Wednesday, December 06, 2023

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. 

Sunday, February 12, 2023

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 

Thursday, January 26, 2023

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

Thursday, September 19, 2019

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

Thursday, July 19, 2018

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


 

Sunday, September 10, 2017

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)!






Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Fat Bike Blues

From the Draft file via January 2017:

Texts I sent to my lady (editors note: now ex) during & post a recent ride on my new to me fat bike. Clearly there were some issues

*Feeling like the biggest chump in the world for falling for the idea that getting a fat bike would be fun. This fucking sucks and I'm probably gonna have to walk this piece of shit home. Damnit.

*Stupid loud rear brake and a rear tire that won't hold air. Fuck me.

*FYI don't worry. A few minutes being upset, then a few minutes feeling foolish for being upset, followed by shaking my head & getting to work fixing the problem.
Decided just to ride home after just in case the fix didn't fix it. Used all my c02 & with a fat tire my little hand pump doesn't seem to do much.
Kind of a downer but overall it's just part of the deal when it comes to riding bikes.
Got home had a smoke, opened a beer, orders Jimmy Johns. 👍😻😻😻




Untitled

CheesyTuesday feels....



All that time I was searching, nowhere to run to, it started me thinking, 
Wondering what I could make of my life, who'd be waiting, 
Asking all kinds of questions, to myself, but never finding the answers, 
Crying at the top of my lungs, with no one listening, 

All this time, I still remember everything you said 
There's so much you promised, how could I ever forget. 

Listen, you know I love you, but I just can't take this, 
You know I love you, but I'm playing for keeps, 
Although I need you, I'm not gonna make this, 
You know I want to, but I'm in too deep. 

So listen, listen to me, You must believe me, 
I can feel your eyes go through me, 
But I don't know why. 

I know you're going, but I can't believe it's the way that you're leaving, 
It's like we never knew each other at all, it may be my fault, 
I gave you too many reasons, being alone, when I didn't want to 
I thought you'd always be there, I almost believed you, 

All this time, I still remember everything you said, 
There's so much you promised, how could I ever forget. 

Listen, you know I love you, but I just can't take this, 
You know I love you, but I'm playing for keeps, 
Although I need you, I'm not gonna make this, 
You know I want to, but I'm in too deep. 

So listen, listen to me, 
I can feel your eyes go through me 

It seems I've spent too long 
Only thinking about myself
Now I want to spend my life 
Just caring bout somebody else. 

Listen, you know I love you, but I just can't take this, 
You know I love you, but I'm playing for keeps, 
Although I need you, I'm not gonna make this, 
You know I want to, but I'm in too deep.