past tense bike check

I meant to post this for a while. Indeed, it's actually too late in a sense, as I've sold this bike. Still, I wanted to post a more detailed bike check that says why I run stuff, outlining the political and social reasons. I'll do the same for my new bike, but it will be a lot shorter: "I use all MacNeil parts because I love D'Arcy and he's a smarty-pants."

I’ve done this before in a more compact, streamlined way, but the following carries more info. This is long. Cut and paste it in a word processing document to save connection time.
Part of my PhD focuses on the relatively modern phenomenon of the Pro Bike check. In short, my position on these is that they serve as a shopping list for young riders, and that this ultimately serves the industry rather than the members of the culture. Participation in a culture shouldn’t be about consumption, in my mind. Of course, the reality is that BMX is almost entirely about consumption. This is bad, methinks. I have positioned myself outside of this over the past few years, as I don’t pay for my parts and clothes. Of course, this is bovine feces, as I am immersed in the evil. If you sport logos, you are participating in the exploitation of the culture by industry. And, boy, do I sport logos.
So for the sake of paradox and hypocritical contradiction, I offer a bike check (albeit of a different flavour).

Frame: Custom Solid with 3/16” 14mm dropouts, no gussets, 19.75” top tube, 13.5” chainstays, with Oryg tabs. Weighs 5.3 lbs. Aaron and Ryan are good friends, and this is the third frame they have made custom for me. It is painted with metallic purple / metallic green flip/flop paint that I got from Stephane Lavigne, a rider that owns a car parts store chain here in Montreal.
Fork: MacNeil ID with 990s: because D’Arcy Saccucci is both a genius and one of my best friends
Headset: Solid – absolutely rules, and from friends. The industry had to shift to internal headsets before this thing took over.
Stem: Fly – no significance to me. Just a light stem that works.
Bars: Ronin Big E’s – As I used to blog on Ronin’s website, you can probably figure out this hookup. Not just because of Shane however: These are the perfect bars.
Grips: We The People Dave Osato Slapshots – Dave looked at my Vancouver bike last year and I got this unspoken vibe from him: “why aren’t you running my grips?”
Bar Ends: MacNeil aluminum: Almost everybody at this company is my best bud.
Levers: Tech 77 – El Marko from Dia Tech sent me these along with homemade beer (I don’t drink), and the beer bottle snapped en route.
Front Cable: Ten Pack – Jamie Mac
Detangler Cables: SST – I have a history with B.S.. And honestly, if you know how to set up brakes, they work so much better than dual cables. There is an elegance to two-into-one cables
Brakes: Dia Tech Hombres w/ Fiesta – Beer flavoured – Lighter than 990s, with a better brake shoe system
Cranks: Solid Hella Light 175mm – Because they love me
Sprocket: Ronin 25t – the anodizing hasn’t even worn out in 18 months
Pedals: Sealed KHE Stimulatorz – from El Marko, my drinkin’ buddy
Chain: KMC chrome
Rear Hub: 36H Profile cassette with Ti 14mm axle and LHD 9t titanium driver – Because Matt Coplon rules
Ft. Hub: 36H Profile mini with ti bolts
Rims: 36H Araya RB J1 rear, 36H Araya Super 7X front
Spokes: Marwi titanium w/ gold nipples – traded old parts with a guy that worked for Marwi at Interbike
Tires: Demolition Zeppelin 1.80” – La supports me and all my events. And they make skinny-ass tires which go fast
Seat and Post: MacNeil Combo w/ Capital seat – D’Arse is an absolute genius. When Jamie Mac first showed me a prototype, I couldn’t find the bolt. I was completely fooled
Seat Clamp: Demolition – Light and from La
Pegs: 4 MacNeil Titanium w/ Macneil Caps – Genius – and park friendly

BMXless

Helped Liam with the UAB video premier party Saturday. Highest bunnyhop was the highlight, with Eric Trepanier blasting 39.5 inches. Jeez. Eric won three of the four classes, with only Dylan, the 12 year old who bought my bike, winning a class (amateur step-up). His dad had the bike appraised for insurance at $3500.
We made the MTB riders ride with the BMXers. If we are going to integrate, they shouldn't get to ride the equivalent of a training-wheel class.
Profile just sent me some stuff for my new bike. I'm running mini - race hubs with 3/8 ti bolts front and rear. Pegless. Why I got an orange sprocket is beyond me though.
I'm still hoping that Thomas Goring is going to donate his new KHE Stimulatorz with ti axles to the bike. Graphite pedals with sealed bearings and ti axles? Wow. His new tires look to be half the weight of normal tires, too.
Have you seen that new Eastern Bikes prototype? I really like it, but I wonder if it whistles at speed.
I feel pretty healthy. Must be the not-riding.

frame of mind

I sold my last BMX last night. I am BMXless for the first time in 23 years. I have to wait until mid Nov. to get my new one (a Heaton II). Good thing I built up a cruiser, I guess.
Here is a list of the frames I’ve had since 1980ish:
Raleigh Tracker – not quite a BMX (had a banana seat) black
Raleigh Supercross – (1982) black
PK Ripper - silver
Hutch Pro Racer – black chrome
Haro Master 1985 – neon green
GT Mach One - chrome
(Scott’s) Norco Freestyle – white
Diamond Back Mike D. Strike Zone - blue
2 GT Pro Performers – Black
GT Pro Performer – Neon Yellow
GT Pro Performer – Chrome – from Albes
Torker II – black – from Local Motion
Skyway TA - stripped
Mongoose – mint green
Mongoose Decade – dark blue
Mongoose Decade Pro – black / chrome
Homeless Soul Bro – chrome – then green – then burgundy
2 Hoffman Condors – Chrome – one later green chrome
PK Ripper 1996 – red - black
Hutch Trick Star – white
Basic Sluggo – custom with V-brakes - metallic green – black
Dyno – chrome
Powerlite FS – green – later baby blue
3 custom Solids – magenta (baby blue / Hammerite mint), laser black, black (lavender with sparkles / metallic green-to-purple flip flop
Volume Mid – black
DK Six Pack – blue
MacNeil Heaton – midnight blue
Haro F4

That’s 31 frames that I can remember. Damn. 7 from GT companies. 3 Solids, 3 Mongooses, 2 Hutchs, 2 Haros, 2 PK Rippers, 2 Hoffmans.
Soon to be 2 MacNeils.