That RaceFace "crap on my desk" thing...
- Thread starter dw
- Start date
That's what I thought too.
Any chance of a one off purple anodized Imperial to go with those cranks?
Any chance of a one off purple anodized Imperial to go with those cranks?
I still have all of my purple ano stuff from 1994. I'm gonna dig it all out and put it on my bike and send a pic in. That will convince RF that those cranks are the final piece to my puzzle.
I remember when I was 14-15, I would decide which parts to buy based on what colors they came in. LOL Aaawww, innocent youth. Now I won't buy it unless it comes in black.
I remember when I was 14-15, I would decide which parts to buy based on what colors they came in. LOL Aaawww, innocent youth. Now I won't buy it unless it comes in black.
My submission... Please don't take this from me.
To the possessor of the most beautiful cranks in the world this ones windy but worth it:
There was this day, maybe two or three days before Thanksgiving, 1994 my aunt and uncle were in town visiting my parents, and my pops got a little sauced on some spiked cider. My brother and I had been bugging him constantly about getting some mountain bikes. I guess we were in that semi-independent state that comes after the initiation of puberty, but before the rite of passage that is the drivers license exam, and we wanted some mobility. My uncle was an avid mountain biker and was in the best shape of his life. My dad was grilling my uncle on his techniques for keeping fit, and he kept noting how riding to work and mountain biking after work were keeping him sound as a pound.
So my dad, now in a semi-drunken, highly jealous, and mission-motivated state, piled the kids in the car, grabbed my uncle, and threw my mom behind the wheel to avoid any harassment from the man. Five minutes later we were at Bike Line, the Delaware Valley's Premier Chain of Bicycle and Fitness Stores. My uncle, who at the time was riding a beautiful Yo Eddy, carefully evaluated the sparse stock of sturdy steel bikes and Schwinn Aerodyne fitness equipment. Somewhat displeased with the availability, he suggested we try another shop, but no dice. Dad was motivated and fixed his eyes on two identical metallic purple Specialized Rockhoppers. The acne-ridden, greasy-haired, commission motivated, townie-lurker of a sales clerk noticed my dads fixation and moved in for the kill.
Oh, sure theyre great bikes in fact, I ride one myself, said the sales clerk. Perfect for the steep, moist, and rooted trails around the tri-state area. I swear, if this guy had spent one day on a bike, it was a moped and he used it to get between his moms basement and McDonalds. Despite his lack of, um, credentials, my dad sent my brother and I out for a spin around the parking lot, which happened to be covered with a thick layer of orange-colored leaves from a recent storm. Five or six cycles around the lot, one or two desperate attempts at a bunny hop, and one skidding turn later, I was on the ground with an open wound and set of bent handlebars (which would later be recalled).
Needless to say, the lurker sales clerk came running outside, bypassing my pain-ridden face, and descending upon the bike with deep concern. Oh no, my boss is gonna kill me I wasnt even supposed to let people ride the bikes outside in this weather, he lamented. But quickly, and rather deviously, his facial expression shifted. Here, sitting in pain, sat the perfect opportunity for the sale of not just one, but two bikes. Not bad for a bike shop that has less bikes on the wall than a bodega has fresh food on the shelves. He rapidly approached my father and suggested that he come inside. Ten minutes later Im squeezed in the back seat between my brother and my uncle, starting out the window at the shadow of two loosely-tied bikes atop our car.
And so, in my post-pubescent, pre-driver state, I gained an immense amount of mobility and an even greater amount of crap from my friends. Metallic purple at age 14 is about as cool as a light teal after 1982. Regardless of the flack that I regularly received, I loved that bike. My dad got a large pipe out after our trip home on the day of purchase and straightened out the handlebars, but they were never quite right. The chain skipped more than it probably should have, but I gave that bike more abuse than it probably deserved, so alls fair.
