Mt. Bike Celeb Sightings

Was this a big STR inspired PCE group ride 5 or 6 years ago or so? If so, I was on that ride too. Richard ended up doing a little write up about it in Mountain Bike Action.

 

I was the guy he misnamed in the article. There were loads of people on that ride, 30 +

 

I saw Bono lying on the ground.

 

I saw Dave "Skyscraper" Roth bobbing like soap on a rope trying to climb Doublecross in Joshua Tree. Heehee.

 

Now that you guys mention it, I do remember the STR ride but I wasn't on that ride. I believe this was after the STR ride. I believe the STR ride was his first time out there. When I rode it with him, he had already rode out there a few times and if I remember correctly, there were no more that 12 us. This ride was set up by Tom the Bomb and Sailor Ripley invited him out. I'm pretty sure @rossage you weren't on this one because I'm pretty sure the first time I met you was when we went up to Santa Barbara to ride Tunnel and Cold Spring.

 

Pictures or it didn't happen

 

You may be pretty sure I wasn't there, but I was. I rode up in the truck with Sailor Ripley and Cunningham. I remember here being more people than I like which is more than 3!

 

Maybe, but is Steven Tyler going to show up at the local dive bar to sing karaoke?

These riders show up at the local race and ride.

 

That's why I said I think this was a different time. This was not an STR ride and he didn't write about about this outing. When we did this ride, he had already written that piece like a year or two earlier.

 

I didn't know Richard was a celebrity....

 

I think he is in the mountain biking world. IMO he's one of the pioneers and his company Mantis built one of the first drool worthy mountain bikes.

 

I guess I just don't care about celebrities.

 

Only celebrities I care to know are on imtbtrails. Others in the world have little impact on me or my opinions... 'just sayin'...

 

I think mountain biking (and bike racing in general) is one of the few sports where pros interact with the hoi polloi. Same events for sure, sometimes on the course at the same time even. And out riding the same trails & roads when they're not competing. That's like playing ball with your work softball league at the same time/field as the Dodgers are playing. One of the really cool facets of bike riding/racing.

 

I've ridden my roadie with Susie Wargin, a local media celebrity on multiple occasions.

 

I'm on the same page as Eric Bostrom on this Strava segment. Does that account for anything?

 

You rode with me at Snow Summit, that counts.

 

It might if I had any idea who he is...

 

Oh yeah!

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Bostrom

 

Headed over to Zen trail while we are here honeymooning in St George. Pulled into the parking area and saw Cannondale's Factory RV.

Didn't think much of it. Figured they were here testing. About a mile up Zen trail I ran into a couple of Cannondale riders. I immediately recognized the second one being Tinker. As I passed him I shouted out hey Tinker! Say hi to Jennifer when you pass her! He said okay! Have a great ride! She was ecstatic when he rolled by and said hi! Very cool dude in my book.

 

Cool story Bro! LOL
Most teams are doing "Team Camp" right about now before the season starts.

 

I'm still pinching myself - I can't believe I rode w this guy......

He even professed his love for me on my water bottle so I have proof!!

Ok ok...I made him write he loves me.

 

- Fans gathering around the champ


- Sycamore looked great today


- Fun day with the Champ


- Bruce Lee impersonations


- One more pic of Sycamore, with the Champ being led through the jump section, using the fancy photo-enhancing filters, cause the other pics don't quite do it justice

 

I read a PCE article he wrote, and it appears he rode it without shin pads despite being advised, which was the only interesting bit I remember from it.


<--- not a fan of most bike journalists' work. The AngryAsian was one of the few I respected, cause he actually criticized stuff fairly personally. Keyword, personally, as in no publisher "filter" to protect advertising revenue to keep things running and still "free". Wonder how he got them to agree to publish his work, besides him saying he takes full responsibility. Sad to see him go. The one I like the least is Mike Levy of pinkbike; too bad he's the basically spotlight on that site, instead of guys that do decent work like Mike Kazimer. If only Matt Wragg did bike [destruction] reviews too, I'd respect pinkbike more than the advertising-centric piece of crap it is now.

 

Funny, he wrote the same thing on Varaxis' waterbottle.

 

I passed on the autograph. I passed down some of my ancient Asian techniques and wisdom to him though. Hope he doesn't use the one I showed him on BFR, where I almost blew my front tire off the rim, in an actual race though.

JKing of course. Only really wondered how he liked American food (Aaron Gwin's diet inspired him, saying that he really likes Sprouts, but he says he still likes junk food) and what he was planning after racing (has an internship, to help create products at 100%). He got a good laugh out of my save, from me going waaayyyy too fast for my little short travel bike down that steep ass rock.

 

Well this was unexpected...

I am presently at a family reunion in Temecula. Our family is notorious for taking FOREVER to make a decision and get someplace - especially as a group. To those that have ridden with me, this probably comes as no surprise. So last night, as we were all arriving, one of my brothers decided we would eat at Bushfire Kitchen a healthy, gluten-free joint. It was 8:00pm.

I pull in to the parking lot and see a rather large pickup truck engulfed in Fox (tail) decals with a Dakine tailgate pad. I tell my wife - "That's Aaron Gwin's truck."

And it was. He was there eating a healthy dinner (no alcohol, of course), hat on backward, accompanied by an attractive blonde. I said "Hi Aaron" but nothing more. I happened to be wearing my Yeti baseball cap, so he probably assumed I was an awesome mt. biking dude. I didn't disturb them for a photo, or try to get an autograph. I did gush to my family that the world's best mt. biker was sitting over there and explained his story. They feigned interest appropriately.

By the way - the menu was great and the food was outstanding. I may go back tonight. I had a BBQ Tri Tip sandwich, baked beans with bacon and a cold draft beer. Sorry, no pictures of that either. 15 family members, and every one of us was pleased with his/her meal!

 

@herzalot
I'm hungry right now.... You made me hungrier.