Once every several years somebody sends us their original art of a bike-thing. This one we got six years ago, and it's been hung on the wall in the showroom in an out of the way place, on a binder clip and magnet to a broken picture hanger hook since 2013. Sometimes I go for months without looking at it, but lately I've been looking at it every day. I absolutely love it, and want to thank (again) the person who painted it (watercolor), but I can't find the name in our database. It looks like Lacotta to me. Is it you? Let me know.
Look at his use of green. Isn't that so curious and fantastic? Look at everything. It's just so beautiful. Don't forget to notice the feathery tendril-things on the lower part of the brass hammer at the end of the spring.
Here's a phonetograph. So much for precise precision:
It's "BELL 26" in our line, I believe.
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Sometimes somebody who isn't us comes up with something we love and hate them for at the same time, for beating us to it/for being more clever. The Crust Doggie Fork is one of those things (yes, there are many others).
I first saw it on Sofia's bike, and have been on several rides with her with Flynn:
It's not your eyes, it really is a blurry photograph. Here, Sofia shows how to walk up steep hills when there are parallel steps.
The fork fits most "rigid" mountain bikes. It's really neat, and if you have a bike you can dedicate to a dog, get the fork here:
https://crustbikes.com/products/clydesdale-fork/
They're out, probably. They do batches, so it's feast or famine. They come powder-coated black, and with a doggie box on it, you shouldn't care. I'm going to get one and put it on an '80s mtn bike (which I don't have, but I'll come upon one now that I have the need).
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Where do you draw your "green line"?
Water use may increase. Bleach, too? Some kind of disinfectants. Those things cancel out some green points, don't they? Not for the guest rooms, in any case. Hotels, not those, either.
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SWEATER NEWS (the Cheviot-wool English sweaters we made a hubub about about 2 months ago)
Review: THey're gonna be groovy, and a good lightish-medium weight for cold weather and cool weather riding, layerable maybe, crew neck, whatever, $120.
News: They're coming Feb or March. After many months of mental terror, I finally got an answer. Eight months ago I started this and said late Sept delivery was important. Now it's going to be Feb. Well...can you please hang in there?
If not, can you take it as a credit? It's a special, lighter weight knit they don't ordinarily do. This is our specialty: Complicating life unnecessarily, going to a Trouble Factor of 10 to achieve an Improvement Factor of 3.
Regular refund is always an option. Let VINCE know:
vince@rivbike.com
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Vince saw this somewhere around here, and it turns out that World HQ for JustRide Premium Indoor Cycling is in ... Indiana. Which makes two BLAHGS in a row with Indiana mentioned.
I passed this onto my publisher, naturally hoping the Premium Indoor Cycling people would have many millions invested in the name, but were in violation of some kind of trademark law, but No, it's all fine. My editor said, "Just enjoy it," which I guess is not as good as $100,00, but I'm back to normal now.
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The CHARLIE H. GALLOP ANAGRAM CONTEST IS OVER.
Dang. We were at 233 entries, the mail had been delivered, and then I got a UPS envelope addressed to"
Serena P.G. Trent & Crew
Rivendell Bicycle Works, etc...
OH, I get it. My name, anagrammed.
In the envelope were 16 postcards with 283 entries, or exactly fifty more than all the other postcards combine. It took me 75 minutes to type them into the list below, but I want to say something about them before you read and dwell on every one. This list is like scotch whiskey or bourbon or something. At first exposure, it seems insane, like how could anybody come up with
ARGILE C. HOP HALL
and think it was, like, a potential winner? That's not even how you spell "argyle."
(I have not learned to like any alcohol yet. I love the Heaven's Door bottles, though. I'm kind of collecting them.)
But then, after continued exposure, the genius emerges, and then beyond the genius, you start to realized that valuable life lessons are hidden inside this list. You become less up-tight about what people think. It frees you and makes you laugh at and love things differently and more than you ever had before. You realize the gift that this is, and the good that comes of reading too much into things.
The arbitrary use of abbreviations and punctuation and multiple mid-name initials, and the whole thing with how comfortable he is with letter combinations that make we mere mortals shudder. The names that aren't names, or seem to be names, until the last part. So long, it's been good to know you--I'm moving to the planet this guy hails from. Or as he might say, haels from.
He told me in an email that once he got started, he couldn't stop, and it was so much fun. Him for President! Most of these would make superb bike model names, but one really stands out.