As time progressed, I grew quite attached to the color. Perhaps, just as is the case for riders of the Pinkbike Army today, the uncool became hip, and my skills started to quell the negative comments. I could out-climb, out-descend, out-bunny hop, and out-sprint all of my friends with bikes. To compensate for their lack of skills and practice, most of them started accumulating extremely fancy parts for their bicycles. Anodized aluminum was the absolute must-have, from the cranks to the brakes to the derailleur pulleys, purple started showing up more and more. Eventually my bike, which had endured so much verbal abuse over a two year period, became cool. A few gold accent parts, a new set of gold anodized handlebars, a set of Mag 21s, and a fresh wash later, I was 16 and my dad got transferred to southern California.
Imagine my surprise when I heard we were moving from semi-rural Pennsylvania (central eastern seaboard for you disconnected poutine-eaters) to the land of 90210. My only picture of California was from a television show that I hated, and for which I blamed the degradation of the verbal abilities of my classmates in Pennsylvania. So, I like, moved to sunny California, you know bra, and it was nothing like I expected. There were mountains in LA MOUNTAINS! I had no idea. So I continued riding my newly accented purple mountain bike, and met a huge number of folks that could finally hang with (and / or totally smoke) my imported self.
The only problem with riding in LA was that people had money even kids. My high school parking lot was filled with brand new cars, Gallaghers (yeah, the watermelon guy) daughter would come rolling in with snakeskin pants and a BMW (525i, not a Park Bike). So, those individuals that did mountain bike had very nice bikes. I remember trying to hang with the kids on Pro-Flex bikes, and being constantly mad that, even though I could hang, my bike just wasnt as slick as theirs seemed to be (little did I know, the joke was on them I mean, cmon, Pro-Flex?).
So I got a job. Newbury bike shop took a chance on a kid that had never removed a pair of cranks, and threw me into the builders dungeon. My skills improved, and soon I was changing tires and doing minor repairs. Regardless of the amount of time I put in, the minimum wage pay just wasnt enough to buy me the new parts I wanted. Mom and dad felt like the contribution of a new bike 2 years prior was adequate, and so I continued riding the Rockhopper as it was.
I didnt end up getting my drivers license until I was almost 18. The move to California was hard on my social life, and I didnt really need a car to get to the local trails where I spent most of my free time. That 1994 bicycle went everywhere I did until I was ready to head to college, at which time I was surprised with a slickly detailed Voodoo Bokor, complete with a set of black Turbine LP cranks. The cranks didnt come with the bike my parents specd it out per my begging that had driven them crazy for two years.
I had wanted a set of purple Race-Face cranks for my metallic purple Rockhopper since their release and subsequent lack of release; I got a new bike instead. Certainly a good consolation gift, but my Rockhopper still sits in my parents garage, somewhat lonely, and with the most war-torn, dinged and bent black Altus cranks I have ever seen. I decided over Christmas break that I would pick up the Rockhopper this summer while visiting my parents, and I would give it a new life. I moved to Oregon for graduate school, and the riding in my town is perfect for the purple machine save for my concern over the bent and fragile cranks. It could also use a new handlebar, but save for those parts, shes ready to rumble and take back her former prominence in my life.
The Rockhopper, complete with the beautiful and unique cranks you might provide, will make trail rides entertaining and smooth, and will make trips to the local brewery greater treats than they already are. Currently I spin around on the Cove Stiffee SL, which is no doubt a great bike. Post-brewery trips to the skate park have been known to happen, but then so have post-brewery concussions. Despite the fun factor afforded by the Cove, I think the Raceface-stocked Rockhopper would better serve to remind me of the reason I am still using a bike to get to the brewery, to get to school, to get on the trails, and to stay out of my car. Getting on a bike got me outside and loving it at a young age. This translated into a love for ecology, and has ended up leading me down the path of forest conservation and management. Its strange in a way I owe my future career to a love for nature inspired by my love for a purple bicycle.
My love for this sport has never changed; only my style of riding has. Racefaces commitment to this sport has never changed; only the colors of the cranks have. Provide me with those cranks, and know that they are going to a good home, and being put on a bike that is as cool as they are. That bike is as important to me as the style and durability of the multi-colored Raceface cranks were and are to you. Please help make the once dominant dream of a former 16 year old, and the current dream of a still-poor 24 year old, come true.
