, using Alex as an example here, four years into his curated alt Viking experience, and he's >> he's >> firmly in.
>> Firmly in. You know, I I don't I feel like to master something, it's got to be at least 10 years. I can't imagine how you're going to be in 10 years.
Hopefully, you're [laughter] still here.
>> I'm not saying still here phys bikes.
>> Yes. No, I got [laughter] I got that.
Thank you. I'm not saying that both, you know, but but you know, it's it's a matter of like the type of you know, respect that you give the culture that's been built. And you you can't give respect to a culture without knowing anything about it. And you know, in the in the in the years before social media, you know, it was a you had to really search for this stuff. you know, you had to really you couldn't, you know, you you either had to know some old head who knew way more than you did and had lived the bike life for decades, you know, or you had to go on Sheldon Brown's website and navigate the strange [laughter] the stranges there, you know, and so it's like it's so, you know, I think some older writers of my generation get a chip on their shoulder being like, well, who's this, you know, and like I I will admit I was like I in my head I was like I I gave you I gave you some runway but it wasn't like a uh it it was I kept it in my head I was like who is who is this like what are they trying to accomplish here and like you you take a look at cuz I'm just I love to look at people's bikes and saddle sniff. It's judgmental but it's separate. It's not gatekeeping you know. It's like I wasn't going to be like hey you can't come you can't come here. [laughter] >> Wait a minute. Hey man, that bag is wrong. What tires are these? You know, like you I wasn't like, "Oh, Maxis, you can't come."
>> Yeah. No, you can't come along.
>> You're quiet about it for a couple of years.
>> Couple years. [laughter] You know, it's not It's So I I guess that would be the like you I want to be as inclusive as possible when it comes to cycling. But you've got to als first first off you got to be able to keep up with the ride because we you know it's if there is a drop ride you know if if there's a bunch of people on the ride they don't want to be waiting around and you know we have a >> which we rarely do drop rides.
>> Yeah. Right. Right.
>> That's usually just like the our summer sicko.
>> Yeah. If you have a real long day you got to get the miles in. You don't want to be waiting up for someone. So you know there is gatekeeping that happens with that whereas you just don't have time to wait. That's like fitness level gatekeeping which I think is different than cultural gatekeeping when it comes to like costumes or you know rituals or objects of worship.
>> Yeah, the objects of worship I think.
[clears throat] >> I love the objects of worship I feel like is very integral to our culture.
>> Talisman's what you call them on X-iking.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Tell us tell us tell us the talisman that they talk about in X-iking. Well, your your talismanic parts are going to be your like your you know your classic crank sets. Also to tie into this, I think there is there is an alt cycling uniform. There is like an archetypical bike that is alt.
>> Okay.
>> You know that's your white Industries cranks, you know, White Industries or Chris King hubs, you know, Brooks B7 saddle, bertho saddle, >> or you know, just leather saddle in general.
>> And there are ways to knit bars.
>> There are ways to do like deep searches and find something that's a little bit different. But I find these these talic talismanic components, I find them to be conversation starters. I feel like they I feel like they make the they they enrich the experience the the uh they enrich the social experience experience of the ride or meetup or whatever because for me I can only socialize generally about bikes or >> when you and me ride all we talk about are bikes. We just talk about bike parts. I've been like that since I was a teenager, you know, and so it's it's for me I in order to start a conversation, it's there's got to be something like that to start with and I'll be like, "Oh, so where'd you find those cranks?" Or like, "Did you get those off eBay or in a parts bin or, you know, you just like silly?" And then that starts a whole conversation. Then before you know it, you're a gu you're doing our our bathroom and you're a guest on the podcast. you know, it's just like a it's a they're great conversation starters and yeah, it can be again cities could be an entirely different and I look forward to hearing from our listeners like what yeah what what their experiences are like what's Austin like San Francisco like are people like kicking you out of rides because you don't have the uniform >> they better not be >> like that's crazy you know and so it it's it's >> because what I see is like yeah you have these uh talismanic uh friendships [laughter] whatever because you recognize something in each other. It's like finding somebody like yourself out in the wild, you know, and so you >> t-shirt. Like a band t-shirt.
>> Like a band t-shirt. But then >> it's also a part of the alt cycling uniform.