I like the way he was treating the "contest" like a lottery. I wonder if he rejected any of his attempts. Sometimes you have to mentally punctuate them...but maybe, from his point of view, that ruins them.
If or when I go catatonic and can't follow the plot of Wheel of Fortune, I will have these printed up on what'll amount to my "happy list." I hope I never get to the point where CHLOE H. GAL PARIL will fail to make me happy.
Or IRA G. "HELLO PAL" C.H.
| GALCHIP ALL HERO |
| ILL CHAP GAL HERO |
| REGAL HILL CHAPO |
| HOLI CHAP REGAL |
| HI GALE ! ROLL CHAP ! |
| HI CHAP ! GALE! ROLL ! |
| ROLL CHAP, LAGE HI |
| HI ROLLA LEG CHAP |
| ROLL HI LEG APACH |
| GILL APACHE HI ROLL |
| GILL APACHE ROHLL |
| GIL EPOCH RAHLLA |
| GIL EPOCH LLAHRA |
| LARA H. GILL EPOCH |
| GIL ALL EPOCH RAH |
| GIL E.P. ROACH HALL |
| GIL A.E. PORCH HALL |
| ARGILE CHOP HALL |
| ARGILE C. HOP HALL |
| GAEL HILL CHOPRA |
| GAEL HOP CAR HILL |
| GAEIL HILL CAR HOP |
| GAEL HILL PHO CAR |
| GAEL HILL HOP CAR |
| RICKHOP GAEL HALL |
| ERIC GAL HOP HALL |
| ERIC LAG HOP HALL |
| ERIC HOP GAL HALL |
| ERIC HOG LAP HALL |
| ERIC HALL HOGLAP |
| ERIC P.H. GOAL HALL |
| C. HIPER GOAL HALL |
| CHIPER GOAL HALL |
| CHIP "GOAL" HALLER |
| CHIP LOG HALLER |
| CHIP LOG HALLERA |
| OLGA CHIP HALLER |
| OLGA CHIP RALLELH |
| OLGA CHIP HER ALL |
| CHILOHLA GLAPER |
| CHILL "OH" GRAPELA |
| OH CHILL LA GRAPE |
| ARLO H. "CHILL" PAGE |
| HOLA, CHILL PAGER |
| CLAP, OH HILL RAGE |
| RAGE HILL --AH PLOC. |
| CLAIRE L. PHOH GAL |
| CLAIRE LAG L. PHOH |
| CLAIRE H. LAP LOG |
| CLAIRE H.H. GALLOP |
| CHLOE G. PHALLAIR |
| CHLOE, GRIP ALLAH |
| CHLOE, GRIP LALA |
| CHLOE GAL PHIRAL |
| CHLOE H.L. GAL PAIR |
| CHLOE H. GAL LARIS |
| CHLOE H. GAL PARIL |
| LOLA H.C.L. GRAPE HI |
| GAL CHERI HOPALL |
| CHIRI "LAG" HOP ALL |
| HELGA CAR PHOLLI |
| HELGA CARL HOLIP |
| HELGA L. CAR PHOIL |
| HELGA CARL LIPOH |
| HELGA H. LIP CARLO |
| PHIL CARLO HELGA |
| HELLO CAR…GPIP, AH ! |
| CARLA PHIL HOGEL |
| CARLA PHIL OH GEL |
| CARLA PHIL GEL OH |
| CARLA PHILOH GEL |
| GIRL, PAL, HELOCHA |
| CLIP HER GAL! HOLA! |
| HOLA ! CLIP HER LAG ! |
| CLIPER H. GALHOLA |
| CLIPER H. GALOLAH |
| GIL, CLAP HER HOL |
| LOLA H.C.H. GRAPELI |
| LOLAH C. GRAHPELI |
| LOLA G. HELP CHAIR |
| LOLA CHAIR GELPH |
| LOLA H. CHAPEL RIG |
| GAIL L.L.R. EL CHAPO |
| H/L GRAIL - EL CHAPO |
| ALLEGRA H. HICPOL |
| ALLEGRA H.P.H. COIL |
| ALLEGRA OHH CLIP |
| ALLEGRA H.H. COPIL |
| ALLEGRA H.L.H. COP ! |
| ALLEGRA H. PHILCO |
| ALLEGRA CHIP LOH |
| ALLEGRA CHIL HOP |
| ALLEGRA HIL CHAP |
| ALLEGRA PHIL CHO |
| ALLEGRA H. LIP CHO |
| ALLEGRA H. HIP LOC |
| ALLEGRA H. OH. CLIP |
| CPA H. HI LEG ROLL |
