Back in the late nineties Dropkick Murphys stopped by a little city called Pocatello, Idaho in an even littler venue known as the Roche Motel. They played hard, they played good, damn good, all for the price of $8. It was one of those shows where you keep the flier in an attempt to have the chance, the opportunity to attend one like it once again. I still have the flier, but have opted out of the mohawk.
The mosh pits even in their glory days always lacked what I find on my bike: The unrestricted ability to mosh, push hard and flail without being left as the single one man mosh pit amongst the crowd too, too nervous to be free.
So I take Dropkick Murphys with me and ride free. Once those pounding lyrics were screamed directly into my ears at the latest show and now they look to corrode my brain through my right earbud.
One of my fond bike moshing times comes from the simplicities I enjoy. One simple idea is to keep riding as hard as you can for as long as you can, and if a stop light turns red, you turn right and avoid the light. Small ridiculously simply ideas of endless hours of enjoyment. I doubt I am hustle material, but I am not going hard to try out for the team, impress the coach or get a slap on the ass. I ride hard, because when I ride hard I feel free.
It was the same reason I went into the mosh pit back when I was seventeen, but this time.. this time I am not moshing alone. I have the world around me and the bicycle beside beneath me and Slayer beckoning me. I can't wait any longer to step in.
i Mosh on My Bike.
photo credit: saltcycle.com.
I don't think you understand the 'hustle' concept. To quote my inspiration:
ReplyDelete"Wolfpack Hustle is dedicated to fixed gear, track and road bike culture in Los Angeles, a city currently dominated by the lowly automobile. No we aren't Olympians or roided-out weekend warrior types with egos and attitudes... not even close. We are simply here to ride stronger, faster and to assert our rights to these gritty pothole infested LA streets."
The focus is not on meathead jock behavior. Far from it. It's not a race, either. The concept asks people to humble themselves to the cause. Put down the ego and walk away from the extremes of self-deprecation and self-promotion. It's not about who's better, who's faster, who's more badass. It's about being better, faster, more badass... whatever level you are on personally, now or in the future. It's a way to pursue personal goals with the support of a like-minded group. Not some butt slapping idiots who need to prove their divinity to the world instead of quietly knowing it for themselves. This isn't some status sex game. Think about schools of fish, flocks of birds, a wolf pack (minus alpha males). The idea starts with nature and then sets the goal to rise above it. To add our own consciousness to it. Have you ever seen a herd of deer or elk on the run? Now imagine the human form of that on bikes set loose on the city...
You can mosh on your bike, but how about with a group of other bikers?
Ryan
Sorry if that came off bad. I really do support your efforts and the 'hustle' concept. All about mosh'n the bike with others. I am gonna give it a try when its up and running. I initially thought I wouldn't like the Sunday Sprints, but I did like them. If you need some graphic design for fliers, drop a line. I think after your explanation I am starting to gain a bit more of a feel on the matter.
ReplyDeletezed.