Despite his questionable lust for grass and lawn ornaments, I have to totally, agree with the Gnome there is something wrong in the world today and I think its SSWC05
What is this? Gary Fisher to be a title Sponsor at this years Single Speed Worlds? Go Cart qualifiers?
Sounds like a kind of fucking Christian Fellowship?
All the talk of "organizers" a fancy website, and title sponsor is too much. I will be the first to admit that I am a bit bitter I didn't get on, the sign up filled almost instantly, but SS is about pain, debauchery and way too much alcohol. I think we should all take GZ's example and start a fun hater SS championship. No bikes over an ebay value of $300 allowed to race. Preferably, the frame is at least 20 years old and it has to have a shitty paint job. And no one is told of the course prior to the start, you are handed a map and you giver.
I think I will get right on this one...
Comments
You know,that is an exelent idea. We should really do this! That would be alot of fun to hate!
I'm down. I don't have a bike yet, but can definately pull together some hunk of junk in no time! Let's do it.
Hey man, no reason to be bitter, don't hate the player, hate the game. You really want to hate and get back at them...show up anyway, ride their course and drink their beer. I'll be there regardless (yea I got in so I'm not bitter).
Couple of thoughts - I've ridden the course (or something similar) for the past two years and it straight up fucking rocks...end of story.
Gary Fisher as a sponsor, say what? Damn, somebody is going to get free shit, yea that sucks. Maybe you don't like the guy personally or even their bikes or that their corporate, but you gotta give a little love to a company that has gone out of their way to introduce new concepts to the public at large (mainly 29ers, but hell the rig is a good start).
Final thought - I'm throwing down the guantlet, put up or shut up and come ready to drink and ride your fucking bike. You don't show...I'm drinking your share of the beer...
Me, I got nothing against the big GF. I have met him in person, besides the crazy suits he's quite down to earth. The Title sponsorship just means its becoming a phenomenon, and with that trendy. Argue what you will about ppl who hate stuff b/c it becomes trendy (its a trend itself) but events seem to looses something when they get bigger... maybe not so much lose something, more so transform into something else.
Therefore, I still stand beside my Fun Hater race idea. I still need to give it some more thought. I don't intend it to be direct competition against SSWC, but to start a new underground debauchery. I envision something small, odd that gives some hilarious tales. Who knows I am no good at actually planning shit...
Anyways, I like the challenge to show up and drink...shut up or put up. I suspect regardless they won't let me ride the course, but you never know, maybe hide in the bushes and jump out on the course.
I should still look into a flight.
Cool. Drink my beer. Fisher touts the 29er was his deal eventhough willis and a few others had been rocking it years prior. Same at the whole mtb inventer bullshit- which is self proclaimed. He's, or more specifically, the company that is GF is the equivalent of a plagerizing author and what author would be worth anything if they said they invented the english language or perhaps the novel. They're marketting approach reeks of profit and no soul. Look at Bontrager who equally sold out and is equally down to earth in person. He needs no reason to gloat. Why does a fifty+ year old has been need to wear shinny suits and be in the lime light as much as possible? Ego and nothing more. I'm not in to idolitry(sp?) I agree that to be at the sswc and drink the beer and ride the course would be fun, but I'd rather sacrifice the experience in protest of the misguided efforts of whoever is running the sswc show this year. I see it as apparent that GF (the co and perhaps the man himself) are only motivated to reap profit form a soulful blue-collar sport and ss happens to be the next profit area of off-road. Few make money on cycling, I simply think that those who do, should reflect the soul of it. Throwing in two cheap aluminum bikes doesn't cut it. Neither does online registration, course maps or 'fun websites': that shit ain't the point.
Gnome I sense a bit of anger (way more than even me). Here is my take on your points:
Is GF an entirely marketing entity? Absofuckinglutely. Hence the whole selfproclaimed inventer of Mountain biking spiel. Did he? There are numerous debates on the subject. No one every invents an entirely NEW genre without influence from others, but he was the first to market the term "mountainbike" and hence the claim. Does this reek of profit seeking? YES. Is the man behind the GF persona a decent fellow to talk to? YES.
The fact is very few make much long term cash in the cycling industry. Most get in it for the love of cyclling. But once its your livelihood, people will seek profit. Does it make it alright? I can't answer that.
So how does all this fit in to SSWC05? All I can say with certain is that the SSWC has changed into something different. Is it bad? Well, I think your is right, its no longer as much of a blue collar affair it used to be. Any phenomenon, big or small, grows and changes or dies. Part of life is constantly redefining new culture to replace the old one that inevitably changes into something you might be into anymore. .
So instead of sulking and quietly protesting, you should get our shit together and start a new event based on the Fun Haters idea.
Ride Club- The unofficial, nonexisting pseudo-championships of the Fun Haters.
As our first event we should crash SSWC05 all riding POS single speeds. Drink beer, claim nonexisting glory etc etc etc. Or less confrontational we could hold an impromptu event of debauchery near by.
Remember with Ride Club, there is only one rule: THERE IS NO RIDE CLUB
Sweet. Ride Club.
I suppose there's a chance that I'll be at the sswc then.
Fuck it. I'm going. I won't win. I probably won't even drink it the most beer, travel the farthest, or have the most fun.
If you didn’t get registered, go anyway. Big turnout. Burn the town down. Rape the horses and run off the women.
What?
Nothing.
First rule of Ride Club: There is no Ride Club.
Yep. I know nothing. We'll talk about it Juanson.
well, from a outsider looking in- I see some people who love being the 'underdog', the 'cool thing no one knows about'. SS is not underground, maybe you should let people in your club. That said I am not a hater- I have a fixed and a SS, I just do not drink beer and revel in my 'radness'. just my 2 cents.....
Fair enough. We all have something to work on.
... well the thing I have to work on is my attention- I smoked a curb yesterday after writing that post and sprained my wrist- karma??
so I would like to add that I will one day miss people asking why? because of Trek and their marketing dept.
yep.
I am rad