| CIL LLH "HERO" CAPA |
| LEO H.H. GRILL CAPA |
| HL. OH CAP EL GRAIL |
| HOL GRAIL CHAPELL |
| LEO HL GRAIL CHAP |
| LL OHH GRAIL CAPE |
| GIO H. EP CRAP HALL |
| GEO H. EL PARC HALL |
| GIO A.C. RALPH HELL |
| RALPH GIO CAHELL |
| RALPH GEO CHALLE |
| RALPH GIO LC HEAL |
| RALPH GIO L. LEACH |
| RALPH G CLIO HALE |
| RALPH GEO H. CALLE |
| GAIL HL LOCH REAP |
| ERICH H, HAL GALLOP |
| ERIC PAL HOG HALL |
| ERIC HH. GALL OPAL |
| ERIC H. PAL H.L. OLGA |
| CHERI H.L. PAL OLGA |
| OLGA CHERI H. PALL |
| OLGA CHERI P. HALL |
| OLA H.C. PIER HALL |
| OLGA HIP REC HALL |
| OLGA CIPHER HALL |
| OLGA CHIPER HALL |
| OLGA H. PIERCHALL |
| OLGA H.C. RIPE HALL |
| OLGA HH. RIPE CALL |
| OLGA H. HIP CALLER |
| OLGA H. RICH LAPEL |
| RICO HH. LAG LAPEL |
| RICO H.H. GAL LAPCH |
| RICO HELP G.A. HALL |
| RICO HAG HELP ALL |
| RICO AH HELP GALL |
| RICO AH HELP . LAG |
| RICO P.H. HEAL GALL |
| RICO L.H. HEAP GALL |
| RICO H.H. LEAP GALL |
| RHICO H.L. LEGP GAL |
| RHICO H.L. LEAP LAG |
| RHICO H.L. PLEA LAG |
| RICO H.L. PAGE HALL |
| RICO G. HALAL HELP |
| AGIE L. CHOP HALL |
| CHOPI LAGER HALL |
| GAIL H. CHOIR PALL |
| GAEL H.L. CHOIR PAL |
| H.L. PAIR LEGOLALCH |
| REP HAL LEGOLACH |
| RIP LEGO CHALLAH |
| RIP GEO H. CHALL HAL |
| REIP HAL H. GEO CALL |
| RIP G. HAHA! LEO LLC |
| RIP LEO H, CHAGAHL |
| RIP LEO H. CHAG ALL |
| RIP LEO H, CAGHALL |
| LORI HEP CAGHALL |
| LORI H.G. CAPE HALL |
| GLORIA CHIP ALL |
| LORI G. PEACH HALL |
| IGOR L. PEACH HALL |
| IGOR H.C. PEAL HALL |
| IGOR C.P. HEAL HALL |
| IGOR L.L. HEAL CHAP |
| LEA HIG ROLL CHAP |
| LEA HILL GROCHAP |
| LEA HILL CHOGEAP |
| LEA P.H. HILL GO CAP |
| LEA H.P. CARGO HILL |
| LAH L. PHIL CARGO |
| LEAH H. PILL CARGO |
| LEAH L.L. HIP CARGO |
| LEAH HILL P. CARGO |
| LEAH PHIL L. CARGO |
| PHIL HEAL L. CARGO |
| PHIL A HELL CARGO |
| RICO H. HAL GEL LAP |
| RICO H, HAL GEL PAL |
| CARL GIL H. HOP ALE |
| CARL H. GIL OH PALE |
| CARL GIL H.H. OPLALE |
| CARL H. HOGI LAPEL |
| CARL H. PHOLIAGE |
| CARL GIA HELL HOP |
| CALLIOPE H.L.H. RAG |
| CALLIOPE H.H.R. LAG |
| CALLIOPE H. GRAHL |
| HIP CAGE ROLLAH |
| CALLIOPE GRAHAHL |
| CALLIOPE H.H.. LARG |
| CALLIOPE H.H. GLARA |
| CALLIOPE H.G. LAGX |
| CALLIOPE R.G.H. HAL |
| CALLIOPE L.R.G. HAG |
| CHARLIE H. LAP LOG |
| CHARLIE H. LOG PAL |
| CHARLIE L., HOG PAL |
| CHARLIE L. LOH GAP |
| GAIL L.L. HOPE CHAR |
| GAIL R. HOPE CHALL |
| GAIL R. HOPE R.C. HALL |
| CALL H.. GAIL HOPE |
| GAIL H.H. ROPE CALL |
| GAIL H.H. COPERALL |
| GAIL L. PEARL CHOH |
| GAIL L. RAPEL CHOH |
| AIL H. PEACH ROLL |
| GAIL LH. PARC HOLE |
| GAIL H.H. COLL PEAR |
| GAIL P. HEAR CHOLL |
| GAIL L.P. HARE LOCH |