>> Yeah, [laughter] >> it is. But that's that's a good one that you bring up the band t-shirt because when there's a when there's someone else wearing a band t-shirt, you're like, "Oh, I bet you don't even like name three records, you know, like name three songs."
>> That is that's where the gatekeeping starts. But I don't think that happens in what you guys are talking about where you recognize a white industry's delicious something and you go up and talk about it >> because you know gender essentialism says that men talk about men connect talking about things and women connect talking about more abstract things.
>> So it makes sense for that kind of connection which is anti-gatekeeping. I mean, the origins of the if I could get into the theory of gatekeeping started with social psychologist Kurt Leewin in 1943, but he was talking about how like food is decided by a household. Like what food a household eats is decided by like the woman because she's going shopping for the food.
>> So [clears throat] whatever she's buying, you're eating. you know, there's like nothing else but that. And then this other guy, David Manning White, added more of like the mass communication aspect of gatekeeping, which is like how you get information filtered through like the news or whatever it is, which I think is more relative to what we're talking about right now, is because it's like how do you get the information?
Like how did you learn all this stuff, Alex? you had access to somebody and like all of this information isn't really gatekept unless it's behind a payw wall, you know, like the but the Rativus isn't against a payw wall.
Sheldon Brown's website is extremely accessible. People are talking all the time and making videos and reels about like what's on my bike, what I'm wearing. Like it is so much information that I'm not really >> There isn't. You're right about that.
There is no gatekeeping now because it's all out there. Like if you want that information, there's no one holding it back from that.
>> It's so much out there.
>> And as far as like culture, like when gatekeeping, I think the the point of that reel at the end, it was culture when gate when culture is gatekeeper >> disappears, >> disappears. I don't I don't that's the opposite of what I would think >> like gatekeeping is the culture. Well, gatekeeping is in the way that I think that we're talking about it where there is like these I guess there's different the different ways to interpret gatekeeping, right?
>> Where it's like you've got to have some rules otherwise there's no culture to like adhere yourself to >> but it's >> not rules but you know what I mean like there's got to be the >> well yeah the markers recognize each other. Yeah, >> there's definitely like an aesthetic format, but I think there's plenty of ways to >> I tell you, if I saw somebody who I didn't know who followed that aesthetic format and like rode by our house right now or something, I'd be on my I'd be grabbing my bike like chasing them down being like, "Where'd you come from?
Where are you? Want to go?" You know, it's it's like that's how you met Eddie.
And that's how I met Eddie. That's how I met a lot of people. You've done that.
You know, you literally done that before >> because he was on a salsa or something.
>> No, he was on a sirly straggler.
>> Okay. That's >> and he had like a tie-dye shirt on and a ponytail and he rode by my parents house in Clinton like where there are there is nothing cool going on and this guy rides by and I chased him down and it and this is before you and I started dating. So, when was this almost 20 years? 2012 or something.
>> And it it burgunded into a beautiful relationship. Now Eddie's a good friend and a mainstay of our >> of our of our group here, you know. So, same thing with Troy. I noticed Troy's bike outside of Foodworks where he was working also probably more around 2010 >> and he had cloth bar tape on this bike and I was like, >> "Yep."
>> And that was that was enough for me to be like, "Ask him about his bar type bar tape. Where'd you get that? Is that New Bombs or Tresa Star? You know, and that [clears throat] that and then that's how we met, you know, because without Troy, we wouldn't have met. So, you know, you go on and on. I just implore everybody to instead of thinking like you're going to be like all hard ass about this and be like, "He doesn't have white industry cranks. Can't come on this ride." Like, be like I guess just be like be like a puppy dog. You see somebody with a cool bike, you know, start sniffing.
>> Yeah. And uh that's how you make friends in in alt cycling. I feel >> regardless of fitness level.
>> Yeah. Regardless of any of that, it's it's just an easy way for men, male people, what do you call us, >> dudes?
>> Dudes to form relationships and and we know that that's a crisis right now. We need it. And these talismanic items componentry on our bicycles is that's our way of doing it. And it's it it gets us it it's something that is fitness related also. It's like a healthy lifestyle stuff and and I just think like getting into this is it makes cycling your lifestyle. It makes you think about bikes, makes you want to ride bikes.