Thank You.
So what's changed???
Is this a ploy to get people to buy raceface stuff so they can take picutres of thier bikes and make raceface think they're worthy of more reaceface stuff because they already have the raceface logo plastered all over their bike. I mean really it must have taken a long time to make that little movie even with the hokey animations.
Bikeline... SWEET.
I went there as a kid and then moved to CALI too...
I went there as a kid and then moved to CALI too...
West Chester... home of the headless.
Cool... that was just up 202 from my shop.
Great idea, Race Face have been coming up with some great stuff lately like that tee design competition and the like. Also they didnt just fire out an e-mail but made a cool cartoon to go along with it........nice touch and a good marketing move!
And as for the purple cranks
I was going to get some purple Hope Bulb hubs for my DH bike but wussed out, figured the comedy might be lost after 10 minutes!!
And as for the purple cranks
I was going to get some purple Hope Bulb hubs for my DH bike but wussed out, figured the comedy might be lost after 10 minutes!!
definitely a cool contest....the footage reminds me of a cartoon interactive porn that...ummmm.....a....ummmm....friend.....uuhhhh....told me about. Yeah that;s it.
Only reason I'm not submitting is I don't want them lying around my desk. They're square taper so the only person you could sell them to rides a Huffy.
Only reason I'm not submitting is I don't want them lying around my desk. They're square taper so the only person you could sell them to rides a Huffy.
or a Specialized from 1994.
Dude, as if. Square taper still rules! ( I have square taper raceface turbines from the same era on my Pitboss, and sid blue onza cwa procut barends, beat that)
I'm going to hold a contest like that.
Let's see. I have a broken space ball. An orange hi-lighter. a stack of old MTB mags, an empty Starbucks cup (tall), an NAS1801 spec, automatic pencil, stapler (almost half full), various Boeing drawings and wiring diagrams, and an expired Whistler lift ticket.
Ok! so who's first?
Let's see. I have a broken space ball. An orange hi-lighter. a stack of old MTB mags, an empty Starbucks cup (tall), an NAS1801 spec, automatic pencil, stapler (almost half full), various Boeing drawings and wiring diagrams, and an expired Whistler lift ticket.
Ok! so who's first?
good lord that is officially the funniest thing I have ever seen in the bike industry! Holy crap that is just so excellent!
(ps I beat Marshall by 18mos when I had the great "ska todd is moving giveaway extravaganza" on mtbr and ridemonkey where I gave away a parts and gear to about 20 people and only asked for "a suggested donation of beer money" in return).
-ska todd
(ps I beat Marshall by 18mos when I had the great "ska todd is moving giveaway extravaganza" on mtbr and ridemonkey where I gave away a parts and gear to about 20 people and only asked for "a suggested donation of beer money" in return).
-ska todd
Thing is... nobody is selling stuff like yours, even if in mint condition, on CambriaBike for 249.00 (yes, square taper set).
The cranks might be ugly, and they might be "crap on a desk," but they aren't crap.
Even if this comp. is gimmicky, it might inspire some people to dig through their old photos, be a little creative, and remember a time when they were probably just getting into the sport we all now love. And I think for the newbies that weren't around during the anodized craze, it might put their opinions of current "must haves" into perspective.
I think it's great.
I have a Moonrise Liner Fade Klein Racsal that I use as a commuter that those would be PERFECT for!
Oh how I remember drooling over those back in the days. Hahaha
MMike,
I see your crap and add a 32h Chris King hub shell, Boone Ti Helix BB with blown bearings and shell, Azonic catalogs from the last 3yrs, and a bunch of empty Pez despensers.
Oh how I remember drooling over those back in the days. Hahaha
MMike,
I see your crap and add a 32h Chris King hub shell, Boone Ti Helix BB with blown bearings and shell, Azonic catalogs from the last 3yrs, and a bunch of empty Pez despensers.
I should mention that the orange hi-lighter has been customized and now sports a yellow cap.....