New Year New Job?

 Welp the plan was to make some changes for me in 2025. If nothing else for my mental health.

That idea got suddenly pushed into action Friday 01/31 when I was unceremoniously fired from a job that I moved back to KC to do 7+ years ago. 

Remembering the words a friend the last time I got fired from a long time bicycle shop job went and got a friend with a truck and cleared all my personal tools, parts etc, more or less, out so there is zero reason to go back. 

Change was needed. I’d been saying since that businesses 2nd year of operation that if I didn’t work there I wouldn’t have gone there. The concept is good, something about the owner/operator isn’t. No hard feelings & I wish them the best of luck. 

Added bonus; no longer do I need to cross the HOA bridge twice a day 5 days a week. So my car free bicycle commuter life style is already better. 

Job prospects already in the works. 

#fingerscrossed

Funny How Things Turn Out

Kind of a recently new yet weird predicament for me. 

While yeah, I’ve bought a couple cheap vehicles in the past. I’ve paid for insurance, bought gas, etc 

But having an auto shop owner father meant that since before I could legally drive, I’ve had access to numerous vehicles with more or less free maintenance on those vehicles. 

Basically the last 30 years. 

Yet somehow I became the bicycle guy who (as of recently) doesn’t even own a vehicle, have easy access to one, or money get one. 

Hahaha…

Probably seems weirder to me that it actually really is. 

KC Pride? Kinda.

Dawned on me this morning that the last time I got hit by a car and was hospitalized, 20 odd years ago, that some friends happily thought that I came out of it as a Chief’s football fan. Never mind that they probably influenced me by watching it on tv in my room while I was in a coma. (FYI Coma dreams are weird & not recommended)

While I am a KC fan being born, raised, & living almost my entire life so far in this town I’m still not really much if any of a football fan. Sure, just like any ball sports I’ll watch it if it’s on the bar TV but I’m not going out of my way to find it. So while my KC pride means I hope our team does well today overall I don’t care enough about the sport to watch it. 

I do hope they win tho. For no other reason than KC pride and not wanting to listen or read about y’all bitching about a loss.

Make it a great day! 

#SundayFunday 

October Surprise

 It’s nice that over these 3 months since (what I’ve been calling) the October Surprise that there has been so many people supporting and wishing me well in my recovery. 

Unfortunately I have a pretty low opinion of myself so it struck me as odd that anyone actually even cared. 

However, I have been pushing myself possibly harder than I should have been to recover. Not because of or for those supporters but because recovery was what I wanted. While I may not think I really have much of a life, it’s MINE LIFE and I want it back. 

And we are getting there. 

These 3 months have been trying, physically & surprisingly mentally but recovery is happening. 

I’m set to be back in the shop wrenching on & selling bikes again at the first of February. Heck at this rate #biketoworkKC will be back shortly too. 

Thanks again for all the support. Especially those that donated to the Go Fund Me that was set up. Thanks to that I’ve been able to pay rent, bills, & eat. 

A big thank you to the fine folks at Truman Medical Center as well for patching me up. Cause I was a bit of a mess. 

Fractured skull, broke collarbone, 5 broken ribs, fractured wrist, oh boy! 

All from a possible hit and run. 

Via my last doc visit it will be a year before my body is done healing. 

So let’s make 2023 a good one, shall we? 

#RecoveryProcess #CarsCantStopM

Have a musical weekend!

Lifted from Colossal

Bike Freak - 1977

The following was found in The League of American Wheelmen Bulletin 
Volume 13 Number 3 from March 1977 

                                                     Bike Freak 
                                                   Jim Luparello 

Do you qualify to be called a Bike Freak or are you a Tourist?  
Listed below are some questions you can answer (and be honest) to find out exactly where you fit in the bike world. 

1: Are you someone that owns expensive bicycle shoes, while wearing regular shoes from the discount store?  

2: Do you wear Lambertini or equivalent bicycle jerseys, while wearing holey tee-shirts? 

3: Do you own a Masi or equivalent, while driving an economy car? 

4: Do you have Clement Seta's (silk) tires on your bike while you have recaps or 4-ply nylon tires on your car? 

5: Will you drive 100 miles to go on a bike ride, but won't drive 2 miles to the grocery store? 

6: Are you someone that promises your spouse or girl friend/boy friend a one-week vacation in

Denver, but neglect to say there is a bicycle rally there? 

7: Do you pay top dollar for Campagnolo equipment on your bike, but look for bargain on anything else? 

8: Does you bicycle glitter and sparkle, yet you can't see out of your car window? 

9: Do you set aside Sundays only for club rides? 

10: Are you someone whose girl friend or wife tells you "you're only interested in two things in life"?              

            A. Bicycles 

            B. Sex 

               (Not necessarily in that order) 

11: Do you ride in cold, rain, and snow, just to earn a patch, but won't go shopping because it's too cold outside? 

12: In a bicycle accident, would you rather skin yourself up rather than scratch your bicycle? 

 Yes answers: 

 0-2 = Weekend Tourist

 3-5 = Club Rider 

 6-9 = Racer 

 10-12 = Bike Freak

Pub N Pedal 13 - The Awkward Years

Coming soon! More info here: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/507526752984563/

Thursday feels...

More than anything in this world
I just want you to be my woman
More than anything in this world I want to be your man

 I'd walk through fire
Stand in the rain
I'll go to hell and back
On a plane
I'd scale the mountains
Swim the seas
I beg for mercy
Down on my knees

 More than anything in this world
I just want you to be my woman
More than anything in this world
I want to be your man

 I caused you sorrow
I've caused you pain
But love is all we will have to gain
I searched to whole world, oh I
And I want you to be my baby

 More than anything in this world
I just want you to be my woman
More than anything in this world
I want to be your man


 

Whatcha doing Saturday night?

Hi there!

Do you have plans Saturday night?  

You should consider riding your bicycle. 

There is this event called Pub n Pedal. 

This is its 11th year. 

It starts at the Velo Garage &Tap House (bicycle shop & bar in NKC) and ends over by the Kemper Arena (the Bench). 

Bicycle ride, photo scavenger hunt, pub crawl. 
Free entry. 

Prizes, keg party, etc. 

Bring some friends for a team or make new friends at the event and make a team. 

If you Facebook (duh) look it up. 

Good times practically guaranteed.

Sign ups start at 5.

Event starts at 6. 

See you Saturday (September 16th)!

Arty Farty

Lifted from Colossal