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Permalink Reply by chris on December 24, 2013 at 10:06am

guess i needed to proof read and use puctuation but all in all not too terriable although didnt notice it typed scene when i meant seen lol and i turned off spell check and look at this terriable spelling lol sorry but gets the point across-barley---and ill clean it up and hope i have plenty more to write and respond to

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on December 24, 2013 at 12:29pm

The problem is, I don’t know his name or much about him, other than a few stories and seeing him countless times over the years.  Maybe you can help: can pass along info or even relate a similar story and--more importantly--that extra-something-special that made your day, helped you along and motivated you

In a nutshell, this guy goes back to the "glory days" of bike messenger lore, had ties to the film “Quicksilver” and he’s well-known and often seen, with many a story and crazy happenings.  He also was a big part of Critical Mass and other road-paving ventures, to get cycling more friendly--let alone accepted or thought about.  And yes, there were/are many others, but this guy had many facets—and I’m writing/collecting stories that have the means to go a lot further, if all things fall in line and/or get uncovered.

So, I have talked to him (but not recently), have met quite a few people who actually know him--or of him--and even stumbled into his one-and-only shop, but can’t get the vitals from them, and rightfully so.  So again, a lot going on but the stats are: a tall slim/fit guy (6'3"-6'6") looking younger than his 40-plus-years, always riding like a psycho with no helmet or regard for traffic laws and safety. Old Skool, I guess, usually on a black or chrome fixie/single-speed, except for way back in the day when he rode an urban mountain bike with a Hawks goalie mask and pads.

For those of you who remember a few guys like that--like Crazy Joey, who rode BMX and hung onto cabs going down Wacker at 40 mph--he wore the catcher mask, shin guards and elbow pads (and didn’t think he even needed them).

So if this guy has helped you--say, you rode with him or worked with him or even saw him pull some stunts--or you saw a guy going 30 mph down Michigan Avenue during rush hour on a Friday, blowing through every light and making it look easy and safe—tell me how that was seen or thought of by you or others, or if you just wondered how or why you would see this guy often (or not) and he stuck out.  Or if related to advocacy stuff or fund raisers related to the white bikes we all hate seeing (ironically, he rides crazy).  Again, other quirky stories about someone you really didn’t know but would cross paths with or see and it usually was positive or entertaining.  Example: the dude with the beard that has the roll cage and does flips in the street--we all saw him. 

So, with the exception of a few guys doing a “jerky boy” screen test, I would like and appreciate any and all stories and posts related.  It’s a broad yet vague subject matter.

A few last things of note: he usually had a messenger bag-black w/ patches of various content and style.  He was known for being nice to anyone on a bike: i.e., fixing a flat, giving a tube, etc.  He rode year round.  I guess that’s it.

Hope to hear from some people--maybe even the "New York Myth" himself.  Besides “Quicksilver” he had a part or filmed something years ago that was used and there is more reason and motive behind digging for some random/meaningless stories of some guy that rode a lot or was known in the city biking circles but it’s that Paul Harvey-esque "the rest of the story that will bring it home, into a great story that needs to be told.”

Stay tuned.

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on December 24, 2013 at 12:36pm

Chris--hope you don't mind.  I just used your post as an editing exercise for myself, trying to make it easier to read while keeping the writing clearly in your voice.  I've been working on my own writing for the past couple of years, but my editing skills are kind of rusty.  If this offends you, let me know, and I'll delete my posts on your thread.

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