>> It's my experience. Is that yours?
>> Yeah, totally.
>> Yeah. And I'm one of my thoughts is if like the gatekeeping is just in regards to like barrier for entry cuz obviously no one's putting or not everyone's going to put like $450 White Industries cranks on their 30-year-old mountain bike. It's that it doesn't have to be that like the you know the archetype goes beyond that price point.
>> You know, it's just a culture for like valuing the aesthetics of your bicycle >> and no one is preventing people from that. If anything, you know, my phone's blowing up all day with people just asking how they can build 26ers. And I show my buddies like the cheap parts that they can have a beautiful looking bike and >> just come thrash in the woods.
>> And it's such a good way to accomplish all that, you know? Yeah. And of course, you could come out thrashing in the woods on like a on like a Huffy. Who cares?
>> Yeah, totally. That's That'd be sick.
>> That'd be sick. We're not going to be like, "You can't come."
>> Yeah. [laughter] I'd [ __ ] love to see that.
Kristen rode some ATB with us. Remember from Fire in the Kitchen? She had a basket bike, really skinny tires, and did some [clears throat] gnarly, rudy, rocky descent on that thing >> because she didn't know anything else.
It was just like >> and she she was whooping the whole time.
>> No, this is the way it is.
>> Yeah. Yeah, you know, that's >> a good point that it might be different in cities because I feel like in cities there's more like crews more like and that's also kind of the fun play of like social being social creatures. We've always done this.
>> You did sharks versus jets, you know, like it's it's just a thing that you do.
And um >> or like or you could be like my my arrow head is made out of obsidian, mine is made out of >> a superior.
>> Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] you know, so it's it's always it's always something.
>> Yeah.
>> I want I wanted to brief I'm sorry. Did you have >> Yeah, it does make sense that like there is that social psychologist came up with this idea of gatekeeping because I think it is very social and it is very psychological and it's based I think >> on the sensitivities and attitudes generations might have towards like rejection or social anxiety that really >> makes the gates seem much bigger than they are. I mean this isn't you know the gates of Mordor. This is more like the white picket fence that you have to hop over.
>> And now the gatekeeping gate the gatekeepers of cycling traditionally have always been bike shops.
>> Oh yeah, that's a that's a good one. Go >> ahead. So I've been in I've been I've had it bad for bikes since 1993.
[gasps] >> You have it bad like as an usher >> break. You got it you got it bad when you're on the phone.
>> I've had it so bad.
>> Yeah. and >> hang up, call right back.
>> It's been my singular focus since then, these bike, you know, the curated bike build.
>> And I've worked at a shop. I worked started working at a shop shortly thereafter >> and worked at a shop until 2001.
And I know a lot about bikes.
>> Working at a shop, racing bikes, building bikes, fixing flats for 40 hours a week sometimes as a right of passage into this bike shop.
>> Exactly. I >> And still >> And and and and still I have a flush of anxiety before entering any bike shop >> to this day >> when I started when the Ultra Romance Instagram started taking off. Mhm.
>> You know, 14, 15 years ago now, I guess, I was like, >> man, if anything, this is a way for me to go into bike shops and not be scared out of my mind because these guys seem to know me and I could walk in now and they're like, hey, look who it is instead of being like, who the [ __ ] is this guy? And >> what [ __ ] is he? What [ __ ] is he bringing in here? you know and so it's but you know even so I just don't you know going into that entering that cage of judgment >> which is the front door of a bike shop has always because you you feel it you know the mechanic the the I hope these thing I know that this is not the I don't know could be the norm still but there are exceptions but the classic bike shop you walk in and there's a grumpy mechanic and a salesman who doesn't want you there.
>> Mhm. [laughter] >> That's the archetype, >> you know, and the and the salesman who doesn't want you there. Maybe they look up, you know, the you you have a question to ask the mechanic and you want to make sure you got everything right in your head, you know, like is this a 68 or 73 millimeter shell? I got to get it was that what tube am I even looking for? How wide is how wide of a tube do I need?
>> And he's just like, buy a tarmac and get the [ __ ] out.
>> Precisely. It's just a it's it's a cliche in the bike world. To me, a right of passage a right of passage >> to be shamed out of a bike shop.