| GAIL LAP HER LOCH |
| GAIL H. PAL LOCHER |
| GAIL H. PAL ROCHEL |
| GAIL CL LOC REAP |
| HELGA HILL CAPOR |
| HELGA A. HILL CROP |
| HELGA CHILL ROPA |
| HELGA CHILL P. OAR |
| HELGA PILL CHOAR |
| HELGA ROACH PILL |
| HELFA POACH RILL |
| HELP P. ILL ROACH |
| HELGA L. PARCH OIL |
| HELGA P. LARCH OIL |
| HELGA L.P. CHAR OIL |
| HELGA H.R.C. LAP OIL |
| HELGA R.H. CLAP OIL |
| HELGA R.L. OIL CHAP |
| GAIL R.: HELLO, CHAP |
| GAIL HELLO PARCH |
| ELLA R.P. CHILAHGO |
| ELLA RAP G. HOCHI |
| ELLA RAP HIG OCH |
| ELLA H. LOCHAR PIG |
| ELLA H. GAP ROCHIL |
| ELLA HCH GALOPIR |
| ELLA RL HIP GACHO |
| ELLA R.H. LIP GACHO |
| ALL HAIL H.E.C. PROG ! |
| ELLA H.G. HAIL GROP |
| ELLA H.G. LICRA HOP |
| ELLA LICRA HOP H.G. |
| ELLA LICRA HOP H.G. |
| HELGA L. HOP LICRA |
| HELGA PORC A HILL |
| HELGA A. PORC HILL |
| HELGA CROP A. HILL |
| HELGA HILL PORCA |
| PILAR C. HELLO HAG |
| HELLO OORI G. PACH |
| ARI L.G. HELLO CHAP |
| ARI L. GLOH CHAPEL |
| ARI G. HOLL CHAPEL |
| GIA H. ROLL CHAPEL |
| GIA P.H. LEACH ROLL |
| GILL H.P. EACH ROLLA |
| L.G. EACH HIP ROLLA |
| HACA HIP GEL: ROLL |
| CHIP AHA GEL ROLL |
| CHIP A. HALL ROGEL |
| CHIP A. LOG OR HALL |
| CHIP A LEG OR HALL |
| CHIP AHA LEG ROLL |
| CHIP A LAG ROLLAH |
| HI CAP! AH--LEG ROLL! |
| HI LAP HELL CARGO |
| PILAH HELL CARGO |
| LIP AH HELL CARGO |
| HI HELL! CARGO LAP! |
| HELLO C.G. HAIR, LAP |
| HELLO PAO! C.G. HAIR |
| HIRA "HELLO PAL" C.G. |
| IRA G. "HELLO PAL" C.H. |
| CHIRA "HELLO PAL" |
| CHIRA HELLO GALP |
| CHRIA G. HELLO PAL |
| CHIRA G. HELLO LAP |
| HELL PILAR CHAG |
| PILLAR LEG HOCHA |
| HO CHA GEL PILLAR |
| C. OH HEAL PILAR |
All of those LOLA's made me think of the song LOLA, and I remember at first liking those songs when I was little, then getting a little jostled by the them, and now hey whatever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=LemG0cvc4oU
RELATED to the anagrams, the Charlie H. Gallop bike model drawings have been finalized. I would love to give them all to Specialized. I want Specialized to make them, no changes. Out of any metal, but no carbon. Mike Sinyard, if you are reading this, call me, let's make a deal. My price is $Zero and you can keep my name out of it. It is a phenomenal design, smart--quirky--attractive--not "classic."
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Cash flow is...horrible now. I don't know why. Please try to buy something, OK. It feels swirling here, and not up. We have so many good things in the works, and so much good stuff now. We're trying hard on important matters, at least in the bike world. Bicycles. The best thing ever, and I've never liked riding more than I do now.
G