>> Yeah, we've all I mean, I've been shamed out of so many bike shops.
>> And for me, I thought that it was like a gendered experience and cuz I' I've been I've been made to feel like a complete fool under like many times in bike [clears throat] shops >> and because I am a fool. Like, so that's fine.
>> You'll be delighted to hear bike shops are equal opportunity discriminators.
>> That's that's [laughter] what I've learned is that if you consider yourself a cyclist, you are petrified of bike shops. And that's just the right of passage. Like you know there are these cultural markers that we have objects of worship, talismans that we hold on to for strength, little groups and like >> the costumes we wear, the ritual, you know, 10 100 mile rides that you do, whatever it is, >> there are these little things and this right of passage you have to you have to [clears throat] go through and it's a burden you carry. I like [snorts] started an entire movement [laughter] for women, trans fem, non-binary writers because I thought that it was a gendered thing. I'm like, these [ __ ] dudes talking [laughter] down to us. And we did. And now there are so many channels for all different kinds of identity people to find their group. Like there's Boston Queers on Wheels right up there who like do racing stuff. they'll be doing camping stuff and that's all an exclusive group. And is that a gatekeeping thing when you're just saying we don't want any like sis males in this group because it feels a little safer, a little more a little judgment free, more supportive >> maybe not as you know dropped rides are not a thing but I think these things just need to be communicated like what kind of a ride is this?
>> Yeah. If you know that information, then it's not gatekeeping, >> right? It's the hoarding of the resources that is the the evil part of gatekeeping. Like you're not sharing, you're being exclusive, you're not welcome. Like if you're doing that, that's [ __ ] up. Don't do that.
>> Yeah. Or maybe there is maybe there's even room for that in your small group.
Maybe that's the way you want to keep your group super small and like you don't want a bunch of people like riding with you. It's kind of true because when you're out there, you really need to be able to count on your friends because [ __ ] could go wrong as we have.
>> I think I think I think bottom line here to to to wrap this epic this odyssey >> is, you know, it's you could you could have these, you know, there's hot takes.
Everyone's got hot takes. There's always ways for us to improve our communities, our bicycle communities. Hi.
>> Yeah. [laughter] We got to have Amal on talking about [laughter] [gasps] >> you know it's it's >> we don't even get to keep this podcast.
Anyone can just come walking [clears throat] in here. [laughter] the way that you can you you know you you could you could feel that you're wearing a uniform and that the uniform is something I you could or you could like branch out from that and do your own thing and still bring it to that community. It it depends upon who you're riding with and who your riding friends are. I don't think it's a matter of the you know the necessarily gatekeeping.
Maybe you got to check who your friends are and what kind of attitude they have.
You know, it's it's a you know, sure there's always going to be a uniform, but uniforms are in in like a certain level of sameness and people get like so down being like, "Oh, my style's been coped again. Now everyone's doing this, you know, now I got to do something different." And you know, like, yeah, you could subconsciously think about like I don't think I realize when I'm about to do something different or whatever. It's just, you know, just it just happens. And it's not you don't ever feel like I need to like like oh people say like oh steel bikes now you moved on to aluminum or whatever you know and it's like no I just want aluminum bike it's not like >> still metal >> no I moved on to aluminum bikes in 1993.
>> Yeah it doesn't even even that I don't even care. It's just a matter of no, this is what I like right now, you know, and and so it's it's and yeah, it could be like a certain level of sameness like everyone's wearing bedrock sandals because they're awesome or like everyone's wearing umbrellas because [clears throat] they work, you know, it's like or everyone's, you know, it's you can accessible.
>> Yeah, they're accessible. Or everyone's got Swift bags, everyone's got Ron's bags or whatever, you know, it's cuz they're a good product.
>> Everyone's got ultra dynamic attires.
>> Everyone's got ultra cuz they are the best. [laughter] That's why >> those speed deltas, >> you know, it's if you're like actively trying to be different, then I think you got to kind of reassess your your you know, what you're going after in life, you know, like >> Yeah. Because the changes that you do make to your style, like switching from steel to aluminum and maybe flirting with carbon sometimes, too. Like all of that is just coming from like play and it's not like >> you know industry manufactured desire you know it's coming from >> it's coming organically.
>> Yeah. And I think alt bike is very playful and it needs to remain that. You know we're not like any any shade that we throw is not serious. We're we know that we're >> not serious people.
>> We are a bunch of nerds. We're pervert.
We're freaks.
>> Yeah. [laughter] >> You know and we're proud. And I think that's part I think that's part of our of our tribe here, you know.
>> Oh boy, >> they use that word. [laughter] >> Well, yeah. Whether whether we're a part of those clans or not, [laughter] um it is it is a it is like a definitive culture that has like musical taste, you know, and there are people that already exist with those tastes. And so you bring them together makes the world a little less lonely. You're just looking for yourself out there and in a playful way. The world is serious enough that this >> tool that we have, the bicycle, which is foreplay, >> foreplay, >> shouldn't it's it's not a serious thing.
>> Not a serious thing. Don't take >> You can take it really seriously. I mean, >> take it seriously as in like this is your lifestyle. This is your life. like it like you should basically mindful intentional about it like like I'm into a healthy lifestyle that connects me with like-minded friends and individuals and I can get outside away from my screen and and interact with the world in a beautiful way, you know, on aboard the bicycle.
>> Mhm.
>> You know, or you know, you can just complain.
[laughter] >> Yeah.
>> You know, so let's uh you got any any any final thoughts here, folks? And if you're going to complain, find a friend that you can complain >> and then start with.
>> And then the gates open the gates are open. [laughter] Yeah. Complain together. That's a great way to connect.
>> Yeah. Yeah. We got any final thoughts before we wrap it up here?
>> Gatekeeping.
>> Well, I could keep rambling about bikes until the cows come home. So, I'm just going to cut it off here.
>> Cut it off there. We'll have you back on for part two with your with I don't know. Are we going to have you on with Sarah? I don't know if we want Sarah alone.
>> I'll I'll warm it up to her. [laughter] Yeah, she's kind of shy. We'll see how she likes the idea.
>> All right, folks. Well, I really hope that you have enjoyed this longest ever episode of Alt Bike Now.
>> Oh, one more bike. I have the Gary Fischer.
>> Oh my god. [laughter] That's right. The What? That's a good one. It's a It's a hybrid.
>> 1995 Gary Fisher Alfresco Hybrid. It's a Trek N. What is it? Trek 750 with a >> Gary Fisher paint job.
>> What you got on there? Tires.
>> Tires. Ultra Dynamica Rosé 700 by 42.
Yeah, those old hybrids. Sleepers, folks.
>> Sleepers. The 750s. Beautiful, >> man. Okay.
>> All right.
>> A new contributors. Let's get into that.
Who do we got?
>> Thank you for your contributions. Carl Severign. Cool name. Robin McCall, Nicholas Applebee. Any relation to the chain? Adam Johnson, Alex Getty, and Eric Wetland.
>> All right. Thanks. Thanks for the ice cream money.
>> We've got ice cream for days. We could even >> We could even have ice cream for our friends now.
>> Wow.
>> Can I have ice cream?
>> Yes.
>> Yes, you could have ice cream.
>> You Sarah, get ice cream on us.
>> We will not We will not gatekeep this ice cream endeavor.
>> The best place to get ice cream is Honey Cone and Chester.
>> Chester, Connecticut. If you haven't been, it's the Paris of Nutmeg Country.
>> We've got Honeycomb. We've got minnow coffee.
>> Oh yeah. going to going to be moving into its permanent location in October.
Exciting. It's going to be the official Chester hub of the Norasteraster this year.
>> We've got the Noraster coming up.
>> Got the Norasteraster coming up. All right, folks. Well, >> Alex, you got a bike ready for the Viston show?
>> Uh, yeah. I'm going to do the Chisel.
>> Hell yeah. All right, >> I would recommend. All right, folks.
Well, it's been a great episode. Been great hanging with my friends here talking about bikes.
>> Thanks for having me.
>> Yes. Thank you for coming on, Alex.
Thank you for making our bathroom a little bit more manageable. [music] A little bit >> happy to happy [laughter] to help >> having a ba making a bathroom a bathroom.
>> Until next week, folks. I hope you all have a good one.
>> Bye. [laughter] [music] Jesus.
Yes.
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